Customer Reviews

Liza's at the Palace

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1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased "Lizas at the Palace" knowing it was not recorded live, as most of Liza Minnelli's releases have been since, well, forever. I saw Lizas at the Palace on December 26; the CD was for sale in the lobby and the vendor told me it was the "original soundtrack recording." My disappointment then was knowing I couldn't have at least an audio of that thrilling live performance -- and it was thrilling --artfully designed, produced. Her homage to Kay Thompson captures a musical entertainment that is all but extinct. I loved the song selections, the movement, the band and the back up boys.

The good news is that to this listener, nothing of that thrill is lost in this studio recording, which may now stand on its own as a musical celebration of an artist, her history and her time for listeners to hear beyond the confines of one or two live performances.

I've heard and read the commentary about the state of Liza's voice, positive and negative. I hear it as it is, which has become a most revered and unique instrument capable of surprising, moving, and pulling at the heart strings. As a stylist, Liza Minnelli has no contemporary. On the first CD, her renditions of "What Makes a Man a Man" and "I Am My Own Best Friend" are wonderful little musical dramas, and her performance comes through clearly in the vocal renditions. The big band behind her is the BEST, and ultimately complements Liza and does not eclipse her. My 22 year old daughter commented on the the purity of its sound and how it breathes above the synthesized sound her generation. What a gift!

I'm sure Liza Minnelli could easily have released this as a live CD - and who knows, maybe in a few years there will be a "deluxe" version recorded live just for her rabidly loyal fans. But in releasing this studio recording, the listener is treated to something quite wonderful without the distractions of a live audience: a mature and disciplined Liza, a glimpse into the history of the big "club acts" from the 40s and 50s. Best of all, we get to hear Liza Minnelli, all out there, sounding better, stronger, wiser, and at just the right moments "thrilling." There's nothing like a Liza live performance, even a Liza concert recording. The brilliance of this CD is its focus on the voice of an era still grandly recognizable and worthy to be listed among the great legendary song stylists of the last 60 years. I hope this is not her last studio recording, as she seems to release one only every 10 - 15 years or so. But if it is, it ranks among her best.

If there is a live version of this, I'll pre-order it now. And if you do get a chance to see her live, go. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.

But for now, purchase Lizas at the Palace and be ready for a musical journey presented with the highest production values and an eclectic but wonderful selection of some never recorded material. And just to speak to the state of Liza's voice: If you are familiar with her recording of "Mammy" in the orginal recording of "Liza with a Z," Listen to the second last track on disc 2, close your eyes, and 35 years disappear. That girl can sure still sing!

Interesting to see the comments about this not being a live album. While Liza has Radio City, Carnegie Hall and Minnelli on Minnelli, all live performances, released, this is an in studio version of all the music that was in the show "Liza's At The Palace."

Original Cast albums of Broadway shows are traditionally recorded the day after the show's opening, all in one day, in a studio. Virtually no "Live Recordings" of Broadway Shows are ever released. And virtually none of those albums has all of the music of the show on it.

This album was done in order to have the show documented and available in the Theatre and not long after, in the stores. The decision to have an Original Cast Album in time for Opening Night, precluded recording the show as a Live event. There wasn't time or opportunity. Yes, Liza has been touring the past two years with a version of this show, but the final choice of material, running order and arrangements were not finalized until 2 weeks before the Broadway Opening.

That being said, I think the opportunity to record in a studio, work on balances, try things, make changes and then be able to mix all the elements into a two CD set, is pretty swell.

Nowhere is it being marketed as a live album. If you can show me that somewhere, I'll be the first to retract this sentence. When you see the Cast Album for South Pacific, Spamalot, Billy Elliot, Passing Strange, Young Frankenstein, etc., etc., you know it's a studio version of the show...not a live recording.

I think this is a wonderful account of the talent that is Liza Minnelli as well as the musicians who have traveled with her for many years.

Do we really need another studio version of Cabaret, NY NY , Maybe This Time... Well, other than the original versions on the Cast or Soundtrack albums, you don't have any. Now you do, at a time when Liza May sounds in control, on top of her game and with a new approach to material she has done for years and is still growing and changing and constantly rethinking.

Come on folks...When there's no more Liza, this type of performer exists no more. Let's all enjoy her Talent and hope she can continue to perform at a high level for many more years.

This is Liza's best CD yet, and deserves so much credit for it. The title of my review is "PERFECTION", and that is what this album is; Not a flaw on this album, nothing but major improvement shown by Liza.

Her album in 1999 "Minnelli On Minnelli" had only a few even likable tracks on it. Making it probably Liza's worst album of her career. Her next album in 2002, "Liza's Back" another live performance defiantly making the statement "Liza's Back" true. Providing us with some new tracks, such as "Don't Cry Out Loud", which was a little surprising at how well Liza can handle a modern pop song...And then seven years later came this album "Liza's at The Palace...!"; The best thing since her Radio City Music Hall album in 1991.

Liza's voice is indeed deeper, and much different than it was on her first album "Liza Liza!", but it still provides us with a WOW performance. Which leads me to wonder why even the littlest person interested in Theater would give this album a bad review.

My favorite tracks from this album would probably be "Teach Me Tonight", "I Would Never Leave You", "My Own Best Friend", "Basin' Street Blues", "Jubilee Time" and my favorite of all the songs "I Love a Violin". But basically every song on this album is captivating and unbelievable, not just because of all the stuff she's gone through, but because of her age! I hope I still have pitch at age 63!

Recommended for even the smallest theater fan.

This new 2 CD set of Liza in the studio does sound great. The musicians playing with Liza sound fantastic. It's a large band that sounds tremendously alive and vibrant. It has the feel of being recorded live in the studio. Renowned Producer Phil Ramone has a long, long list of producing big albums, and working with Liza produced this album. Just the fact that he produced it makes you know that Liza was in the best of hands. I can't believe how some people have criticized this album and Liza so much. If you are a fan, you already know that her voice has aged somewhat, but she still has the energy that just does not stop. Her positivity & non-stop spirit are all over every song on this double set. It was a better idea to record it live in the studio, rather than a live performance at the Palace. Liza sounds really good, and the sound is just amazing. A real band, not computers or studio gimmicks and a real singer who can sing!

I enjoy the new material that is on here the most. It sounds a lot better too than seeing the show live, which I did when I saw Liza in Niagara Falls. The zest is still there. True, her voice isn't as high as it was in the 70's or 80's, but to expect that out of her is unrealistic. She still has the boundless energy to make music come alive, and make millions of people happy. It's a great collector's item that documents her latest extravaganza in the best possible way. The new takes on her classics aren't as fantastic as the originals, but it's Liza now, and that's quite an achievement.I like that the songs are faithful to the original arrangements. Liza didn't redo her classics as dance mixes. I give her a lot of credit for doing a new album for her show, and as ever, keeping on with her tremendous career. Never mind the naysayers I say. This double CD is worthy of owning, and hearing Liza at any time.

This is a great 2-CD set of Liza Minnelli performing some of her signature songs as well as some new ones. I think she is the ultimate performer, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect after seeing her in the "Minnelli on Minnelli" show several years ago. Although still a fantastic performer, her voice had seemingly deteriorated dramatically from what it had been years prior in her concert recording from Radio City Music Hall in the early 90's. However, you won't believe how her voice has sprung back in this recording! Liza is indeed back, and in rare, exceptional form!

I can see that a lot of Liza fans are upset that this CD was recorded
in the studio rather than live at the actual show, but I think it was a
wise decision. Yes, the "magic" of a live Liza performance is missing,
but so are the hoarse, breathless vocals that often plague her recent
concerts. When I saw the "Liza's Back" concert in 2002 I thought it was
great, but I wondered how I would enjoy just the audio experience without
the razzle dazzle that she displays onstage. Well, when the "Liza's Back"
CD came out, I got my answer. It was a completely different, and less
enjoyable, experience than seeing the show. She sounded tired, ragged and
less-than-stellar. I LOVED the Palace show in spite of her occasional
vocal issues, and I for one am glad to now own a souvenir of the show if
not an actual live recording. She sounds WAY better here than during the
Broadway run, at least the night I saw her. Liza's vocals on this CD are
the best in a long time. And I applaud whoever encouraged her to record
them in the studio where they could take their time crafting some really
wonderful performances.

Liza Minnelli has always been a dynamic force, and even her lesser efforts always capture something worthwhile about her artistry. She has an amazing ability to be grand and theatrical to the point of utter artifice at the same time as she sings and performs with intimacy and communication.

This recording is wonderful, and you can hear a sense of discipline that makes the excess all the more moving. I don't care if the top notes are there or not. Her middle voice is at a late career prime. You can almost feel it physically, with its warmth and energy, richness and depth.

Highlights include "What makes a man," "And the world goes round" (I thought it was "but" on the NYNY soundtrack, and her rousing version of "New York, New York." As far as I can hear, Sinatra only borrowed it from Liza. I am glad this is studio instead of live. It is her richest and most controlled singing on disc since "Results."

If you have any interest at all, give her a try at this stage. This document is the current sum of all she knows and all she has to give.

LIZA'S AT THE PALACE is truly a unique experience. Picture the combination of a full length concert presented in the controlled atmosphere of a studio and that is what you get with LIZA'S AT THE PALACE. I have followed Liza's career for many years--its ups and its downs--and this is truly an "up" time for her. Her voice is the best on a recording that I have heard for some time; her phrasing meticulous; and her dramatization riveting. You feel that you are alone in the Palace watching her perform on the stage with a full peiece orchestra solely for you. I have worn out "repeat" on her rendition of "My Own Best Friend." If you are a Liza fan, you need this recording; if you are not, buy it and you wll be. On a world tour including Australia, more and more people are coming to realize that the Judy genes cannot say die. I loved it!!!

Liza Minnelli took on a limited engagement at the Palace Theatre in New York City.This successful appearance was noteworthy for more than one reason: She was appearing in concert at a venue that is so identified with her mother, the late Judy Garland. Liza also sings her mother's very famous Palace Medley for the first time in public. But another very fine reason is that it provides us with Liza in fine voice. She really does sound at her best, with a mature voice that has darker shades of color, but nevertheless holds all of the colors and they pour from her in song after song.
I wish the recording had been done live with audience, but instead we have a very fine studio recording.... one of the very best this lady has provided in recent years. We can be more than a little grateful that this talent still shines so brightly.

I saw the show at its early stages in Copenhagen back in 2007, and I knew that it was going to be something truly fantastic. So many things have been written and said about Liza and her problems, and more than enough have been said about her voice. True, if you haven't heard Liza sing since the early '90s, you might be a little shocked to hear how her voice have changed, but a vocal surgery and brain encephalitis tend to do that to your voice, wouldn't you say so? That aside, Liza can still sing and is one of the last true belters still alive.

"Act I" is a tour of her greatest hits, from her beloved classic "Maybe This Time", to the legendary show-stoppers "Cabaret", "But the World Goes 'Round", and of course "New York, New York". A couple interesting choices were include. "He's Funny That Way" is an old Billie Holliday song that I first heard her perform in her London Palladium show from 1986. "If" is a fun trip, and her take on Charles Aznavour's "What Makes a Man a Man" is poignant, and the new original "I Would Never Leave You", is a melancholy tune.

"Act II" is what this CD is really all about. I am privileged enough to have parents that are crazy about movies from the Golden Age of Musicals, so I knew who Kay Thompson was. Kay was of course Liza's beloved god-mother, and she was a big influence on many of the greatest stars of the time. Liza lovingly re-created her legendary show, which is not an easy thing. Kay sang at an insane pace, and Liza does struggle to keep up, but generally manages to create a lovely tribute. Highlights are: "Jubilee Time", "Basin Stree Blues" and "I Love a Violin". My only complaint is that Liza only chose to perform six songs from Kay's show, which was considerably longer than that.

A DVD of the show will be available for us to revel in, which will be released in early February, 2010.