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Complete Decca Masters
Title:
THE COMPLETE DECCA MASTERS (plus)
Category:
Vocal
Label:
MCA/DECCA
Catalog Number:
MCAD 10504 - DIDX 013463
Release Date:
1994
Type:
CD
Discs:
4
Length:
Not Listed
Availability:
Out of print
The
Complete Masters


ABOUT THE DISC & RECORDINGS:

This 4-disc set contains every master recording Judy made for Decca Records from 1936 through 1947. It also contains some alternate takes and one song ("Falling In Love With Love") that remained unreleased until the 1992 CD "Changing My Tune". However, it does not include several alternate takes that were included in the 1984 LP "From The Decca Vaults".

The alternates missing here, and previously unreleased on CD, are now available on the 2011 JSP Records 4-CD release "Smilin' Through - The Singles Collection - 1936-1947" which compiles all of the existing takes of Judy's Decca singles into one boxed set.

StickerThis is a massive collection, and the only boxed set ever released on CD that is a comprehensive representation of Judy's recordings for a major label. The other major labels Judy recorded for (Capitol Records and MGM Records), have yet to release complete sets.

The sound quality of this release is good, yet many of the songs have a certain shrill. This doesn't make the set unsustainable, however I find the sound quality of the two Decca CDs "The Best Of The Decca Years - Volume One - Hits!", "The Best Of The Decca Years - Changing My Tune", and especially the ProArt Digital CD "Over The Rainbow".

This set is beautifully packaged with an incredibly detailed and expertly written booklet by Ron O'Brien. This booklet gives an accurate history of Judy's years with Decca.

Definitely worth getting. Although it's OOP it can be easily found for a reasonable price on eBay. Let's hope that MCA/Decca re-releases this to the general public again soon!

Image at right: The sticker from the outer packaging of the boxed set. The number given to the set on the sticker is "MCAC4 D4-11059".

All images on this page from the collection of Scott Brogan.



TRACK LISTING

Disc 1     Disc 2


Date
Recorded
TITLE
Master
Number
Record
Number
Release
Date
Disc 1:   1936 - 1940
6/12/36
STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY (recorded in New York City)
(Note: This and "Swing Mr. Charlie" were recorded with the popular jazz band Bob Crosby & His Orchestra. When the record was released, no orchestra accompaniment was given. The band's manger, Gil Rodin, told Decca that they didn't want to use their name with "this unknown girl.")
 61165-A 848 A July 1936
6/12/36
SWING MR. CHARLIE (recorded in New York City)
 61166-A 848 B July 1936
8/30/37
EVERYBODY SING
 DLA 860-A 1432 A Sep 1937
8/30/37
ALL GOD'S CHILLUN GOT RHYTHM
 DLA 861-A 1432 B Sep 1937
9/24/37
DEAR MR. GABLE (YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU)
 DLA 967-A 1463 A Oct 1937
9/24/37
YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING
 DLA 968-A 1463-B Oct 1937
4/25/38
CRY, BABY, CRY
 DLA 1285-A 1796 A May 1938
4/25/38
SLEEP MY BABY SLEEP
 DLA 1284-A 1796 B May 1938
8/21/38
IT NEVER RAINS BUT WHAT IT POURS
 DLA 1437-A 2017 A Oct 1938
8/21/38
TEN PINS IN THE SKY
 DLA 1436-C 2017 B Oct 1938
7/28/39
OVER THE RAINBOW
 DLA 1840-A 2672 A Sep 1939
7/28/39
THE JITTERBUG
 DLA 1841-A 2672 B Sep 1939
7/28/39
IN-BETWEEN
 DLA 1842-A 15045 A Mar 1940
7/28/39
SWEET SIXTEEN
 DLA 1843-A 10545 B Mar 1940
7/29/39
ZING! WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART
 DLA 1850-A 18543 A 05-20-1943
7/29/39
FASCINATING RHYTHM
 DLA 1853-A 18543 B 05-20-1943
7/29/39
I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY
This recording was released in the United Kingdom under the "Brunswick" label in 1943. It was not released in the United States until 1984, when it was included on the MCA Records LP "Judy Garland - From The Decca Vaults" [MCA-907].
 DLA 1851-A 02969 B
(Brunswick)		 1943
10/16/39
OCEANS APART
 DLA 1868-A 2873 A Mar 1940
10/16/39
FIGARO
 DLA 1871-A 2873 B Mar 1940
10/16/39
EMBRACEABLE YOU
 DLA 1869-A 2881 A Apr 1940
10/16/39
SWANEE
 DLA 1870-A 2881 B Apr 1940
4/10/40
BUDS WON'T BUD
 DLA 1973-A 3174 A Jan 1940
4/10/40
I'M NOBODY'S BABY
 DLA 1972-A 3174 B June 1940
Disc 2:   1940 - 1945
4/10/40
(CAN THIS BE) THE END OF THE RAINBOW
 DLA 1971-A 3231 A
4081 B		 Sep 1940
Nov 1941
4/10/40
WEARING OF THE GREEN
 DLA 1974-A 3165 B Aug 1940
4/15/40

