A comeback to float your boat
Judie Tzuke
Jude The Unsinkable
If you thought Chelsea’s comeback against Man United courtesy of Cole Palmer was incredible, consider Judie Tzuke’s.
The Stay With Me Till Dawn star has survived cancer, losing her home and a near-fatal dose of Covid, to bounce back with the strongest album of her six-decade career.
“Thought that it was over, running back from nowhere, but it seems that I’m not done yet,” Judie sings defiantly on the atmospheric, folk-tinged opener Unsinkable, embellished with co-writer Ben Mark’s tastefully intense guitar solo.
“Sunlight fix me, make me invincible, I name this ship Jude The Unsinkable.”
Her voice is still as bewitching as it was when Sir Elton John signed her to Rocket Records in 1977.
No wonder the London-born daughter of Jewish refugees from Poland went on to notch up seven Top 40 albums and a Glastonbury headliner.
There are 12 deliciously sublime tracks here, including Idiot Kings, an ethereal side-step into politics.
Sanctuary is closer to a hymn, its soft lilting verses building to an uplifting choral chorus and a complementary lead guitar break from David Goodes.
“This is a prayer for broken humans,” she sings. “I’ll build myself a pyramid of light.”
The album, her 22nd, is very much a family affair with Judie’s husband Paul on co-production and percussion, and their daughters on backing vocals.
Highs include the delicate French-flavoured closer, Keeper Of The Sun and the softly bluesy but lyrically angrier Evergreen (co-written with guitarist Chaz Thorogood).
The end result is a testimony to her talent and tenacity. Tzuke has set sail against a sea of troubles and remained buoyant.
Her records stopped charting in the 1990s but if there’s any justice in the fickle world of pop, Judie’s personal comeback will be followed by a chart one.