Judy Garland - Judy At Carnegie Hall: Fortieth Anniversary Edition

The late 1950s were tough on Judy Garland, but this live recording, cut on April 23, 1961, at Carnegie Hall, would (rightfully) bring the legendary icon back into the spotlight. Live would go on to win five Grammys, be Garland's bestselling record, and confirm that, yes, on certain levels, she still had it. Her vocals are as strong as ever on these tunes, and Garland has fun with an audience obviously enraptured by her charms. She's self-deprecating where necessary--on "You Go to My Head" she "forgets" the lyrics but pretends to improvise. Mostly she just shines, especially on tunes she made famous, such as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Stormy Weather," and "Over the Rainbow." This is easily one of pop music's greatest live recordings and a fine testament to Garland's recorded legacy. This two-CD set has been remastered for EMI's 40th-anniversary reissue to coincide with the ABC film based on daughter Lorna Luft's memoir Me and My Shadows (and is also available in a 24-karat-gold audiophile format released in 2000). --Jason Verlinde Amazon.com essential recording

Jazz lovers will appreciate this album too -- it's not just show tunes!

I had long ignored Judy Garland because I unjustly assumed she only did campy show tunes. Big mistake. Yes, she does do some obligatory Broadway hits (e.g. "That's Entertainment"); but her performance here is much more versatile than I expected. Most of my musical collection favors singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sara Vaughan, and Nina Simone, etc. but Garland is a comfortable fit.

Best example: on disk 2 she sings "Stormy Weather" - a song made big by the likes of Ethel Waters and Lena Horne - both phenomenal singers themselves - but their versions are easily dwarfed by Garland's performance of Mort Lindsey's* arrangement of this classic blues standard. Garland's voice is a torrent of emotion that transforms the song from one of common heartache to one of profound and inescapable despair. (*Lindsey and his orchestra are impeccable and deserve a lot of credit for letting Garland shine at her brightest and making this show so unforgettable.)

Going back to Disk 1, there is another song - one I had never heard before, which is surprising because it is a masterpiece that can not be ignored: "Do it Again". It is one of the sexiest songs ever written and Garland sings it with irresistible seduction - it's a sort of refined and romantic alternative to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."

I played "Stormy Weather" and "Do It Again" over and over for weeks - those two songs alone are worth the price of this CD set. So, if you like jazz and big bands - folks like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett - don't hesitate to add this to your collection. It really is a brilliant performance you will enjoy again and again. February 27, 2008

As thrilling now as it ever was!!!

If you're a JUDY fan (and who isn't?) this is the CD you MUST have. Her voice is at it's best on every song. Fabulous back up band. You will listen to this for years to come. February 25, 2008

Wonderful!

Bought this for a gift to my parents for their 62nd wedding anniversary. They love it! February 8, 2008

Classic Garland!

This is a must for all fans of Judy Garland, it really captures what she was all about. August 15, 2007

A GREAT CD BUT THE LP IS BETTER

Don't get me wrong. I love the pure sound of the CD and it thrills me every time I listen to this album through headphones. The added Judy chatter is wonderful and funny. But being a live album, I always wonder why the sounds of the audience are pushed back so far in remastered CD'S?
On the 2 record set, the audience cheers and applause are right up there, and gives the performance an even more exciting feel, especially on That's Entertainment, San Francisco, Swanee, and when Judy says: "I'll sing 'em all and we'll stay all night!" The cheers and roars are incredible! Isn't this what a "live" recording is supposed to be about? The same thing was done to Shirley Bassey's Carnegie Hall album.Why tamper with a masterpiece? Let the audience get involved and stop pushing them back!
July 22, 2007

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