by Paul Matheson

The Irish American musician and singer-songwriter Judy Collins was one of the iconic ballad singers and peace activists of the 1960s and 70s in the United States. Her warm, pure, plaintive voice became famous throughout the UK and Ireland when her version of the hymn Amazing Grace entered the UK top ten singles charts in December 1970.

All On A Wintry Night was recorded in the year 2000, when Judy’s voice was at its mature prime. She was approaching the age of 60, and the emotional tone of the entire album is charged with the recollection of Christmases past. This recording was an intensely personal project. Christmas is the time of year that reminds Judy most vividly of her beloved late father. It is also the time of year that encapsulates the values her father and mother taught her and her four siblings.