Customer Reviews

The Letter

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
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"She found the answer to love in 'The Letter'...."

Finally, here's the super-rare Judy Garland album THE LETTER, making it's compact disc premiere. Garland teamed with musical director/arranger/composer Gordon Jenkins for this concept album, which at heart works as a song-cycle. Of all the albums Garland made during her decade with Capitol Records, THE LETTER is by far the most experimental, as it features a complete through-narrative.

The Ralph Brewster Singers offer a solid back-up for Garland's vocals, and the gentle narration is provided by John Ireland. This album provided Garland the chance to explore the full spectrum of emotions, like the catty comedy of "The Worst Kind of Man"; reminisces of childhood reverie in "The Red Balloon"; and the sobering realisation that comes "At the Stroke of Midnight".

While "The Worst Kind of Man" and "The Red Balloon" both surfaced on a 2002 double-disc compilation of Garland's Capitol recordings (Classic Garland: Capitol Years 1955-1965); this release from DRG marks the first time that THE LETTER has been issued on compact disc. Added as bonus tracks are alternate takes for several of the key numbers ("Beautiful Trouble", "That's All There Is...", "The Worst Kind of Man", "The Red Balloon").

Snap it up today!

[DRG 19102]

Garland's out-of-print Capitol Records 1959 masterpiece The Letter, which is one of the most unique albums of her career, has been digitally remixed and remastered directly from the multi-track stereo session tapes.

This lost treasure of Garland's tells the story of a relationship throughout its first meeting, a breakup, and then reconciliation. The Letter contains narration of a letter written to Garland by her beau, played by acclaimed Academy Award nominee John Ireland. As Judy reads his letter, her thoughts mend with his, and she answers him musically, through ten songs, beginning with her exquisite interpretation of "Beautiful Trouble" and carries us through other magnificent renditions of "Love In The Village," "Charley's Blues," "The Worst Kind Of Man," the spectacular "That's All There Is, There Isn't Any More," "Love In Central Park," "The Red Balloon," "The Fight," "At The Stroke Of Midnight" and the closer, "Come Back."

The Letter is crafted by Gordon Jenkins, a musical conductor and arranger most famously associated with Nat "King" Cole and Frank Sinatra. Back in those days, a concept album was a rarity and only recorded by a handful of greats, and Garland certainly ranked as the finest female vocalist of her era.

For those familiar with this 1959 recording, it simply becomes a whole new listening experience. For those of you who are fans but have never had the opportunity to hear this album, trust me, you will be floored. Along with the sparkling sound, this CD features four bonus tracks, rare single versions of songs meant for radio play in 1959, and a lavish booklet that includes rare artwork and detailed liner notes by Scott Schechter, the preeminent Garland authority and author of the book Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend.

When it comes to a Garland recording, especially one this fine, no words could fully sum up her genius.

This CD deserves 5 stars on just two reasons alone: 1) a high-quality, remastered release--thank you DG! 2) a prominent Judy Garland recording from 50 years ago finally making it to CD! Buy this amazing CD and support DG's efforts, please.

At last one of Judy's most exciting albums - concept album - has been released on CD. I have the original with the attached letter and the later album Capitol released. I would never part with any of Judy's albums, especially The Letter as it is so rare. To hear Judy laugh (she was a fantastic comic) and her way of phrasing a line - brilliant. Whenever I teach acting, I tell the students to listen to Judy. There was and there is no one better.

The Letter still holds after all these years - and the combo of John Ireland and Judy is amazing. Great sound and includes the great art work on the cover - art work for which Capitol became known.

I miss Judy terribly - The Letter captures for me some of the joy I remember.

This Judy Garland CD, re-released after decades in the vaults, is her last work for the pre-CD public to ingest. Sad to say it's not the lady's best. Garland can't be faulted, however. This unique approach, which involves then-actor John Ireland providing narration and dialogue to Judy's songs about the letters they share, was a concept album before it's time. A very unusual effort written by conductor George Jenkins for the chanteusse, and given every optimal treatment of the time (3-part stereo, gorgeous orchestrations and luscious recordings to make one swoon).

Unfortunately, most of the songs are pedestrian and trite, and this plays like a retro-fifties middle-aged stand off. It was brave of all who tried, but the ambitions exceeded the achievement.

