5 comments about Thankful.

1. After listening to the Leona Lewis cd, I decided to give Kelly's debut another listen so that I could compare the two singers. The two main differences regarding the two are that we, Americans haven't gotten to know Leona in the same way that American Idol allowed us to get to know Kelly. And second, I personally felt that "something" when I listen to Kelly's cd - I feel her soul & belief in her songs (even the cheesy ballads) while I felt nothing while listening to Leona's disc.
   
   The songs on this disc are a mix of rock, pop & r&b which was a good way to display her vocal ability and appeal to as many fans of American Idol as possible. My favorite tracks to this day are:
   
   WHAT'S UP LONELY - good contemporary pop 'n' r&b track
   
   JUST MISSED THE TRAIN - beautiful lyrics matched with her vocals, this is a really pretty track
   
   MISS INDEPENDENT - this is still a great catchy pop track
   
   YOU THOUGHT WRONG - excellent duet with Tamyra (wish they'd work on another track together soon)
   
   THANKFUL - I love the simplicity of this song, she doesn't oversing it
   
   SOME KIND OF MIRACLE - I love the choral arrangement of this soulful ballad
   
   The other songs I like are: THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE, LOW & A MOMENT LIKE THIS - all really showcase her vocal ability but I guess I'd heard them so much that I'm kind of burnt out on listening to them repeatedly.
   
   I'd recommend this disc to any fan just to compare how far Kelly has come as an artist.



2. Kelly is one of the singers that will likely be around for the long-haul. She's truly gifted, and able to adapt her voice to the music that she is presenting. Her main weakness is that she is singing a lot of music that other people are writing. I want to see her develop her writing gifts.



3. Kelly Clarkson is a great artist! I don't know why she doesn't like this album or MISS INDEPENDENT that song and this whole cd is great. I actually don't like her newer stuff i don't think that it is as great as her first!!



4. One good song: The trouble with love. And I already had it on the Love Actually soundtrack. Kind of a waste. I should have listened to the puking sounds my son makes every time Kelly Clarkson is mentioned. But that one good song is so good I hoped she had some others. Good voice, lots of talent. Rotten material. Aretha Franklin didn't get where she is by choosing bad songs. I guess that's the difference.



5. Although not ast good as Breakaway or My December, this is still a decent album.
   
   
   
   The Great:
   
   You Thought Wrong
   
   Miss Independent
   
   Just Missed the Train
   
   Beautiful Disaster
   
   A Moment Like This
   
   Before Your Love
   
   
   
   The Good:
   
   Low
   
   What's Up Lonely
   
   Thankful
   
   
   
   Doesn't Hurt, Doesn't Help:
   
   Anytime
   
   
   
   The Filler:
   
   The Trouble With Love Is, but it's still not terrible
   
   Some Kind of Miracle, but it's still not terrible
   
   
   
   Overall, check out Breakaway and My December first, but also look into this one, because it definetely is a solid debut.

5 comments about The Visitors.

1. I think Abba is so underrated, because their harmonies are so absolutely beautiful. This CD has several songs on it that are worth buying to keep..."The Visitors" is a song that is just fun to hear. But others, like "One of Us" and "Like an Angel Passing thru my Room" are those stop still songs that make you pause and remember. A song that can be sad "Slipping through My Fingers" is so gorgeous and so relatable to anyone seeing their child growing up, and it was just featured in the "Mamma Mia" film. Note the beauty of the front cover of the CD...the rich golden color and the way the members are standing apart, with the ceilings high around them. It is worth a buy because it's not all about one good song. Let's get back to worthwhile, classy music.



2. When i first got this cd on alumb i played the heck out of it and it still sounds good but not as it does now and when i seen it had extra tracks on this cd i knew i just had to have it.
   
