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Judy's top selling album, recorded live at her Carnegie Hall concert on April 23, 1961, is still considered by many to be the greatest night ever in the history of show business! This is one of the best-selling albums of all time. It was #1 in 1961, and won 5 Grammys. It ranked #9 for all of the 1960s - quite a feat considering the impact of rock music during that decade. As of 1990, it still ranked as the #29 all-time best-selling album. And - it's never been out of print!
Previous releases of this album have been incomplete and somewhat different than the actual concert recording. This release, a 24K Gold audiophile edition, is the complete concert recording (including all of Judy's talking), just as it was recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1961!
Disc One (1135/1) Tracks:
1. Overture: Medley: The Trolley Song / Over the Rainbow / The Man That Got Away
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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9.
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11.
12.
Disc Two (1135/2) Tracks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
from the liner notes...
"TWO HOURS OF POW"
"Judy At Carnegie Hall" was a milestone in the life and career of a woman who
had seen so many successes in her time, who had been "reborn" before. None of
the many achievements she had previously could compare with what happened to
her in 1961, however. Today, nearly 40 years later, people are raving about
the current comeback of Cher, but nothing comes close to the remarkable 360
degree turnabout Judy achieved in '61. Especially considering that only 16
months prior to stepping onto the stage at Carnegie Hall, Judy Garland nearly
died.
Born as Frances Ethel Gumm on Saturday, June 10th, 1922, her stage debut in
1924 was the start of a love people would feel for this tiny force of
nature, a love that continues to grow and astound the public and media alike,
30 years after her death. Following vaudeville tours with her sisters, local
radio, four 1929 sound shorts, and a rave from Variety in 1932 ("kid stopped
the show"), Frances Gumm would be renamed "Judy Garland," and soon signed a
movie contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The years spent at Metro(1935-1950)
made Judy an icon, but they also coincide with the era her health first
declined, when medications were prescribed by studio doctors so she could be
camera-thin, and able to fulfill her overwhelming professional obligations.
Those years had also cut short her flourishing stage career, but she returned
to her roots within months of leaving MGM. The 1951 engagements at the
London Palladium and then at NYC's famed Palace Theater made it common
knowledge that seeing Judy Garland "live" would be one of the greatest and
most electrifying experiences a person could have in their lifetime. Judy's
physical resources were depleted from overwork as the 1950's came to an end.
Checking into Doctor's Hospital in NYC on November 18th, 1959, it was
revealed she was suffering from hepatitis. After twenty quarts of fluids were
drained from her 180-pound, 4 foot-11-inch frame, the 37-year-old star was
told she must adjust to living as a permanent semi-invalid, and could never
work again. The doctors did obviously not know their patient : she was about
to enter into the most successful era of her life,when Judy Garland would be
the biggest star in the world. Taking the majority of the first 6 months in
1960 off revitalized her heath and her voice. Then Judy herself actually
invented the first known 2-act, solo, one-woman pop concert format, which
debuted at the London Palladium on Sunday, August 28th, 1960, and toured
Europe. Wanting to then give America "two hours of POW!," 150,000 lucky
people saw "Hurricane Judy" during her massive '61 tour, the pinnacle of
which was on April 23rd, 1961: Judy At Carnegie Hall.
Ironically, she had sung the song "The Joint Is Really Jumpin Down At
Carnegie Hall" in the 1943 MGM musical "Thousands Cheer," and both of those
titles would prove apt for this magical night. . By the conclusion of her
first number, it was clear Judy was at a peak performance level no one had
seen before. Also, the program of songs was so expertly formatted -- by the
lady herself (she also frequently selected her lighting and clothes; the
latter would help hide "a multitude of sins," Judy joked.) Whether singing
songs old or new to her vast catalog -- she actually sang hundreds of songs
in her career, despite being best known for a mere handful -- Judy gave
perhaps the definitive versions of all the numbers heard here. Listen to
"Rainbow" for just one example, and hear how Judy not only recreates the
innocence of "Dorothy" in "Oz," but marries that with a newfound depth,
taking her own signature song to an entirely new level, giving it a whole new
meaning. You'll never look at this song as strictly a "child's song" again,
and you'll need look no further for proof of the artistry -- and yes, the
genius -- of Judy Garland.
Judy's legendary career continued to hit many highs in the post-Carnegie
years. Highlights included : additional recordings on the bestseller charts;
more movies; TV appearances (including 2 specials, guest spots on the top
variety and talk shows, and of course her legendary 1963-64 TV-series) ; and
a multitude of additional concerts, including 2 joint appearances at the
London Palladium with her gifted daughter Liza Minnelli in 1964, and a
staggering 79 concerts in 1967,which featured her triumphant "comeback" at
the Palace Theater. Continuing to thrill audiences right up to the end, with
a surprisingly still-powerful voice and presence, Judy Garland passed away in
London on June 22nd, 1969, at age 47, only 3 months after her final concert
triumph.
"Judy At Carnegie Hall" would remain her biggest selling recording, and has
never gone out of print. DCC is presenting, for the first time ever, every
second of this legendary and historic document of "the world's greatest
entertainer." You will finally get to hear -- as it was meant to be heard,
and exactly as it actually happened -- the greatest "live" audio
representation of the greatest "live" performer of all time.
-- Scott Schechter
© 2000 Scott Schechter/DCC Compact Classics
With permission
(Mr. Schechter recently co-produced the critically-acclaimed tribute to Miss
Garland's entire 1929-1969 cateloge, the 4-CD / video box set "Judy" from 32
Records. Publisher and editor of the "Garlands For Judy : The Legend's
Legacy" magazine, he is currently consulting with Pioneer Entertainment and
Classic World Productions on their DVDs of "The Judy Garland Show." For more
information , send an SASE to : PO Box 2743, New York, NY 10163-2743 or email
to : )
[see the Page here on the JGDB!]
Read the (courtesy Scott Schechter)
Cover scan courtesy of Alain Falasse
Track listing and other information courtesy Lawrence Schulman and Scott Schechter
See also:
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