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From the Vault...
11/30/2014
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info
Liza Minnelli
"The Complete Capitol Collection"
© DRG/EMI Records
Year of Release: 2006
Rating:
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track listing
Disc One:
It's Just A Matter Of Time
If I Were In Your Shoes
Meantime
Try To Remember
I'm All I Got
Maybe Soon
Maybe This Time
Don't Ever Leave Me
The Travelin' Life
Together Wherever We Go
Blue Moon
I Knew Him When
Wait Till You See Him
My Shining Hour
I Like The Likes Of You
It Amazes Me
Looking At You
I Never Have Seen Snow
Plenty Of Time
For Every Man
There's A Woman
Lorelei
Shouldn't There
Be Lightning
Nobody Knows When
You're Down
And Out
Walk Right In/
How Come You
Do Me
Like You Do
Imprevu
Disc Two:
There Is A Time
(Le Temps)
I (Who Have Nothing)
M'Lord
Watch What Happens
One Of Those Songs
Days Of The Waltz
Ay Marieke
Love At Last
You Have Found Me
I'll Build A Stairway
To Paradise
See The Old Man
The Parisians
One Summer Love
Day Dreaming
His Woman
My Little Corner
Of The World
We'll Be Together
A Quiet Thing
All I Need
Sing Happy
Dear Love
I'm Not Laughing
Did I Hurt Your Feelings
The Many Faces Of Love
At My Age
Middle Of The Street
Everybody Loves
My Baby
Marriage Is For Old Folks
Come On And Baby Me
Liza With A Z
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Liza Minnelli
"The Complete Capitol Collection"
Liza... Most people would not have to know the last name. For those who may not, Liza Minnelli is one of the most popular artists in the genre of
Adult Contemporary. More importantly, she is the daughter of legend Judy Garland. Like her mother, she achieved great success as a singer, yet she did
have her "demons" as her mother, with drugs and alcohol. Sadly, Judy Garland passed away at the young age of 47 (June 22, 1969); the cause of death was
barbituate overdose. Luckily for Liza, she would talk openly about drug rehab, and, she would outlive her mother; she is currently 69 years old.
By the time she was 17, she was already performing professionally, playing in the chorus of Flower Drum Song. She performed on Broadway by
age 19. It was this age, she would turn to music, as a nightclub singer. In 1964, she began recording for Capitol Records. Three studio albums were
released, from 1964 to 1966. (There was a live album on Capitol, released with her mother, in 1965.)
The three studio albums were reissued on CD as The Complete Capitol Collection, consisting of all three original albums, and unreleased tracks.
The three albums were: Liza! Liza! (1964), It Amazes Me (1965), and There Is A Time (1966). Despite poor record sales for all of
the releases, they were all well-received by the critics.
Liza! Liza! (1964)
There is no doubt, we can all hear Judy Garland in practically every song recorded by Liza Minnelli. Although what stands
out for Liza, are the Broadway/Cabaret-type tracks. There are plenty of those here. The more sensitive tracks (fitting the Adult Contemporary category),
gets great comparisons not only to Judy Garland, but other well-known and famous AC artists, such as Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. Also to mention
another popular AC artist, Barbra Streisand.
For her first album, she received advice from a classmate, by the name of Marvin Hamlisch. He had already been working on Broadway (Funny Girl),
and he suggested songs for the album. Of course, Hamlisch would become a future music producer/arranger in his own right -- his most popular was the
soundtrack to the Paul Newman/Robert Redford film, The Sting. Two songs that they had already worked on some years prior, would become part of
Liza's first album -- "It's Just a Matter of Time", and "The Travelin' Life." Producer Paul Matz would also be a huge impact on Liza's
career, with his orchestration arranging, as he would be a part of her long recording career, until his death in 2002.
Definitely the Broadway sound is the peak style of Liza! Liza! Easily fitting the Adult Contemporary category, the "Broadway-sound" tracks
makes her debut a solid, and energetic album: "It's Just A Matter Of Time," "Meantime," "I'm All I Got," "Maybe This Time," "The Travelin' Life,"
and "Blue Moon" (the popular '50s tune, yet recorded much differently, with it's Broadway-ish style, only Liza can put her name on). As for the
remaining tracks, they fit the AC genre: "Try To Remember," "Maybe Soon," "Don't Every Leave Me," "Together Wherever We Go," "I Knew Him When."
And if there was a particular track that would closely resemble Judy Garland, it would be "If I Were In Your Shoes."
Although this album did not do well on the charts, the reviews were very positive. During three years from the release, the album sold over half a
million copies. The reviews were "an auspicious debut,""fine new talent", impressive, beguiling, and beautifully varied album from a major singing talent,"
"simply great, with clarity of tone, genuine feeling, emotion".
