LIZA IN CONCERT
1979 Concert
Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
Opening Date
Closing Date Performances |
September 4, 1979
September 14, 1979 11 |
LIZA MINNELLI
with
ROGER MINAMI OBBA BABATUNDE
Written by
FRED EBB
Special Material by
FRED EBB & LARRY GROSSMAN
ROGER MINAMI OBBA BABATUNDE
Written by
FRED EBB
Special Material by
FRED EBB & LARRY GROSSMAN
Musical Coordinator
LARRY GROSSMAN |
Arrangers
RALPH BURNS MICHAEL ABENE BILLY BYERS |
Musical Conductor
BILL LaVORGNA |
Choreographed by
WAYNE CILENTO
Directed by
FRED EBB
WAYNE CILENTO
Directed by
FRED EBB
ABOUT THE SHOW
"90 minutes of song, dance, and knock-'em-dead pizzazz"
© www.cabaret54.com
© www.cabaret54.com
Carnegie Hall was a venue that already loomed large in the family legend - it was, after all, where her mother Judy Garland made her triumphant comeback 18 years prior in what has become known by some as "the greatest night in show biz history". (The live album it spurred would go on to win 4 Grammys; both the first live album and the first album by a female performer ever to win the award.) Liza herself had only played Carnegie once before this run; as part of a benefit concert on January 10, 1965.
This run would be a landmark in her career: from September 4 - 14, 1979, she would hold not only the record for the longest-running consecutive number of performances by an artist in the history of Carnegie Hall (a venue typically famed for its one-night-only events), but every single show was sold out. (This record would later be broken by none other than herself in 1987, when she would perform for 3 straight weeks, also for all sold-out shows.)
The black & white ad first appeared in the Sunday New York Times. The announcement was concise: "Liza / In Concert / At Carnegie Hall." Tickets, starting at $7.50 and escalating to $25.00, would go on sale the next day at 10 A.M.The cover of the concert program was designed by Joe Eula, who had earlier done the advertising logo for Liza's Winter Garden show. Liza loved the Eula work so much that in 1983 she continued using this design to promote her "By Myself" tour.
Liza didn't want to come back to New York with the same nightclub act she'd already been doing for years. She wanted something new. With the help of her dedicated staff -- including Fred Ebb (who'd write, produce and direct the show), Wayne Cilento and Ron Lewis (who would choreograph), and Lawrence Miller (who would design the multi-tiered set) -- Liza set out to knock New York on its backside. She also hired Mark Gero as her production manager.
"I wanted to make my Carnegie Hall shows a piece of presentational theater," Liza recalls. "I wanted each song to be an acting piece; a complete character. I wanted Carnegie Hall to be my baby."
Well, Liza gave birth to that baby on September 4, 1979. She succeeded in her plan; the critics loved her.
After the Carnegie Hall opening night, there was a late supper dance at Studio 54, thrown by Halston. Vincente Minnelli and Lee Anderson (Liza's stepmother) had flown in from California and dined on lobster, along with guests including Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Diana Vreeland, Joel Grey, Michael Bennett, Victor Hugo, Baby Jane Holzer, Margaux Hemingway, Diane Von Furstenberg, and the late author Anita Loos.
On September 10, 1979, in the New York Times, John Rockwell wrote an article analyzing the phenomenon of the superstar who attracts mass adulation. Interviewed by him in the Russian Tea Room, Liza said, "I really like people; otherwise it would scare me to death. You walk out and people roar at you."
Liza, asked by Rockwell why she thought she generated so much hysteria, answered, "Someone said to me after opening night, 'I think I know what it is. You give everybody hope.' It's everything positive that people want to hear. Momma and Piaf were very fragile and vulnerable. With me, it's like, 'Come on, let's go!' I think everybody likes to see people who enjoy what they're doing."
This run would be a landmark in her career: from September 4 - 14, 1979, she would hold not only the record for the longest-running consecutive number of performances by an artist in the history of Carnegie Hall (a venue typically famed for its one-night-only events), but every single show was sold out. (This record would later be broken by none other than herself in 1987, when she would perform for 3 straight weeks, also for all sold-out shows.)
The black & white ad first appeared in the Sunday New York Times. The announcement was concise: "Liza / In Concert / At Carnegie Hall." Tickets, starting at $7.50 and escalating to $25.00, would go on sale the next day at 10 A.M.The cover of the concert program was designed by Joe Eula, who had earlier done the advertising logo for Liza's Winter Garden show. Liza loved the Eula work so much that in 1983 she continued using this design to promote her "By Myself" tour.
