Sweet Judy Blue Eyes

Home to the Doors, Buffalo Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and others, L.A. was the one of the dominant centers of the rock music universe in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Folksinger Judy Collins and her good friend and former lover, rock legend Stephen Stills, reminisced about those glory days at a Writer’s Bloc event, last night, at the Saban Theater.

Although Stills was billed as the interviewer, Collins took control immediately, surprising us all with a short rendition of her signature song, “Both Sides Now.” The audience joyfully sang along. At the end, Tim hugged me—we both had tears in our eyes.

Judy Collins - "Both Sides Now"

Judy’s voice was as strong and as beautiful as ever; plus she looked just fabulous, with her long snow-white hair. Stephen Stills, on the other hand, looked grizzled and uncomfortable in his suit. Now nearly deaf, fifty years of rock-and-roll have not been as kind to him.

Collins told stories from her new autobiography, Sweet Judy Blue Eyes, the title of which is an homage to “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” the song Stills famously wrote about her when they were in love. He revealed that he developed a crush on her as soon as he saw her first album cover. “I must meet that girl!” he told his roommate and finally did when they made their first album together several years later. Collins then mentioned that the last time they performed together was in Florida at an AARP convention! The audience howled—probably because most of us are members. (I certainly am!)

Judy and Stephen answered several questions and then sang a folksong from their days in Greenwich Village—just two old friends and a guitar. It was wonderful.

Stephen and Judy, together again