Throughout her illustrious, if tragically curtailed, career, Judy Garland raised her voice in song with some of the greatest artists of all time, including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Al Jolson, Gene Kelly, Kay Thompson, and many more.  Last Friday, August 4, a new 4-CD set arrived from the U.K.'s JSP Records celebrating Garland's greatest vocal collaborations with these performers and many others.  Judy Garland: Classic Duets features 109 tracks over 4 CDs, including 15 tracks never before issued on CD.  This collection follows on the heels of the recent release of another archival collection, Mint Audio's Judy Garland: Soundtracks.

Produced by John Stedman and remastered by Peter Reynolds, with the cover and brochures designed by graphic artist Raphael Geroni, Classic Duets has been compiled by Garland historian Lawrence Schulman, who is also one of the driving forces behind Soundtracks.  The 4-CD set contains essays by Schulman, journalist Randy Henderson, Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters author Randy L. Schmidt, and French vocalist Isabelle Georges, whose CD and show devoted to Garland, called Une étoile et moi, was greeted with acclaim.

Culled from ultra-rare radio broadcasts, commercially issued recordings, soundtracks, outtakes, and more, Classic Duets boasts performances from Garland with 33 partners, also including Perry Como, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hope, Johnny Mercer, Robert Goulet, Ray Bolger, Sophie Tucker, and Fanny Brice.   (Bing Crosby is featured on a generous 35 tracks, enough for a standalone release, while Mickey Rooney is featured on twelve songs, and Gene Kelly on ten.)

This set continues in the tradition of past JSP sets devoted to Garland, all curated by Schulman, such as Lost Tracks (2010), Smilin' Through - The Singles Collection 1936-1947 (2011), The Carnegie Hall Concert (2012),  Creations: 1929-1962 Songs She Introduced (2013), The Garland Variations (2014), The Best of Lost Tracks (2015), and Judy Garland Sings Harold Arlen (2016).

Lawrence Schulman exclusively tells The Second Disc, "Classic Duets was several years in the making. It was first scheduled to be released by the Canadian label, DOREMI, as a follow-up to Swan Songs, First Flights, first released in 2014, but was subsequently switched to JSP Records, with which, under the guidance of the label's owner, John Stedman, I have continued to work since the 2010 best-seller, Lost Tracks, and the 2015 best-of compilation derived from Lost Tracks, The Best of Lost Tracks. I conceived the idea for the set because I have long admired Garland's duets, and no set had ever been devoted to them starting from early in her career. It is another concept album, as are Creations, Smilin' Through, The Garland Variations, and Judy Garland Sings Harold Arlen, and I am quite proud to be presenting Garland's recordings in this fashion over the years. The songs have been brilliantly remastered by audio engineer Peter Reynolds, and the wonderfully retro cover art is by the talented Raphael Geroni. I would also like to thank the three other authors of the liner notes, Randy L. Schmidt, Randy Henderson, and Isabelle Georges, who have all contributed fascinating notes. Last but not least, I would like to thank JSP for their support over the years. Their catalog of Garland records is second to none, and I am thrilled they have been the air under my wings for so many years now. There is yet another JSP/Garland project in the works, but that is for another day... I do hope everyone enjoys Classic Duets. Garland was unique, and this latest set is yet another anthology of recordings that shines a light on her joyful duets. I also hope that through all these releases I have communicated my passion for Garland, which goes back to my youth. If just one person has been moved to appreciate Garland's immense talent as a result of that passion, then I am happy."

Doubtless these comprehensive and collector-oriented releases have gone, and will go, a long way in keeping the flame of Garland's incendiary talent burning brightly.  Classic Duets is released pursuant to current U.K. public domain laws, and is available now!  (Amazon U.K. has it in stock; Amazon U.S. and Canada are accepting pre-orders for an August 18 arrival.  Note that Amazon has linked this title to an inferior release which is currently streaming and available in MP3 format.  The only way to currently obtain Classic Duets is on CD.) The full track listing with discographical annotation follows.  Classic Duets, from JSP Records, can be ordered at the links below!

