Judy Garland : So I had a dream

So I had a dream

Had a dream last night that I was in a record store and found an old Judy Garland LP that does not exist. It seemed to have been recorded between 1956's Judy and 1957's Alone.

It was Judy Sings Cole Porter. Even now I can see the cover in my head, as well as the track list which is fascinating. Some of the songs she did sing live or on radio, and she did record some Cole Porter tunes but overall - damn. They should have done this. Some of the songs should have transitioned from live, tv and radio onto an album, others I just think she would do brilliantly.

1. Begin The Beguine
2. Anything Goes
3. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
4. Miss Otis Regrets
5. So In Love
6. I've Got You Under My Skin
7. Just One Of Those Things
8. What Is This Thing Called Love?
9. I Love Paris
10. You Do Something To Me
11. In The Still Of The Night
12. From This Moment On

How much do you wanna hear that LP right now? Wow.
It's a wonder to me that more records weren't made at Capitol. It would have been such relaxed work for Judy to do, and looking at the way they churned out albums for other artists, it's a shame there's not a few more from Judy. Would love to have heard a new set of arrangements for a Sings Harold Arlen, too. Capitol recordings of Blues In the Night, That Old Black Magic and Get Happy would be fantastic I'd venture. Mind you, if they changed that Get Happy arrangement much it would wither. She could have done Gerswhin, Mercer, Berlin.

Re: So I had a dream


It's a wonder to me that more records weren't made at Capitol. It would have been such relaxed work for Judy to do, and looking at the way they churned out albums for other artists, it's a shame there's not a few more from Judy.

I often wonder the same thing. It would have been such an EASY thing for her to do, away from the pressures of the cameras, makeup, costumes, and studios.

I have to believe Judy DIDN'T WANT to record. She was not always the best judge of what was right or good for her. In fact, she recorded the same songs many times over, not to mention that the compilation albums all include same stuff.

I think Judy wanted to stay with what was comfortable -- and not bother to learn anything new.

It's our loss.

Re: So I had a dream

Her recording career was the weakest aspect of her career. Very few LPS,
and the 1960 London Sessions was such a poor selection - just the same old
stuff. Plus, she's somewhat shrill, and slurs her words in songs. Just
two months before, Capitol released the superior "That's Entertainment."
All new songs, and Judy sounded better than she had in years. Then the
great "Carnegie Hall" album then,no more great stuff. Too bad.

Re: So I had a dream


Her recording career was the weakest aspect of her career.

Why, in your opinion, didn't she choose to record more?

I know you like her MGM voice, and I agree, it was perfection.

But, the Capital years were her "last hurrah," so to speak, and I, personally, like the maturity in her voice in that studio setting, contrasting it with CH where she was brassy (and magnificent) and could b 5b4 elt. The studio was just a different sound (more controlled?) for her.

If only she had done the Great American Songbook, a la Ella.....

Re: So I had a dream

For me, Garland's Capitol Recordings are definitely among her best. I prefer the original albums, as opposed to the London Recordings which, though they feature some outstanding moments, are largely repackaging. Some of those LP's though...I consider them on the same level as the best of work at Decca to be honest.

Re: So I had a dream

Her Capital Records - aside from the fact that there aren't very many - were hit
and miss. "Miss Show Business" is okay, but I don't like most of the selections.
"Judy" has great tracks, and weak ones. Frankly, Garland sounds like she's had
a few drinks on several (and probably did; she preferred recording at night).
"Judy in Love" has some great selections, but the strain is starting to come
through in this album. I think the "Judy at the Grove" is forgettable, and
is so blown out of the water by the Carnegie Hall Album. "The Letter" is very
strange to me; one I've never cared for.

Her two best Capital Records are, to me, ALONE and THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

I feel she is much more than "brassy" on Carnegie. It's like an entire orchestra
is in this woman's throat. Her vocal is gorgeous in such songs as "If Love Were
All."

Re: So I had a dream

But Bennett, you didn't offer your opinion as to why Judy chose not to record more in her Capitol era. I'd be interested to hear.

Re: So I had a dream

I responded to the points I wanted to. And anyway, how the hell would I know?
I wasn't there.

Re: So I had a dream


I responded to the points I wanted to. And anyway, how the hell would I know? I wasn't there.

Gee, the one time I ask for your opinion -- and you don't have one !