   Rondall



3. I first heard "The Visitors" 25 years ago cruising around w/friends in college, and I remember my friend Diane warning us that this Abba tape would trip us out...the intro "sounds like Rush", I remember her saying. And for a guy who preferred hard rock and metal, I was intrigued. The melodies and the lyrics made you realize this wasn't the overproduced numbers that ABBA was famous for pop audiences in the US; it was mature in lyrics and its styling. Years later I bought the CD, and I can say it's one of my favorites when I'm in the mood for something somber and reflective - check it out if you don't have it.



4. The Visitors was ABBA's last studio album, and there is a sombre mood which sets it apart. But it is a true masterpiece! One song in particular transcends pop music. I Let The Music Speak explores the nature of creativity itself. It sees the composer as a medium through which music passes. It assumes music (art) to have a pre-existence and that we merely tune into it. The song hints of music's capacity to evoke emotions and to enhance reality. Music reconciles. Note the imagery. Streets take the artist from the city into the country. Dry leaves imply death. She is lost in a valley, a depression, blind. Her inspiration is gone. Sleep, death, writer's block. Music rescues her. Again, sexual imagery. Music is her lover. "I take it to me and let it flow through me." Music is life itself, the voice of God! This is ABBA's most elegant song. Painting, poetry and music merge.



5. I have 2 ABBA albums, the box set Thank You for The Music, and this one. I really like this one, their final album (I doubt there will ever be a reunion). It has a lot of sadness in it (the romantic liasons in the band were coming apart by this time), and it gives the songs a dark edge to them, something that is noticably missing in other ABBA albums. I love the title track. It's one of my favorite ABBA tracks with an edge of darkness to it, yet it's still a great pop song. Head Over Heals and One of Us are great pop ABBA classics, and I love the closer (at least on the original album ) Like an Angel Passing Through My Room. It's a sad, sad lullaby song, a worthy closer to ABBA's darkest album. This reiusse has The Day Before You Came and Under Attack, which was ABBA's last single (A-Side and B-Side). I love both those songs, and I'm glad this edition has them. Obviously, if you're an ABBA completist, you have to have this one, but those who are even slightly interested in ABBA should pick it up too.

5 comments about Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack.

1. This was a wonderful book about friendship with dogs. I highly recommend it for any views.



2. The Evita Soundtrack is a wonderful and huge collection of broadway songs from the motion picture. Madonna has a great and emotional voice but I always thought Madge was a fabulous singer. Antonio Banderas has great chops as well, who knew? You will love this soundtrack, it's lively, moving, and pure broadway. Enjoy!



3. First of all let me qualify myself by telling that I am an Andrew Lloyd Weber fan, so reviewing this CD is a pleasure for me. Not as 5-star Weber as "Jesus Christ Superstar" but a step up from 3-star "Cats"... Counting the opening "Requiem" and the ending "Lament", the CD has 19-tracks, with more than half of them winners, even if you're not a musical or soundtrack person. Track two, "Oh What a Circus" introduces the listener to the vocals of Antonio Banderas--not a bad listen but no competition for the redition sung by Mandy Patinkin when he played the part of Che on Broadway--as you get used to his raspy voice his performance gets stronger, peaking, I think, with "High Flying, Adored" which he shares in part with Madonna. Madonna, on the other hand, is superb. Eva Duarte Peron was a part designed for her sense of theatre. She is equally as good as Tony winner Patti Lupone's version on Broadway because, frankly, Madonna's range is greater. Of note is "Buenos Aires", "Another suitcase in Another Hall", "Goodnight and Thank You" a duet with Banderas, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina", "Rainbow High" and, of course, the crowning "You Must Love Me." And too, Jimmy Nail, who played one of Eva's early lovers is a crooner with no equal singing "On This Night of a Thousand Stars", which everytime I hear I'm singing under my breath all the next day. Peron, played by Jonathan Pryce, is the big surprise--his singing part is much smaller than either Madonna's or Banderas' but when he is given the stage he is exceptionally good using his talking/singing style, particularly his solo "She is a Diamond", and when he duets with Madonna on "I'd Be Surpisingly Good for You"... All-in-all this is an excellent audio production, true to the movie. Easily Four-Stars! (If you want a version truer to the Broadway or London stage productions, I suggest "Evita" the 2006 London Cast Recording; also available here at Amazon.)



4. Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3L3P4GQENAHRM My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician and music collector. Feel free to check out my website. This is my review of the EVITA soundtrack.



5. Madonna and Antonio Banderas really make this work shine. Both are sympathetic characters; we get a good view of Eva from different perspectives. Recommend listening first; it isn't what people tend to expect in a musical.

5 comments about Aida (2000 Original Broadway Cast).

1. Is it possible to give negative stars? This is the most sappy music I've, and all of the songs begin to sound identical if you listen long enough. Verdi must be rolling over in his grave. Rather than see Elton John's production or buy this soundtrack, treat yourself to the original opera.



2. My students and I enjoyed this CD. The fact that the words and outline
   of the musical AIDA with photos of some scenes and characters were included was very helpful on making the music come alive.



3. Aida restores your faith in the unlimited potential of broaway musicals. The combined genius of Elton John's music and Tim Rice's lyrics leave you feeling like you're bathing in the afterglow of a shooting star - it's absolutely meteoric! Remember the first time you saw the Lion King and the music from "The Circle of Life" nearly lifted you off your feet? That's what this cd does, to the tenth power! Each song is an expertly crafted piece of drama and music, and the positive message of siezing your own destiny will get you through those dog days at work. I listened to this cd 7 times in the same day after it arrived at my pad, and it was worth every cent. If you want something to inspire your spirit and make your brain bristle, invest in this compact disc. You'll be glad you did.



4. I have never seen the Broadway Aida, but I didn't have to to love this album. Make sure you read the plot summary in the booklet and it helps you understand the songs better. I love the reggae incorporated into it. My favorite songs are, Written in the Stars, The Gods Love Nubia, and Like Father Like Son. I love the character of Aida, she is a very strong woman, but not in the obnoxious womens rights obsessor.



5. If you like Elton John, this one's for you. The music is catchy; the lyrics feel at times like they've been manipulated to fit certain rhyme schemes, but the voices are excellent and the story is compelling. A very enjoyable listen.

5 comments about Singles 1969-1981.

1. It's the Carpenters - Karen and Richard - need I say more?
   Top selling group of the decade (70's). Great songs, great arrangments and what a voice! Karen Carpenter was one of the most gifted stylist that has ever lived. These songs pay tribute to her timeless talent.



2. Singles 1969-1981 is an excellent CD of hits by Karen and Richard Carpenter. As a casual fan, I was quite pleased and I never noticed anything terribly wrong with this album as some reviewers have noted. If indeed some of the music has been altered, whatever alterations they made were very good ones indeed! The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done.
   
   "For All We Know" opens the CD with a melody that stuns me with its beauty. I could never forget the lyrics to this song; it's that meaningful to me. Karen Carpenter sings with all her heart and soul and she delivers this as if she's singing just to you! Richard does a great job on this number, too. "It's Going To Take Some Time" has excellent backup vocals as Karen Carpenter sings this with panache; she handles the complicated tempo and key changes like the pro she was and still remains! Richard Carpenter, of course, does his usual superlative performance and that's nothing short of sublime. Great! "We've Only Just Begun" is the sweetest of songs and as Karen and Richard Carpenter perform this song it truly gets such a sensitive, optimistic feeling that it draws you in by the very beauty of its melody. "Superstar" is a most painful ballad that always tugs at my heartstrings and it moves me greatly; I feel such sadness when I hear "Superstar;" this is one of the best torch songs I've heard--ever.
   
   "Rainy Days And Mondays" also impresses me with its beauty even though the lyrics certainly aren't all that positive; and there's also "Goodbye To Love." "Goodbye To Love" has Richard Carpenter playing with all his might and it shows when you hear this tune. Karen sings this to perfection and the end result is that "Goodbye To Love" is easily a major highlight of this album. "Top Of The World" is an especially optimistic ballad and the strings are used to great advantage, too. "Top Of The World" has a fantastic beat, too!
   