Judy Garland, Classic Duets (JSP Records, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD A:

DEANNA DURBIN

1. Opera vs. Jazz (Americana reprise)(C. Conrad) - Every Sunday, M-G-M

SOPHIE TUCKER

2. Everybody Sing (A. Freed-N.H. Brown) - Broadway Melody of 1938, M-G-M

FANNY BRICE

3. Why? Because! (B. Kalmar-H. Ruby) - Everybody Sing, M-G-M

RAY BOLGER

4. If I Only Had A Brain (E.Y. Harburg-H. Arlen) - The Wizard of Oz, M-G-M
5. We're Off To See The Wizard (E.Y. Harburg-H. Arlen) - The Wizard of Oz, M-G-M
6. Hayride (J. Mercer-H. Warren) - The Harvey Girls, M-G-M (outtake)

BETTY JAYNES

7. Opera Vs. Jazz, Part 1 (R. Edens) - Babes in Arms, M-G-M
8. Opera Vs. Jazz, Part 4 (A. Freed-N.H. Brown) - Babes in Arms, M-G-M

MICKEY ROONEY

9. Good Morning (A. Freed-N.H. Brown) - Babes in Arms, M-G-M
10. Good Morning (A. Freed-N.H. Brown) - Screen Guild Theater *
11. Our Love Affair (A. Freed-R. Edens) - Strike Up the Band, M-G-M
12. Our Love Affair (A. Freed-R. Edens) -Lux Radio Theatre, Strike Up the Band
13. Do The La Conga (R. Edens) - Strike Up the Band, M-G-M
14. How About You? (R. Freed-B. Lane) - Babes on Broadway, M-G-M
15. How About You? (R. Freed-B. Lane) -Lux Radio Theatre, Merton of the Movies
16. Hoe Down (R. Freed-R. Edens) - Babes on Broadway, M-G-M
17. God's Country (E.Y. Harburg-H. Arlen) -Screen Guild Theater, Babes in Arms
18. Could You Use Me? (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Girl Crazy, M-G-M
19. Could You Use Me? (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Master #L 3254-A, Decca 23308 B, 78-rpm
20. I Wish I Were In Love Again (L. Hart-R. Rodgers) - Words and Music, M-G-M

JOHNNY MERCER

21. Friendship (C. Porter) - Master # DLA 1987-A, Decca 3165 A
22. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (B. Russell-D. Ellington) - AFRS Personal Album #76
23. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City (Salt Lake City Blues) (L. Rene-J. Lange) - AFRS Personal Album #76
24. Takin' A Chance On Love (J. Latouche-T. Fetter-V. Duke) - AFRS Personal Album #76

(*) First time on CD

CD B:

DOUG McPHAIL

1. It's A Great Day For The Irish (R. Edens) - Little Nellie Kelly, M-G-M

TONY MARTIN

2. We Must Have Music (G. Kahn-N.H. Brown) - Ziegfeld Girl, M-G-M

CHARLES WINNINGER

3. Laugh? I Thought I'd Split My Side (R. Edens) - Ziegfeld Girl, M-G-M

GENE KELLY

4. Ballin' The Jack (J.H. Burris-C. Smith) - For Me and My Gal, M-G-M
5. For Me And My Gal (E. Leslie-R. Goetz-G.W. Meyer) - For Me and My Gal, M-G-M
6. For Me And My Gal (E. Leslie-R. Goetz-G.W. Meyer) - Master # DLA 3140, Decca 18480 A, 78-rpm
7. For Me And My Gal (E. Leslie-R. Goetz-G.W. Meyer) - Screen Guild Players, For Me and My Gal *
8. When You Wore A Tulip (And I Wore A Big Red Rose) (J. Mahoney-P. Wenrich) - Master # DLA 3141-A, Decca 18480 B
9. All Through The Day (O. Hammerstein II-J. Kern) - Hollywood Bowl Symphony rehearsal
10. Be a Clown (C. Porter) - The Pirate, M-G-M
11. (Howdy, Neighbor) Happy Harvest (M. Gordon-H. Warren) - Summer Stock, M-G-M
12. All For You (S. Chaplin) - Summer Stock, M-G-M
13. You, Wonderful You (S. Chaplin-J. Brooks-H. Warren) - Summer Stock, M-G-M

THE KING'S MEN

14. Where Do We Go From Here? (H. Johnson-P. Wenrich) - For Me and My Gal, M-G-M
15. Bidin' My Time (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Girl Crazy, M-G-M
16. Play That Barbershop Chord (W. Tracey-B. MacDonald) - In the Good Old Summertime, M-G-M