Liza didn't want to come back to New York with the same nightclub act she'd already been doing for years. She wanted something new. With the help of her dedicated staff -- including Fred Ebb (who'd write, produce and direct the show), Wayne Cilento and Ron Lewis (who would choreograph), and Lawrence Miller (who would design the multi-tiered set) -- Liza set out to knock New York on its backside. She also hired Mark Gero as her production manager.
"I wanted to make my Carnegie Hall shows a piece of presentational theater," Liza recalls. "I wanted each song to be an acting piece; a complete character. I wanted Carnegie Hall to be my baby."
Well, Liza gave birth to that baby on September 4, 1979. She succeeded in her plan; the critics loved her.
After the Carnegie Hall opening night, there was a late supper dance at Studio 54, thrown by Halston. Vincente Minnelli and Lee Anderson (Liza's stepmother) had flown in from California and dined on lobster, along with guests including Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Diana Vreeland, Joel Grey, Michael Bennett, Victor Hugo, Baby Jane Holzer, Margaux Hemingway, Diane Von Furstenberg, and the late author Anita Loos.
On September 10, 1979, in the New York Times, John Rockwell wrote an article analyzing the phenomenon of the superstar who attracts mass adulation. Interviewed by him in the Russian Tea Room, Liza said, "I really like people; otherwise it would scare me to death. You walk out and people roar at you."
Liza, asked by Rockwell why she thought she generated so much hysteria, answered, "Someone said to me after opening night, 'I think I know what it is. You give everybody hope.' It's everything positive that people want to hear. Momma and Piaf were very fragile and vulnerable. With me, it's like, 'Come on, let's go!' I think everybody likes to see people who enjoy what they're doing."
Musical Numbers
ACT I
HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON? / IT'S A MIRACLE (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin / Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) MY SHIP / THE MAN I LOVE (Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin / George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) SOME PEOPLE (Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim) COME IN FROM THE RAIN (Melissa Manchester, Carole Bayer Sager) LONDON TOWN (Fred Ebb, Paul Klein, Lee Goldsmith) NEW YORK MEDLEY: I GUESS THE LORD MUST BE IN NEW YORK CITY (Harry Nilsson) TAKE ME BACK TO MANHATTAN (Cole Porter) MANHATTAN (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) NEW YORK CITY RHYTHM (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer) 42ND STREET (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) LULLABY OF BROADWAY (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) ON BROADWAY (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) NEW YORK, NEW YORK (Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) EVERY STREET'S A BOULEVARD (Jule Styne, Bob Hilliard) THEME FROM "NEW YORK, NEW YORK" (John Kander, Fred Ebb) |
ACT II
SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) TWELVE FELLAS (Fred Ebb, Larry Grossman) YOU AND I / THE HONEYMOON IS OVER / HAPPY ANNIVERSARY (Leslie Bricrusse / Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones / Charles Aznavour, Fred Ebb) CITY LIGHTS (John Kander, Fred Ebb) CABARET (John Kander, Fred Ebb) SHINE ON HARVEST MOON (Nora Bayes, Jack Norworth) BUT THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND (John Kander, Fred Ebb) BOWS (LIZA, LIZA) (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) |
Recordings
The album was recorded at Carnegie Hall, New York City, September, 1979. This 11-night concert appearance marked the longest running consecutive engagement for any one performer in the history of Carnegie Hall.
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LIZA MINNELLI - LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL
(1981) Side One: 01. How Long Has This Been Going On / It's A Miracle 02. My Ship / The Man I Love 03. Some People 04. Come In From The Rain Side Two: 01. London Town 02. New York Medley: I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City Take Me Back To Manhattan Manhattan New York City Rhythm 42nd Street Lullaby Of Broadway On Broadway New York, New York Every Street's A Boulevard Theme From "New York, New York" Side Three: 01. Someone To Watch Over Me 02. Twelve Fellas 03. You and I / The Honeymoon Is Over / Happy Anniversary 04. City Lights Side Four: 01. Cabaret 02. Shine On Harvest Moon 03. But The World Goes 'Round 04. Bows (Liza/Liza) |
As Liza wasn't currently under contract with any record label at the time of the performance, she saw to it personally to have the performances recorded for both posterity and so that her sales profits would be larger than if she went with a more commercial company. As Liza was at one of the vocal pinnacles of her career, she felt strongly enough to fight to get this album released, even though without a record label backing her, it took two years to succeed.
She begun selling the two-record set at her shows beginning at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on August 19, 1981. Earlier at the end of June, the set had been shipped to her Houston, Texas concerts, but it was discovered that the Warhol painting on the cover was printed incorrectly; they'd printed Liza's skin as purple. The jackets were re-printed, and to date, the purple version is not known to have ever surfaced.
