Judee Sill, a super-talented singer-songwriter, left a mark on the world that's still felt today. Her music is a beautiful mix of sadness and joy that touches the deepest parts of your soul. She could feel everything so deeply and put it into her songs. Judee's life was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. She had some fantastic moments, but she also had some tough times. But even when things were tough, she always kept writing and singing. Her songs are like a mirror that reflects the beauty and fragility of life. Even though Judee is no longer with us, her legacy lives on. Her songs inspire people and help them feel less alone. When you listen to her music, it's like she's with you, sharing your feelings and giving you hope. So, let's raise a glass to Judee Sill, a true artist who poured her heart and soul into her music. Her songs are a gift that we'll always treasure. She'll always be a beacon of light in our hearts, reminding us that there's always hope and beauty, even in the darkest times.
In the tapestry of music history, some threads shine brightly and touch the hearts of many, yet sometimes, these threads are tragically short. Judee Sill, an extraordinary singer-songwriter, is one such thread. "Lady O, Lady O," the gentle refrain sung by the Turtles, echoes with the essence of Judee's artistry-a delicate blend of melancholy and beauty. Her music, imbued with a profound sensitivity and an ethereal quality, resonates deeply with those who take the time to listen. Judee's life, marked by brilliance and hardship, tragically ended too soon. Yet her songs have left an indelible mark on the world. Her ability to channel deep emotions into her music has rendered her work timeless. "Lady O, you're a beacon of light." These words symbolize the guiding light she has become for those who find comfort and solace in her melodies. Though her journey was fraught with personal struggles, Judee Sill's legacy continues to inspire and move us. Her tender yet powerful voice and her lyrics, filled with heartfelt introspection, remind us of the fragile beauty of life. In honoring Judee Sill, we remember a soul who poured her heart into every note and every word. Her music remains a testament to her remarkable talent and the poignant story of her life. "Lady O," you will always shine on in our hearts, a beacon of artistry and emotion.
Thank God this amazing band were in a time and place where their beautiful voices and melting lyrics could be appreciated all around the world. Today they wouldn’t get a look in. Really hits home about what is truly beautiful and what is truly ugly.
One of the names from that era that has been all but forgotten is Judee Lynn Sill, who was once favorably compared to such other Laurel Canyon singer/songwriters as Joni Mitchell, Judi Collins and Carole King. By the time of her death on November 23, 1979, however, she had been all but forgotten, and not a single obituary was published to note her passing. Judee was born in Studio City, California, not far from the northern entrance to Laurel Canyon, on October 7, 1944. Her father, Milford “Bud” Sill, was reportedly a cameraman for Paramount Studios with numerous Hollywood connections. When Judee was quite young, however, Bud moved the family to Oakland and opened a bar known as “Bud’s Bar.” He also operated a side business as an importer of rare animals, which required him to spend a considerable amount of time traveling in Central and South America. Such a business, it should be noted, would provide an ideal cover for covert intelligence work. In any event, Bud Sill was dead by 1952, when Judee was just seven or eight years old. Depending on who is telling the story, Bud died either from pneumonia or a heart attack. Following Bud’s death, the family relocated back to Southern California and Judee’s older brother Dennis, still in his teens, took over the family importing business. That didn’t last long though as Dennis soon turned up dead down in Central America, either from a liver infection or a car accident. The animal importing business, I guess, is a rather dangerous one. Judee’s mother, Oneta, met and married Ken Muse, an Academy Award winning animator for Hanna-Barbera who was described by Judee as an abusive, violent alcoholic. At fifteen, Judee fled her violent home life and lived with an older man with whom she pulled off a series of armed robberies in the San Fernando Valley. Those activities landed her in reform school, which did little to curb her appetite for drugs, crime and alcohol. She spent the next few years with a serious heroin addiction, which she financed by dealing drugs and turning tricks in some of LA’s seedier neighborhoods. By 1963, Judee had cleaned herself up enough to enroll in junior college. In the early winter of 1965, however, Judee’s mom, her last surviving family member, died either of cancer or of complications arising from her chronic alcoholism (take your pick; the details of this story will likely remain forever elusive). Barely an adult, Judee was left all alone in the world, and thus began another downward spiral into drugs and crime, which culminated in her being arrested and possibly serving time on