Thursday, November 29, 2012

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER


Judy Garland never treated life or work like it was a dress rehearsal. 
For Judy,  it always had to be a full out, no holds barred performance, with encores!

And that spirit, and sense of joie de vivre, can be heard on the latest Garland release from 
First Hand Records,
JUDY GARLAND The Amsterdam Concert December 1960.


The concert took place just after midnight on December 10, 1960, and because of the specialness of the occasion it was broadcast on Holland's public radio station, which got permission from the government to stay on the air past it's curfew (for the first time) to accommodate this late night performance.

The late hour might also explain Garland's extra relaxed demeanor during the concert. She seems devoid of nervousness or fear here, and instead, just seems happy to be there, singing, joking, chatting up a storm, having a good time, and taking the audience on a remarkable journey through her legendary songbook.  Judy is feeling so frisky she even pokes gentle fun at the off stage commentators, much to the delight of the crowd.

The singing is, in a word, wonderful. Whether Garland is singing the driving, pounding, constantly building Come Rain Or Come Shine, the aching, sultry and steamy Do It Again, or a spirited march like It's A Great Day For The Irish, she gets her message across with limitless energy, flawless intonation, impeccable phrasing, and as her son, Joe Luft, calls it, "that voice." 

The highlight of the concert for me is when the orchestra takes five and "that voice" 
is accompanied only by David Lee's solo piano. 

I've grown used to hearing Judy with piano players who offer sympathetic and gentle musical support, her work here with Lee is different. He is heard in the forefront with Garland and their songs together almost sound like duets. Each has their own style, yet they play brilliantly off of one another.

Hearing these tracks made me yearn for a Judy Garland/David Lee voice and piano studio album.


For this release FHR was able to obtain the original mono masters, 
as recorded by Dutch radio for a later rebroadcast.
The remastereing by Debs Spanton gives the listener as much of a "you are there" feeling as possible, and the result is a very happy aural trip back to the crystal clear mono world of 1960.

The generic looking cover opens up to reveal FHR president
David Murphy's attractive, and photo rich, booklet design.

Notes are by producer Jonathan Summers, who eloquently tells the story of Judy's journey from near death in late 1959, and being told she would never work again, to that amazing year of 1960 where she beat all the odds and reinvented herself as the worlds foremost concert artist.

Since this concert was Judy's gift to Holland I thought the Dutch should have the last word,
so I turned to a friend of mine, who happens to be one of Holland's up and coming music stars, and he succinctly and accurately summed up the concert as "magisch."

And that pretty much sums up Judy Garland as well, ever enduring, and always "magisch."


To Order or download JUDY GARLAND The Amsterdam Concert December 1960
please visit the First Hand Records website by clicking HERE

Sunday, November 25, 2012

NEW FILES POSTED TO THE YAHOO GROUP for the week of November 25, 2012

Homepage by Allen Morris

Here is a recap of the new files posted to the Yahoo version of THe Judy Garland Experience. To access the files click HERE.


A JUDY MOMENT
Young Judy's got the blues (1943).

A MOMENT IN TIME
Howard Hughes is forced out of seclusion, 1972.

COMPLETE PERRY COMO SHOW 1966
Judy Garland and Bill Cosby guest star on an episode of The Perry Como Show that was originally broadcast on February 20, 1966.

DUET OF THE WEEK
Instead of making claims on a man who is playing both of them, maybe Goldie Hawn and Liza Minnelli should address their self esteem issues.

ENCORE
Chaka Khan Chaka Khan. Somebody is feeling optimistic.

HERE'S TO THE VETS 1957
Gordon Jenkins seems to think Judy is there in the studio with him. I guess the fact that she was singing "On command" added to the confusion...

KICKING OFF THE HOLIDAYS
Judy Garland and Bing Crosby kick off the holiday season on this music heavy episode of Crosby's radio show. Originally broadcast December 6, 1950.

LADY ESTER BLODGETT THEATER
Judy Garland sings the music of Kurt Weill in Lady In The Dark, a musical about psychoanalysis. Also starring John Lund. Originally broadcast on February 16, 1953.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK
It's Billie Holiday, Jack Jones, and Tony Bennett!
Billie is heard at her brother in laws club, the Uptown House, and Tony Bennett blows up Jack Jones spot at Jilly's.

