In Stores and Online Now!
Judy Garland
The Voice of MGM
My first book, “Judy Garland – The Voice of MGM,” is available now in stores and online. Early reviews are in – CLICK HERE to read them or go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble to read more.
ORDER LINKS
Click here for details about the book
I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of my first book, “Judy Garland – The Voice of MGM,” which is available now for preorder from your favorite online retailers! [Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Walmart / Booksshop.org / Hudson Books]
“Judy Garland – The Voice of MGM” is the first comprehensive book about Judy’s MGM years. It features tons of new, previously unpublished facts and details about Judy’s time at MGM, personally and professionally. Peppered throughout are some rare, previously unpublished photos (and some fan favorites, too!). It’s an in-depth look that is as celebratory as it is revelatory.
Additionally, “Judy Garland—The Voice of MGM” provides a detailed look at Judy’s pre-MGM career in vaudeville and its importance in shaping her into the great talent we know today. Details about Judy’s radio performances, her recordings for Decca Records, and her personal appearance tours—especially her USO tours—provide more insights.
From Lyons Press:
More than 100 years after her birth, Judy Garland remains the gold standard by which all movie musical leading ladies are judged. She is revered and celebrated by current stars, directors, songwriters, and others in the entertainment industry. She also has a fan base that is as large as that of Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Her image, especially “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz (1939), is an instantly recognized icon. Garland really was the voice of MGM during her tenure and after. No documentary about any aspect of the history of the MGM Studios is complete without Garland’s voice on the soundtrack. When people think of MGM Musicals, they think of Garland along with Gene Kelly, and Fred Astaire. She’s the only female in that exalted “top three.”
There have been many books about Garland’s fabled and troubled life, but none devoted solely to the study (and celebration) of her years at MGM. She entered the studio as a 13-year-old contract player in 1935. She left the studio in 1950 carrying the title “Metro’s Greatest Asset.” Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM will focus on Garland’s films, but it will also delve into her other professional achievements, such as her extensive appearances on radio programs, her long association with Decca Records, and her personal appearances, highlighted by her USO Bond Tours in the early 1940s.
This will be the definitive book about Garland’s legendary career at MGM, pulling back the curtain to reveal the truths about that career while also presenting previously unknown details and facts that are sure to delight her fans as well as fans of classic film.
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4ef5oJe
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/judy-garland-scott-brogan/1146018575?ean=9781493086542
Walmart:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Judy-Garland-The-Voice-of-MGM-Hardcover-9781493086542/8241016182
Hudson Books:
https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9781493086542
Bookshop.org:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/judy-garland-the-voice-of-mgm-scott-brogan/21654542?ean=9781493086542
Books-A-Million:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Judy-Garland/Scott-Brogan/9781493086542?id=9256620401964
About the author (yours truly):
Scott Brogan is the webmaster and author of the world-famous The Judy Room website, which includes the biggest and most detailed Garland discography ever compiled. He is also the author and webmaster of the Judy Garland News & Events blog which features the resource “On This Day” series that presents thousands of images and details about Garland’s life and career for each day of the year. For four years, Brogan worked as a researcher and author for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. His program essays are cataloged by the Library of Congress and translated into several languages. He recently co-produced and wrote the liner notes for the successful “Judy at 100 – 26 Classics In Stereo” CD release. He has written several other CD liner notes and has been involved in the production of many others. He is world-renowned for the design and content of these sites, and is a respected expert on Garland’s career, having been a major contributor to books about Garland and/or her films, as well as books about the MGM Studios, podcasts, live stream events, and radio programs. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
Now Available!
The Alternate “Judy” Album –
Unreleased Session Takes and More!
Including the newly remastered General Electric Theatre TV Special!
Purchase this exciting new release at highdeftapetransfers.ca
Click here for the track listing and details about the recordings!
HIGH DEFINITION TAPE TRANSFERS (HDTT) is pleased to present these never-before-heard alternate takes for the songs on Judy Garland’s well-loved 1956 Capitol album entitled “Judy.” These recordings were recently discovered by award-winning designer and collector Raphael Geroni on a unique set of acetate discs that he owns, preserving the original recordings made in late March, 1956. Except for one song, they were not the takes that appeared in the Capitol “Judy” album when it was released over six months later, on October 10, 1956. The acetate records have been transferred and lovingly restored by acclaimed audio restoration engineer John H. Haley of Harmony Restorations, LLC.