The album was only produced in very limited production, and while the album continued to be sold at her concerts throughout the autumn of 1981, there was only a very limited distribution to stores before it ceased production.
Liza eventually toured with her Carnegie Hall show. When she was in New Orleans she had her performance videotaped for cable television airplay.
She begun selling the two-record set at her shows beginning at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey on August 19, 1981. Earlier at the end of June, the set had been shipped to her Houston, Texas concerts, but it was discovered that the Warhol painting on the cover was printed incorrectly; they'd printed Liza's skin as purple. The jackets were re-printed, and to date, the purple version is not known to have ever surfaced.
The album was only produced in very limited production, and while the album continued to be sold at her concerts throughout the autumn of 1981, there was only a very limited distribution to stores before it ceased production.
Liza eventually toured with her Carnegie Hall show. When she was in New Orleans she had her performance videotaped for cable television airplay.
LIZA MINNELLI - AN EVENING WITH LIZA MINNELLI
(1981) 01. How Long Has This Been Going On / It's A Miracle 02. My Ship / The Man I Love 03. Some People 04. Come In From The Rain 05. Arthur In The Afternoon 06. New York Medley: I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City Take Me Back To Manhattan Manhattan New York City Rhythm 42nd Street Lullaby Of Broadway On Broadway New York, New York Every Street's A Boulevard Theme From "New York, New York" 07. City Lights 08. Cabaret 09. But The World Goes 'Round |
About the ALBUM
"…an unforgettable evening"
Reissue producer David Foil in the CD booklet of the re-release
Reissue producer David Foil in the CD booklet of the re-release
"Liza Minnelli - Live At Carnegie Hall" was the first of two Carnegie Hall albums that would be released by Minnelli; this one being from September of 1979, and the other from 1987. It was produced by Hank Cattaneo and Bill LaVorgna - the latter of which would also remain Liza's drummer and musical conductor for the next 30+ years until his sudden passing.
Although the performance was recorded in 1979, the general public would not see it for another two years - it wasn't released until August 1981 by Altel Sound Systems, Inc., 461 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10016.
The album packaging was produced by Ash/LeDonne, Inc., and supervised by Scott H. Mauro. The cover of this album should be instantly recognizable to most as having been designed by the one and only Andy Warhol.
Although the performance was recorded in 1979, the general public would not see it for another two years - it wasn't released until August 1981 by Altel Sound Systems, Inc., 461 Park Avenue South, New York, New York 10016.
The album packaging was produced by Ash/LeDonne, Inc., and supervised by Scott H. Mauro. The cover of this album should be instantly recognizable to most as having been designed by the one and only Andy Warhol.
"Ring Them Bells: Liza Minnelli’s Triumphant 'Live at the Winter Garden' Expanded For CD Premiere"
www.theseconddisc.com
www.theseconddisc.com
Liza Minnelli turns 66 today, and could rightfully relax, look back and celebrate over six decades in show business. But the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, who made her first onscreen appearance as a baby in 1949’s MGM extravaganza IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME, has never been one to rest on her considerable laurels. Minnelli is still touring, recording and doing what she does best: entertaining, whether on the big screen (SEX AND THE CITY 2), the small screen (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT) or onstage. Masterworks Broadway will, on April 3, give the deluxe treatment to one of the few milestones in Minnelli’s career not previously revisited: "Live At The Winter Garden".
In 1974, the multi-hyphenate talent was riding high, having taken home a Best Actress Academy Award for her incendiary performance as Sally Bowles in Bob Fosse’s film version of CABARET, as well as an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program – Variety and Popular Music for LIZA WITH A "Z" also helmed by the visionary Fosse. So it was probably inevitable that Minnelli and Fosse would reteam in their natural habitat: onstage.
Liza Minnelli, just 27 years old and already a superstar, took the stage at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (today the home of MAMMA MIA!) on January 6, 1974 for a series of 24 sold-out concerts, setting a house record at the venerable theatre. The concert itself, directed and co-choreographed by Fosse, was simply entitled LIZA, and there was no doubt of the surname. Columbia Records, to which Minnelli had recently been signed, was on hand to record the event. It boasted special material by longtime friends John Kander and Fred Ebb (CABARET, CHICAGO) and musical coordination by another Academy Award winner, Marvin Hamlisch. Columbia released the album in April when the shows were still fresh in fans’ minds, but the original LP was soon withdrawn due to legal wrangling with the rights holders to the CABARET soundtrack, unhappy that Minnelli’s famous songs from the film were now available on a competing release.