FRIENDSHIP
An alternate take [DLA 1987-B] has survived and is available on the 2011 JSP Records release "Smilin' Through - The Singles Collection - 1936-1947."

 DLA 1987-A 3165 A Aug 1940
12/18/40
OUR LOVE AFFAIR
 DLA 2283-A 3593-A Jan 1942
12/18/40
I'M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS
 DLA 2282-A 3593-B Jan 1941
12/18/40
IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR THE IRISH
 DLA 2285-A 3604 A Jan 1941
12/18/40
A PRETTY GIRL MILKING HER COW
 DLA 2284-A 3604-B Jan 1941
7/20/41
THE BIRTHDAY OF A KING
 DLA 2578-A 4050 A Dec 1941
7/20/41
THE STAR OF THE EAST
 DLA 2579-A 4050 B Dec 1941
10/24/41
HOW ABOUT YOU?
 DLA 2798-A 4072 A Nov 1941
10/24/41
FDR JONES
 DLA 2800-A 4072 B Nov 1941
10/24/41
BLUES IN THE NIGHT
 DLA 2799-A 4081 A Nov 1941
4/3/42
POOR YOU
An alternate take [DLA 1987-B] has survived and is available on the 2011 JSP Records release "Smilin' Through - The Singles Collection - 1936-1947."
 DLA 2969-A 18320 A June 1942
4/3/42
THE LAST CALL FOR LOVE
An alternate take [DLA 1987-B] has survived and is available on the 2011 JSP Records release "Smilin' Through - The Singles Collection - 1936-1947."
 DLA 2968-A 18320 B June 1942
4/3/42
ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
 DLA 2970-A 18524 B 05-20-1943
4/3/42
POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL
 DLA 2971-A 18540 B 05-20-1943
7/26/42
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC
 DLA 3142-A 18540 A 05-20-1943
7/26/42
I NEVER KNEW (I COULD LOVE ANYBODY LIKE I'M LOVING YOU)
 DLA 3143-A 18524 A 05-20-1943
12/22/43
NO LOVE, NO NOTHIN'
 DLA 3264-A 18584 A 01-27-1944
12/22/43
A JOURNEY TO A STAR
 DLA 3265-A 18584 B 01-27-1944
1/26/45
THIS HEART OF MINE
 DLA 3727-A 18660 A 03-22-1945
1/26/45
LOVE
 DLA 3728-A 18660 B 03-22-1945

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Disc 3     Disc 4


Date
Recorded
TITLE
Master
Number
Record
Number
Release
Date
Disc 3:   The Original Cast Recordings   1942-1945
7/26/42
FOR ME AND MY GAL
 DLA 3140-A 18480 A Jan 1943
7/26/42
WHEN YOU WORE A TULIP
 DLA 3141-A 18480 B Jan 1943
11/4/43
EMBRACEABLE YOU
 L 3253-A 23308 A 04-06-1944
11/4/43
COULD YOU USE ME?
 L 3254-A 23308 B 04-06-1944
11/2/43
BUT NOT FOR ME
 L 3250-A 23309 A 04-06-1944
11/4/43
BIDIN' MY TIME
 L 3255-A 23310 A 04-06-1944
11/2/43
I GOT RHYTHM
 L 3252-A 23310 B 04-06-1944
4/21/44

