“JUDY”
Was released by 32 RECORDS on October 13th, 1998.
Contains
- 4 CDs ; VHS Video 100-page Book
Produced
by Grammy Award-winning producer Joel Dorn (Bette Midler’s first album,
including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”; Roberta Flack, including “Killing
Me Softly”; and Aaron Neville), his son Adam Dorn; and Co-produced by Scott
Schechter.
The
music is presented chronologically, and spans 40 years of “The Legend’s
Legacy” (i.e : the material that still exists.) While certainly not every
year of her career is represented here, “JUDY” is the most comprehensive
career overview on Garland ever released on CD, and was approached as an
audio documentary of her voice and talent.
Discs
One and Two are an overview of her life and career leading up to the historic
TV Series. (Represented on these first CDs are early performances; radio
broadcasts; as well as recordings made for Decca, MGM, and Capitol; Work
in the studio is mixed with performances in front of audiences, including
the two most legendary concert halls she worked at : Carnegie Hall and
the London Palladium.)
Discs
Three and Four focus mainly on “The Judy Garland Show” (for which 32 Records
now holds the exclusive audio and video rights.) The set closes with a
look at how Judy was still able to reach for greatness at the end of her
life. The majority of the tracks from the TV Series are solos; there are
a few select highlights of Judy singing with other legends.
Discs
Three and Four focus mainly on “The Judy Garland Show” (for which 32 Records
now holds the exclusive audio and video rights.) The set closes with a
look at how Judy was still able to reach for greatness at the end of her
life. The majority of the tracks from the TV Series are solos; there are
a few select highlights of Judy singing with other legends.
Among
the talents who are heard with Judy on “JUDY” : Harold Arlen; Wallace Beery;
Tony Bennett; Ray Bolger; Bing Crosby; Bobby Darin; Roger Edens; Al Jolson;
Gene Kelly; Peggy Lee; Oscar Levant; Liza Minnelli; and others.
All
of the sound has been digitally remixed and remastered, from digital sources
whenever possible. The best source-materials were always sought out and
utilized, and you can be assured that even the songs you have heard before
will have a new brightness and depth to them (This might be most apparent
to you on the TV Series material : For years, Garland fans have had to
make due with either pirate copies or poorly executed “legitimate” releases
that always used inferior sound materials as their source -- including
crackles and pops in transfers from LPs to CDs. For the the first time,
“The Judy Garland Show” has utilized original DAT masters (Digital Audio
Tape), and even improved them a step further. The result is incredibly
rich, deep sound, that often seems almost like stereo, allowing Judy’s
vocal prowess on the Series to be judged accurately for the first time.)
A total
of TWENTY-EIGHT (28) songs are making their CD debut here; HALF of those
have NEVER appeared on ANY audio release (INCLUDING LP.) There is also
one song that has NEVER been heard by both the general public AND even
most of the die-hard fans : a recently discovered OUTTAKE from a recording
session in the 1950’s.
The
32 minute VHS video presents some highlights from “The Judy Garland Show.”
There are 9 songs here : eight solos and one duet. Of these nine songs,
FIVE are making their home video debut; none of them have been nationally
broadcast on network television in 35 years, and ALL of them are here for
the FIRST TIME since 1963-1964 in their original VIDEO TAPE format, as
opposed to the kinescope or 16mm film print transfers that have been prevalent
for the last three decades. (The only “film” elements here are two vintage
TV commercials we included, that aired during the original broadcasts;
one was obviously done as a “tribute” to Judy.)
The
video was produced from the digitally remastered D2 videotapes.
The
100-PAGE book includes reflections on Judy by : Will Friedwald; ARETHA
FRANKLIN; MORT LINDSEY; Camille Paglia; and Scott Schechter. (Scott also
wrote the background information on the songs found in the Track Listings
section of the book.)
There
are also many previously unpublished photos throughout the book, including
several from the estate of the famed photographer MILTON GREENE.
“JUDY”
will be available at Tower Records and other chains and outlets; List price
is $79.98; Available WITH a special BONUS, direct from 32 RECORDS by calling
: 1-800-771-9553.
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