The Essential Judy Garland

Judy After several inquiries about what happened to the previous incarnation, I'm reinstating The Judy Room's "Essential" page. Here you will find my choices for what I consider to be the most essential Garland products.

As with any essential list, everything here is subjective, and not everyone will agree with me. My choices are based mainly on quality and content, as well as historical context. I've also included a few personal favorite because they're essential to me!

I hope this list will act as a guide to help both the hardcore fan and the Judy-curious in wading through the myriad of Garland related products out there.

The availability of these products changes almost daily. Most of the items listed here are readily available. Those that are out of print can usually be found at auction sites such as eBay or other online outlets.

For more information about products in past years, be sure to check out the Judy Room Year(s) in Review.
These are my yearly reviews of products and events over the past several years.

MUSIC | MOVIES | BOOKS | COMPILATIONS

The most common denominator that attracts people to Judy Garland's would have to be her voice. And what a voice! She had that rare ability to convey joy, excitement, sadness, vulnerability, and every other human emotion, simply through her voice. And sometimes all of these emotions at the same time! The following are the best and most essential CDs to date. If you want to see more Garland music, check out The Judy Garland Online Discography! Click on the images below to go to the Discography entries for those items. The following are listed in no particular order.
	JUDY AT CARNEGIE HALL What can you say about sheer perfection? This album has never been out of release, and for good reason. It's simply the greatest one-woman concert ever caught on album. Even people who don't care FOR Judy Garland enjoy this album.

	ALONE When people tell me that Judy Garland only sang show tunes, I give them this. It changes their minds. Judy departs from her normal repertoire and gives us what I consider her best concept album for Capitol Records.

	MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS One of the best musicals ever made (see movies below), the soundtrack for Meet Me In St. Louis stands on its own as an American classic. And it gave Judy three of her greatest hits (and three of the greatest songs ever written): "The Trolley Song"; "The Boy Next Door"; and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". As an added bonus, this entire CD (and the remastered film, see below) is all in true stereo. Gorgeous orchestrations by Conrad Sallinger. Visit The Judy Room Spotlight On Meet Me In St. Louis to learn all about the making of the film (and to see lots of fun photos too!)

	THE STORY & SONGS OF THE WIZARD OF OZ The Wizard Of Oz is another of Judy's work that's sheer perfection. For years, the MGM Records LP included dialog and songs from the film, and is the LP that several generations grew up with. Rhino Records has recreated that listening experience in superior sound (some of it in true stereo) and extended past the confines of the 12" LP. Rhino has issued several editions on CD, including an "ultimate" edition, but this would have to be my favorite because it fondly evokes the original LP and the sound is just wonderful! Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on The Wizard Of Oz to learn all about the making of the film.

	A STAR IS BORN Another film masterpiece, and another of Judy's albums that has never been out of release. This expanded CD includes for the first time most of the underscoring and some outtakes. You can't go wrong with an Arlen/Gershwin score that includes the legendary "The Man That Got Away". Judy is in incredible voice! Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on A Star Is Born to learn all about the making of the film.

	JUDY IN LOVE Another of my favorites from Judy's Capitol years. This was recorded in both stereo (link in image at left), and also in mono. The mono version was released in Japan in 2005 and is fairly easy to obtain on eBay.

	THE LONDON SESSIONS In August 1960, Judy went to Capitol's London recording studios to record much of her repertoire in stereo for the first time. The result is an amazing collection of gorgeous orchestrations by Norrie Paramour. Judy's voice is incredible.

	GARLAND AT THE GROVE Finally available on CD and complete for the first time, "Garland At The Grove" was the first of Judy's concerts to be professionally recorded and released on LP. This new CD is remastered and sounds fantastic. There's nothing like that lush 50's stereo. Although Judy's voice is experiencing some fatigue (the recording was made at the end of her appearances at The Grove), she's still wonderful. And who can resist the chance to hear Judy Garland put her own spin on the pop hit "Purple People Eater"!!

	GIRL CRAZY The last of the Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland "let's put on a show" musicals is also their best. The Gershwin score is one of their best too, with Judy making the most of "Bidin' My Time", "Embraceable You", and "I Got Rhythm". The most magical is the beautiful poignancy she brings to "But Not For Me". Most of the soundtrack has been remastered in true stereo. Who could ask for anything more?

