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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2002)
dacam bec f i. 2ÛÛ2 Othpr C o o l <§>tujf J udy G arland : T he C apitol Y ears 1955-1965 Judy Garland • Capitol J udy G arland : T he D ay - by - D ay C hronicle of a L egend by Scott Schechter. Cooper Square Press, 2002; $26.95 hardcover. n r ’ * he recent C D release of Judy Garland: The Capitol Years 1955- .< I ¡. 1 965 and the coffee table book Judy Garland: The Day-by'Day Chronicle of a Leg end are two items lucky gay hol iday gift recipients— and any fan of popular culture— want desperately, whether they know it yet or not. The Capitol Years is a generous two-disc package of highlights culled from albums and singles released during what many con sider Garland’s finest period. There are scattered moments of the very dated brass ’n’ schmaltz one might expect, but most of it sounds as passionate and elegant as it was intended to be. The dramatic diva explores decadent extremes vocally, caressing and manipulating every word. It’s easy to spot her self-consciously grandiose influence in places as unlikely as David Bowie’s “The Bewlay Brothers” or PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love. The urgency in Garland’s voice is practical ly bipolar (shocking, eh?): WTien it’s up, as on “It’s So Lovely to Be Back Again in London,” it’s maniacally happy; when it’s down, as on “Last Night When We Were Young,” it’s the end of the world. Garland’s every vocal phrase bears witness to the fact that each recording is a show — a performance that requires sacri fices, demands the performer’s every emotion, with all the poignant victory and tragedy that entails. My only complaint with the discs is the unrevealing, attenu ated liner notes. But never fear: Scott Schechter’s book, which is a photo-filled, day-by-day account o f Garland’s life from her birth on June 10, 1922 to her death on June 21, 1969, contains not only detailed information about the material but about every event, signifi cant or not, surrounding the recording, and what she had for lunch between sessions. M aster Peace Holiday Gift Guide This is a fan’s obsessive docu mentation: Wanna know how much Judy’s staff got paid? What day and where Judy asked for directions from a stranger? The compulsively annotated glory of her life and times can be found in this oversized, glossy hardcover. It’s safe, of course, to give either of these treasures— espe cially The Capitol Years — to Gar land zealots, but it’s even better to take the plunge and give skeptical loved ones the gift of Judy con version. They’ll thank you for it eventually. —Christopher McQuain T he J udy G arland S how , V olumes 1-5 T he J udy G arland S how C ollection Pioneer Video emember The Judy Garland Show ? Nei- I , t h e r do 1, since I wasn’t bom yet, but I now we can all learn to love this 1963- 64 variety show with five volumes available on DVD or video. Unfortunately, not all the shows have been released; the volumes include what are considered the best of the short-lived series. Although it’s obvious in the series that Gar land is uncomfortable with the sketches and audience banter, it did offer a playground for her inimitable performances and duets with other famous songbirds. Some of this isn’t just classic Judy, it’s classic American TV. The first volume includes the premiere episode, which features Mickey Rooney in a spoof of his and Garland’s old MGM classics. Every show contained musical numbers by Gar land; this one has the diva belt ing out “When the Sun Comes Out” and “Old Man River.” Attention collectors: This volume also contains Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand make television history in Volume 5 of The Judy Garland Show Episode 3, featuring Garland’s first major per formances with daughter Liza Minnelli. Volume 2 contains Episodes 2 and 4 with guests Mel Torme, Count Basie, Lena Home, Terry Thomas and regular Dick Van Dyke. Spend the holidays with Judy on the coveted Volume 3 Christmas special (Episode 15). All her kids sing on this one, which takes place in the Garland living room. It’s really a very sweet hour, with gentle chides from Torme when Judy flubs a number (which they kept in) and white-bread ’60s pop star Jack Jones singing “Lollipops and Roses.” Cheesy.7 Yes, but come on, it’s the holidays. With Volume 4 you get four big shows G reat G ifts & U nique G arden A rt A Ai*\o*a SfWfios J ’A IN 'nrO U R OWN POTS HANDMADE GIFT GALLERY Hemp and Organic holiday gifts for the wholefamity! , Rekindle the spirit fW of the season, C lip th is for 1 o% ad off (Episodes 8, 19, 24 and 25) that collectively include numbers with Leo Durocher, Vic Damone, the Robert Cole Trio, bluegrass band the Dillards, comedian Jack Carter and an audio track of director Norman Jewison sharing his experiences working with Judy. In terms of content, though, I’d have to rec ommend Volume 5 over Volume 4. Although you’re only allowed two hours (Episodes 8 and 9), you’re given the most famous footage, what I like to call the Diva Dream Team episode: Judy Garland, Ethel Mermen and Barbra Streisand on stage together. Add to this guests Donald O ’Conner, Jerry Van Dyke and the Smothers Brothers. This, my friends, is classic television and performance history. All of these volumes can be had for $25 or less, but if you’re buying for the serious— I mean serious —Garland aficionado, if will be nearly impossible for you to avoid shelling out around $100 for The Judy Garland Show Collection —a four-disc set that includes 14 complete shows, a section of live performances titled “Just Judy” and a copy of Rainbow’s End: The Judy Garland Show by TV personality biographer Coyne Steven Sanders. And it all comes lovingly boxed in a miniature showbiz trunk. Need I say more? j n — Lisa Bradshaw d isco v e r the jo y Living By The Garden 1829 NE Alberta Ph (5041 287-4144 of making and giving handmade gifts. 1600 NE Alberta St Portland, OR 97211 1718 NE Alberta <503) 493-2366 J 503.288.0770 Tue 12-8 • Wed-Sun 10-8 3033 NE Alberta Street • 503.288.0220 11-6 W e d -S a t 11-4 S u n 13
