The big-voiced Ms Henske's two albums for
Elektra "Judy Henske" (EKS 7231) from 1963 and
"High Flying Bird" (EKS 7241) from the following
year, released together on one CD.
She had to be loud as she learned her trade
warming up audiences, un-amplified, for Lenny
Bruce in Sunset Strip coffee houses - her beat-
keeping stamp occasionally destroying the stage.
Eschewing "little girl" folk songs for the lure of
whorehouse blues and murder ballads, Henske's
renditions are totally her own while her
charismatic spoken introductions are a perfect
foil for the gutsy vocals which follow.
She runs the entire gamut of emotions; often very
funny but also tender, raunchy, yearning and
sensual. This reissue captures a time when Judy
Henske was a force of untamed nature in the safe
folk world, maybe too big for the era then
unfolding outside.
Sleeve notes are by Kris Needs, based on a brand
new interview with the now 80 year-old Judy.
