A *Force* Of *Nature* To Be Reckoned With!
Alex Honda | Los Angeles, CA USA | 03/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Judy Garland's JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL 2 CD SET is one fantastic live album. It captures the enormous talent and versatility of this dynamic superstar, not to mention her rapport with an adoring audience, and her explosive performance that night.
Believe the hype and the other 5-star reviews because JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL belongs in any music lover's library. Garland performs her own standards like "Over The Rainbow" and "The Man That Got Away," among others, and takes on other popular songs like "Stormy Weather," "Swanee," and "That's Entertainment," making them all her own. The orchestra sounds great and Garland's performance is firing on all pistons, as she attacks each song with vengeance, letting the world know she still had it. I'm not even a big Garland fan but I'm awestruck by this performance!
Oh how I wish Barbra Streisand would make an album like this (Barbra Streisand - Timeless (Live in Concert) comes close).
Anyway, the 24-bit remastering is wonderful and you can almost hear each instrument in the band. If you listen closely to CD 2, you can hear the audience singing the line from Over The Rainbow, "...if all the little blue birds fly, why oh why...," as the band plays the song in between Garland's set and at the end (actually almost anytime the band starts up with "Over...," LOL, they just couldn't help themselves).
I wasn't even alive then, but it sounded like a magical event and I see why this is a highly regarded "live" album.
The CD set comes with a small booklet with black & white pics, original liner notes with headlines from trade papers, and "Two Hours Of Pow" by Scott Schechter that gives a little background info on this concert and Judy's life at the time.
A truly great CD and I recommend it!
"
Judy Garland - Live at Carnegie Hall 1961
Ian Beattie | Melbourne, Australia | 05/20/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If ever I wanted to be in an audience this would have been the one I'd choose. Although initially not a great fan when I first heard Judy Garland, this recording quickly changed my perception of what an outstanding stage presentation and voice she had. Incredibly sustained notes and a powerful voice makes her an audience's dream. A truly great recording. One for the collection."