Best of

Liza Minnelli | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0002VEYN6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #217,484 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Blessed by an impeccable showbiz gene pool (her mother was Hollywood legend Judy Garland, her father producer Vincente Minelli), Liza Minelli seemed to effortlessly fuse Garland's song 'n' dance acumen with a boisterous, footlight-bred persona rivaled only by Ethel Merman. This 16-track collection is a fine introduction to her body of work, especially as it's the first anthology to cull material from her key at different labels. Bookended by her Hollywood musical icons Cabaret and Theme From New York, New York, and seasoned with Broadway tributes like "All That Jazz," it also contains a healthy cross-sampling of her compelling live work (ranging from the show-stopping "Some People" to the precocious effervescence of Liza With a Z). Though the disco-affectations of "Losing My Mind" confirm she was never able to capture the pop zeitgeist of the moment with the chameleonic ease of Streisand, her interpretations of "Quiet Thing" and "Maybe This Time" argue she was every inch her rival's equal as a torch singer. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Her first single-CD collection, with unforgettable moments like Cabaret; All That Jazz , and Theme from New York, New York , and more Minnelli magic!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LEGENDARY MIX OF MINNELLI CLASSICS~BRAVO LIZA!!!, October 13, 2004

By 

Bradly Briggs (TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Liner notes by the late and great Fred Ebb say it all when he states "when you see Liza live, you know as you leave that you've just experienced something incredible that can never be repeated. A moment in time. Herein lies the joy of recordings..." From the top opening with the Kander/Ebb classic "Cabaret" which won Liza the Oscar for Best Actress then flowing into a stunning "Some People" from Gypsy, it is clear that Liza Minnelli is at the peak of her incredible powers in this collection and there is nothing finer. A triumphant live performance of "There Is A Time" is stunning and a trilogy of definitive performances from the musical "Chicago" make it clear that it was a sad loss that Liza didn't star in the movie as it would have been a blazing masterpiece for sure!!!! Lost treasures abound and "Quite Thing" from the Tony Winning "Liza Live At The Winter Garden" is a haunting ballad from a great concert that should be released on Compact Disc as it is one of Liza's greatest ever recordings. Studio recordings like the Pet Shop Boys produced "Losing My Mind" which topped the British charts show how American Radio has foolishly overlooked this great singer and another lost opportunity for a mega-hit is the magnificent "The Singer" which would have been a huge hit if given any airplay at all!!! "The Singer" was produced and arranged by the same team who did Cher's 70's hit singles and has the same infectious "Hit" sound yet it is totally original and completely engrossing. Epic performances of "New York, New York" and "Stepping Out" close out this collection of legendary performances and Liza continues to this day to thrill audiences wherever she appears!!! In San Diego by the Sea in August 2004, Liza gave a magnificent performance and received numerous standing ovations from a sold out audience who were all mesmerized by this legendary talent who remains peerless...Thank You LiZa!!!!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best compilations, February 7, 2005

By 

J. Lykken "Wilson" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

This is probally the best Liza compilation to date. The other one to look at is "The Ultimate Collection". The songs on this CD are some of Liza's best. I was glad to see "Stepping Out" and "A quiet thing" as they are almsot always overlooked. This will also appeal to long time fans for the unrealeased tracks, "Me an My Baby" and "There is a Time". There are some things missing though. How can you leave out "Mein Herr" from Cabaret in a Best of album? It is Liza's most iconic image with the chair and bowler hat. Also what about "City Lights" from THE ACT? Perhaps her best song, and one of the better known ones, "But the world goes 'round" is also missing. Another gripe is the song "Old Friends". They take it from The "Live From Radio City" album... not the complete song, and only about 30 seconds long. WHile there is a full version on Three Weeks at Carnegie Hall. There are just too many songs identified with Liza Minnelli to fit on one CD. I am still waiting for a double CD compilation, or a well deserved Liza box set. If you really want an ultimate album, try Liza, Live AT Carnegie Hall (Three weeks at Carnegie Hall). It is a double album that showcases all of Liza's best songs up until 1987. It also has songs she had never sung before as well. It is expensive though, being a double album. @0-27 dollars. But it is Live and Liza is always at her best Live. She has more Live albums than most any other artist. If you have a chance to actually see her live to not pass it up! If you are just looking for a $12 compilation, just to get a taste of the great Liza Minnelli, this album may be for you.

Billy

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contains rare unreleased song from Chicago, September 14, 2004

By 

new yorker "drealyea" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Track Listing:
1. Cabaret. ( from the original "Cabaret" soundtrack album)
2. Some People. (from "Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall")
3. There Is A Time. (from "Liza Minnelli Live At The Winter Garden")
4. Me And My Baby. (previously unreleased 1975 track from the musical
" Chicago")
5. My Own Best Friend. ( 1975 single from the musical "Chicago")
6. Old Friend. (from "Liza Minnelli Live From Radio City Music Hall")
7. The Singer. (from the album "The Singer")
8. Ring Them Bells. ( from the soundtrack album "Liza With A "Z" )
9. All That Jazz.( 1975 single from the musical "Chicago")
10.A Quiet Thing. (from "Liza Minnelli Live At The Winter Garden")
11.Losing My Mind. (from the album "Results")
12.Maybe This Time. (from the original "Cabaret" soundtrack album)
13.Say Liza With A "Z". (from the soundtrack album "Liza With A "Z")
14.Stepping Out. (from"Liza Minnelli Live From Radio City Music Hall")
15.The Theme From New York,New York. (from the original soundtrack album)
Producer: Phil Ramone. Liner Notes by Fred Ebb
This album will be worth having for the rare tracks issued for the very first time ever on CD, "Me And My Baby" (from the vaults) and "There Is A Time"from "Liza Minnelli Live At The Winter Garden"


While it was great to finally hear Me And My Baby after 32 years ,Sony Legacy needs a fact checker and a proof reader:

They could have said from her Tony winning Flora The Red Menace to her Oscar winning Cabaret.

They could have said from her Oscar winning Cabaret to her Tony winning Live At The Winter Garden show.

They could even have said from her Oscar winning Cabaret to her Tony winning The Act (although there are no songs from The Act in the compilation) and still been accurate.

So what did they do? They site The Rink (another show not represented in the compilation) for which Liza although nominated graciously lost the Tony to her co-star Chita Rivera.


On the other hand Fred Ebb's words were heartfelt and are even more touching read after his recent passing.



An addendum was made to my original review after seeing the packaging.