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To most of the general public, Judy Garland was a movie star who's most famous role was "Dorothy" in 1939's The Wizard Of Oz. But Judy Garland was so much more. She was, to quote her musical mentor Roger Edens, "the biggest thing to happen to the MGM musical". And MGM made the biggest and best musicals in film history - hence Judy Garland was the greatest female star of the golden age of movie musicals. As if that wasn't enough, Judy was also an amazing dramatic actress. She was one of the few stars who could "do it all": sing, dance, act and be a hysterically funny comedienne. Judy really is worthy of her status as "The World's Greatest Entertainer".

This list is a bit long for an "essential" list, but Judy Garland was such a huge film star and icon, it seems imperative to make this list longer than most. Besides, an essential Garland collection would include most (if not all) of her films.

For more DVDs, check out the DVD section.
Also check out the Filmography Section for info about all of Judy's films.

The following films are listed in no particular order.

Blu-Ray Boxed Set

THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

The greatest musical fantasy film ever made features one of Judy's greatest and most effective film performances, and it just happens to be the one film that is estimated to have been seen by more people than any other in history!

For its 70th anniversary, the film has undergone a new transfer at "8k" resolution (most transfers are done at 4k) and is being released in both Blu-Ray and standard DVD editions.

CLICK HERE or on the image at right for details about the 3 special editions.
The previous 2005 editions are now out of print.

Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on The Wizard Of Oz to learn all about the making of the film.

EASTER PARADE (1948)

To be honest, this film has never been one of my favorite Garland musicals. Judy is as wonderful as ever, but it's more of an "MGM Musical" than a "Judy Garland Musical". She manages to steal the show though, in her only pairing with the legendary Fred Astaire and they create cinema magic together with "A Couple Of Swells". This DVD is worth getting for the extras: Judy's outtake of "Mr. Monotony" - in edited form followed by the dailies used to edit the number together. A rare chance to see the laborious process of filming a seemingly simple number. Plus we get the wonderful 2004 PBS documentary "Judy Garland - By Myself" which is probably the best film documentary ever done about Judy Garland. Definitely something to see!

Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on Easter Parade to learn more about the making
of the film.

THE CLOCK (1945)

Judy's only straight drama for MGM proved that she could be an effective and poignant dramatic actress. Judy is at her MGM peak looking beautiful. The film has since become known as one of the most effective wartime romances ever made. Plus, it's nice to see Judy wearing the contemporary styles of the day.

FOR ME AND MY GAL (1942)

Judy's first billing above the title, and her first pairing with Gene Kelly (his screen debut) is an enchanting and fond look at the lives of performers in Vaudeville during World War I. This film works on so many levels. The music, the performances, everything is wonderful. Highlights include Judy's rendition of "After You've Gone" and her pairing with Kelly in their definitive version of the title song.

THE PIRATE (1948)

The second pairing of Judy and Gene Kelly is a musical and comedic romp. The Pirate is highly stylized and because of that it polarizes Garland and film musical fans. Some love it, others hate it. There's no middle of the road. I find it great fun. Judy's husband at the time, Vincente Minnelli, spared no expense in creating a Technicolor vision of the Caribbean that could only exist in a film musical fantasy. And that's part of the film's charm. Plus we get Judy and Gene having a ball, culminating with Cole Porter's immortal "Be A Clown". What's not to like?

SUMMER STOCK (1950)

I certainly couldn't omit Judy and Gene's final pairing. This was also Judy's last film for MGM, and her last number recorded and filmed was the iconic "Get Happy" - still magic more than 50 years later. A breezy and fun musical, Summer Stock might not break new ground in the musical genre, but it's better and more enjoyable than most.

A STAR IS BORN (1954)

Judy's Oscar nominated (don't get me started on that subject!!) film comeback is also one of Hollywood's greatest masterpieces. Expertly directed by George Cukor and co-starring the great James Mason, this is the definitive version of the thrice filmed story of an ingenue on the rise married to a star on the way down. The songs by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin (with an assist from Roger Edens) include the classic "The Man That Got Away" and the now almost mythic "Born In A Trunk" - mythic at least to Garland aficionados. They don't make them like this anymore!

Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on A Star Is Born to learn all about the making
of the film.

PRESENTING LILY MARS (1943)

Judy's first official adult role. She's gorgeous here. It's really more of a "B" musical, but Judy and recent Oscar winner Van Heflin turn it into gold.