Now, "Live At The Winter Garden" is back, expanded with three live bonus tracks from the same concerts: Stevie Wonder’s “You And I,” as well as the classic standards “It Had To Be You” and “My Shining Hour.” […]
Chances are, many fans will too find it lovely to have the original Phil Ramone-engineered album finally remastered on CD. Minnelli’s eclectic repertoire for the LP includes Kander and Ebb favorites plus pop hits such as Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now,” smoky Charles Aznavour chansons “And I In My Chair” and “There is a Time,” and even Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind.”
Liza with a “Z” was rewarded with a Special Tony Award for her LIZA concerts, awarded for “adding luster to the Broadway season.” That luster is captured on "Live At The Winter Garden". […] Happy Birthday, Miss Minnelli!
In 1974, the multi-hyphenate talent was riding high, having taken home a Best Actress Academy Award for her incendiary performance as Sally Bowles in Bob Fosse’s film version of CABARET, as well as an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program – Variety and Popular Music for LIZA WITH A "Z" also helmed by the visionary Fosse. So it was probably inevitable that Minnelli and Fosse would reteam in their natural habitat: onstage.
Liza Minnelli, just 27 years old and already a superstar, took the stage at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (today the home of MAMMA MIA!) on January 6, 1974 for a series of 24 sold-out concerts, setting a house record at the venerable theatre. The concert itself, directed and co-choreographed by Fosse, was simply entitled LIZA, and there was no doubt of the surname. Columbia Records, to which Minnelli had recently been signed, was on hand to record the event. It boasted special material by longtime friends John Kander and Fred Ebb (CABARET, CHICAGO) and musical coordination by another Academy Award winner, Marvin Hamlisch. Columbia released the album in April when the shows were still fresh in fans’ minds, but the original LP was soon withdrawn due to legal wrangling with the rights holders to the CABARET soundtrack, unhappy that Minnelli’s famous songs from the film were now available on a competing release.
Now, "Live At The Winter Garden" is back, expanded with three live bonus tracks from the same concerts: Stevie Wonder’s “You And I,” as well as the classic standards “It Had To Be You” and “My Shining Hour.” […]
Chances are, many fans will too find it lovely to have the original Phil Ramone-engineered album finally remastered on CD. Minnelli’s eclectic repertoire for the LP includes Kander and Ebb favorites plus pop hits such as Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now,” smoky Charles Aznavour chansons “And I In My Chair” and “There is a Time,” and even Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind.”
Liza with a “Z” was rewarded with a Special Tony Award for her LIZA concerts, awarded for “adding luster to the Broadway season.” That luster is captured on "Live At The Winter Garden". […] Happy Birthday, Miss Minnelli!
Press & Reviews
"...Miss Minnelli is in charge"
John S. Wilson, New York Times
John S. Wilson, New York Times
"In "Liza In Concert", Liza Minnelli has made that rare quantum leap from a status as an exciting performer to the fully controlled realization of her very impressive talens as an entertainer. Shifting from inner intensity to outward vocal power, but never losing the fine lines of her vocal control, the essence of her vocal range is summed up in intensity purely on the basis of the projected strength of her own involvement. She is very secure in her vocal movements and she can deliver high or low, with gorgeous colors and fascinating textures along with her power. Miss Minnelli is in charge."
"...a dazzling display"
Patricia O'Haire, Daily News
Patricia O'Haire, Daily News
"As Liza begins to sing 'How Long Has This Been Goin' On?,' the musicians file in one by one and take their places on the various platforms. From then on, energy, pure and simple, takes over. It's a dazzling display."
"...the greatest musical-hall artist going today"
Jerry Parker, Newsday
Jerry Parker, Newsday
"The show has three or four high points in which the power and excitement pouring out of Minnelli is almost frightening. She is terrific, maybe the greatest musical-hall artist going today. Are there any other performers these days who knock themselves out for an audience the way Liza does?"
"…dynamite from start to finish ...a truly memorable night"
Jacques LeSourd, Gannett Newspapers
Jacques LeSourd, Gannett Newspapers
"The show is dynamite from start to finish. Liza galvanized the venerable hall in a way that I have never seen. She dispenses enough controlled energy in two hours to power the entire metropolitan area for a decade. She glitters and dazzles in Halston sequins. It's a job splendidly well done and a truly memorable night."
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
At the 28th Annual Tony Awards, held on Sunday, April 21, 1974 at the Shubert Theatre, New York, NY, Liza Minnelli received a special Tony Award for “adding lustre to the Broadway season” for her Winter Garden Concert.
1974 Tony Awards
Special Tony Award
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LIZA MINNELLI (Winner)
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