Search - Judy Garland :: Judy (4cd Boxset + Video + Book)

Impressive... but Expensive

09/12/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is no question that Judy Garland was and still is the world's greatest entertainer, and this glossy box set provides ample evidence for the unconverted. Yet for over seventy dollars, I feel there should be more evidence: each of the four CDs contains about 40 minutes of music (a CD can hold 70), while the video has only truncated teasers from "The Judy Garland Show." For the uninitiated or budding fan, a combination of other CDs would provide just as impressive an introduction to Garland's oeuvre for far less money. Start with "Judy at Carnegie Hall" -- an ABSOLUTE MUST for ANYBODY; sample A&E's Garland "Biography" CD -- a beautifully produced CD with glossy liner notes; and get the recently released, fantastic "Judy Duets" set for her sensational TV material. If you like what you hear, move on to this box set. I don't regret buying this set for one minute, though, and I wouldn't regret buying any Judy recording,"

Fine Judy Garland box set--BRAVO, JUDY !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Judy Garland box set, which is simply entitled Judy, gives us so much to enjoy. We get four fantastic CDs; and the sound quality is excellent. There is a VHS video; this gives people some of the highlights from Judy's critically acclaimed weekly television series. In addition, you really do get a 100 page booklet with great information about Judy.



"The History Of My Life Is In My Songs" starts the first CD with this tune from Judy's 1955 LP entitled Miss Show Business. Judy sounds very strong and her voice is warm, vibrant and full of positive energy. Great! "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart" is an older recording from Judy's recording years at Decca; she sings this flawlessly with the grace and style of a much more seasoned chanteuse. Judy also does a smash-up job on "(Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me Love You;" this comes from the film Broadway Melody Of 1938. In addition, "For Me And My Gal" features Judy again at her best; this song remained a concert staple for Judy during her concert years after she left MGM.



On the second album, "Get Happy" comes from Summer Stock; and Judy aces this effortlessly. "The Man That Got Away" comes from the soundtrack of A Star Is Born from 1954; and Judy sang this so passionately it easily became one of her signature songs. "Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe" again features Judy front and center--and she loved this song because her son was named Joe. In addition, "Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody" was another concert staple for Judy during her concert years; this Al Jolson hit sounds even better when Judy sings it!



On the third CD, "What'll I Do?" gets the royal treatment; Judy sings this with great sensitivity. "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe" showcases Judy's ability to perform this MGM classic tune during the latter years of her career; Judy sings this so well she truly owns this song. "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" showcases Judy Garland doing a magnificent duet with Barbra Streisand; it was very rare that these two great songbirds worked together.



The fourth CD rounds the track set out nicely. "Swanee" gets a fine treatment; this also was a concert staple for Judy; her adoring fans loved how Judy could really let loose during this tune to deliver it with all her might. "By Myself" comes from the movie I Could Go On Singing;" and Judy again performs this to perfection seemingly without any effort whatsoever. Great! There's also "Old Man River;" this tune from the 1960s couldn't sound better.



Of course, there's that 100 page booklet. The photos of Judy are wonderful; and you can read fascinating essays by Joel Dorn, Will Friedwald and Scott Schechter. There's also an interview with Mort Lindsey, who conducted Judy's orchestra for years.



The videotape has numerous highlights of Judy's TV series. We see her perform "Swanee;" "Almost Like Being In Love;" What'll I Do;" "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and other songs. It's wonderful; and the image is crisp.



This may no longer be the latest or the most complete Judy Garland box set; but a diehard fan will still want this. This remains an excellent retrospective of Judy Garland's illustrious career.

"

THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER IS BACK!

Sean Orlosky | Yorktown, IN United States | 10/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This box set is the biggest treat in the world for any and every Judy Garland fan. All the heart, personality, dynamite, tenderness, passion, and spellbinding magic of Judy Garland is captured in the most comprehensive and beautiful box set I've ever seen.Included in the package are four CDs. The remarkable footage contained on the first CD includes Garland at seven years old, already with an astonishingly powerful voice singing vaudeville kiddie numbers solo and even with her two older sisters (but she's still the standout!). She performs at thirteen with a heartbreaking rendition of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", which she sang as a tribute to her dying father. Also included on the first CD are some of her early Decca recordings and performances with Harold Arlen and Al Jolson. On the second CD are several of her post-MGM recordings including "A Star Is Born"'s "The Man That Got Away", and a recording session from "Star" during which Garland got uncontrollable giggles. On the third CD are performances from Garland's 1963-64 television series, boasting performances of many nostalgic favorites. The fourth CD continues and contains the best of Garland's TV show numbers, including solo performances of "Ol' Man River" and "Swanee" and duets with Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, and Ray Bolger (the 'Scarecrow' of "Oz"). The last song on the final CD is a solo performance, and perhaps the most tender and heartbreaking performance of any of the CDs. It is Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" just months before her death, her voice diminished and cracking with the ravages of the years, but it is performed with all the love and heart that we remember breaking our hearts when Garland first sang it as "Dorothy".Also included in the set is a video, a very special addition. The tape contains nine performances from the TV show, (with remarkably clear, sharp images!) beginning with Garland belting out, "Swanee". She sings an amusing version of "Almost Like Being In Love", is heartbreaking with "What'll I Do?" and "When Your Lover Has Gone", and performs with gusto and heart on the numbers "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "Together Wherever We Go" (with daughter Liza Minnelli) and the touching "As Long As He Needs Me". But the most touching, and what I believe to be the most incredible performance of Garland's life is her thrilling, heartbreaking, passionate performance of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" as a tribute for the recently assassinated JFK. Watching the tape, the viewer can see that Garland tries hard not to break down when she reaches a pivotal lyric in the song, "...let us die to make men free...", and it is a testament to the power of heart that Garland threw into every song she ever sang.As a bonus to the incredible collection of performances is a 96-page booklet compiled by Joel Dorn, his son Adam Dorn, and Garland activist Scott Schecter, detailing the CD's contents and featuring interviews with Aretha Franklin and Mort Lindsey, the longtime conductor of much of Garland's special material. The book also contains many rare, beautiful photos.If you're a true fan of Judy Garland, buy this treasure chest of priceless performances and memories!"