Visit The Judy Room Spotlight on Presenting Lily Mars to learn more about the making
of the film.

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944)

Another film masterpiece. Meet Me In St. Louis ushered in MGM's golden age of movie musicals, and the golden age of producer Arthur Freed's "The Freed Unit". This is the film that brought director Vincente Minnelli and Judy together, resulting in marriage and the birth of Liza Minnelli! But aside from that, the film itself is magic. This is the film that even non-Garland fans enjoy. Judy is ravishing, and her acting is so natural and understated it's easy to overlook her contribution to the film as a whole. This 2-disc DVD features the film restored using Warner Home Video's "Ultra Resolution Process", and the sound is remastered in true stereo. Pure magic from beginning to end.

Visit The Judy Room Spotlight On Meet Me In St. Louis to learn all about the making
of the film (and to see lots of fun photos too!)

I COULD GO ON SINGING (1963)

This was Judy's final film performance and in many Garland fan's eyes, one of her best. Although the plot is a bit melodramatic at times, Judy rises above the material effectively playing a character loosely based on her own image and persona. Her performance of "By Myself" is one of the best things she ever did on film.

IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME (1949)

A musical remake of the 1940 Ernst Lubitch classic The Shop Around The Corner, Summertime features one of Judy's best comedic performances. And we get to see Liza Minnelli's film debut at the very end playing Judy's character's daughter. A delightful film that is always enjoyable to watch and although it's named "In The Good Old Summertime", the bulk of the film takes place during the Christmas holiday season making it the perfect holiday film. Judy sings a little known holiday song titled "Merry Christmas" that has since been covered by the likes of Johnny Mathis and Bette Midler.

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Many, many, many books have been written about Judy Garland. Most have been dubious at best, but some have risen above the lurid legends and sensationalistic aspects of Judy's life to provide the reader with as accurate a telling of Judy's life and/or career as possible. Click on the images below to go to those pages on Amazon.com if you want to purchase them. The following books are listed in no particular order.
	JUDY GARLAND THE DAY-BY-DAY CHRONICLE OF A LEGEND By Scott Schechter Schechter's book picks up where The Judy Room Timelines leave off. Regardless of the fact that a few errors have been brought to light, this book is still an amazing resource of information.

	A STAR IS BORN THE MAKING OF THE 1954 MOVIE AND ITS 1983 RESTORATION By Ronald Haver This wonderful book was originally published in 1988, and is now out of print. However, copies can be found on eBay or other used book outlets. It's a fascinating look into the workings of the studio system at Warner Bros. in the early 50's, and also the detective work involved in finding as much of the missing footage from the film as possible. To read equally fascinating early abridged version by Mr. Haver that was published in the 1983 American Film Institute magazine, click here to go to the A Star Is Born section here in The Judy Room.

	THE WIZARDY OF OZ By Jay Scarfone and William Stillman Originally published in 1999, this 2004 soft cover expanded edition is nothing short of amazing. All about the making of the classic film, the book is lavishly illustrated with rare photos and tons of information. I highly recommend this book for any fan of the film and/or classic Hollywood.

	RAINBOW'S END - THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW By Coyne Steven Sanders This book is out of print but can still be found online. It's the only book to focus solely on Judy's failed TV series (now regarded as a classic). Tons of information make this a neat peek into the world of television in the early 1960's.

	JUDY GARLAND - WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER By John Fricke A wonderfully done biography. Mr. Fricke gives tons of facts (and pictures) about Judy's entire career. This book doesn't delve into Judy's personality, but it is a good source for factual information. The book is out of print, but it can be ordered from Amazon or found on eBay.

	JUDY GARLAND - A PORTRAIT IN ART AND ANECDOTE By John Fricke Garland hagiographer John Fricke has compiled a lovely coffee-table sized book full of wonderful photos and information about Judy's career. However, the theme of "art and anecdote" is on display throughout via quotes about Judy life and her art, from Judy's contemporaries as well as Judy herself.