REQUESTS AND RARITIES
Anything and everything

SUNDAY MORNIG SPECIAL
Excerpts from Maria Muldaur live at the Troubador, 1974.

WHERE JUDY PLAYED
Nat King Cole live at the Shrine auditorium, 1949.
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

David Price's PHOTO OF THE WEEK #48

Rehearsing at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia just prior to her concert at the Robin Hood Dell ... June 30, 1943.


Sunday, November 18, 2012

NEW FILES POSTED TO THE YAHOO GOUP for the week of November 18, 2012

Homepage by Allen Morris

Here is the rundown of the new files posted to the 
Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience. 
To access the files click here.

A JUDY MOMENT
Judy gives the Merm a run for her money. 
And in Duphonic Stereo to boot!

A MOMENT IN TIME
New Feature!
Each week we will bring you a random sound bite from history.
This week, the 1981 shooting of Ronald Reagan.

DUET OF THE WEEK
Aretha Franklin and Billy Preston express their appreciation.

ENCORE
Well, apparently Jimmy Forrest has arranged for our transportation home for the Thanksgiving holiday. And what a funky ride it's going to be. Hope everyone remembered to pack their pasties!

GOOD NEWS OF 1938
From November 4, 1937. 
Judy Garland and more stars than there are in the heavens.

GORDON JENKINS GUARD SESSION 1967
Martin Block interviews Gordon Jenkins and all they do is talk about Judy Garland and play her records. Block tries to get Gordon to say that Judy is temperamental, but Gordon, who actually knew Judy, is having none of that, and instead, speaks of her with reverence.

JUDY GARLAND IN CONCERT
November 18, 1957. Fifty five years ago today Judy Garland gave a Royal Command performance at the London Palladium. Here are a few excerpts from her act.

LEO IS ON THE AIR 1941
(with a nod to this week's homepage) Judy Garland and Tony Martin sing selections from their upcoming film, Ziegfeld Girl.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK
It's Anita Moore at Nassau Coliseum! 

OUTTAKES 1949
A few pre-recordings from Judy's aborted version of Annie Get Your Gun.

REQUESTS AND RARITIES
Anything and everything.

SUNDAY MORNING SPECIAL
Chillaxin' with Julie London

WHERE JUDY PLAYED
Chet Baker at Lincoln Center, 1975.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

David Price's PHOTO OF THE WEEK #47

Judy and Mickey Rooney are reunited at the Riviera Hotel 
on Mickey's opening night there ... June 9, 1955.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

A Mother's Love

Judy Garland with her children, Lorna Luft and Joseph Luft, London, 1960.

Gary Horrocks, president of The International Judy Garland Club, just shared this photograph that didn't make it into club's latest edition of Judy Garland A Celebration.

To learn more about the club and their wonderful publication click here.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY 2

 Here is another gallery of photos that were posted to our Facebook group 
today by TJGE members Kristen Rae, Joe L, Sarah W, and Clayton A.

To join the Facebook Experience click HERE.



Judy and Jimmy Durante rehearse for the radio production Dick Tracy In B Flat, 1945.


Judy backstage, 1962.

With Wilson Penna and Bidu' Sayao, 1955.

Chicago, 1967.

Judy with Fanny Brice, Harry Rapf, and Sophie Tucker.

Dottie Ponedel touches up Judy's make up between takes of I'm An Indian Too while pal Joan Blondell  looks on, 1949.

Vegas, 1957.

Between takes while on location filming for I Could Go On Singing, 1962.

The Gumm sisters meet the world of digital color.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY

Here is just a small sampling of the many diverse photos that the members of The Judy Garland Experience Facebook group have uploaded in the past 24 hours.

This particular batch of photos was submitted by 
Sarah W, Kristen Rae J, Joe F, Louise A,  Andrew C, and Desiree B.

To view the full gallery and group postings click HERE.


Judy Garland's children (with Nanny) in attendance at a Garland opening night, 1962.

Judy and Gene Kelly perform together at 1963's SHARE benefit show.

Judy and co-star Robert Walker during the filming of The Clock, 1945.

Backstage the night Jerry Lewis filled in for Judy Garland and 
reinvented his career.

Screen grab from In The Good Old Summertime, 1949.