It Amazes Me (1965)
Just as her debut, everyone involved from the first album collaborated on Liza's second solo album. It contained 11
pop standards, of which they were upbeat tunes and ballads. One thing to mention on her second release, there weren't as many Broadway-sounding tracks,
as the style was more as lite-sounding Adult Contemporary. Frank Sinatra-type tracks would be the best comparison. Of the "Broadway-sounding" tracks to
mention, there is the opener, "Wait Till You See Him." "For Every Man There's A Woman" best describes Broadway as well, even to the like of
Tony Bennett. A mix of Sinatra and Broadway is heard on "Lorelei."
The Sinatra/lite-AC compare gets the remaining songs. They are all wonderfully crafted, and beautiful in sound: "My Shining Hour," "I Like The Likes
Of You" (which is one of those songs that you feel that Liza was having a great time recording it). The title track, "Looking At You," "I Never Have
Seen Snow," "Plenty Of Time," "Shouldn't There Be Lightning," are all beautiful. The closing track for the album, "NObody Knows When You're Down
And Out" is beautiful as well, and ends on a great vocalized "belting it out," which Liza has done with many of her songs.
One track that was left off the original release of It Amazes Me, was the medley of Walk Right In" (a #1 hit for The Rooftop singers)
and "How Come You Do Me Like You Do." This song, and the single "Imprevu" are included on this Complete Capitol Collection.
Disc two begins with Liza's third solo release from 1966, There Is A Time.
Once again, she returns with 11 pop standards. The
Broadway-sounding tracks return more on this release, and afew lite-sounding AC tracks. The Broadway-ish tunes: "M'Lord," "One Of Those Songs,"
"Days Of The Waltz," "Ay Marieke," "I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise and "The Parisians."
Then there's the AC tracks: "There Is A Time (Le Temps," the Tom Jones hit "I (Who Have Nothing)," the "AC Sinatra" "Watch What Happens,"
and the beautifully AC "Love At Last You Have Found Me" and "See The Old Man'
Just as her debut, both It Amazes Me and There Is A Time resulted the same on the Albums chart (low), yet the reviews were very positive.
The remaining tracks were unreleased songs and singles, from 1963 to 1966. Of the unreleased tracks, they were: "My Little Corner Of The World,
"We'll Be Together" (AC, upbeat AC), "The Many Faces Of Love," "At My Age," "Marriage Is For Old Folks" (theatrical Jazz, soft Jazz, offbeat
Jazz), "Come On And Baby Me" (Broadway), and "Liza With A Z" (a song that would be a future TV show; she indicates that "My name is Liza,
with a "Z", and remember this..." Liza has become a Legend.)
The singles: "One Summer Love, "How Much Will I Love You," "Day Dreaming (AC), "His Woman" (Cuban/Mambo/Jazz !!), "A Quiet Thing"
(AC), "All I Need" (Mambo/Broadway), "Sing Happy," "Dear Love" (Streisand AC), "I'm Not Laughing," "Did I Hurt Your Feelings" (Jazz),
"Middle Of The Street," "Everbody Loves My Baby" ('60s Pop)
This was the beginning for a very successful music career for Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli. She would become a crowd favorite, and concert
events. I was lucky to see her perform in 1980, at the Chicago Theatre. Bob Hope was the first act. I was employed at River Oaks Theaters at the time,
as Plitt Theaters was the main company that had sent their theater employees to the Chicago Theatre to work as ushers, concession, and doormen. Both Bob
Hope and Liza Minnelli were outstanding. We did return the following year in Chicago, but I cannot remember who were the main acts.
Liza proved to be a Legend. She recorded 11 studio albums, yet recorded many live albums, which is what she was most famous for, performing in concerts.
Like her mother, she was well-loved and highly popular. Yet Judy Garland's downfall was her abuse with drugs, alcohol, and depression. Liza had her bouts
with these demons too, yet she was able to get help, and she is still with us today. She is currently 69 years old. She has been married and divorced 4
times. She has no children. She has kept herself involved with charities. Her most recent musical works have been a studio album in 2010, and a live
cast recording in 2009.
Liza is a true Legend. The Complete Capitol Collection begins her journey into a long and prosperous successful career in music. For the main
Broadway fan, this is a must. Also, her performance in the movie Cabaret is a highly recommendation. The soundtrack to this film is also a must for your
collection. As "Dorothy" from the Wizard of Oz said, "There's no place like home." Music is home for Liza Minnelli. Liza Minnelli is music.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
DRG/EMI Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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