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, LOUIS

 L 3390-A 23360 A 11-02-1944
4/20/44
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
 L 3385-A 23362 B 11-02-1944
4/21/44
SKIP TO MY LOU
 L 3389-A 23361 B 11-02-1944
4/20/44
BOYS AND GIRLS LIKE YOU AND ME
 L 3386-A 23362 B 11-02-1944
4/21/44
THE TROLLEY SONG
 L 3388-A 23361 A 11-02-1944
4/20/44
HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
 L 3387-A 23362 A 11-02-1944
9/7/45
IN THE VALLEY (WHERE THE EVENIN' SUN GOES DOWN)
 L 3957-A 23458 B 11-01-1945
5/15/45
9/10/1945
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & THE SANTA FE (full orchestra & chorus version)
(Note: This is the complete original version Parts 1 & 2 - Part 1 has it's debut here).

Part 2 (Judy's vocal) of this song was re-recorded on 09-10-1945 and that is the version heard on the original 78 album. When Decca began re-releasing these recordings on LP in the 1950's, they mistakenly released the May 1945 rejected version of Part 2. This "rejected" version can be found on the 1989 CD Judy Garland - The Best Of The Decca Years Volume One - Hits!
 L 3861-A
L 3958-A		 (see note)
23458 A		 1994
1945
9/7/45
IT'S A GREAT BIG WORLD
 L 3956-A 23460 A 11-01-1945
5/14/45
SWING YOUR PARTNER ROUND AND ROUND
 L 3859-A 23459 B 11-01-1945
5/14/45
MARCH OF THE DOAGIES

This recording was not given a Record Number because the song was cut from the film "The Harvey Girls" prior to release of the film and the "Decca Cast Album" of songs from the film. It finally had its official U.S. release in 1984 on the MCA Records LP "Judy Garland - From The Decca Vaults."
 L 3858-A (see note) 11-12-1984
7/31/44
YOU'VE GOT ME WHERE YOU WANT ME
 L 3485-A 23410 B 04-19-1945
7/31/44
MINE
 L 3486-A 23804-B 01-20-1947
3/9/45
CONNECTICUT
 L 3750-A 23804 A 01-20-1947
3/9/45
YAH-TA-TA, YAH-TA-TA (TALK, TALK, TALK)
 L 3751-A 23410 A 04-19-1945
Disc 4:   1945-1947
7/7/45
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA & THE SANTA FE (w/The Merry Macs)
(recorded in New York City)
W 72967-A 23436 A 09-09-1945
7/7/45
IF I HAD YOU (recorded in New York City)
 W 72968-A 23436 B 09-09-1945
7/10/45
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE (recorded in New York City)
 W 72973-A 23539 B 04-15-1946
7/10/45
SMILIN' THROUGH (recorded in New York City)
 W 72974-A 23539 A 04-15-1946
9/11/46
FOR YOU, FOR ME, FOREVERMORE
 L 4295-A 23687 A 10-21-1946
9/11/46
AREN'T YOU KIND OF GLAD WE DID?
 L 4294-A 23687 B 10-21-1946
9/11/46
CHANGING MY TUNE
 L 4296-A 23688 A 10-21-1946
10/1/46
THERE IS NO BREEZE (TO COOL THE FLAME OF LOVE)
 L 4319-A 23756 A 12-02-1946
10/1/46
DON'T TELL ME THAT STORY
 L 4318-A 23756 B 12-02-1946
11/15/47
I WISH I WERE IN LOVE AGAIN
 L 4565-A 24469 A 07-19-1948
11/15/47
NOTHING BUT YOU
 L 4564-A 24469 B 07-19-1948
11/15/47
FALLING IN LOVE WITH LOVE
This recording was evidently made as an afterthought at the end of the recording session. It was not discovered until 1992, when the producers of the MCA (Decca) CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two" [MCAD-10504] found it and included it in that CD.
 (see note) MCAD-10504 July 1992
11/02/1943 I GOT RHYTHM (Previously Unreleased Alternate Take) L 3252-B N/A 1994
11/04/1943 EMBRACEABLE YOU (Alternate) L 3253-B N/A 1994
10/25/1941 BLUES IN THE NIGHT (My Mama Done Tol' Me)
(Previously Unreleased Alternate Take)		 DLA 2799-B N/A 1994
12/19/1940 I'M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS
This alternate take first premiered on the 1984 MCA Records LP "Judy Garland - From The Decca Vaults"		 DLA 2282-C MCA LP 907 11-11-1984
03/09/1945 CONNECTICUT
This alternate take first premiered on the MCA (Decca) 1992 CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two".		 L 3750-B MCAC/D 10504 06-26-1992
07/07/1945 IF I HAD YOU
This alternate take first premiered on the 1984 MCA Records LP "Judy Garland - From The Decca Vaults"		 W 792968-B MCA LP 907 11-11-1984
07/07/1945 DON'T TELL ME THAT STORY
This alternate take first premiered on the MCA (Decca) 1992 CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two"		 L 4318-B MCAC/D 10504 06-26-1992
01/26/1945 THIS HEART OF MINE
This alternate take first premiered on the MCA (Decca) 1992 CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two")		 L 3727-B MCAC/D 10504 06-26-1992
03/09/1945 YAH-TA-TA, YAH-TA-TA (TALK, TALK, TALK)
This alternate take first premiered on the 1984 MCA Records LP "Judy Garland - From The Decca Vaults"		 L 3751-C MCA LP 907 11-11-1984
04/20/1944 HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
This alternate take first premiered on the MCA (Decca) 1992 CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two"		 L 3387-C MCAC/D 10504 06-26-1992
11/15/1947 I WISH I WERE IN LOVE AGAIN
This alternate take first premiered on the MCA (Decca) 1992 CD "Judy Garland - Changing My Tune - The Best Of The Decca Years Vol Two"		 L 4565-B MCAC/D 10504 06-26-1992


