Customer Reviews

The Garland Touch

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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.

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!

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.

What can be said about releasing another Judy Garland Capitol Album? It's a chance for a whole new generation of fans who missed the vinyl era when a new Garland LP was as exciting as a new Beatle LP. She crossed many lines and tastes but she always remained great as you will enjoy in this latest release. A wonderful addition to anyone's Judy Garland audio collection. It's important to hear the sounds that made her so special to so many people around the World. Judy is an event, no matter how you asses her. She'll always be a special event and a headliner forever! Don't miss this latest great CD. By the way, her outfit on the cover was from her 1962 Manhattan Center concert while recording "Judy Takes Broadway" and aborted double LP that was to compliment her Carnegie Hall album a year before but due to vocal problems the project was scrapped. Scrapped! Anything Judy did was worthy of production, if you dig around you'll find parts of that performance but I wish the entire night was around somewhere. Well, someday someone will discover it in a garage or a yard sale and we'll all be able to share it in full. In the mean time, her special renditions of her songs shine through although this LP was from previous material on "stock" at Capitol and put together as "The Garland Touch" as I've said earlier, her touch was gold, her talent beyond words.
Don't miss this extraordinary CD for your collection and enjoy her like never before!

Although I've heard the songs before, some new arrangements and maybe some remixing have made the songs on this album seem new. This is the Judy of the late 50's, early 60's whose voice was rich and deep and which she could make soar. Favorites include "I Happen to Like New York," an obscure Cole Porter composition which she flies with. Her voice in this collection is incredible and listening to the selections is sublime...

This last album for Capitol Records is a fine piece of history. Judy Garland was one of the best singers of the 20th century and is in excellent voice throughout this CD. She shines on so many songs on this CD that it is hard to pinpoint which are better than the rest. "I Happen To Like New York" and "Judy At The Palace Medly" are superb. It is obvious that after so many years, she still has the appeal. Great vocalist leave a mark. Frank Sinatra once commented on Garland saying "Time will forget most of us.......not Judy Garland.....Never Judy" He was right. There are generations that embrace her every year!!

I have always loved this album. The version of Judy at the Palace is incredible. And there are some rarer songs as well.

"Judy At Carnegie Hall" mega-sales and numerous "Grammy Awards" threw Garland's career in to high gear early sixties and a great studio recording filled with incredible performances was a natural follow-up & "The Garland Touch" worked nicely adding to a strong fan base, Judy became a Superstar with a whole new generation of music lovers as baby-boomers now were entering their teens. While beautifully packaged "The Garland Touch" came from various recording sessions from late fifties to release date, this wondrous recording always stood up on its own as a great studio recorded collection of magnificent performances arranged to perfection for Judy making this long-overdue Compact Disc release a welcome one for fans who wore out numerous old vinyl copies plus a great introduction to the legendary lady who sings brilliantly with heart and soul throughout...WOW that voice!!! Exuberant classic performances "Lucky Day" & "Comes Once In A Lifetime" play well over and over while "Judy At The Palace" is a stunning medley ultimately becoming a brilliant Garland tour-de-force that daughter Liza Minnelli updates in "Grammy Award" nominated "Liza's At The Palace" from the "Tony Award" winning show. Judy is simply tremendous at an emotional and vocal peak in the haunting "I Happen To Like New York" and inspirational & mesmerizing in the definitive "You'll Never Walk Alone" which gives chills to the listener. Judy drives gems like "Do I Love You?" & "Sweet Danger" in to a rare passion zone with a feeling of reckless romantic abandon and by the finale of this great collection one will want to go back over and over to savor and enjoy a voice that truly "Comes Once In A Lifetime"...Bravo Judy!!!

Judy Garland clearly exuded a singular talent, a type of genius found only once in a lifetime. She could dance, act faultlessly--and she sang extraordinarily well as you'll hear on this CD! Judy is in excellent form on this album and the extra tracks are a huge treat for her fans. Sure, these songs may not have been recorded all at the same time; but the songs flow together quite well and it's really a fine album in every way. The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent and the artwork is nicely done.

"Lucky Day" starts the CD with Judy swinging brightly to make this number bright! Her excellent diction combined with her sophisticated phrasing makes "Lucky Day" a very special number. That classic Vegas sounding musical arrangement enhances the number, too. "I Happen To Like New York" features Judy squarely front and center--which is quite all right by me! There's a chorus in the background although Judy scarcely needed it--her talents were much, much more than enough to carry her through on her own. "Comes Once in a Lifetime" has plenty of energy as Judy sings this to perfection--and beyond! Judy handles complex tempo and key changes like the pro she always was and still remains!

The "Judy at The Palace" medley has always been one of my favorite Garland numbers; Judy performs this with panache and the music, including the strings, fits in perfectly with her vocals. Wisely, however, the musicians never even try to steal the show from Judy; she's right there front and center and I love it. Similarly, `Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe" has Judy shining brighter than silver and gold combined; "Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe" is easily one of the major highlights of this album.

"Sweet Danger" is very well done; and listen also for the very poignant "You'll Never Walk Alone." Incredible! "Do I Love You?" sports a fine Latin beat that works wonders for this tune; and Judy sings this without ever letting go of a single superfluous note! "More Than You Know" is very easy on the ear; and I really like "It's A Great Day for the Irish" which Judy sang in the MGM movie entitled "Little Nellie Kelly."

"Why Was I Born?" is another very moving number that Judy aces as effortlessly as if it were mere breathing; and her rendition of "Stormy Weather" is one of the best bonus tracks on this album. "It's Lovely to be Back In London" has Judy singing this from the very bottom of her heart--and the arrangement makes great use of the strings, too. "Come Rain or Come Shine" has some fine percussion to accompany Judy as she performs this passionately; and there's yet another gem in the bonus track "Chicago." Judy Garland delivers "Chicago" with panache and it's terrific, to say the least. "San Francisco" is another brilliant bonus track; Judy sings this with so much energy that I'm amazed at just how well she does this every time I hear it--and it leaves me wanting more from Judy!

Judy Garland left us all too soon; but thankfully we can lovingly remember her by listening to her albums, watching her movies and her many television appearances including her weekly television show on DVD. We are so much better off for Judy having shared her talent with us; she lives on through her incredible artistry.