Search - Judy Garland :: Best of Capitol Masters: London Sessions

Judy sold these songs without even trying--and that's no sma

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 03/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Best of the Capitol Masters: The London Sessions is an excellent CD of some of the very best studio recordings of Judy Garland's entire career. Her voice sounds fresh, energetic and clear as a bell. Judy was able to deliver these songs with the ability to impart every subtle nuance of the lyrics to the listener--a rare feat indeed! The sound quality of the songs on this CD couldn't be better; and the artwork alone is enough to make you want to buy this one!



"Lucky Day" features Judy singing marvelously; her voice sounds great and the big band style arrangement works wonders for this number. "Stormy Weather" gets the royal treatment from Judy who sings this passionately with all her might. The strings work well and Judy's vocals in the spotlight are absolutely enchanting. "Come Rain Or Come Shine" has great drums as Judy belts this out like the pro she always was! Judy's voice rings through as if she were standing right next to you as she sung this to you and only you!



"The Man That Got Away" is actually so good it's even on a par with the rendition Judy sang in A Star Is Born; she shows off the operatic qualities of her voice on this track. Judy's excellent diction bolsters her performance even further. "Swanee" benefits from a strong backup chorus; and listen for "Happiness Is A Thing Named Joe" which was probably very important to Judy personally because her own son was named Joe. Judy delivers "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe" with panache and Ethel Waters, who sang this in Cabin In The Sky, would be mighty proud of Judy!



The "MGM Medley" features parts of "The Trolley Song;" "You Made Me Love You" and more; Judy sounds perfect on these numbers and she leaves you wanting more! Fortunately, that's precisely what you're going to get--there's more to this fine album!



"Do It Again" is a most romantic melody that puts Judy squarely in the spotlight; and the musical arrangement is very elegant. "Chicago" is a bouncy, energetic number that sounds so much better whenever Judy sings it; I love the brass on "Chicago!" "After You've Gone" lacks nothing--it's THAT good. "After You've Gone gets more than one great tempo and Judy handles the tempo changes very well. Of course, the album closes with one of Judy's biggest hits ever, "Over The Rainbow." Judy never misses a beat and she sings this from her heart. Sadly, Judy's life wasn't always too happy; so I believe that her delivery of this masterpiece is enhanced by her ability to inject her personal feelings about her life into this ballad.



Overall, this is one mighty fine album by the incomparable Judy Garland, the world's greatest entertainer ever. As another reviewer correctly notes, if you like this you may as well purchase the three CD set by Judy entitled Judy Garland: The One and Only. The box set would be a good buy and diehard Judy fans will want the entire three CD box set. More casual fans will be comfortable with just this one CD.

"

VOCAL PERFECTION~BRAVO JUDY GARLAND!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 03/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a near fatal illness, Judy went to London and feeling better and on the mend went into a London studio and recorded these classic sessions which contain many of her finest studio performances which are beautifully arranged with a full studio orchestra...the results are totally stunning and these incredible recordings are also a preview of the legendary Carnegie Hall concert which exploded on the music scene the following year, selling millions and gave Judy Garland a much deserved "Five Grammy Awards" win including a Grammy Award for "Album Of The Year". "Judy In London" finds Miss Garland in great voice and in a wildly creative mood expanding her classic reportiore with new classics such as the most inspirational version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" ever recorded with a glorious vocal soaring to breathtaking heights showing Judy in peak form! Opening with an exhuberent and brilliantly sung "Lucky Day", it is clear that luck belongs to the listener of this treasure chest of tremendous performances...the richness of Garland's voice and the passionate and wildly soulful performances show that this great singer possessed the greatest voice of her generation and of the century...never before or since has Cole Porter's "I Happen To Like New York" been sung with such emotional depth plus a full-voiced rich vocal that is gorgeous and incomparable! A tour-de-force medley "Judy At The Palace" defines what great singing and the art of emoting are all about thus bringing the song to life for the listener in a most extraordinary way...and those rich heavenly tones!!! Judy manages to make an athem out of "It's A Great Day For The Irish" and this timeless collection is full of definitive performances of many of the greatest songs written over the past century...quite a accomplishment but Judy Garland's brilliant career was full of them and Judy left behind quite a collection of wondrous performances for us to savor and enjoy and these legendary sessions are as far as her recordings go at the top of the list...get it and enjoy the greatest singer ever! Bravo Judy and we miss you!!!"

Near peak perfromances.

Jeffrey Adamsky | 03/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am gonna get killed here bu this cd has teriific vocals from Judy but she was still trying rediscover her voval power and some of the songs drag under the admittedly lacluster conducting of her European conductor Norrie Pramour. Yet in Numbers like Swanee and Over The rainow and lucky day there is an almost operatic quality to her singing-very raw and unforced like her 1960 eurpoean concert tour, Carnagie hall would be soon after this and she would come very far in that short time. Recorded at her absolutest healthiest ever."