Model Citizen

It all started when I was a kid. I was 11. I was just getting into popular music and would listen to my little radio in my downstairs bedroom/studio away from the rest of the family. It was always Radio 1, there was no other station worth listening to back in 79'.
Anyway, more than once a song would come on the radio, and I'd miss who it was, so the only thing I could do was keep listening until it was played again. Yes, no kidding. I remember finding out Escape by Rupert Holmes, Everyday hurts by Sad Cafe, Cruel to be Kind by Nick Loewe like that. The one track that blew me away at that early age though was Stay With Me Till Dawn by a newcomer, Judie Tzuke.



I used to go into Newport, South Wales, where there was a place called Roxene Records, every school kid in the area used to go there and but there music. I picked up my first pink Floyd records there along with the Wish You Were Here metal pin badge, and rummaged through the Z section looking for Zuke until I figured out it was'nt spelt like that. there I found a single entry, Welcome To The Cruise.



Well I bought it, and was so struck with it I became a fan at day 1. I went on to buy Sportscar , I Am The Phoenix , Shoot The Moon , Road Noise (Live) , Ritmo and The Cat Is Out before I moved away from home with only a suitcase up to Northumberland in 89.
It would be 1991 before I heard Judie again in Basildon Essex. I was looking in a charity shop and saw Turning Stones there for £1. I bought it and fell in love all over again.



The next greatest thing to happen was Judie visited Basildon, the old theater on the corner of the town on a tour of her Wonderland album. It was the first of 4 times that I saw her and possibly the greatest show I'd been to. I say that having seen many great stars like Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Wishbone Ash, Joan Armatrading, U2. What was so great about it was that there were only about 40 people there! A shame to say the least, and also one of the hardest things to figure out with Judie (more later). Rather than be downhearted with the small turnout she gave it her all and talked to the small crowd like we were old friends, which in one way I think we all were. It was the most intimate concert I've been to, so much better than a huge gig where the musicians are the size of ants and you wonder why you paid £40 to go. It was also a real testament to her voice, which is as pure as snow, absolutely perfect.



After the show I did some research, the Internet had been invented!!! and found Judie now had her own website and recording studio.
There were a few albums also I'd not heard off, so went about replacing all my old vinyl with CD's.

It's now almost 30 years ago I first heard Judie Tzuke on the radio, and she's still to my ears one of the greatest living singer songwriters on the planet. A lot of new talent like Lucie Silvas, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Claire Toomey, and David Saw are taking her songs and bringing them to the latest generation, but to me you really need to go to the source.
Which is also the strangest part of being a Tzuke fan. Those who know her, love her, but there are so many who have never heard of her, and when they finally do hear her wonder why she's not being played round the clock on the radio? Once you hear her voice you really do appreciate just what a good singer is. You also realise there are'nt many about, maybe Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, but I'd limit it to a handful.

So, if your in the latter catagory and are thinking, well, I might give her a listen, where do you begin?

First there's her website: http://www.tzuke.com where you can get all the info you desire, a discography, a forum and links to online shops, MP3 downloads and samples.

If I was buying a first album to listen to, then I'd recommend one of three. It's pretty much a guarantee you'll like them if your any sort of female vocal lover:


Secret Agent.


Queen Secret keeper


The End Of The Beginning.

These are some of her most latest works and therefor are among the most polished. A great place to start, and as an added bonus if you buy them on-line you can ask Judie to sign them for you.