Judy attends a NYC press party for the aforementioned The Clock, 1945.

In court with attorney Harry Claiborne, November, 1962.

Baby Gumm

Costume test for Annie Get Your Gun


Album Of The Month: THE GARLAND TOUCH



Here is the first in a series of tributes to Judy Garland's discography, with focus on her library of Long Playing albums.  Every month TJGE member Jaycub will create a brand new video featuring a song, medley, or homage to/from one of Garland's LP's.

For our first pick we have chosen a perennial fan favorite that was first released by Capitol Records in 1962,  The Garland Touch.
To represent the album we have chosen track number three, Comes Once In A Lifetime, as the soundtrack to the video. The video is filled with rare footage of Judy, out and about, enjoying life,  and doing exactly as her song instructs.

The Garland Touch was a "Pick Up" album that featured an eclectic bunch of singles, unreleased tracks, and reissues. The material on the album was recorded between 1958 and 1961 at several iconic recording studios, most notably the Capitol Tower in Los Angeles and Abbey Road studios in London.

The album, with additional tracks, is currently available on compact disc and as a digital download.











NEW FILES POSTED TO THE YAHOO GROUP (for the week of November 11, 2012)


 
 Homepage by Robin D'Amato

                                  Here is the rundown of this week's new files posted to 
the Yahoo version of  The Judy Garland Experience™.
To access the files click HERE.


A JUDY MOMENT
The heart of a woman.

DUET OF THE WEEK
Charles Brown get s a little flirtatious with Etta Jones in this playful romp 
through one of Judy Garland's early Decca hits.

ENCORE
Judy Garland tears a page out of her father's songbook, folds it up, 
puts it in her pocket, and takes it home.

ENCORE 2
In Memorium

HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS
Judy Garland host's the Merv Griffin show, December 23, 1968. Featuring Judy's sidekick, Arthur Treacher, and guests Margaret Hamilton, Moms Mabley, Van Johnson, Rex Reed, and The Ohio Express.

JUDY IN CONCERT
Per a request, here is Judy Garland's May 7, 1965 concert 
at Chicago's Arie Crown Theatre.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK!
Featuring a double bill of Frances Faye and Lorna Luft. Frances is heard with a complete set recorded at NYC's Cameo Room in 1956, and Lorna is heard via a recording of her October 21, 1978 engagement at the city's Grand Finale night club. Unfortunately due to time constraints we can only present two of Lorna's songs here (but no worries, Luft's act, in its entirety, will be posted in the not too distant future.).

LYONS LION 1967
INTERNET DEBUT. From September, 1967, The Herb Lyons show with Myron Cohen, Ruth Roman, Don DeFore, Howard Keel, and Miss Judy Garland. Judy appears on tape to promote her show at the Civic Opera House. Is it me, or does Herb Lyons directness with his questions seem a bit rude at times?

REQUESTS AND RARITIES
Everything but the kitchen sink.

SUNDAY MORNING SPECIAL
A few moments with Frankie Laine.

WHERE JUDY PLAYED
Liza Minnelli at Carnegie Hall, 1979.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

David Price's PHOTO OF THE WEEK #46

Judy and Fred Astaire at M-G-M's 25th Anniversary Luncheon held at the studio ... February 13, 1949. Photo credit: Fink & Smith

Saturday, November 10, 2012

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Lorna Luft 
photographed with daughter Vanessa Richards
and television personality Jimmy Fallon, 2012.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

JUDY IN AMSTERDAM PRE-ORDER DELIVERY UPDATE


Heard from David, the president of First Hand Records, who became aware of the few TJGE members who haven't received their pre-ordered copies of JUDY GARLAND The Amsterdam Concert, and he asked me to pass the following message on to any concerned parties:


 FHR would like to apologise to those few customers who are still waiting for their Judy Garland Amsterdam Concert CDs, which were pre-ordered direct from us. All these pre-orders were sent out to North America on 22/23 Oct with any orders after this date dispatched immediately. We usually advise to wait up to 2 weeks for shipments from UK to USA (though in most cases items would be delivered before this). Unfortunately, the appearance of Hurricane Sandy has cause some inevitable delays on some of our US shipments.


