Liza Minnelli The Best of Liza Minnelli [Columbia]

Liner Note Author: Fred Ebb.
Liza Minnelli is one of the great interpreters of American popular song. A Broadway legend, Minnelli is heard on this "best of" collection singing no less than 15 upbeat, show-stopping tunes, taken from a mixture of studio and concert settings. One of Minnelli's strongest performances is the sultry "Cabaret." On this piece, Minnelli's voice is simply brimming with enthusiasm. Her elocution is razor-sharp and her words soar far above the orchestra.
On "Ring Them Bells," Minnelli also sings with great zeal, and it's easy to get swept up in the raw emotion of the love story being described. On this track, Minnelli's phrasing is impeccable, and she commands the listener's attention with every syllable. The climax, however, is "New York, New York." As before, her voice climbs into the stratosphere while the orchestra swings hard beneath her. Unlike some Broadway divas, Minnelli's persona is very powerful on record. Few of her contemporaries can turn a show tune into a truly life-affirming experience like she can, and this is Minnelli's rare gift.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock and Pop