Amazing !

Re: So I had a dream

Take advantage - this is a rare event!

Re: So I had a dream

I have an opinion! Me, me, me. Oh, we arent in class...

Her life was chaotic during the fifties and with concerts she could feed off an audience.Ill bet it was just hard to get her to commit to a studio engagement which didn't provide a quick fix - shall we say...

By the way - great dream - I want the dream where I listen to the album.

Re: So I had a dream

I have an opinion! Me, me, me. Oh, we arent in class...

Her life was chaotic during the fifties and with concerts she could feed off an audience.Ill bet it was just hard to get her to commit to a studio engagement which didn't provide a quick fix - shall we say...

By the way - great dream - I want the dream where I listen to the album.

Re: So I had a dream


Ill bet it was just hard to get her to commit to a studio engagement which didn't provide a quick fix - shall we say...

You probably have a point. I wouldn't doubt that Judy had trouble fulfilling ANY commitments -- after the damage MGM did to her. As her own free agent, she probably wanted to do only as she pleased.

Re: So I had a dream

Hmm. I totally disagree. All of the original LP's strike me as masterpieces, laden with great stuff. The only tracks I don't particularly care for are the Olio and Palace medleys. Of course, I am biased because I almost always hate medleys. But I find them dull. Having said that, I loved her re-recordings - all those songs from her earlier days given an updated, often improving, treatment. Miss Show Business contains my favourite version of Over The Rainbow and A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow.

It's mostly the London recordings that strike me as uninspired. Too many recuts of prior Capitol LP tracks, too many recuts of the wrong Decca tracks.

Mind you, in addition to the Cole Porter suggestion, imagine if she'd done an album tribute to Arlen at Capitol.

Sigh. I really do wish she had recorded more at Capitol...

Re: So I had a dream

What we DIDN'T need after 1950 was ANY re-recording of "Over the Rainbow", save
live albums. And "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" is among the dumbest songs
of her career - musically lilting, but just plain stupid lyrics. And Judy's
fondness for this turkey has always baffled me.

I regard Garland as the greatest female singer of all time, but her recording
career, sadly, pales to both Streisand's and (especially) Sinatra's. Too
few albums, too many flaws in the few that were done.

And while her Decca recordings were never LPS, there are way too many
turkeys here, too ("Buds Won't Bud").

The MGM soundtracks are mostly terrific, but were terribly abridged at initial
release. Still, they are interesting, as they often include alternate
takes ("Look For the Silver Lining") or extended versions to fill out the
albums ("Better Luck Next Time", "Happy Harvest").

When one thinks of all her recorded work (including all the great radio stuff),
Garland left quite a legacy. But in terms of LPs, one is left wanting.

Re: So I had a dream

Dear gb...

You are so spot on about her recording career and her material. With that voice, she shoulda, coulda, done much more. (All the marvelous-if often scratchy-- radio recordings of songs she did only once!)

I agree with your assessment, in an earlier post about her Capitol LP's ("The Letter"--really? What the hell was that about? What a waste.)

The only thing--I know I fly in the face of all others--I actually like "Garland at the Grove." I know (it's clear) she's having vocal issues and it was recorded on her closing, not opening, night. But she seems in such good spirits and something about the projection of her voice. I find it, even strained, more powerful and "upfront" than Carnegie. Perhaps it was the way it was recorded? Or the orchestra was not as prominent? (Nothing against Mort Lindseys's powerful arrangements on Carnegie, as I consider them as vital to the success of the album as Garland herself.)

Well, just an odd preference on my part, I suppose.

One thing, about the Carnegie Hall album. I think the way it was edited, was brilliant. I know fans have come to love the newer releases with all the onstage stories and pauses, etc. Interesting, I guess. (the hair collapsing in Paris tale is amusing--"spit curls, they called them in my day!") But the original version is so spectacularly driving--just a few words spoken, here and there, beautifully melding from one number to another.

I was blown away after receiving my first copy, in 1969, at 16. Later, when I'd heard more Judy (all the Capitol albums and the numerous compilations that were everywhere back then) it was clear to me that Carnegie was her most accessible work. Even if you didn't like Garland, or thought you didn't, you had to be swept up in that album.