   "Ticket To Ride" gets a remarkable makeover as Richard and Karen perform their cover of this classic Beatles song; and "Sing" always brings back good memories--this was the first song I ever heard by Karen and Richard Carpenter. "Sing" has a wonderful message about living your life your own way without hurting anyone--and that's terrific.
   
   "Please Mr. Postman" is yet another sublime cover of a great love song; and listen for "(They Long To Be) Close To You." This Burt Bacharach tune shines like gold when Karen and Richard perform this with panache.
   
   The liner notes include an informative essay, too.
   
   Karen and Richard Carpenter turned out hit after hit that still resonate well today because of their truly classic and timeless beauty. Their songs contained important messages about life that will never be considered out of style. I highly recommend this to Carpenters fans and newcomers especially will love this budget priced compilation CD.



3. If only Karen could have hung on I bet her and her brother would still be making new CD's today. This includes all of there big hits and that golden voice.



4. Although the songs are are quiet and considered more "elevator music" than anything, Karen Carpenter really had a beautiful signing voice. Her tone was clear and very emotion packed. Those who enjoy music you can sit and listen to (as well as sing along with) should consider this a must buy. Unless you already have all the individual Carpenter's albums.



5. This Carpenter's album is great! I consider it to be one of their best! It will make you feel young again as you listen to these heart-warming songs. You can't help but feel that teenage spark when you think someone likes you while listening to them. Karen's voice can never be out-done!So curl up with your favorite someone and enjoy a romantic journey with the Carpenters. Or sit back and relax alone as you listen to these old-time favorites. You will begin to feel special and loved even if you don't have a specific someone in mind!

5 comments about Super Trouper.

1. Here's another great alumb that is on cd. What can i say except abba was without an doudt an group you just had to love one way or another.
   
   Rondall



2. Super Trouper is considered by many to be ABBA's best album. By 1980, ABBA's lyrics had become highly personal as evidenced by their number 1 hit The Winner Takes It All. I like The Piper, a relatively unknown song. It shows the power of music over an audience. Is Napoleon the piper? Is the piper the spirit of music which ABBA is following? That the piper seduced everybody suggests that he may not be so nice. Sweden stayed out of World War II. Norway, Frida's home land, was overrun by the Germans. In which case, we might think of the piper as Adolf Hitler. The fire in his eyes! We have all seen tapes of Hitler's harangues at Nazi rallies. Weapons of fear were Communism, the Jews and the specter of depression haunting the world in the 1930s. Such horrors were something baby boomers found hard to fathom. The Piper is a classic piece.



3. ABBA - Super Trouper (1980) Named for a stage spotlight, this is a great album ... but has some of the melancholy of relationships breaking up. ABBA only produced one other studio album (The Visitors) after this.
   
   Some of their early disco can be found here (On & On & On), but there are other great styles as well.



4. I agree with John (from N.Y.), these 24-bit re-masters of the Abba catalogue were a big letdown. In a side by side comparison, the original discs sounded much better than these. The originals were brighter and plenty full; just like the original album sounded.
   
   On the other hand, these 24-bit discs sound slightly muddy and the high end (which includes acoustic guitars and cymbals) are flat or dead sounding thanks to the no-noise solution. My advice, is to save your money and keep your old discs.



5. This is a great album, because it has songs on it that aren't available on the Best of Abba album, like "Happy New Year" and "Our Last Summer" and "Andante, Andante." I'd highly recommend it.

5 comments about La Luna.

1. i bought many of her CDs. this one a pure enjoyment. what can you ask for more in this world? i enjoy playing this album at night because it has the power to bring me to another world where my heart can find a moment peace. LOVE SARAH!!!!



2. What pulls this up to 3 stars is Brightman's voice; what pull it down to 3 stars is the extreme way-over-the-top production. I had to make sure it wasn't produced by Phil Specter. Well it was actually Frank Peterson who manages to throw everything at us, including an echo chamber, reverb, distortion, lush strings, drums, a choir - I think I even heard a bagpipe in one cut. This is what they did with Paris Hilton to hide the fact she can't sing. Well, Sarah can sing but you really have to work to hear it. She got some bad advice on this one. Hope she can find a producer who can highlight her marvelous voice and not cover it with all that extraneous noise.



