Search - Judy Garland :: Judy Takes Broadway! With Friends

GARLAND on Broadway CBS style...Bravo JUDY!!!

Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 07/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shortly after five time Grammy Award Winning masterpiece "Judy At Carnegie Hall" turned out to be a run-away blockbuster success, Capitol Records smartly decided the next Garland recording project would be another live concert recording of a great mix of Broadway Showtunes, hense the title "Judy Takes Broadway" finally released remastered for Compact Disc in 1989 after numerous inferior vinyl bootleg releases. Limited release "Judy Live" is one of the Judy's greatest recording accomplishments even though the great Garland is slightly hoarse in a few spots, only adds a soulful edge to a classic recording that is totally exciting and exhilarating to experience. In New York at The Manhattan Center, clearly the celebrity filled audience were having a memorable time breaking in to applause during songs while cheering long and loud throughout that memorable night.

Fast forward to this recreation of this classic plus more from Garland's wonderful CBS Series a year later, this welcome collection is an fascinating alternative adding to the original classic some wondrous duets with greats such as Mel Torme, Steve Allen & one of Garland's greatest duet partners Vic Damone. A sublime duet medley from "Kismet" with Vic Damone is a stunning marathon of great songs from the musical sung as they have never been sung before or since & this has got to be great as a dueling duet can possibility be with these peerless legends in peak form shining brightly giving heart-stopping & extraordinarily performances! Another welcome addition not in the original "Judy Takes Broadway" is a stunning take on the Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh gem "Here's To Us" which becomes Judy's personal anthem. Sharing with her audience a closing moment so beautifully sung & deeply moving makes it seem strange this magnificent gem, tremendous artistic triumph for Garland, was cut and not shown for forty years...lovingly filmed as the perfect intended finale for the original telecast of Judy's legendary variety series, this shining moment did finally come through to her audience decades later and can be seen in the amazing DVD collection of the classic "The Judy Garland Show" television series featured in two lavish must-have box sets. This extraordinary performance of "Here's To Us" is one of the finest from Judy Garland's amazing career and the greatest ever emotionally raw & naked filmed performance of a major singer...deeply moving & riveting to experience, this is the real deal and were not in Oz anymore!

While this winning collection with Judy in top vocal form does not replace the original underground masterpiece "Judy Takes Broadway" ("Judy Live") which is legend, it does stand on its own as a fine Broadway Showstopper collection from the ultimate singer & spellbinding 20th Century Diva...Bravo Judy!!!"

Judy Lives ON

Ms. Sheree L. Gilbert | Clifton, NJ | 06/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thank God for tapes. They keep someone like Judy Garland alive. You hear her voice on this CD and she is still there. For a woman who left us almost 40 years ago, there is not a year when new CDs or books do not come out and reach all the generations-only as she could.

Thanks to those who compile these memories for us to hear and see.

Thank you for keeping her alive.

Thank you Judy Garland for being you and sharing you with us."

Sail Away with Judy Garland

Joel D. Arndt | University Heights, OH USA | 06/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Without doubt, this new release of Garland performances from the 1963-64 "The Judy Garland Show" is one of the best. It contains some of Judy's most powerful, though lesser known in some cases, musical moments from the entire 26 episode run or from her entire career for that matter.



All of the selections included are fairly contemporary Broadway numbers of the time covering the decade from the early 1950's to the early 1960's with the exception of a typically witty and adult Rodgers and Hart song "Why Can't I?" from the 1929 production "Spring is Here", beautifully, tenderly sung and a particular standout. Other highlights are the rousing "Sail Away" by Noel Coward which opens the set, the "Sophie" medley performed with and written by Steve Allen that includes the autobiographical "I'll Show Them All", Frank Loesser's "Never Will I Marry" from "Greenwillow" (a very difficult song to sing and brilliantly rendered here), the "Kismet" medley with Vic Damone and Styne, Comden and Green's "The Party's Over" from "Bells Are Ringing" with Mel Torme. These are just a few of the highlights which includes performances from the Styne/Sondheim "Gypsy" ("Some People") and Lerner and Loewe's "My Fair Lady" ("Get Me to the Church on Time"), among others. If you love classic Broadway tunes, these renditions will send chills up your spine.



The audio transfer is excellent considering the sources are over 40 years old and the booklet enclosed with comments by Garland expert John Fricke is insightful and interesting. The tag line at the bottom of the cd cover that says "contains 11 tracks new to cd" is a bit of a misnomer as "Here's to Us" from the Coleman and Leigh score for "Little Me" was released a few years ago. Another superb release from the Savoy Jazz label that is well worth adding to your collection."