MARY KENT

17. Every Little Movement Has A Meaning Of Its Own (O. Harbach-K. Hoschna) - Presenting Lily Mars, M-G-M

JOHN CHARLES THOMAS

18. There'll Always Be An England (R. Parker-H. Charles) - Mail Call #38 *

BING CROSBY

19. People Will Say We're In Love (O. Hammerstein II-R. Rodgers) - Command Performance #81
20. People Will Say We're In Love (O. Hammerstein II-R. Rodgers) - G.I. Journal #41*
21. You Tell Me Your Dream (And I'll Tell You Mine) (C. Daniels-S. Rice-A. Brown) - G.I. Journal #41*
22. Something To Remember You By (H. Dietz-A. Schwartz) - Command Performance #122
23. The Way You Look Tonight (D. Fields-J. Kern) - The Bakers of America Salute to the Armed Forces *
24. Medley: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane (J.A. Bland)/De Camptown Races (S. Foster)/Beyond the Blue Horizon (L.Robin-R.A. Whiting-W.F. Harling)/The Music Stopped (H. Adamson-J. McHugh)/My Old Kentucky Home (S. Foster)/Alabamy Bound (B.G. De Sylva-B. Green-R. Henderson)/Goodnight, Wherever You Are (D. Robertson-S. Hoffman-F. Weldon) - Command Performance #129 *
25. You've Got Me Where You Want Me (J. Mercer-H. Warren) - Master # L 3485-A, Decca 23410 B
26. Mine (I. Gershwin-G.Gershwin) - Master # L 3486-A, Decca 23804 B
27. Connecticut (H. Martin-R. Blane) - Master # L 3750-A, Decca 23804 A
28. Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta (Talk, Talk, Talk) (J. Burke-J.V. Heusen) - Master # L 3751-A, Decca 23410 A

(*) First time on CD

CD C:

BING CROSBY

1. Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie (A.B. Sterling-H.V. Tilzer) - Philco Time
2. Connecticut (H. Martin-R. Blane) - Philco Time
3. For Me And My Gal (E. Leslie-R. Goetz-G.W. Meyer) - Philco Time
4. Who? (O. Harbach-O. Hammerstein II-J. Kern) - Philco Time
5. Embraceable You (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Philco Time
6. Confess (B. Benjamin-G.D. Weiss) - Philco Time
7. Ma, He's Makin Eyes At Me (S. Clare-C. Conrad) - The Bing Crosby Show
8. Maybe It's Because (I Love You Too Much) (H. Ruby-J. Scott) - The Bing Crosby Show
9. Sam's Song (The Happy Tune) (J. Elliot-L. Quadling) - The Bing Crosby Show
10. Tzena, Tzena, Tzena (M. Parish-J. Grossman-I. Miron) - The Bing Crosby Show
11. Boise, Idaho (E. Walsh) - The Bing Crosby Show
12. These Lush Moments (J. Burke-J.V. Heusen) - The Bing Crosby Show
13. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (J. Marks) - The Bing Crosby Show
14. Just The Way You Are (R. Freed) - The Bing Crosby Show
15. Hello Ma Baby (Howard-Emerson)/In My Merry Oldsmobile (V.P. Bryan-G. Edwards)/Walkin' My Baby Back Home (R. Turk-F. Ahlert)/In My Merry Oldsmobile (V.P. Bryan-G. Edwards) (comic version) - The Bing Crosby Show
16. Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon (I. Berlin) - The Bing Crosby Show
17. You're Just In Love (I. Berlin) - The Bing Crosby Show (recorded 2/23/51(?), aired 3/7/51)
18. How Could You Believe Me (When I Said I Loved You When You Know I've Been A Liar All My Life)? (A.J. Lerner-B. Lane) - The Bing Crosby Show
19. Limehouse Blues (D. Furber-P. Braham) - The Bing Crosby Show
20. April In Paris (E.Y. Harburg-V. Duke) - The Bing Crosby Show
21. Isle Of Capri (J. Kennedy-W. Grosz) - The Bing Crosby Show
22. When You Wore A Tulip (And I Wore A Big Red Rose) (J. Mahoney-P. Wenrich) - The Bing Crosby Show
23. For Me And My Gal (E. Leslie-R. Goetz-G.W. Meyer) - The Bing Crosby Show
24. You're Just In Love (I. Berlin) - The Bing Crosby Show *
25. April In Paris (E.Y. Harburg-V. Duke) - The All Star Review for 1953 (The American Cancer Society)*