forgery and drug charges. In the late 1960’s, with her addictions apparently temporarily curbed, Sill joined the Laurel Canyon scene, where she attempted to forge a career as a singer/songwriter. Her first big break came when she sold the song “Lady O” to The Turtles (yet another Laurel Canyon band to hit it big in the mid-1960’s; best known for the hit single “Happy Together,” The Turtles were led by lead vocalist/songwriter Howard Kaylan, who happened to be, small world that it is, a cousin of Frank Zappa’s manager and business partner, Herb Cohen). The band released the song, which featured Judee’s guitar work, in 1969. The next year, Sill became the first artist signed to David Geffen’s fledgling Asylum record label. The year after that, her self-titled debut album became Asylum’s first official release. The first single from the album, “Jesus Was a Crossmaker,” was produced by Graham Nash, whom she opened for on tour following the album’s release. Though critically well-received, the album’s sales were disappointing, in part because the record was overshadowed by the debut albums of Jackson Browne and The Eagles, both released by Asylum shortly after the release of Judee’s album. Sill’s second album, 1973’s “Heart Food,” was even more of a commercial disappointment. Nevertheless, in 1974 she began work on a third album in Monkee Mike Nesmith’s recording studio. Prior to completion, however, she abandoned the project and promptly disappeared without a trace. What became of her between that time and her death some five years later remains largely a mystery. It is assumed that she once again descended into a life of drugs and prostitution, but no one seems to know for sure. It is alleged that she was seriously injured when her car was rear-ended by actor Danny Kaye, causing her to suffer from chronic back pain thereafter, thus contributing to her drug addictions. According to a friend of hers, she lived in a home that featured an enormous photo of Bela Lugosi above the fireplace, a large ebony cross above her bed, and racks of candles. She is said to have read extensively from Rosicrucian manuscripts and from the writings of Aleister Crowley, to have possessed a complete collection of the work of Helena Blavatsky, and to have been a gifted tarot card reader. What is known for sure is that, on the day after Thanksgiving, 1979, Judee Sill, the last surviving member of her family, was found dead in a North Hollywood apartment. The cause of death was listed as “acute cocaine and codeine intoxication.” It was claimed that a suicide note was found, but friends insisted that the supposed note was either a portion of a diary entry or an unfinished song. One of her friends would later note that, at some point in her life, Judee began to realize that “there was a part of her that wasn’t under her conscious control.” I’m guessing that Phil Ochs, and quite a few other characters in this story, could relate to that.
Thanks for the info, crazy story! She had the voice of an angel and may have been. Are u familiar with Biff Rose? Also had interaction with Geffin and recorded with Nesmith. Always wondered if he met Judy
This song is exactly the same studio music as Judee Sill's but just a different vocal. It's a nice performance from The Turtles but you can't beat the haunting origina.l
Really love The Turtles songs and muic and the 60s music as well but my era kis more like from 1967 till !979 but love the 60s 70s 80s and some 90s ! I am 65 years old but 60s is my very favorite type of music and thank you very much for this awesome song !
Gorgeous! That is a Judee Sill composition. Even 51 years ago the Turtles already looked like middle aged grandpas. How old were these guys? Were they even thirty yet at this point?
i'm not sure that any of them were even 23 when this was shot. I think that Howard's "fast living" had caught up with him in a hurry.... check out any shots of HK and MV with Zappa in '70 and '71. They look 50.
Judee Sill, a super-talented singer-songwriter, left a mark on the world that's still felt today. Her music is a beautiful mix of sadness and joy that touches the deepest parts of your soul. She could feel everything so deeply and put it into her songs.
Judee's life was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. She had some fantastic moments, but she also had some tough times. But even when things were tough, she always kept writing and singing. Her songs are like a mirror that reflects the beauty and fragility of life.
Even though Judee is no longer with us, her legacy lives on. Her songs inspire people and help them feel less alone. When you listen to her music, it's like she's with you, sharing your feelings and giving you hope.
So, let's raise a glass to Judee Sill, a true artist who poured her heart and soul into her music. Her songs are a gift that we'll always treasure. She'll always be a beacon of light in our hearts, reminding us that there's always hope and beauty, even in the darkest times.
In the tapestry of music history, some threads shine brightly and touch the hearts of many, yet sometimes, these threads are tragically short. Judee Sill, an extraordinary singer-songwriter, is one such thread.
