Suite Judy

Whether platonic or romantic, long-lasting relationships can enrich a life. We should all be so lucky as to have one. But sometimes, the very stuff that makes them beautiful can also make them insufferable. On the plus side, the person knows you better than anyone else, and on the down side, the person knows you better than anyone else.

Folk-singer Judy Collins first met musician Stephen Stills in the late ’60s. After a tumultuous love affair —the fall-out of which begat one of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s biggest hits, “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” — the Laurel Canyon legends remained close. “We were great friends,” Collins tells me over the phone. “We liked each other’s music, even then.”

Over the years, the pair dabbled with playing music together. “We once recorded a song of Tom Paxton’s together,” Collins says. But it took until 2017 for the friends to release their first full-length collaboration, Everybody Knows. The album features cover versions of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan classics, as well as original compositions from Collins and Stills. Live onstage, the duo share stories while playing familiar favorites as well as some new tunes, such as “Judy” and “River of Maria.”

I ask Collins, who is now 78, if there’s any downside to working creatively with a friend of over five decades. “It’s very easy,” she says. “All of the good sides of knowing each other have shown up, none of the downsides. Musically, we know each other well — well enough to get each other’s jokes.” ■

Judy Collins and Stephen Stills perform as Stills & Collins 7:30 pm Thursday, May 3 at the Hult Center; $53 to $71.50, all ages.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!