After the very successful release of Garland’s first Capitol album in 1955, immediately following a 90-minute CBS television special, the following year it was decided to again pair a Capitol album release with a CBS TV special, an episode of the General Electric Theatre series. This time, the half-hour TV show would employ the music from the album, with no separate orchestra for the show itself. In this show, which aired live on April 8, 1956, Garland performed some songs live to pre-recorded orchestral tracks from the Capitol recording sessions and lip-synced other songs to the pre-existing Capitol recordings that included the vocals. The conductor/arranger, Nelson Riddle, was credited for both the album and the TV show. We can tell that the acetates are from the original March sessions because they correspond to the pre-recorded music that was used in the TV special that immediately followed.
The Capitol LP album ultimately included only eleven of the twelve songs originally recorded, omitting the beautiful Jerome Kern song “I’m Old-Fashioned,” which was not released until the “Judy” album appeared on CD in 1989. Fortunately, the acetate recordings do include that song in a tender rendition that is different from the one that was released in 1989. The acetates are comprised of 12 takes in all, covering all but two of the songs in the album, and adding a second take of one song and an instrumental number that was in the TV show but not on the album.
What happened here is that in early 1956 Garland’s infant son Joseph Luft (born March 25, 1955) came down with a respiratory infection, a common enough thing in young children, and Garland caught it. Singers dread respiratory infections because it can take many weeks for a singing voice to return to normal, even after the infection has otherwise subsided. Garland’s lingering infection left her singing somewhat impaired in early 1956, but she was in no position to put off the scheduled March recording sessions because if that had happened, there would have been no music for the TV special that was to immediately follow–she was forced to charge ahead. At some later point, after she had fully recovered, before the October 10 release date, she went back into the Capitol studios and redid the vocals on all but one of the tracks, and we hear those redone versions in the released album. Research has not succeeded in determining when the additional sessions occurred; they appear to be undocumented.
Even recovering from a respiratory infection, Garland, being the trouper that she was, certainly delivered the goods. In some instances, listeners may find that her earlier interpretations are more dramatic (e.g., “Come Rain or Come Shine”), have a greater sense of irony (e.g., “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries”), or are more touching (e.g., “I’m Old Fashioned”) than the later, more perfectly vocalized tracks. This release truly presents an alternative Garland album, which, although not without flaws, can be enjoyed alongside the released album as a different experience of the same songs. Garland was ever the canny performer who could turn whatever circumstances she was presented with to her advantage, and there is no doubt that she did so in what is heard here.
HDTT also presents (1) the soundtrack of the closely related GE television show, in a new, modern restoration, (2) two unreleased “band track” recordings for songs in the “Judy” album (just the accompaniments with no vocal), from a rare acetate record, and (3) a very special live recording of the last half of “Over the Rainbow” from the opening of Garland’s 1956 Palace Theatre show on September 26, 1956, in its first restoration. Strangely, there appears to be no other surviving recording of anything from the almost four month run of this important show. This HDTT release, together with HDTT’s previous release of the opening night of Garland’s 1956 Las Vegas appearance, documents in some fashion all or at least most of Garland’s performing and recording activity that occurred in 1956, apart from the readily available Capitol “Judy” album.
