Come Saturday Morning, released February 1, 1969, may be her best studio album. She received a best actress Oscar nomination for the movie The Sterile Cuckoo and her performance of the films signature song, “Come Saturday Morning,” is among her best. This song would also be nominated for an Oscar. Such songs as “Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy,” “Leavin’ On A Jet Plane,” and Randy Newman’s “Love Story” are all sensitive presentations. Her smoky rendition of Jim Webb’s, “MacArthur Park/Didn’t We,” was a highlight of a very good album.
New Feelin’ was her third release and one of the weakest of her career. She abandoned the successful modern song formula of her first two A&M releases and recorded tracks by such writers as Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Oscar Hammerstein, and the Gershwin’s. While there was nothing terrible about “Stormy Weather,” “Come Rain Or Come Shine,” and “The Man I Love;” they returned her to an era and style she had been trying to escape. The only exception was her interpretation of “God Bless The Child” which was given almost a gospel type performance.
Her final release for the label was Live At The Olympia In Paris which was recorded December 11, 1969 but not released until April of 1972. She has always been considered to have been at her best live, as her energy and charisma are much more apparent. Except for a couple of dance numbers, her entire show is presented. These tracks find a far different artist than in the studio and combined with the aforementioned Come Saturday Morning highlight two different aspects of her career very well.
Liza Minnelli is an entertainer and pop performer who borders on easy listening. The Complete A&M Recordings give a good glimpse of an artist approaching the nadir of her career. If you are an aficionado of Liza or this type of musical style, this is an album worth exploring.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments