"Magic Of Minnelli" on full display~Bravo Liza!
Bradly Briggs | TOLUCA LAKE, CALIFORNIA | 09/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Legendary singer Liza Minnelli's career went in to high gear while still in her teens appearing with her mom (and she delivered) at famed London Palladium so not surprising this tremendous double disc collection is Imported from England...whoever put this tasty Anthology together really know what this iconic legend is all about when it comes to her music and "Cabaret & All That Jazz: The Liza Minnelli Anthology" is a awesome introduction for those not familiar with this amazing body of work. The Diva still going strong with her tour-de-force concert tour and the release of "Confessions", an inimate jazzy tribute to her musical past while growing up.
Opening stong with blockbuster "Cabaret", next come the magnificent "All That Jazz" showing Liza would have been best choice for "Chicago" and probably earned a second Oscar as this performance is stunning and far and above movie Soundtrack version...next is Top Ten blockbuster UK hit "Losing My Mind" and why was this magnificent Pet Shop Boys produced gem not played on American Radio...lost opportunity in her own country to have a much deserved Top Ten Hit and little wonder the music industry is in such a mess today with all the major chains closed down...duh! Liza had huge success in England with Pet Shop Boys produced "Results" with a total of four charted songs all included in this magnificent collection that is a must have for any Liza fan! Another great lp "The Singer" featured on Side One has a commerical edge showing with airplay Liza would have easily had a hold on radio audiences...maybe this is what Radio Programmers didn't want? "The Singer" is engrossing with its rousing arrangement and extraordinary Liza vocal while "Use Me" is funky and rocks out..."Tropical Nights/Bali Hai" is another extraordinary track that has a steamrolling arrangement & soaring Liza vocal that is intense and thrilling...quite torcy moments like "A Beautiful Thing" and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" show Liza can sing with complete heart & soul and take the listener there with her rich soulful voice.
"Liza Live At The Winter Garden" is a legendary Tony Winning performance from the famed New York Theater yet strangely most of these incredible performances are just now making Compact Disc debut with a few more yet to come...amazing as this is one of Liza's greatest concert recordings but better late than never and hopefully one day soon this awesome event will be released as it should be in its full glory! "Exactly Like Me" is a fun "LiZa With A Z" type of song while "More Than You Know" is classic Liza going deep inside a ballad as only she can...bringing the house down "I'm One Of The Smart Ones" is soaring & riveting while "And I In My Chair (Et Mois Dans Mon Coin)" and "There Is A Time (Le Temps)" show that aside from the composer Charles Aznavour nobody comes close going in to the depths of these classics like Liza...she owns these great songs and gives soul-deep stunning performances! Fred Ebb & John Kander are legendary composers who for decades loved to write especially for their Liza whom they clearly adore & she clearly delivers creating masterpiece after masterpiece...magical Minnelli does their material always definitive and few wisely attempt to compete...great examples of these classic Kander/Ebb songs abound and anyone lucky to obtain this amazing collection filled with incredible performances will quickly know the meaning of greatness...Bravo Liza!!!
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