THE LEO DIAMOND HARMONICA QUINTET

26. Bidin' My Time (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Girl Crazy, Master # L 3255-A, Decca 23310 A

LUCILLE BREMER

27. Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis (A.B. Sterling-K. Mills) - Meet Me In St. Louis, M-G-M

MARGARET O'BRIEN

28. Under The Bamboo Tree (R. Cole-J.R. Johnson) - Meet Me In St. Louis, M-G-M

DICK HAYMES

29. Comedy medley: You Made Me Love You (J. McCarthy-J. Monaco)/I Remember You (J. Mercer-V. Schertzinger)/You Were Always Chasing Rainbows (H. Carroll-J. McCarthy)/Over The Rainbow (E.Y. Harburg-H. Arlen)/I Get A Kick Out Of You (C. Porter)/I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl That Sued My Poor Old Dad) (H.V. Tilzer-W. Dillon) /I Ain't Got Nobody (R. Graham-S. Williams-D. Peyton)/It's a Great Day for the Irish (R. Edens)/A Word From Autolite (based on a traditional folk song) - Everything For The Boys *
30. The Day After Forever (J. Burke-J.V. Heusen) - Everything For The Boys *
31. Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did? (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Master # L 4294-A, Decca 23687 B
32. For You, For Me, For Evermore (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Master # L 4295-A, Decca 23687 A

(*) First time on CD

CD D:

FRANK SINATRA

1. Embraceable You (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - Command Performance #106
2. Embraceable You (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin) - The Frank Sinatra Show *
3. Gotta Be This Or That (S. Skylar) - The Danny Kaye Show
4. My Romance (L. Hart-R. Rodgers) - The Danny Kaye Show

JOHN HODIAK

5. My Intuition - The Harvey Girls, M-G-M (outtake)

KAY THOMPSON

6. In The Valley (Where The Evening Sun Goes Down) - The Harvey Girls, M-G-M (demo)

BOB HOPE

7. I'm Gonna Go For You (unknown) - Command Performance #166, Dick Tracy in B-Flat

THE MERRY MACS

8. On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe (J. Mercer-H. Warren) - Master # W 72967-A, Decca 23436 A
9. If I Had You (T. Shapiro-J. Campbell-R. Connely) - Master # W 72968-A, Decca 23436 B

FRED ASTAIRE

10. A Couple Of Swells (I. Berlin) - Easter Parade, M-G-M
11. Medley: I Love A Piano (I. Berlin)/Snooky Ookums (I. Berlin)/When The Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam' (I. Berlin) - Easter Parade, M-G-M
12. Easter Parade (I. Berlin) - Easter Parade, M-G-M
13. It Only Happens When I Dance With You (I. Berlin) - The Tex & Jinx Show
14. Snooky Ookums (I. Berlin) - The Gulf Screen Guild Theater, Easter Parade *
15. Easter Parade (I. Berlin) - The Gulf Screen Guild Theater, Easter Parade

PETER LAWFORD

16. A Fella With An Umbrella (I. Berlin) - Easter Parade, M-G-M

PERRY COMO

17. Easter Parade (I. Berlin) - The Chesterfield Supper Club (Perry Como Show) *

AL JOLSON

18. Pretty Baby (T. Jackson-E.V. Alstyne-G. Kahn) - Kraft Music Hall

HOWARD KEEL

19. They Say It's Wonderful (I. Berlin) - Annie Get Your Gun, M-G-M (outtake)
20. Anything You Can Do (I. Berlin) - Annie Get Your Gun, M-G-M (outtake)

VIC DAMONE

21. You're Just In Love (I. Berlin) - Hollywood Party *

THE RHYTHMAIRES

22. Alexander's Ragtime Band (I. Berlin) - The General Electric Program
23. You Belong To Me (P.W. King-R. Stewart-C. Price) - The General Electric Program

ROBERT GOULET

24. Mewsette Finale (E.Y. Harburg-H. Arlen) - Gay Purr-ee, UPA/Warner Bros

MURRAY SCHECK'S CHILDREN'S CHORUS

25. One More Lamb (P. Farrow-R. Allen) - Three Billion Millionaires, LP, United Artists, UXL 4/PB-1008

(*) First time on CD