Still, there is Judy. While not at the peak of her voice (though damn close) this CD exhibits her abilities as a sensitive musical interpreter, a comically wry singer and an actress of subtle phrasing. She gives "Beautiful Trouble", "The Worst Kind of Man" and "The Fight" just the kind of verve and wit they desperately need to come across. Her most effective ballads, "That's All There Is...", "The Red Balloon" and "Come Back" are beautifully sustained. Again, it's Garland's singing that rescues these songs from the emminently forgettable. The bonus tracks of four of these recordings actually improve on the originals. That's definitely a bonus.

Whatever Garland's troubles at the time, her phrasing, pitch, intonation and control of her voice are unbelievable. She sounds so casual on this recording one wishes she made a few less as GARLAND and a few more as Judy.

Nevertheless, we have this treat to behold and, justly or unjustly, it stands as a monument for what Garland could do with any song, and make it eternal.

"The Letter" with Judy Garland is truly a classic and was for a very long time not availabale (not on LP but also never released on CD). The last time was some 40 years ago on an abridged (= missing 2 numbers) Capitol LP, retitled "Love in Central Park". Now, at last, the masterpiece is here ! With original title, not abridged, with original LP-cover and in excellent Full Dimensional Stereo Sound ! DON'T MISS IT !
Frank Kruger/ The Netherlands

When "The Letter" was first released on LP in 1959 it was greeted with luke warm reviews and rather tepid sales which quickly turned this album into a collectors' item; especially if you could find the album cover with its letter intact. Even its re-release a few years later with its new title, "Our Love Letter" and a new album cover (a generic photo of New York City) did not generate sales. To this listener, much of the blame would have been due to John Ireland's bland reading of an equally dull narrative about a young couple meeting in New York City. But the vocals are something else! These songs by Gordon Jenkins are very adult; that is they are sophisticated and complex. Garland sounds wonderful as she weaves in and out of melodies that might not grab your ear at first listening. Two songs, "Beautiful Trouble" and "The Worst Kind of Man" are catchy tunes but the rest are worth repeating as they will soon grow on you and become favorite Garland recordings as well. "The Red Balloon" is a lovely ballad whose subtle poignancy is revealed as the mature singer looks back at childhood. And "That's All There Is" is the most interesting of the lot with a melody that fools the listener as it goes in a direction than otherwise expected. There is also a witty blues number sung by Charley Lavore, "Charley's Blues", which actually infuses dialogue between Garland and Ireland to a very humorous effect. (Oddly, this song was partially and poorly edited for the subsequent US and French LP re-releases.) The sound of this CD is spectacular; a full and lush sounding orchestra to which we are no longer accustumed. The Jenkins orchestrations and the Ralph Brewster Singers fully compliment the warm, grown up sound of its star. The liner notes by Garland expert, Scott Schecter, are well written and add much to the package. And, the letter itself is reprinted as well. As an added bonus, there are four mono versions of songs from the album that were originally released on a 45 rpm EP record in 1959. No, this is not the Judy Garland you might be used to with those all too familiar songs of her repertoire. Instead you will discover "new" songs sung as only Judy could when she was truly singing in a great voice. Take the chance and buy this one. You won't be disappointed.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF GARLAND VOICE BOTH SINGING AND TALKING. THE ALBUM IS UNIQUE AMOUNG THE MANY ALBUMS THAT SHE HAS AVAILABLE.

I have two copies of "The Letter." One I purchased and then one I received as a gift from a friend. This is a Broadway show but with only one singer, Miss Garland. The orchestrations are wonderful; Judy is more than up to the job, and it is much better than anything that has been on Broadway, that has been new, since 1968. I wish we had more of such works: romantic, falling in love, and love conquering all in the real world. Modern culture depreciates and demeans all of that, but it still occurs and conquers all, no matter what, thank G-d. This album will grow on you and will become a cherished chestnut just like the others that you enjoy of Miss Garland's astonishing career. The record producers did right originally and in bringing it back now . Don't miss it.

I bought this recording on LP in the early 1960s when it was more popular with the general public. I have missed being able to enjoy this album since I now play only compact audio discs.
Well - finally this wonderful recording of Judy's singing and speaking has been released and it truly was worth the wait. There are even a few extras - slightly different versions of some of the songs on this disc - also. Judy was in excellent voice at this time and you also can hear her acting talent in this "story!"
I highly recommend this CD!!! Excellent sound quality. Judy at her best!!