3. Just as wonderful on the album as it was live. She really knows how to make her audience want MORE!



4. The La Luna Soundtrack CD is a very nice production for Sarah Brightman. The CD is a concert soundtrack comprised of a variety of songs that were collected for a television concert in the year 2000. La Luna is most enjoyable to listen to because Sarah's vocals are absolutely beautiful, capturing, and amazing. If you never heard Sarah's angelic soprano/alto voice you are in for a treat. The actual concert DVD video, from which this soundtrack is taken from, is available through Amazon.com.



5. A really good album on Sarah Brightman's part. This album came out after her two smash-hit albums, TIME to SAY GOODBYE and EDEN. It offers the same sort of material from Eden, with a new theme. Some pop tunes (in English) and some opera and classical (mostly in Italian or Spanish) (and even in Russian). Here's a quick score-and-comment:
   
   1.) LA LUNE - 4/5 - Drawn out with a lot of synth and Neil Armstrong. Beautiful lyrics in French by Sarah. Her voice is haunting.
   
   2.) WINTER IN JULY - 5/5 - A great English pop piece. It really makes you think, and the lyrics are haunting, along with the vocals.
   
   3.) SCARBOROUGH FAIR - 4/5 - A beautiful song. However, on this album, it's a little bit overproduced with the synthetic pop sounds.
   
   4.) FIGLIO PERDUTO - 5/5 - An amazing piece in Italian, which tells the story of a son being separated from his father. The boy describes his captor as "the elfin king". "Figlio Perduto" means "Lost Son".
   
   5.) A WHITER SHADE OF PALE - 4/5 - Once again, a fairly nice song, but a bit overproduced with synth sounds. Her voice seems slightly robotic in the verses, but it really breaks through for the refrain.
   
   6.) HE DOESN'T SEE ME - 5/5 - A great and gentle love song. Sarah really does a great job on this track.
   
   7.) SERENADE - 4/5 - Vocalise to "How Fair This Place"
   
   8.) HOW FAIR THIS PLACE - 4/5 - A nice piece in Russian, but it's kind of hard to tell what she's saying. I'm Ukrainian, and Russian and Ukrainian share words and sound alike. Still nice, though!
   
   9.) HIJO DE LA LUNA - 6/5 - AMAZING! All in Spanish, and all flowing smoothly! I can never get enough of it.
   
   10.) HERE WITH ME - 4/5 - Dido originally recorded this piece. Sarah did it in her own way. It's good, but there is a little bit too much pop noise!
   
   11.) LA CALIFFA - 6/5 - A beautiful piece in Italian, written by Ennio Morricone. Sarah doesn't even scoop in this piece! It's hypnotizing!
   
   12.) THIS LOVE - 3/5 - WAY TO OVERPRODUCED! I really don't like this piece at all!
   
   13.) SOLO CON TE - 5/5 - If I remember correctly, Handel wrote this piece. Sarah does a pretty good job on it. The orchestrations are a little heavy, and you can't here Sarah all of the time. Still good, though.
   
   14.) GLOOMY SUNDAY - 6/5 - An awesomly haunting piece, which really focuses in on death and suicide. Sarah's voice makes the piece chill your spine and numb your body.
   
   15.) LA LUNA/MOON RIVER - 6/5 - The Italian version of Dvorak's original piece. Sarah's voice is light here, but still packs a powerful punch. Her voice easily hits the high notes with no scooping! At the end of the track (after about a 20-second break), she begins a beautiful version of Sinatra's "Moon River". Absolutely beautiful.
   
   TOTAL SCORE - 71/75 = about 95%
   There will be a 95% chance that you will enjoy this album!

5 comments about The Hit Singles Collection.

