The Garland Touch

Judy Garland | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Drg
• ASIN: B002IW629G
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Intro to Garland, October 21, 2009

By 

Richard J. Gatton "Garland Fan #1" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Garland Touch (Audio CD)

Yes, this is a compliation album, but this is, nonetheless, a superb collection of songs from the incomparable Judy Garland. From the bright "Lucky Day" to "San Franciso", Garland is in great voice on every song. Several numbers were recorded in London during her recuperation from a major illness and were later captured on her live album "Judy at Carnegie Hall" and remained unreleased for a number of years, but that doesn't mean they aren't still worth hearing. Just listen to her recording of "Why Was I Born?", which has been released on other albums, of course. It is still the best recording of this song ever made. There isn't one number that is disappointment by any means. "You'll Never Walk Alone" - beautiful. "Comes Onces In A Lifetime" - upbeat and fun all the way. "It's Lovely To Be Back In London" - weak lyrics and all it is still a prime recording from Garland from her show at London's Dominion Theater in 1957...rarely heard. "More Than You Know"...another example of prime Judy Garland. No other singer has the range and ability to sing the variety of songs Garland sang and to do so as well as she did. She rarely got the full credit she deserved for the full catalogue of songs she covered in career. This album is your chance to experience some of the best of the Garland recordings at the peak of her vocal period, too! You won't regret buying this album.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Old Friend Returns, November 30, 2009

By 

David Mckinnon (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Garland Touch (Audio CD)

I had purchased the vinyl edition of this album when it was first published. It was Judy Garland's last album for Capitol Records. I played it until it showed signs of ware. It brought a lot of enjoyment through the years. Now DRG has done us the favor of releasing it for the first time as a cd. Besides the original songs, there are bonus tracks that add to the enjoyment of the package.

My particular favorite is the Cole Porter song, "I Happen To Like New York." With that song, Miss Garland gives a heart-felt performance that brings to the fore her well-known regard for the city that never sleeps. There is also an excellent re-recording of Garland's famous "Palace Medley." This time it is done in stereo, and benefits from the digital enhancement.

It is a recording made when Miss Show Business was still at the height of her powers.

Enjoy it!

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful mess, October 2, 2009

By 

Jim Andrews "Wayne Brasler" (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Garland Touch (Audio CD)

This album has an unfortunate history. The gorgeous cover was shot for the unreleased concert followup to the Carnegie Hall album, which Capitol decided not to release because Garland had performed with a cold. Garland thought the unreleased live album was just fine. It was issued many moons later as "Judy Garland Live!" and is a wonderful album. In place of the live album Capitol threw together tracks from Garland's 2-LP "London Sessions" set issued in Great Britain, mostly rerecordings of songs she'd already recorded but this time in stereo. Then recent singles were added and some stray stuff. It was a puzzling wreck all in all but Garland is so brilliant on this music her sheer talent overcomes the wreckage her record company did to her. She never recorded for Capitol again; the next album was another mess, this time of mono recordings from her T.V. show soundtracks. She wanted very much to continue making prestigious, high-quality albums but after all the money she made for Capitol it treated her like she deserved no dignity at all (ditto June Christy, ditto eventually Peggy Lee). She often referred to Capitol's refusal to do a serious followup to the historic Carnegie Hall album in interviews.