Tracklist
TAKES FROM ORIGINAL MARCH 1956 “JUDY” SESSIONS
01. I Feel a Song Coming On (Oppenheimer, McHugh-Fields); Band Track recorded March 19, 1956; vocal recorded March 27, 1956 (2:11)
02. Last Night When We Were Young (Harburg, Arlen); recorded March 31, 1956 (3:32)
03. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Brown, Henderson); recorded March 31, 1956 (1:57)
04. Dirty Hands, Dirty Face (Jolson, Leslie, Clarke, Monaco); recorded March 19, 1956 (4:51)
05. Blues for Peter Gennaro (Riddle) (instrumental); recording date unknown (1:34)
06. Come Rain or Come Shine (Arlen, Mercer); recorded March 31, 1956 (3:51)
07. April Showers (DeSylva, Silvers); recorded March 19, 1956 (3:19)
08. Lucky Day (DeSylva, Brown, Henderson); Band Track recorded March 26, 1956; vocal recorded March 27, 1956 (2:49)
09. Memories of You (Razaf, Blake); recorded March 26, 1956 (3:25)
10. I’m Old Fashioned (Kern, Mercer); recorded March 26, 1956 (3:28)
11. I Will Come Back (trad’l); Band Track recorded March 19, 1956; vocal recorded March 27, 1956 (2:24)
SOUNDTRACK OF THE GE THEATRE TELEVISION SHOW
12. Program introduction (Ronald Reagan) (0:11)
13. I Feel a Song Coming On (Garland) (2:11)
14. GE announcement and commercial (0:37)
15. Judy Garland spoken announcement (0:15)
16. I Will Come Back (Garland) (1:47)
17. Judy Garland introduces pianist Joe Bushkin (0:16)
18. Jazz piano piece with orchestra (Joe Bushkin, piano) (1:17)
19. Dialog with Judy Garland and Joe Bushkin (0:12)
20. Last Night When We Were Young (with Joe Bushkin, piano) (2:51)
21. Piano interlude and dialog with Judy Garland and Joe Bushkin (0:27)
22. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Garland with Joe Bushkin, piano) (1:58)
23. Dirty Hands, Dirty Face (with live spoken part) (4:45)
24. GE commercial (2:48)
25. Blues for Peter Gennaro (instrumental) (1:29)
26. Come Rain or Come Shine (Garland) (3:57)
27. April Showers (Garland) (1:58)
28. April Showers (orchestral interlude) 0:49)
29. Closing announcements (Ronald Reagan) and GE commercial (1:41)
BONUS TRACKS
30. Dirty Hands, Dirty Face; alternate take (from acetate), recorded March 19, 1956 (4:53)
31. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries; Band Track (no vocal, from acetate); recorded March 31, 1956 (2:00)
32. Lucky Day; Band Track (no vocal, from acetate), recorded March 26, 1956 (2:50)
33. Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (Arlen, Mercer) (Garland and her Eight Boyfriends; orchestra conducted by Jack Cathcart; live from Las Vegas debut show, July 16. 1956) (4:34)
34. Over the Rainbow, (Harburg, Arlen), last half (Opening Night of Garland’s Palace Theatre show, NYC, orchestra conducted by Jack Cathcart, September 26, 1956) (1:31)
THIS IS THE ONLY RELEASE OF THESE RARE ALTERNATE “JUDY” RECORDINGS THAT IS AUTHORIZED BY THE OWNER OF THE ACETATE RECORDS.
At last! Words and Music properly remastered! This new release features a new 2024 1080p HD master from 4K scans of the original nitrate Technicolor negatives.
Click here for details!
The Warner Archive Press Release:
New 2024 1080p HD master from 4K Scans of Original Nitrate Technicolor Negatives
WORDS AND MUSIC (1948)
BD-50
Running Time: 121 Minutes
COLOR
DTS-MA HD 2.0
16×9 1.37:1 with side mattes
Subtitles: English SDH
Cast: Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Janet Leigh, Perry Como, Betty Garrett, Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Lena Horne, June Allyson, Ann Southern, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen, Cyd Charisse.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary by Film Historian Richard Barrios, Featurette: A Life in Words and Music, Unused musical sequences: You’re Nearer (Perry Como), Lover (Perry Como & M-G-M Orchestra and Chorus). Audio-only musical outtakes. Classic MGM cartoon: THE CAT THAT HATED PEOPLE, Classic MGM Short: GOING TO BLAZES!
