Customer Reviews

Judy At Carnegie Hall

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So much has been written about Garland's private life that over time it has been increasingly difficult to reach through her notoriety to experience the art she created. The 1961 Carnegie Hall Concert provides the listener an opportunity to do just that.

Although the recording includes several examples of Garland's conversational rapport with her audience, the emphasis is on the music. And here, from the moment the orchestra begins an excitingly arranged overture, we find a degree of electricity, authority, and artistry that equal and quite possibly best any other performer of the 20th Century.

Although her range was not remarkable, Garland's voice possessed tonal qualities that set her apart from any other singer of her era, but more importantly Garland's voice was an instrument of incredible emotional nuance. Whether tossing off an up-beat throw-away such as "You Go To My Head," a scorching torch ballad like "The Man That Got Away," or the belter's classic "Swanee," one is always acutely aware of what seems to be an instinctively flawless phrasing specifically designed with you personally in mind, unavoidable, inevitable, and inescapable.

If you never listen to, or own, any other Garland recording, it must be this one. Forget about all the things you've read, all the documentaries you've seen, the mythology and iconography--interesting as such may be, Garland's completely overwhelming talent doesn't require reference to anything except itself. Lock the door, draw the curtain, turn off the telephone--and simply experience the single finest live concert recording of the 20th Century.

Simply put, this recording documents one of the greatest triumphs of Garland's career. The quality of the recording is excellent. That night Judy came out to a standing ovation and if you turn the volume up just a little and listen carefully you can even hear fans chanting a chorus of "Judy! Judy! Judy!" over and over again. Garland then goes on to sing 26 songs, including some jazz, and wows the audience with her performance. Her rapport with the audience is excellent and the fact that Garland concerts were scripted is impossible to notice here. At the end of the second CD of this two CD set there is a long instrumental of "Over the Rainbow." It was at this time that fans rushed to the apron to shake hands with Judy or at least touch her hand or wrist for even just an instant of a second. How I wish I could have been there that night! Many stars flew in expressly for the occasion. Judy does two encores of After You've Gone and Chicago; they are exquisitely well done. At one point Judy "wonders" if the audience is getting tired--how they scream NO! Then she comments that perhaps she should keep singing and that they should all stay all night--and they SCREAM FOR MORE WITH DELIGHT! PLEASE, get this two CD set--I can't see how you or anyone could possibly regret this purchase. A strong BUY!

Forget anything you've read about Judy Garland..this concert recording will reveal the human being--the artist like no other source material. Your heart will sing...then it will break..then it will sing again. I'm not even an avid fan, but the honesty...the humanity contained in every track of this performance is NOT to be missed. A real treasure for fans of music, 20th Century Pop culture and celebrity bio.

This is, without a doubt, the best recording that Judy made in her lifetime. Thank God that it was recorded and that we're blessed to have such a terrific CD. I don't think that there is anything more that can be said, but that lady was pure magic. She was so talented, and had accomplished so much in her lifetime, she can be compared to a shooting star. She was a super-nova that burned bright and quick, and as scarecrow(Ray Bolger) said, she just wore out.

Judy achieved super stardom in films,records,radio,television, and, of course, live performances. She was indeed a multi-media superstar. Judy Garland had mass appeal, from her show biz cronies, to presidents, to middle class folks, and even to the poor who had to scrimp up and save there money a long time for a ticket. She had a love affair with the public: They loved her, and she loved them right back. It really does show in this CD. It's not quite just the songs that she sings, or the way she sings them, but the way the rapturous audience responds to her, and how she interacts with them.

Throughout her career, the press had dubbed her the queen of comebacks, but it was more than that. Like her character Esther Blodgett in A Star Is Born, she indeed had the knack for being in the right place at the right time. She was not only born with an incredible ability to sing and entertain, but, seemingly,she could catch lightning in a bottle, too. She did that many times in her lifetime, especially with Oz, and here too at Carnegie Hall.