1. if your are a bobby darin fan, particularily of his radio hits, this is it. i have bought other bobby darin cd's trying to get his hits, but they are all on here.......Waldon Robert Cassatto/Bobby Darin, in a class by himself and greatly missed



2. The Hit Singles Collection is a series of CDs honoring certain artists; and Bobby Darin sure deserves to be one of them! The sound quality is very good and the artwork is very nicely done.
   
   The CD starts with a very early hit for Bobby entitled "Splish Splash;" Bobby never sounded better and he delivers this fun tune with a lot of energy. His excellent diction bolsters his performance; and the brass and percussion enhance the melody. "Queen Of The Hop" is a bouncy little number that features Bobby doing another early rock and roll number that rocks well for its time. Bobby never misses a beat and I predict that you'll like "Queen Of The Hop" very much!
   
   "Dream Lover" showcases Bobby's vocals with some great backup vocalists; and listen for his famous "Mack The Knife." "Mack The Knife" is probably my favorite Bobby Darin tune. "Mack The Knife" features Bobby in perfect form and the musical orchestration has a big band flavor that works well. "Beyond The Sea" is another masterpiece when Bobby sings this; and this also has a lush musical orchestration to accompany Bobby as he sings.
   
   "Clementine" has a great rhythm and the melody is catchy; and "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" sparkles with great percussion, drums, keyboards and guitar while Bobby does this up right! "You're The Reason I'm Living" is a country ballad from Bobby's later years in show business; but he holds his own very well and "You're The Reason I'm Living" is an excellent number.
   
   "If I Were A Carpenter" is another beautiful love song that features Bobby's work from the later part of his career. Bobby sings this with great sensitivity and this impresses me greatly.
   
   Overall, Bobby Darin DID reinvent himself many times, just as Amazon correctly notes. Much of his broad range is available here on this single CD; and it contains most of his greatest hits at the same time, too. This is a must-have for Bobby's fans; and even a casual fan would do well to consider this album.



3. I came across two tunes on this cd that I didn't remember from years past and I kept playing the little blurbs provided here. They stuck in my head and I wanted to hear more, hence the purchase of this great cd. The tunes that nabbed me were "Lovin' You" and "Irresistable You" and the complete version of them was NO disappointment. I just don't tire of them.
   
   What a talent Bobby Darin was and he would love knowing he is still wowing his audience and entertaining us today.



4. With all due deference to the reveiwer who pointed out that many of these recordings are in MONO, I must admit I did not notice. Mono is the way I remember these recordings, and I found the sonics here to be excellent regardless of the number of ears I have. I was more disturbed at the absence of "Lady Came From Baltimore" and the fact that the version of "If I were a Carpenter" doesn't seem to be the Columbia records version I recall so well. (For those, try the "If I Were a Carpenter/Inside Out" "twofer" CD.) So I dock it one star. But, oh man, could this man SING! When younger, I never did like "Mack the Knife" as well as the more rocking songs like "Dream Lover," but just sit back and listen to this man sing this song.



5. Aside from Frank Sinatra, I cannot think of an artist whose music is as beautiful as that of Bobby Darin. Not expected to live past age 16, Bobby managed to squeeze an extra 21 years and become a legend before hit 25, just like he planned.
   
   This 20 song collection of Bobby's biggest hits doesn't even begin to cover Bobby's wide musical landscape, which ranged from rock to pop to showtunes. But if you wnet a solid primer for beginning Bobby fans, then this disc is simply awesome. Every major hit from Bobby is included here. From the frnetic energy of "Splish Splash" to the tender longing of "Dream Lover" to the timeless appeal of "Mack The Knife" and "Beyond The Sea" to the folksy contemplation of "If I Were A Carpenter", every hit single Bobby scored is here, and in excllent sound quality and packaging.
   
   This is an affordable and easy to find collection of Bobby's biggest hits.

5 comments about Fiddler on the Roof (1964 Original Broadway Cast).