David Murphy

First Hand Records


Sunday, November 4, 2012

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

David Price's PHOTO OF THE WEEK #45

An exquisite portrait by Virgil Apger taken during Judy's 
final formal portrait sitting at M-G-M ... March 23, 1950.                 
Serial number 2001.

NEW FILES POSTED TO THE YAHOO GROUP (for the week of November 4, 2012)

Homepage image by Allen Morris

Here is the rundown of the new audio files posted to the 
Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience™
To access the files click HERE.

A JUDY MOMENT
Judy (with a children's chorus) recorded this special song for a United Nations all star album after her 2:30 A.M. show at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. The kids might sound a little sluggish, but Judy goes at the song full throttle and produces an inspired performance. 
October, 1962.

DUET OF THE WEEK
Jackie Paris and Ann Marie Moss want to hip us to their Saturday night tradition.

ENCORE
Judy Garland's personal message to New York.

GOTTA GET OUT AND VOTE
Judy is delightfully non bi-partisan as she sings "Now we're on the right track...right behind the president...the track ahead is clear now let's keep the engines humming. Don't change the engineer now cause a new world special is a-coming."

HOPE IN BLOOM
Judy displays a talent for dialects while performing sketch comedy with Bob Hope, and then she takes one home with Skinny Ellis and the boys.
1939.

JUDY DOWN UNDER
Judy Garland promotes her upcoming concerts.
Sydney, May 11, 1964.

JUDY IN CONCERT
The concert segment from Judy's 1962 television special.

KENNEDY AT NIGHT
Lois Nettleton and Mickey Deans discuss Judy Garland on late night Chicago television.
April, 1972

KRAFT MUSIC HALL
Starring Judy Garland and Al Jolson
September 30, 1948.

LADY ESTHER BLODGETT THEATER
Judy Garland is Alice Adams in this radio adaptation of the Booth Tarkington novel.
Originally broadcast on November 5, 1950.
Please note that this version has  seriously upgraded sound quality compared to copies posted here in the past.

MEMORIES OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT
A gossipy Stewardess recalls serving Judy Garland and her Hairdresser in the early 60's.

REQUESTS AND RARITIES
Anything and everything.

SUNDAY MORNING SPECIAL
A few moments with the sublime Carol Sloane.

WHERE JUDY PLAYED
The great Lady Day, Billie Holiday, live at the Shrine Auditorium. 
June, 1949.

Judy Garland portraying Alice Adams for NBC radio listeners, November 5, 1950.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

VINTAGE TEE SHIRTS

Eh, a blonde Ava Gardner? That's just not right.
I mean, she looks like bloody Dolores Gray!

NEW FILES POSTED TO THE YAHOO GROUP (for the week of October 28, 2012)


Here is a rundown of the new audio files posted to the 
Yahoo version of The Judy Garland Experience.
to access the files click HERE.

A JUDY MOMENT
Another no brainer considering the holiday...

AMERICA CALLING
Starring Judy Garland, James Cagney, Lionel Barrymore, Mickey Rooney, Jackie Cooper, Jeanette MacDonald, Tony Martin, and others. Originally broadcast on December 12, 1938.

DUET OF THE WEEK
Per a request, here is My Buddy as sung by Judy Garland and Paula Wayne..

ENCORE
Anita O'Day is getting spooked.

JUDY IN CONCERT
Judy Garland performs a short set at the Masquers Club, October 24, 1958

LADY ESTHER BLODGETT THEATER
Presents JUDY GARLAND in Drive In. A brazen Car Hop hops into the wrong car and is taken for a ride of terror to the land of no return. Rehearsal and performance recordings included in folder. Rare broadcast version retains original intros and commercials. Original air date November 21, 1946.

LIVE FROM L.A.
Judy Garland live on the Ed Sullivan show on October 3, 1965. Normally broadcast from New York, Ed took his show on the road to California that week.

MICKEY DEANS IN CHICAGO
Another interview from Steve Sanders collection. This one comes from April, 1972.

REQUESTS AND RARITIES
Anything and everything.

SUNDAY MORNING SPECIAL
A few moments with Ralph Blane. Ralph sings a few of his greatest hits.

WHERE JUDY PLAYED
Sylvia Syms at Carnegie Hall.

Sunnyvale

Followers

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/

The Judy Garland Experience

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