The Complete Capitol Collection
compilation
ArtistLiza Minnelli
CoverLiza Minnelli - The Complete Capitol Collection (album cover).jpg
ReleasedAugust 8, 2006
Recorded1964–1966
GenreJazz, traditional
LabelDRG
Prev year2004
Next year2008

The Complete Capitol Collection is a compilation album by American singer and actor Liza Minnelli, released by the record label DRG in 2006.[1] The two-disc anthology comprehensively gathers Minnelli's complete recorded output for Capitol Records, featuring her three studio albums—Liza! Liza! (1964), It Amazes Me (1965), and There Is a Time (1966)—in their original running order, alongside singles originally released only on 7-inchs vinyl. The collection marked the first time these early albums were reissued in their entirety on compact disc (CD), featuring tracks digitally remastered in 24-bit resolution for enhanced audio clarity.

Critically, the compilation has been noted for displaying the artist's full range of talents, making it a welcome release for fans. Reviews also highlighted the inherent challenge of marketing a traditional pop singer during the British Invasion era, observing that this commercial struggle would persist throughout the artist's career.

Background

Minnelli's first phonographic recordings took place when she was still a teenager. At just 17, she had starred in the Off-Broadway play Best Foot Forward, for which she even recorded songs from the soundtrack. The publicity generated by her vocal and acting skills led to TV appearances and the recording of a single, "You Are For Loving".[2] With this moderate success, Capitol Records signed her and gradually released singles, followed by three studio albums: Liza! Liza! (1964), It Amazes Me (1965), and There Is a Time (1966).[2] Although they were well received by music critics, only the first album performed well commercially, becoming the only one to chart on Billboard's Top LPs list.[3]

Album details

For decades, Capitol Records did not reissue the albums in compact disc (CD) format, despite most of the songs having appeared in a substantial number of compilations released over the years.[a] The Complete Capitol Collection compiles the three albums in their entirety, with their track listings in the order in which the albums were originally released.[4]

Containing 55 songs in total, the double-CD[5] set presents all tracks newly remastered in 24-bit.[6] The collection is further expanded with the inclusion of singles that were previously only available on 7-inchs records.[7] The anthology was released by DRG in 2006.[8]

In an interview, the compilation's producer, Scott Schechter, revealed: "The use of the original session tapes eliminated an entire layer of added reverb that was heard on the original LPs, and as a result, it has a much cleaner, warmer, and brighter sound, with much more presence in Liza's voice, as it should be. She sounds like she's in the same room, singing directly to you. You can hear everything better than ever before. It's like hearing the songs for the first time and [having] a completely new listening experience".[9]

Critical reception

William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote that "all of [Liza Minnelli's] talents are on display in these early recordings, which will be warmly received by her fans". He observed that the collection reveals the challenges Capitol and Minnelli faced in marketing a young, traditional pop singer during the British Invasion era, a struggle he notes never truly eased for her in the commercial record market.[7]

On November 23, 2013, Ben Rimalower of Playbill included The Complete Capitol Collection in his list of the twelve best albums of Liza Minnelli's career, and wrote that "although these recordings show an immature Minnelli, still somewhat unsure of how to express herself more artistically in song, the pure heart and throat are undeniable".[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from The Complete Capitol Collection CD.[11]

  • Executive producer (for Drg Records) – Hugh Fordin
  • Liner notes – Scott Schechter
  • Producer [for Drg Records] – Scott Schechter

Notes

  1. ^ Compilations with tracks taken from the Capitol Records albums include: Best of Liza Minnelli: The Capitol Years (which was reissued with new covers and titles in 2001, under the name The Capitol Collection[12] and Essential, in 2003);[13] and Finest, from 2009.[14]

References

  1. ^ "CDs". The Official Liza Minnelli Website. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  2. ^ William, Ruhlmann. "Liza Minnelli – The Complete Capitol Collection Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived August 28, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived April 9, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  4. ^ "Complete Capitol Collection – Liza Minnelli CD 2006". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived June 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Gans, Andrew (July 12, 2006). "DRG Records to Release 55-Track Liza Minnelli Collection". Playbill. Archived February 24, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  6. ^ "Complete Capitol Collection – Liza Minnelli CD 2006". www.broadwayworld.com. Archived June 4, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Liza Minnelli – The Complete Capitol Collection Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived April 10, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Complete Capitol Collection". DRG Records. November 4, 2006. Archived from the original on November 4, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  9. ^ Bosch, David (August 11, 2006). "DRG Records to Release 'Liza Minnelli: The Complete Capitol Collection' on August 8th, 2006". T4C. Archived September 9, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Rimalower, Ben (November 23, 2013). "Life is a Cabaret: The Top 12 Liza Minnelli Albums". Playbill. Archived May 16, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  11. ^ Liza Minnelli (2006). The Complete Capitol Collection. United States: DRG Records; EMI Music Special Markets. 19093.
  12. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Liza Minnelli – The Capitol Years Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived January 12, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  13. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Liza Minnelli – Essential Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived September 28, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  14. ^ "Liza Minnelli – Finest Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Archived November 25, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2023.