"Lady O, Lady O," the gentle refrain sung by the Turtles, echoes with the essence of Judee's artistry-a delicate blend of melancholy and beauty. Her music, imbued with a profound sensitivity and an ethereal quality, resonates deeply with those who take the time to listen.
Judee's life, marked by brilliance and hardship, tragically ended too soon. Yet her songs have left an indelible mark on the world. Her ability to channel deep emotions into her music has rendered her work timeless. "Lady O, you're a beacon of light." These words symbolize the guiding light she has become for those who find comfort and solace in her melodies.
Though her journey was fraught with personal struggles, Judee Sill's legacy continues to inspire and move us. Her tender yet powerful voice and her lyrics, filled with heartfelt introspection, remind us of the fragile beauty of life.
In honoring Judee Sill, we remember a soul who poured her heart into every note and every word. Her music remains a testament to her remarkable talent and the poignant story of her life. "Lady O," you will always shine on in our hearts, a beacon of artistry and emotion.
Thank God this amazing band were in a time and place where their beautiful voices and melting lyrics could be appreciated all around the world. Today they wouldn’t get a look in. Really hits home about what is truly beautiful and what is truly ugly.
One of the names from that era that has been all but forgotten is Judee Lynn Sill, who was once favorably compared to such other Laurel Canyon singer/songwriters as Joni Mitchell, Judi Collins and Carole King. By the time of her death on November 23, 1979, however, she had been all but forgotten, and not a single obituary was published to note her passing.
Judee was born in Studio City, California, not far from the northern entrance to Laurel Canyon, on October 7, 1944. Her father, Milford “Bud” Sill, was reportedly a cameraman for Paramount Studios with numerous Hollywood connections. When Judee was quite young, however, Bud moved the family to Oakland and opened a bar known as “Bud’s Bar.” He also operated a side business as an importer of rare animals, which required him to spend a considerable amount of time traveling in Central and South America. Such a business, it should be noted, would provide an ideal cover for covert intelligence work. In any event, Bud Sill was dead by 1952, when Judee was just seven or eight years old. Depending on who is telling the story, Bud died either from pneumonia or a heart attack.
Following Bud’s death, the family relocated back to Southern California and Judee’s older brother Dennis, still in his teens, took over the family importing business. That didn’t last long though as Dennis soon turned up dead down in Central America, either from a liver infection or a car accident. The animal importing business, I guess, is a rather dangerous one.
Judee’s mother, Oneta, met and married Ken Muse, an Academy Award winning animator for Hanna-Barbera who was described by Judee as an abusive, violent alcoholic. At fifteen, Judee fled her violent home life and lived with an older man with whom she pulled off a series of armed robberies in the San Fernando Valley. Those activities landed her in reform school, which did little to curb her appetite for drugs, crime and alcohol. She spent the next few years with a serious heroin addiction, which she financed by dealing drugs and turning tricks in some of LA’s seedier neighborhoods.
By 1963, Judee had cleaned herself up enough to enroll in junior college. In the early winter of 1965, however, Judee’s mom, her last surviving family member, died either of cancer or of complications arising from her chronic alcoholism (take your pick; the details of this story will likely remain forever elusive). Barely an adult, Judee was left all alone in the world, and thus began another downward spiral into drugs and crime, which culminated in her being arrested and possibly serving time on forgery and drug charges.
In the late 1960’s, with her addictions apparently temporarily curbed, Sill joined the Laurel Canyon scene, where she attempted to forge a career as a singer/songwriter. Her first big break came when she sold the song “Lady O” to The Turtles (yet another Laurel Canyon band to hit it big in the mid-1960’s; best known for the hit single “Happy Together,” The Turtles were led by lead vocalist/songwriter Howard Kaylan, who happened to be, small world that it is, a cousin of Frank Zappa’s manager and business partner, Herb Cohen). The band released the song, which featured Judee’s guitar work, in 1969. The next year, Sill became the first artist signed to David Geffen’s fledgling Asylum record label. The year after that, her self-titled debut album became Asylum’s first official release. The first single from the album, “Jesus Was a Crossmaker,” was produced by Graham Nash, whom she opened for on tour following the album’s release.
Though critically well-received, the album’s sales were disappointing, in part because the record was overshadowed by the debut albums of Jackson Browne and The Eagles, both released by Asylum shortly after the release of Judee’s album. Sill’s second album, 1973’s “Heart Food,” was even more of a commercial disappointment. Nevertheless, in 1974 she began work on a third album in Monkee Mike Nesmith’s recording studio. Prior to completion, however, she abandoned the project and promptly disappeared without a trace. What became of her between that time and her death some five years later remains largely a mystery. It is assumed that she once again descended into a life of drugs and prostitution, but no one seems to know for sure.
It is alleged that she was seriously injured when her car was rear-ended by actor Danny Kaye, causing her to suffer from chronic back pain thereafter, thus contributing to her drug addictions. According to a friend of hers, she lived in a home that featured an enormous photo of Bela Lugosi above the fireplace, a large ebony cross above her bed, and racks of candles. She is said to have read extensively from Rosicrucian manuscripts and from the writings of Aleister Crowley, to have possessed a complete collection of the work of Helena Blavatsky, and to have been a gifted tarot card reader.
What is known for sure is that, on the day after Thanksgiving, 1979, Judee Sill, the last surviving member of her family, was found dead in a North Hollywood apartment. The cause of death was listed as “acute cocaine and codeine intoxication.” It was claimed that a suicide note was found, but friends insisted that the supposed note was either a portion of a diary entry or an unfinished song. One of her friends would later note that, at some point in her life, Judee began to realize that “there was a part of her that wasn’t under her conscious control.” I’m guessing that Phil Ochs, and quite a few other characters in this story, could relate to that.
Thanks for the info, crazy story! She had the voice of an angel and may have been. Are u familiar with Biff Rose? Also had interaction with Geffin and recorded with Nesmith. Always wondered if he met Judy
Also, her family's deep state background and the occult nature of Laurel Canyon is not lost on me
You should at least mention the name of the book you copypasted this. You didn't even change one comma
musically , composition and Lyrics Judee would have transcended Joni Mitchell .
This song is exactly the same studio music as Judee Sill's but just a different vocal. It's a nice performance from The Turtles but you can't beat the haunting origina.l
A beautiful song written by Judee Sill
Simply the way music should be
Check out her version on spotify just as good as the group rendition in fact its almost identical one of 🐢 turtles finest moments 👏
Cosmic Queen Judee 💙
She was awesome. Also seemed happy to have sold the song and made some money. I'm excited to hear Turtles version.
Yes. I saw her play it live, twice, in the early 70s. She was uniquely talented, funny and charismatic.
Really love The Turtles songs and muic and the 60s music as well but my era kis more like from 1967 till !979 but love the 60s 70s 80s and some 90s ! I am 65 years old but 60s is my very favorite type of music and thank you very much for this awesome song !
Gorgeous! That is a Judee Sill composition.
Even 51 years ago the Turtles already looked like middle aged grandpas. How old were these guys? Were they even thirty yet at this point?
Cosmic Queen Judee 💙
Howard Kaylan is about 22 in this.
i'm not sure that any of them were even 23 when this was shot. I think that Howard's "fast living" had caught up with him in a hurry.... check out any shots of HK and MV with Zappa in '70 and '71. They look 50.
@@jamesguitarshields Jim Pons would've been the oldest here at about 26.
Yes, I was thinking the same. These look like 45 year old men, not guys in their 20s. Hard life style.
I so wanted this to be live rather than lip-synched.
Still interesting, but oh, what could have been.
Good job!
Pls give us more Turtles!
My favorite Turtles song
~ And to think, within a year, three of these guys would be with Zappa and The Mothers.
yep saw them with Zappa October 21, 1970 Music Hall in Cincinnati
Love the voice
A beautiful song
Mais, qu'est-ce que c'est, Joli...
Magnifique, merci
Just wonderful!!!
Beautiful music and lyrics written by Judee Sill
The video is nice but it is just a mime of the recording....love the song!
RIP Judee Lynn Sill
1:09 I didn't know Mark Volman took a stab at the rent-a-car biz. Times were tough indeed.
Wow who wrote this stunning gem?!
why don't you look it up genius.
I always thought that this song was sung by the big guy with the glasses.
Demais nem imaginava em nascer nessa época
Mas essa são as melhores
The Turtles cover of Lady O is even better than the original written by Judee Sill.
Nobody told us to bring instruments.
Awesome but why does Al Nichol look like a mock George Harrison?
Everyone followed the Beatles that's why.
Yeah he *really* took to that 1969-era George look here.
Ban Emma Poop commercials.
The Judie Sill version is alot better imo
Agreed
agreed
That Cali weed..good, no?