1. I chose Fiddler for my students' spring musical, and always like to get the original cast recording to help give me an idea of the original idea for the pieces in the show. This recording definitely delivers, and the interview with Sheldon Harnick at the end is an extra treat. Awesome CD!



2. I was very young when I first saw this broadway play and love all of the songs in this cd.



3. I really love Topol in the role of Tevye, but he wasn't in the original broadway cast and Mr. Mostel created the role. Back then original cast albums were usually recorded on the Sunday after the opening. So this is really fresh stuff.
   
   This is simply THE classic recording of a classic musical. I like the intimacy of the pit orchestra over the inflated version on the soundtrack (as soundtracks almost always are).
   
   If I were a rich man, this is still the recording I would own.



4. What a great soundtrack and what a great play. Once you reacquaint yourself with it, you will be singing and humming the tunes for weeks and weeks....you just can't help it.



5. Fiddler On The Roof is one of the greatest of all musicals. A flawless book, remarkable score and wonderful performances.
   Zero Mostel was one of those larger than life personalities the likes of whom we don't have anymore. Mostel, Merman, Channing, Bert Lahr...they didn't so much create a role as embody it with their personalities, but they were so huge, the result would be thrilling. Tevye was tailor made for Mostel, loud, comic and ultimately endearing. The kind of role he was a master at adapting himself too.
   This recording captures all of that beautifully. The entire cast is wonderful. (Bea Arthur as Yente!!) Though some great actors replaced Mostel on Boadway, Herschel Bernardi, Harry Goz, most recently Alfred Molina, etc. and they created different and more realistic portrayals, it was Mostels signiture role and it's a gem.

5 comments about Judy At Carnegie Hall: Fortieth Anniversary Edition.

1. I had long ignored Judy Garland because I unjustly assumed she only did campy show tunes. Big mistake. Yes, she does do some obligatory Broadway hits (e.g. "That's Entertainment"); but her performance here is much more versatile than I expected. Most of my musical collection favors singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sara Vaughan, and Nina Simone, etc. but Garland is a comfortable fit.
   
   Best example: on disk 2 she sings "Stormy Weather" - a song made big by the likes of Ethel Waters and Lena Horne - both phenomenal singers themselves - but their versions are easily dwarfed by Garland's performance of Mort Lindsey's* arrangement of this classic blues standard. Garland's voice is a torrent of emotion that transforms the song from one of common heartache to one of profound and inescapable despair. (*Lindsey and his orchestra are impeccable and deserve a lot of credit for letting Garland shine at her brightest and making this show so unforgettable.)
   
   Going back to Disk 1, there is another song - one I had never heard before, which is surprising because it is a masterpiece that can not be ignored: "Do it Again". It is one of the sexiest songs ever written and Garland sings it with irresistible seduction - it's a sort of refined and romantic alternative to Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."
   
   I played "Stormy Weather" and "Do It Again" over and over for weeks - those two songs alone are worth the price of this CD set. So, if you like jazz and big bands - folks like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett - don't hesitate to add this to your collection. It really is a brilliant performance you will enjoy again and again.



2. If you're a JUDY fan (and who isn't?) this is the CD you MUST have. Her voice is at it's best on every song. Fabulous back up band. You will listen to this for years to come.



3. Bought this for a gift to my parents for their 62nd wedding anniversary. They love it!



4. This is a must for all fans of Judy Garland, it really captures what she was all about.



5. Don't get me wrong. I love the pure sound of the CD and it thrills me every time I listen to this album through headphones. The added Judy chatter is wonderful and funny. But being a live album, I always wonder why the sounds of the audience are pushed back so far in remastered CD'S?
   On the 2 record set, the audience cheers and applause are right up there, and gives the performance an even more exciting feel, especially on That's Entertainment, San Francisco, Swanee, and when Judy says: "I'll sing 'em all and we'll stay all night!" The cheers and roars are incredible! Isn't this what a "live" recording is supposed to be about? The same thing was done to Shirley Bassey's Carnegie Hall album.Why tamper with a masterpiece? Let the audience get involved and stop pushing them back!