In this 2 set CD, she sings most of the songs that made her famous(including the #1 movie song of all time:Over The Rainbow) and some not attributed to her like "Stormy Weather", and "Puttin' on the Ritz". She not only sings every note letter perfect, but she sings it all with her trademark great style, and full gamut of emotions. She makes every song her own. Many have said (including George Cukor) that Judy was a fabulous raconteur. And I'm delighted to say, that I never new Judy was such a gifted comedian. Her wonderfully self-depracating stories are quite hilarious. (The only draw back is sometimes you have to turn up the volume in between sets to get the complete gist of them)

One of the best moments in the concert is when Judy is almost done singing but of course is called back for her encore.(one of many songs) She is singing "Chicago", and when she gets to the part "I saw a man dance with his own wife, and you would never guess where?", somebody ,as if on cue (but you could tell it was spontaneous) shouts out "where!". That interaction totally uplifts a near exhausted Garland and she shreds that song and tears down the house!

A friend once told me that he saw Garland performing at the Hollywood Bowl. During her performance, it started to pour rain. The concert went on, and as Garland sang "Over The Rainbow" the rain let up a bit, the sun started to peek out, and above a rainbow appeared! Like I said , the lady was pure magic.

Years ago I bought the CD, "Judy At Carnegie Hall" and was fully amazed by Judy Garland's performance in this now legendary concert.The one problem was, though the performance was utterly fantastic, the original CD set had sound quality that was quite poor.From the first time I heard it, all I could think was, "I hope someday they remaster this." Well strike up the band because that DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!! In commemoration of the concert's 40th anniversary, Capitol Records has now released the CD in wonderful 24-bit digitally remastered sound.The old mud is gone and now we can hear Judy belt out clearly, versions of her classic songs such as 'That's Entertainment", "The Trolley Song" and "The Man That Got Away". The CD includes Judy's rendition of her signature theme song, "Over the Rainbow" which is truely a show stopper and the disc's highlight!If you are a Garland fan or just a plain fan of great singing, BUY THIS CD!!!

I have been lucky enough to have had this album in every format it was ever released in, and I can tell you, nothing beats this version of the "complete" concert!

Garland was at her peak, not only vocally, but healthier than she had been in years, and when she turned on the "magic", she became the truly legendary performer she is known as being.

Right from the start, the overture lets you know you're in for something special. One of the greatest overtures ever composed, it has a fantastic sound and builds in emotion as you listen to the wonderful orchestra move from The Man That Got Away, right into The Trolley Song, gliding into Over The Rainbow and wrapping up with a return to The Man That Got Away. Awesome!

But, the best is to come - Judy Garland, a 38 year old singer who had been given up as a "lost cause" by many due to her poor health, emotional and professional problems, was on the comeback trail for about the 3rd time in a 10-year period and managed to knock the critics out of their seats and onto their feet as she showed she was the greatest entertainer of the 20the century!

The songs are magical. From the power of When You're Smiling, to the tenderness of Do It Again, to the emotional The Man That Got Away, back down to the streets of San Francisco, to the hushed silence of the audience as she wove her spell on I Can't Give You Anything But Love, to the show-stopping Come Rain Or Come Shine, to her MGM audition song Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart, to her own songs from the movies: You Made Me Love You, For Me and My Gal and The Trolley Song, to the powerful roof-raising Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody, and to the wistfulness of Over The Rainbow, Garland was pure Gold.

Whether draining the emotions of the audience with her music, or making them laugh long and hard at her stories of encounters with reporters in London, zippers in Paris, and a hairstyle that had it's own course to travel in Paris, she was at the top of her game as an entertainer.

And, the audience loved her. Nearly 2 1/2 hours of pure joy and unrestrained Garland. What more can you ask for. Her voice may have been a bit tired by the end, but her powerful perfomance never wavered.

If you own no other album by a singer of songs like Judy Garland, this is the one you need. No other "Live" recording can ever come close to the hysteria this album and this performance caused.

Get it, savor it, and be grateful this performance was recorded to cherish over and over. You won't regret it!

After watching an A&E biography on the life of Judy Garland around a year ago, I was struck by the incredible talent of this woman and I've been reading about her and listening to her music ever since. I had heard and read much about Judy Garland's performance at Carnegie Hall (and the so-so reproductions of it on vinyl and CD), but not until I purchased this anniversary release had I actually listened to it. After hearing just the first song ("When You're Smiling"), I knew what I had heard and read was not hype at all. It just amazes you how powerful Judy Garland's voice is throughout this concert, considering the health problems she had experienced less than two years earlier, when she almost died and was told she'd never sing again. Garland proves them all wrong and delivers a performance to a crowd of 3200 Carnegie Hall concertgoers that is beyond belief. There isn't a song she sings this night that doesn't give you goose bumps. Her rendition of "Over the Rainbow" is filled with the kind of emotion and vocal power that brings tears to your eyes, as it did her's. Incredibly, after more than two hours of singing, she holds a note on "Swanee" that is both spectacular and miraculous. "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby..." is Judy Garland at her finest and most vocally demonstrative. Her final number, "Chicago" is one of my favorites--her vocal endurance is stunning, her delivery sharp and energetic. This lady is indeed the World's Greatest Performer, and the awestruck crowd yells and screams its delight throughout her performance. You just don't see this kind of talent anymore, or a singer who can entertain so completely with just a mike and a singing voice. Emi/Capitol has done a wonderful job reproducing this concert. You wouldn't know by the quality that this was a concert recorded 40 years ago. The people who remastered this concert knew exactly how to mix Judy's voice with the outstanding play of Mort Lindsey's fine orchestra. Judy and the orchestra sound as though they are entertaining you in your living room. And this is Judy Garland, the legend, performing and entertaining like no other performer can--then and now. A great show, perhaps unmatched by any other live show ever recorded.

It's more than 40 years old. People are still talking about it - and buying it. Any questions?

In 1959, a hepatitis-ravaged Judy Garland was told by her doctors that she would never be able to perform again. Life as a permanent semi-invalid became the impetus for Garland to beat her illness, and in 1961 she was in the prime of good health for her landmark concert at Carnegie Hall. Almost every single showbusiness personality was in the audience, and right from the start, the atmosphere was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Musical director Mort Lindsey later referred to the event akin to attending a revival meeting.

Here, on the landmark recording, the energy and flash of that fateful night is captured forever. It's still one of the best live concert recordings ever done; certainly it captures Garland having the time of her life, regaling the audience with showstopper after showstopper, and delighting with her hilarious stories and trademark ad-libs.

From the first few bars of the Overture to the final encore of "Chicago", it's all here. And fans wouldn't have it any other way. This is the prime example of Judy as the world's greatest entertainer. A must-own.

[Capitol/EMI 7243 5 27876 2 3]

"Judy at Carnegie Hall" is the recording that reintroduced me to Judy Garland. Received it nearly 12 years ago as a Christmas gift when it was condensed and put on one CD. Having mainly known Judy as the MGM film star, I was astounded by her adult voice. It was richer, more powerful and had a more controlled vibrato than I ever recalled from TV presentations about the adult Garland. A couple of years later or so, I was so pleased to find the recording released in an uncut 2-CD format. The greatness that the abbreviated recording revealed in segments was fully realized, despite some variations in sound quality (especially during "Just You, Just Me" on the first CD). Many times I'd put on a pair of headphones, close my eyes and feel like I was at Carnegie Hall on that historic night. When the GOLD CD version came along last year to rave reviews, I had to have it, too. Despite the fine sound quality, I felt jaded. It's as though the engineers took a live recording and made it sound like studio work. There was no faulting Judy's vocals, which sounded great as ever, but her voice seemed too far forward and the ambience of Carnegie Hall was lost. Luckily, Capitol Records has remedied that on its 40th anniversary release. Not only is Judy's voice more present than on the original, but the orchestra comes through with full punch. It truly sounds like a LIVE recording -- one without the muddiness and left/right channel problems of the original. Judy herself said that she didn't want the drums toned down for the recording (as Capitol engineers suggested), so I'm sure this would be her version of choice -- the one that lets her vocals AND the band come through. It's also wonderful to hear the original version of "Alone Together" and Judy's additional dialogue on Disc 2. This is a fine tribute to an artist without equal -- Garland sounds more "alive" than ever on this newly released recording.