Search - Judy Garland, Carol Channing :: Ladies of Show Biz

Garland and Channing: a very cute combo

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 02/18/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although they never performed together, Judy Garland and Carol Channing both had extraordinary careers in their chosen paths of showbusiness. This compact disc from Sony's Special Markets label showcases these two formidable dames of the stage together in some of their most fondly-remembered hits.



Carol Channing rose to fame playing the ultimate jazz-age flapper Lorelei Lee in Broadway's GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, and her definitive "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" immediately conjures back her star-making performance. Later under contract to Columbia Records, she was often saddled with hokey novelty songs like "Did I Hurtcha...", and "Meany Meany". Making it's CD premiere with this disc is the long-lost "Hottentot Song", another little ditty which was foisted upon her by Columbia president Mitch Miller. "Toujours Gai" comes from her joyous performance as mehitabel the cat on the concept album of ARCHY AND MEHITABEL.



Judy Garland's selection includes seldom-heard pieces like "Without a Memory", "Heartbroken", "Go Home Joe", and "Send My Baby Back to Me"; all culled from her 1953 sessions with Paul Weston's orchestra. Also featured is a shortened version of "The Man That Got Away" (A Star Is Born (Expanded 1954 Film Soundtrack)).



Garland fans will no doubt already own this material; the Carol Channing albums of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949 Original Broadway Cast) and Archy And Mehitabel: Carnival of the Animals will likewise probably be a better investment for the Channing fans; but for those who'd like a brief sampling, this budget-priced disc is hard to beat.



[Sony Special Markets A-31884]"