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Judy Garland performed over 45 of her 47 years, successfully crossing over from stage to film to radio and to TV with such expertise that she created an amazing output of performances. Because of this, some of her best CDs or DVDs (or in the old days, LP's) are compilations culled from a wide variety of sources. This list is comprised of what I think are the best Garland compilations out there - in all media formats. Click on the images below for more information about that item. The following compilations are listed in no particular order.
	THE COMPLETE DECCA YEARS (plus) Technically this CD boxed set went out of print years ago, however it's still available fordownload from iTunes. It's also worth getting on eBay or other sites, not just for the recordings (all of Judy's Decca recordings from the 30's and 40's), but for the fantastic booklet detailing Judy's Decca career with excellent notes by Ron O'Brien detailing Judy's Decca career. Lots of great photos too.

	CLASSIQUES ET INEDITS 1929 - 1956 This two CD set from France covers all aspects of Judy's career from her earliest 1929 film performances through her Capitol years The big caveat is disc two on which all but one of the tracks are radio performances new to CD. Disc one features several MGM Records versions of Judy's soundtrack performances flawlessly remastered, and all four of her 1953 Columbia singles remastered in surround sound. Definitely get this, it's worth the price. Oh yes, the booklet includes excellent liner notes written by Lawrence Schulman.

	THE SHOW THAT GOT AWAY Released in 2002, this is still the best overall CD compilation of remastered performances from Judy's TV series. It's out of print, but can still be found. It's worth it!

	THE SIGNATURE COLLECTION Seven of Judy's films in one great boxed set: For Me And My Gal (1942); Ziegfeld Girl (1941); In The Good Old Summertime (1949); The Wizard Of Oz (1939)[not the remastered version listed above]; Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938); The Harvey Girls (1945); and A Star Is Born (1954). All of these films are wonderful in their own way. It's a good mix too, giving the view the chance to see Judy progress from her pre-Oz days to MGM superstar.

	THE VERY BEST OF JUDY GARLAND - THE CAPITOL RECORDINGS 1955 - 1965 This excellent 3 CD set from Capitol/EMI in England almost includes all of Judy's Capitol recordings. Three complete albums are here: "Judy" (1956), "Alone" (1947), and "Judy In Love" (1958), as well as samplings from Judy's other Capitol albums and some rarities like the two amazing alternate takes from "The London Sessions" of "Stormy Weather" and "Over The Rainbow" among other treats.

	THE MICKEY ROONEY & JUDY GARLAND COLLECTION All four of Judy and Mickey Rooney's "let's put on a show" musicals, housed in probably the best DVD boxed set Warner Home Video has released to date. A bonus disc includes a wonderful Judy Garland "Songbook" (21 Garland performances), plus you get a lavish hard bound book about the making of the films and more!

	MICKEY & JUDY - THE JUDY GARLAND & MICKEY ROONEY COLLECTION This 1995 4-CD set is out of print, but available on iTunes and eBay. It's worth getting. And makes a wonderful companion to the DVD set above. The liner notes in the similarly illustrated booklet are even more detailed that that in the DVD set. Lots of complete numbers, background music, outtakes, and stereo versions. Plus some radio too!

	THE ESSENTIAL JUDY GARLAND Another great compilation from Capitol Records. This is worth getting as well for the previously unreleased studio version of "It Never Was You" recorded but not used for I Could Go On Singing, and a previously unreleased alternate take of "Why Was I Born" from Judy's famous "London Sessions". All of the tracks are remastered to perfection!

	THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! The complete trilogy! Judy is heavily featured in all three films as well as in all of the extras. No film musical fan should be without these! Also available in HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. The trilogy has been released in a fantastic CD boxed set that's also worth getting.

	JUDY Released in 1998, and out of print, this 4 CD boxed set is worth finding online. It's the only CD set to cover Judy's entire recording career from 1929 through 1969. Plus you get a great booklet and videocassette of highlights from Judy's TV series.

	COLLECTOR'S GEMS FROM THE M-G-M FILMS Another out of print set, but it's readily available from iTunes. You won't get the wonderful booklet, but you'll get the fantastic remastered songs - many are only available on this set. Definitely get this! Also worth getting is the single CD "Judy Garland In Hollywood - Her Greatest Movie Hits", which is a nice "best of Judy on film" compilation.

	THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW Last but not least, we have "The Judy Garland Show". Judy's complete series in two boxed sets as well as single multi-show editions. They've all been remastered beautifully by Pioneer, and it would be tempting to list every single volume. Instead, just click on the image at left to go to The Judy Room DVD page to see all of the volumes. UPDATE: The series is now being re-released on DVD! Click on the image at left for details.

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