The Complete Decca Masters (plus)
| The Complete Decca Masters (plus) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
%252C_(album_cover).jpg) | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1936–1947 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Judy Garland chronology | ||||
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The Complete Decca Masters (plus) is a 4-CD box set released by in 1994 by Decca and MCA Records, containing 90 tracks spanning Judy Garland' record career with Decca from 1936 to 1947. The compilation includes all 79 master takes released by the singer alongside select alternate versions and a comprehensive 52-page companion booklet.
In 2011, JSP Records released another CD collection titled Smilin’ Through: The Singles Collection 1936-1947, adding nine tracks (alternate versions) for a total of 99 tracks.[1]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [3] |
| The Province | [4] |
| USA Today | [5] |
Billboard described the four-CD set as "an invaluable, entertaining testament to an all-around talent", praising the 90 Judy Garland sessions for showcasing a voice that evolved "from talented youngster to hip swinger and sophisticated balladeer", while highlighting both her major film themes and her ability to "go beyond Hollywood vehicles".[6] USA Today praised the compilation for tracing "a broad stylistic arc" in Judy Garland's career, describing the earlier Garland as "more balanced" and capable of singing "torch songs, jazz and humorous novelty numbers", while calling her earliest recordings "a particular delight" and praising her "irresistible adolescent soulfulness".[5]
Stereo Review called it a "revelation", noting that the 90-song collection contains "enough moments here when she can still knock more than your socks off", while praising Garland's ability to "sound great even when saddled with pedestrian arrangements and material" and highlighting her "wryly delicious duets" with Bing Crosby.[7] The New York Times praised the box set for documenting the singer's recordings from 1935 to 1947, noting that "the voice and attitude suggest an eager, exuberant teen-ager overflowing with talent, more swinging than wistful", and highlighting the relatively small amount of "Tin Pan Alley dross" recorded during this period.[8] Renee Doruyter of The Province recommended it as an example of "non-holiday CDs that would make dandy gifts".[4] People considered it as "a feast" for Garland fans, describing her voice as combining "youthful exuberance and exhilaration and unforced toughness", with "easy and natural" phrasing and "pure radiance", while highlighting "The Jitterbug" and the original soundtrack recordings from The Harvey Girls and Meet Me in St. Louis.[9]
Accolades
The box set was nominated for Best Historical Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards in 1995. The nomination placed Garland alongside renowned artists such as Andrés Segovia (A Centenary Celebration), Louis Armstrong (Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1923–1934), Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra (The Song Is You), and the winner Ella Fitzgerald (The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books on Verve).
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 37th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Historical Album | Nominated | |
Commercial performance
According to Scott Schechter's book Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend, the box set sold "incredible well" with reported sales between 15,000-20,000 copies.[11]
Track listing
The Complete Decca Masters (plus)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stompin' At The Savoy" | 2:22 |
| 2. | "Swing Mister Charlie" | 3:01 |
| 3. | "Everybody Sing" | 2:51 |
| 4. | "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" | 3:04 |
| 5. | "Dear Mr. Gable: You Made Me Love You" | 3:09 |
| 6. | "You Can't Have Ev'rything" | 2:27 |
| 7. | "Cry, Baby, Cry" | 2:31 |
| 8. | "Sleep My Baby Sleep" | 3:07 |
| 9. | "It Never Rains, But What It Pours" | 2:32 |
| 10. | "Ten Pins In The Sky" | 3:05 |
| 11. | "Over The Rainbow" | 2:47 |
| 12. | "The Jitterbug" | 2:43 |
| 13. | "In Between" | 4:03 |
| 14. | "Sweet Sixteen" | 4:18 |
| 15. | "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart" | 2:56 |
| 16. | "Fascinating Rhythm" | 2:51 |
| 17. | "I'm Just Wild About Harry" | 1:58 |
| 18. | "Oceans Apart" | 3:05 |
| 19. | "Figaro" | 2:14 |
| 20. | "Embraceable You (1940 Single Version)" | 2:48 |
| 21. | "Swanee" | 2:11 |
| 22. | "Buds Won't Bud" | 3:05 |
| 23. | "I'm Nobody's Baby" | 2:53 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(Can This Be) The End Of The Rainbow" | 3:01 |
| 2. | "Wearing Of The Green" | 2:41 |
| 3. | "Friendship" | 2:31 |
| 4. | "Our Love Affair" | 2:55 |
| 5. | "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" | 2:59 |
