Liberace Albums (8)
'A Brand New Me'
Release Date 7/17/2007
Tracks 11
Label Collectors' Choice Music
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What The Critics Say
Liberace's first release for new label Warner Bros. is an attempt to reposition the pianist as an icon for the flower-power generation -- and damned if it isn't florid. While by no means the psychedelic odyssey its cover suggests, A Brand New Me does vault Liberace into the post-Woodstock consciousness via a series of well-chosen covers that play to his prodigious gifts as a performer, emphasizing melody and emotion. Case in point, he avoids more challenging Beatles fare in favor of the fledgling standards "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Something," and finds safe harbor in the Brill Building classicism of Neil Diamond ("Sweet Caroline") and Bacharach/David ("Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"). There's even a wry medley, dubbed "Parks and Recreation," that shoehorns "Cherry Hill Park," "MacArthur Park," and "Echo Park." But regardless of the material and its modern production sheen, this is still a Liberace record, with all the pomp and theatricality the concept implies -- he may be covering "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," but his heart's still with the blue hairs. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
'Legendary Liberace: Musical Highlights of the PBS Special'
Release Date 6/5/2002
Tracks 24
Label Entr�
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'Liberace at the Hollywood Bowl'
Release Date 1/30/2001
Tracks 23
Label Collectables
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'You'll Never Walk Alone'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 8
Label Universal Special Products
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'Remembered, Vols. 1 & 2'
Release Date 1/1/1991
Tracks 26
Label USA Music Group
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What The Critics Say
Liberace utilizes the Antonin Dvorák composition "Songs My Mother Taught Me" as the first track of his album of the same name on the Hamilton label, a Dot Records subsidiary. Holding a picture of his mom on the Baldwin piano -- next to the candelabra, of course -- it's an elegant experience with the pianist seemingly performing solo before arranger/conductor Gordon Robinson's strings come in as if from out of nowhere. Produced by Tom Mack, known for his work on Francis Lai's 1971 hit "Love Story" along with recordings by Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin, and others, the album consists of fine piano playing complemented by Robinson's strings, which make the affair sound at times like a film soundtrack, especially on the traditional "Londonderry Air." The pianist playfully covers Strauss' "Tritsch Tratsch Polka," gives the listener a studied take on Manuel Ponce's "Estrellita," and puts his unique spirit on material by Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, and Chopin. The studio album has a more serious tone than his live show, the artist in a modest (for him) red jacket on the cover along with that candelabra and family photograph. The traditional "La Paloma" plays like an outtake from Man of la Mancha while the music exudes a classiness latter-day fans of Ferrante & Teicher and Esquivel find so appealing. It's relatively short with 25 minutes and 25 seconds of music (roughly 12 minutes a side), but is still an entertaining mix. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With one side almost 20 minutes and the other clocking in at 13 and a half, this MCA reissue of Here's Liberace, a concert performance recorded live at the Palladium, is what you expect from the maestro. After a little chatter about his jacket, he tickles the ivories on Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" and "I Got Rhythm." For those who underestimate the pianist -- don't. Liberace was more than running scales and showmanship -- his variations on Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's "Mack the Knife" are tremendous here, mixing the pop song with Strauss, Beethoven, and other masters. His touch on the keys is as elegant as always, taking "Mack the Knife" again and turning it into a rhumba. The accompanying band is understated, the horns and percussion in the background allowing the piano to be the star of the show. There's self-deprecating humor that he's heard all the stories about himself and claims to have started them. That's quickly followed by gay humor preceding the tune "Jalousie," which brings the house down. The Paris medley contains "The Last Time I Saw Paris," "The River Seine," "Autumn Leaves," "The Poor People of Paris," and "Can Can," which are all very entertaining, but it is when he has the audience sing on "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" that the listener gets a glimpse of the greatness of pianist/performer Liberace. Clocking in at 33 minutes, the album is short and sweet, but effective. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide
