Judy Garland recording from carnegie hall....

When I was at the bc/efa flea market a few weeks ago and was looking through boxes and boxes of records when I found a album from Judy Garland that was recording at Carnegie Hall. Just started listening to it but was wondering if anyone else know it?

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Yes, it is pretty amazing. Recorded live on April 23, 1961 It is considered one of show-biz' greatest nights ever.
It demonstrates Judy Garland at her roof-raising peak.

Here are some interesting Billboard stats about it:

* Certified Gold (sold over 500,000 copies)
* Charted for 73 weeks, 13 weeks at No. 1
* Ninth best selling album of 1961
* Ranked 13 for the entire decade
* Winner of 5 Grammy Awards

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One of my favorite things about this board is that you have high-school kids and longtime culture vultures side-by-side.

Bronte, that recording is so amazing that at first I thought you were kidding. All I can say is: You're in for one of the most amazing experiences of your life. I bought that album first on an LP, then on cassette, then on CD. Each re-release added more of the dialogue between songs or re-engineered the sound to include more or less of the audience reaction. It's the first thing I've put on each time I've bought a new stereo, walkman or car stereo. I've listened to it in every mood, from happy to sad. It's not just a recording, it's a companion. The overture itself is enough sometimes to make me ready to face anything.

After you listen to it (a few hundred times), you might want to check out John Fricke's book: Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer. There are many biographies of her, but most focus on her troubled life. Fricke celebrates her artistry and humor.

You might also rent the DVD of the TV movie with Judy Davis that was made from Lorna Luft's memoir. It goes into the troubles but in context of her whole glorious life. And of course, A Star Is Born and I Could Go on Singing, as well as her MGM movies before and after Oz. The 26 episodes on the 1963-64 Judy Garland TV shows are out on DVD also. They're not perfect, the way the Carnegie Hall album is, but they're the closest you get to seeing her live.

Have fun and report back to us once you've heard her say "I'll sing 'em all. I don't ever want to leave."

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My first experience with the LP was when I was a young teenager. Hunting through the sale bin at a local record store in the mid-60's, I found the LP in the bin.

I asked the manager what was wrong with it and he said there was one disc missing. So I bought IT, and after one listening to that lone disc, I was immediately knocked over by the energy and talent of Garland and the brilliance of the songs. That is, the songs from "Who Cares?" through "Stormy Weather." I lived for about 12 years experiencing only sides 2 and 3.

It wasn't until the mid-70s, that I had the entire LP. As already mentioned the Overture alone catapaults the listener to another sphere.

Joey, you're are quite right that the beauty of this online community is the opportunity to share with others, espeicially younger generations, one's first-hand experience with a segment of American culture, and other life experiences as well.

There's something greatly satifying to recommending a favorite recording, film, play, musical, book, opera, etc. to someone who's never expienced it. If they also like it, that's even sweeter. It's like helping to open a new window in someone's life.

Updated On: 10/3/04 at 10:56 AM

Another great book by Fricke is 'Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art and Anecdote.' It's a compilation of wonderful photos of her entire career, and writings and quotes from her friends and people who worked with her.

I can't claim any objectivity when it comes to Ms. Garland - I think she was the greatest entertainer of the last century. Her Carnegie recording is one of the things I've encountered in my life that can elevate my spirit no matter how down I am. It's followed VERY closely for me by her Palace Concert recording (from 1952) and her London Palladium concert (with Liza!)

While I truly prefer live recordings, the soundtrack to A Star is Born is simply amazing.

The recording was remastered (again) last year (or the year before). The entertainment shows covered it. I believe there also exists a small amount of film footage of the show. There is no audio track to it but it has a few clips of her backstage and onstage. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

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There's a little silent footage from Carnegie Hall taken from someone's "Super 8" camera. (Ask MasterLcZ if you don't know what Super 8 was.) I believe both the A&E Biography and the PBS American Masters include snippets of this silent footage. (Both are good and both were put together by John Fricke.)

But if you really want to see what Judy was like in concert then, get the Judy/Frank/Dean TV special or the special with Phil Silvers and Robert Goulet (both are on DVD) or rent I Could Go On Singing (great musical numbers but some pretty heavy psychodrama for you young 'uns).

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The Garland at Carnegie Hall album is one of the most sublime performance documents of the 20th century and a testament to Garland's consummate artistry.

I do love the recording. It's amazing. I just wish someone thought to record it on video. For some reason, I keep coming back to "Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love" medley. Don't know why but I can't listen to that one track. For some When she makes the transition from "Almost like Being in Love" into "This Can't Be Love. (For those of you who have the recording, the part of the song I'm refering to is "...almost, it's almost. But this can't be love...".
I know it sounds nuts but when she sings the word "but" in the transition...it's like perfection. Ok, I should probably go to bed now that you all think I'm nuts for focusing on a voice and a music transition....probably 3 second of a song...not even.



Is it really that difficult to get this on vinyl? I mean, I got it for almost nothing at the flea market.

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Updated On: 11/20/04 at 01:22 AM

This is the album that changed my life. I first heard it when I was twelve and sat in front of my stereo in awe and astonishment through all four sides of my vinyl. One woman, one microphone and a voice from the heavens. And Bronte604 you are not nuts for focusing on one word and one transition in one song. That is the whole point of why the album is so great, the perfection of such small moments that should be "throw away" moments, but that lady was so "in the moment" that the truthfullness of the performance is what catipulted people on 1961 and STILL affects people today. I still am floored by her timing during each number, particularly the pause before her final "...can't go on" in Stormy Weather (just long enough) and by her voice climbing in San Francisco and Rock-a-Bye. Unequaled brilliance.

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You're right about everything, Andy, except that I agree with young Bronte: that moment where she segues from Almost Like Being in Love to This Can't Be Love is one of the wonders of that album. Sometimes I'm walking down the street and it pops into my head--and it makes my day happier.

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Updated On: 11/20/04 at 09:46 AM

PalJoey - and when you're walking down the street with Holly and that song pops into your head -- your day is perfect!

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Judy at Carnegie Hall is my favorite CD of all time. EVERYONE should go get it!