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DISC CREDITS

Original Recordings Produced by: Jack Kapp, Dave Kapp & Joe Perry

JUDY: The complete Decca masters (plus)

Produced by: Ron O'Brien

Executive Producer: Andy McKaie

Art Direction: Vartan
Design: DZN/N Ung
Photo Coordination: Geary Chansley
Liner notes by: Ron O'Brien

Photo Credits:
Box: Judy Garland by George Hurrell

Booklet: Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Used by permission of Turner Entertainment Co.: page 3, 4, top 6, 11, 15, 17, 18, 20 center, bottom, 21 bottom, 23, 25, 28 top, 29, 32 from "Harvey Girls" ©1946 Turner Entertainment Co. and 37.

Frank Driggs Collection: page 6 bottom, 7, 13 bottom, 26, 34 and 35 bottom.

Ron O'Brien Collection: Judy's signature, page 8 bottom, 12, 16 top, center, bottom, 20 top, 21 top, 22 center, bottom, 24 top, bottom, 28 bottom, 30 bottom, 31, 34 top right, 36, and all 78 labels.

Fred McFadden: page 8 top.

Mrs. Joe Perry: page 9

MCA archives: page 34 top left.

Textural photos: William Claxton and DZN.


Disc to digital transfers/Audio Restoration Consultant: Steven Lasker, Venice, CA.

Digitally prepared and assembled by: Paul Elmore and Robert Stoughton, MCA Music Media Studios, North Hollywood, CA

Recording information derived from session personnel files, recording sheets, World Broadcast session sheets, and A.F. of M. Local 47 files.

Thanks to: Max O. Preeo, Ken Batchelor, Fred McFadden, Sonny Gallagher, Nick O'Conner, Brad Rader, Dan Wood, Veronique Zaki, Mrs. Joe Perry, Mrs. David Rose, Harry Sosnik, Bob Haggart, Yank Lawson, Ken Darby, George Bassman, Tony Martin, Frances Langford, Ralph Hallenbeck, Mickey Kapp, Myra Kapp Levitt, Mrs. Jack Kapp, Virginia O'Brien, Side Avery, Gene Lester, Paul Weston, Martha Tilton, Libby Pace, Gary Giddins, Ray Avery, Wayne Knight, Caroly O'Brien, Tess Russell (Society of Singers), Ned Comstock (Doheny Library, USC), Bob Cushman, Steve Garland (Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences), Carmen Fanzone (A.F. of M. Local 47), Brand Short (Brandeis University), Bruce Resnikoff and Barbara Kauffman.

MCA © 1994 MCA Records, Inc. Universal City, CA 91608.
Distributed by Uni Distribution Corp.
Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
MCAD4/C4-11059

In Memory of JUDY   June 10, 1922 - June 22, 1969
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