| 6. | "It's A Great Day For The Irish" | 2:25 |
| 7. | "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" | 2:35 |
| 8. | "The Birthday Of A King" | 3:08 |
| 9. | "The Star Of The East" | 3:06 |
| 10. | "How About You?" | 2:58 |
| 11. | "F.D.R. Jones" | 2:29 |
| 12. | "Blues In The Night (My Mama Done To! Me)" | 3:03 |
| 13. | "Poor You" | 2:36 |
| 14. | "The Last Call For Love" | 3:05 |
| 15. | "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" | 2:31 |
| 16. | "Poor Little Rich Girl" | 3:03 |
| 17. | "That Old Black Magic" | 2:42 |
| 18. | "I Never Knew (I Could Love Anybody Like I'm Loving You)" | 2:21 |
| 19. | "No Love, No Nothin'" | 3:05 |
| 20. | "A Journey To A Star" | 2:42 |
| 21. | "This Heart Of Mine" | 3:12 |
| 22. | "Love" | 3:23 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "For Me And My Gal" | 2:29 |
| 2. | "When You Wore A Tulip" | 2:35 |
| 3. | "Embraceable You" | 3:11 |
| 4. | "Could You Use Me?" | 3:01 |
| 5. | "But Not For Me" | 3:07 |
| 6. | "Bidin' My Time" | 3:05 |
| 7. | "I Got Rhythm" | 2:49 |
| 8. | "Meet Me In St. Louis" | 2:13 |
| 9. | "The Boy Next Door" | 3:03 |
| 10. | "Skip To My Lou" | 2:58 |
| 11. | "Boys And Girls Like You" | 3:08 |
| 12. | "The Trolley Song" | 2:52 |
| 13. | "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" | 2:42 |
| 14. | "In The Valley" | 2:50 |
| 15. | "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe" | 5:51 |
| 16. | "It's A Great Big World" | 3:41 |
| 17. | "Swing Your Partner Round And Round" | 2:56 |
| 18. | "March Of The Doagies" | 2:55 |
| 19. | "You've Got Me Where You Want Me" | 2:50 |
| 20. | "Mine" | 2:45 |
| 21. | "Connecticut" | 3:10 |
| 22. | "Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta" | 3:08 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe" | 3:07 |
| 2. | "If I Had You" | 3:19 |
| 3. | "Smilin' Through" | 3:07 |
| 4. | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | 3:17 |
| 5. | "For You, For Me, For Evermore" | 3:12 |
| 6. | "Aren't You Kind Of Glad We Did?" | 3:02 |
| 7. | "Changing My Tune" | 3:02 |
| 8. | "There Is No Breeze" | 3:11 |
| 9. | "Don't Tell Me That Story" | 2:57 |
| 10. | "I Wish I Were In Love Again" | 2:45 |
| 11. | "Nothing But You" | 2:50 |
| 12. | "Falling In Love With Love" | 2:44 |
| 13. | "I Got Rhythm" | 2:53 |
| 14. | "Embraceable You" | 3:10 |
| 15. | "Blues In The Night" | 3:06 |
| 16. | "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" | 3:00 |
| 17. | "Connecticut" | 3:11 |
| 18. | "If I Had You" | 3:19 |
| 19. | "Don't Tell Me That Story" | 2:41 |
| 20. | "This Heart Of Mine" | 3:17 |
| 21. | "Yah-Ta-Ta, Yah-Ta-Ta" | 3:11 |
| 22. | "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" | 2:47 |
| 23. | "I Wish I Were In Love Again" | 2:52 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from The Complete Decca Masters (plus) box set.[12]
- Produced by Ron O'Brien
- Executive Producer: Andy McKaie
- Producer (riginal Recordings): Dave Kapp, Jack Kapp, Joe Perry
- Remastered by Paul Elmore, Robert Stoughton
- Transferred by (Digital Transfer) Steven Lasker
- Art Direction: Vartan
- Design: DZN/N Ung
- Photo Coordination: Geary Chansley
- Liner notes by Ron O'Brien
References
- ↑ Marchese, Joe (21 July 2011). "Judy Garland at Decca: Track Listing Revealed For JSP Box Set - The Second Disc". The Second Disc. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Judy Garland: The Complete De... Tracks & Reviews | AllMusic". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (27 May 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- 1 2 Doruyter, Renee (December 11, 1994). "Holiday albums: The gift of music". The Province. p. B4. ProQuest 267513524.
- 1 2 Stearns, David Patrick (August 2, 1994). "New 'Judy' CDs: Pure Garland Decca-dence". USA Today. p. 02D. ISSN 0734-7456. ProQuest 306691465.
- ↑ "Album Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 32. 6 August 1994. p. 64. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "The joy of Judy-ism - Judy Garland: The Complete Decca Mast". Stereo Review. 59 (11): 114. November 1994. ISSN 0039-1220. ProQuest 211318961.
- ↑ Holden, Stephen (December 11, 1994). "POP MUSIC; Little Boxes, All Decked Out And Ready to Play". The New York Times. p. A.34. ISSN 0362-4331. ProQuest 429985246.
- ↑ Kaufman, Joanne (January 9, 1995). "Picks & pans - Judy Garland: The Complete Decca Masters (Plus) by Judy Garland". People Weekly. Vol. 43, no. 1. p. 23. ISSN 0093-7673. ProQuest 204338166.
- ↑ "The 37th Grammy Nominations". Los Angeles Times. 6 January 1995. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Schechter, Scott (25 August 2006). Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend. Simon and Schuster. p. 387. ISBN 978-1-4616-3555-0. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ Judy Garland (1994). The Complete Decca Masters (plus) (liner notes). MCA, Decca. MCAD 10504 - DIDX 013463.