Mickey Rooney, Tom Drake, Betty Garrett, Janet Leigh, and a host of top musical performers headline M-G-M producer Arthur Freed’s extravagant biographical tribute to the prolific songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. In the early 1920s, the diminutive Hart (Rooney) teams up with Rodgers (Drake) to launch a successful 24-year music career, penning nearly 500 songs with him until Hart’s death in 1943 at the age of 47. Rodgers marries his dream girl (Leigh) while Hart pines after Peggy (Garrett), eventually spiraling into depression and death after her rejection. June Allyson, Perry Como, Ann Sothern, Mel Tormé, Cyd Charisse, Judy Garland, and Lena Horne are just some of the singing sensations featured. This is the last movie in which Garland and Rooney appeared together. It also boasts the first full-length modern ballet piece in a Hollywood movie: Choreographed and danced by Gene Kelly, with Vera-Ellen as his partner, “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue” provides the show-stopping seven-minute finale to the film. Among the hit songs performed are ” “Blue Moon,” “Thou Swell” “Manhattan,” “Johnny One Note,” “I Wish I Were in Love Again,” “Where or When,” and “The Lady Is a Tramp.”
Check out The Judy Room’s Filmography Page on Words and Music here.
The OZ Spotlight is one of the sections that desperately needed updating. It was in the old static HTML format, which is not mobile-friendly. However, due to OZ’s bigness, it’s been daunting. There’s just so much! But I’m happy to say that it’s up and running.
More to come, including the “Miscellaneous” (Oz on TV, Fan Art, & more) section and additions to the “Behind The Scenes” section (Props & Special Effects, & more).
Check out the menu below!
Ozzy Menu
Coming August 9 – New CD of “The Judy Garland Show” (1962)
Coming on August 9 (but available to order in late July) from Sepia Records, “The Judy Garland Show” (1962). Commonly known as “Judy, Frank, and Dean,” this new CD has been restored and remastered by Robin Cherry from previously unknown rare air-check acetate discs. The result is a stunningly better listening experience than the audio on the show itself, as available on DVD and much older CDs.
Judy, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin taped the special for CBS (at NBC) on January 5, 8, and 9, 1962. It premiered on February 25, 1962, and was a huge success. That success, along with Judy’s recent film appearances and a second TV special with Robert Goulet and Phil Silvers, convinced CBS to produce a weekly television series starring Judy, also titled “The Judy Garland Show.”
Additionally, the CD features another newly remastered treat: Garland’s appearance on the General Electric Program Radio Show (aka The Bing Crosby Show) and guest hosting for Crosby. The show first aired on October 30, 1952, and has never been properly remastered and restored until now.
Sepia Records always does such great, high-quality work, and this one is no exception. “The Judy Garland Show” recording has been taken from two CBS air-check acetate discs, each with 12 to 15 minutes on each side. It begins with the program announcement and ends with the announcement for Judy in Judgement at Nuremberg over the bows.
Latest Videos
“C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock” Now Available!
C’mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock! It’s a must-have for all fans of Judy Garland, MGM musicals, classic film, and the Great American Songbook.
More details about the book are at The Judy Room’s “Judy Garland News & Events” blog.
At Long Last!! Judy Garland’s Previously Unreleased “Lost Vegas” Debut Is Now Available!
High Definition Tape Transfers, Inc. (HDTT) presents the worldwide premiere of one of the “Holy Grails” of Garland fandom, the “Lost Vegas” recording. And to top it off, it’s been beautifully remastered and is available in both HD audio (for download) and on CD!!!
Great news for Garland audiophiles. Sepia Records has released Judy’s 1955 Long Beach concert for the first time on CD, newly remastered. Judging from the previous Sepia releases this is sure to sound fantastic. Details are here at the Sepia site.
Judy took her acclaimed concert to Long Beach on July 11, 1955. Her Rat Pack friends Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Humphrey Bogart, and other celebrities rented a bus to go and see her. They also came up on stage after her performance. The show was another success for Judy and luckily for us, it was recorded and has now been remastered for this CD release.
The Canadian label High Definition Tape Transfers, Inc. (HDTT), presents the high-definition release of Judy Garland’s very last concert available as hi-def downloads in 24/352.8 DXD PCM Flac, DSD128 Direct Stream, DSD64 Direct Stream, 24/192 PCM Flac, and 24/96 PCM Flac formats, as well as regular CD format at 16-bit/44.1 kHz. This HDTT release will include the first-time commercial release of two duets with Johnnie Ray, “Till the Clouds Roll By” and “Am I Blue?” More details here.
