On Wednesday, January 15, 1997 3:00:00 AM UTC-5, Richard L. Hess wrote:   
   > AnLarg,   
   >    
   > I'm sorry that I did not respond before, but you got so many good   
   > answers. Are you SURE that you heard this?   
   >    
   > To the best of my knowledge, there are only three major recordings by   
   > Judy of Amazing Grace. I currently have or have on order all of her   
   > albums known to me...from her 1960's first album recorded at the   
   > Exodus in Colorado to Voices, her latest release. There are at least   
   > two additional video versions that I am aware of.   
   >    
   > The first recording appeared originally on "Whales and Nightingales"   
   > (Nov 1970; Certified Gold April 1971) and was recorded at St. Paul's   
   > Chapel on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. It is a   
   > capella with a choir in the background. It runs about 4:04. The choir   
   > included Stacy Keach and many of Judy's friends (according to her   
   > autobiography, Trust Your Heart). This was re-released on the   
   > compilation album, "Colors Of The Day" (May 1972; Certified Gold Jan   
   > 1974). These are both on Elektra.   
   >    
   > The second recording (or variations of it) is also a capella with a   
   > choir. It runs about 3:50. I just listened to all four albums (I have   
   > Amazing Grace on order, but I do have a not-perfect but good interim   
   > cassette copy of it) and they appear similar if not identical.   
   >    
   > This was recorded in Olympic Studios in London according to some liner   
   > notes, but the autobiography refers to Abbey Road studio. Is this a   
   > mistake somewhere or has the studio been renamed? Are there really two   
   > English recordings that run the same time? Some of the liner notes   
   > indicate that Judy's vocal was re-recorded in New York, they sound   
   > similar, but not identical.   
   >    
   > Anyway, this version originally appeared on the Telstar UK release   
   > "Amazing Grace" (1985). This has apparently been re-released by rigu   
   > records in The Netherlands, and I have a copy on order with CDEurope.   
   > The Telstar release has been out of print for a while. (Note to anyone   
   > trying to find this for me, hopefully CDE will come through, please   
   > e-mail me before spending any money on my behalf.)    
   >    
   > The first US release of this version of Amazing Grace was in 1987 on   
   > the Gold Castle LP "Trust Your Heart." With Gold Castle's demise,   
   > Laserlight re-released the cuts from "Trust Your Heart" and "Sanity   
   > and Grace" in different groupings. Amazing Grace ended up on the   
   > Laserlight release "Wind Beneath My Wings" (1992). It says, "Licensed   
   > from Gold Castle" so we are pretty sure these two are identical. The   
   > final release of this is actually two seconds shorter, and appears on   
   > Judy's "Come Rejoice, A Judy Collins Christmas" (Sep 1994) on the   
   > Mesa/Bluemoon label.   
   >    
   > The third version is in the audio book "Amazing Grace" published by   
   > Random House (1991). It is called "A personal recollection and   
   > rendition of the hymn" and contains a narration by Judy of the history   
   > of the hymn. At the end of the tape, she sings it a capella without a   
   > choir, just her, and it includes three verses not found on the other   
   > two recordings. It is a rather plain and haunting version, with little   
   > vocal gymnastics. It runs about 6:43. It would be nice if this were   
   > available on CD or DAT as the duplicated cassette lacks a little   
   > quality. Not bad, but not a CD.   
   >    
   > A fourth recording of Amazing Grace is from a concert and appears on   
   > "The Best of Judy Collins" video (1993).  It is also a capella, but   
   > she leads the audience in a sing-a-long. It runs about 3:39. Actually,   
   > I believe that this cut on the video (which is behind the credits at   
   > the end) is from Clinton's inaugural ball in '93.   
   >    
   > Another video that I have not seen was from a PBS special about   
   > Amazing Grace which I understand Judy was on.   
   >    
   > So, I'm sorry, I don't _think_ that she has ever recorded Amazing   
   > Grace with bagpipes, but I do have something sticking in the back of   
   > my mind, too. Perhaps she did that on the PBS special? Perhaps another   
   > TV show? I can tell you where there are NO bagpipes, but I cannot tell   
   > you where they are.    
   >    
   > You say 20 years ago, that would place it around 1976...that is after,   
   > but not that long after, the first recording. I do find that very   
   > moving in a nice acoustic, but alas, no bagpipes.   
   >    
   > You might try asking her: jcollins@cnct.com    
   >    
   > I don't think she responds directly to e-mail, but it is worth a try!   
   >    
   > Cheers!   
   >    
   > Richard   
   >    
   > anlarg@aol.com (AnLarg) wrote:   
   >    
   > >I am looking for a version of Judy Collins singing "Amazing Grace,"   
   > >accompanied by a bagpipe band, for a friend.  He heard it probably twenty   
   > >years ago and swears it was the most beautiful song he ever heard.  He   
   > >went for a workshop at a prison with a friend who ran a prison ministry.    
   > >They were in a group of forty inmates and the minister put on this   
   > >recording.  My friend says there was not a dry eye in the room.     
   > >I have found copies of this song sung by Judy Collins, but not accompanied   
   > >by bagpipe.  I am afraid this is some obscure recording released to vinyl   
   > >only and long obsolete.  Has anyone ever even heard of it?  I would   
   > >greatly appreciate any information.  Thanks.   
      
   AnLarg,   
      
   Yes...I heard it as well. It must have been around or slightly before 1970ish.   
   And, yes, it was the most beautiful version I've ever heard until this day. I   
   have also searched with disappointing results and hope I will be able to find   
   that version some    
   day. Thanks for your kindred spirit. Bill   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)