Re: So I had a dream

I love A Pretty Girl!! I particularly like her performa 16d0 nce of it in one of the later tv shows. I"m sure if someone else sang it I would realize how ridiculous it is but that's the thing about Judy - I buy what she sells me most of the time.

Re: So I had a dream

Hmm. Our opinions are mostly quite opposite, which is humorous to me. It's not often you meet someone who holds the same regard for the singer, but so many subtle differences of opinion within that. I actually think there's a great many turkeys in the MGM films as well, probably more relative to output, than in the Decca recordings. And I regard her Capitol recordings to be the best of her career, vocally as well as musically. I suppose I agree in spirit though that, there was a lot of crap recorded, and not nearly enough care and attention put in later on to create ALBUMS. She needed the approach Sinatra took. There's just so many great songs she NEVER sang, and a lot of average ones she did. Whenever I hear Peggy Lee's My Man, I shed a tear for how Judy would have performed that arrangement.

I must say though, the appeal of Streisand has never made sense to me. I find hers one of the most bland and least moving of all voices. She's technically very good, which is always apparent. But I cannot think of a performance that I don't think someone else could have sung better, stylistically. It's about character, the SOUND of the voice. I don't know how to explain it really, it's just not a voice that I like much. I've listened to her entire discography, so it's not for a lack of trying. I want to her like, but I don't. The way her personality comes across in life revolts me as well, which I find makes it hard to get into. I think Judy Garland was infinitely the better singer. But I'd say Billie Holiday was a better singer also.

Re: So I had a dream

I used to have dreams like that. Imagine if Judy had ma 2000 de albums like

Judy sings Gershwin
Judy sings Berlin
Judy sings Mercer
Judy sings Porter
Judy sings Rodgers and Hart [and Hammerstein]

The titles would vary, but I can't be bothered being creative.

Re: So I had a dream

I used to have dreams like this one because I work for a radio station. The dream would be to have a find like Dinah Shore singing 'Over the Rainbow' [maybe she did, don't tell me].

In most cases it's great because audiences don't know about Judy singing 'Moon River' or things like that.

Re: So I had a dream

Had a dream last night that I was in a record store and found an old Judy Garland LP that does not exist. It seemed to have been recorded between 1956's Judy and 1957's Alone.

It was Judy Sings Cole Porter. Even now I can see the cover in my head, as well as the track list which is fascinating. Some of the songs she did sing live or on radio, and she did record some Cole Porter tunes but overall - damn. They should have done this. Some of the songs should have transitioned from live, tv and radio onto an album, others I just think she would do brilliantly.

1. Begin The Beguine
2. Anything Goes
3. Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
4. Miss Otis Regrets
5. So In Love
6. I've Got You Under My Skin
7. Just One Of Those Things
8. What Is This Thing Called Love?
9. I Love Paris
10. You Do Something To Me
11. In The Still Of The Night
12. From This Moment On
--

Sounds like a great dream!

I had one once where Judy had done a dramatic film that was very difficult to find and you could only view about a minute of it.

Re: So I had a dream

Imagine Judy singing these greas from Irving Berlin;

Let's Take An Old Fashioned Walk [with Fred Astaire]
God Bless America
Always
Heat Wave
It's A Lovely Day Today
I Love You
Let's Face the Music and Dance
Marie
Mandy
Now It Can Be Told

Re: So I had a dream

Judy sings Gershwin;

Oh, Lady Be Good
My One and Only
Summertime
S'Wonderful [with Buddy Clark]
Soon
Our Love Is Here To Stay
Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
I've Got a Crush On You
It Ain't Necessarily So
My Man's Gone Now

Re: So I had a dream

Judy sings Mercer;

Skylark
This Time, The Dream's On Me
I Remember You
One For My Baby
Midnight Sun
Fools Rush In
Dream
Days Of Wine and Roses
Summer Wind
I Thought About You

Re: So I had a dream

Judy sings Porter;

Night and Day
Cheek To Cheek
Begin the Beguine
I Get a Kick Out Of You
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
Anything Goes
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
True Love [with Bing Crosby]
Dream Dancing
So Near and Yet So Far

Re: So I had a dream

Judy sings Rodgers and Hart

Manhattan
Thou Swell
With a Song In My Heart
Lover
Blue Moon
There's a Small Hotel
The Lady Is a Tramp
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Ten Cents a Dance
My Funny Valentine
Top