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Garland – That’s Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland
by Lawrence Schulman
Foreword by John H. Haley
Afterword by James Fisher
Different from other works devoted to Judy Garland to date in that it is not a traditional birth-to-death biography, award-winning music producer, critic, and translator Lawrence Schulman’s long-awaited 2-volume look at the legendary singer, Garland – That’s Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland, aims to remove her from the simplistic realm of such epithets as “world’s greatest entertainer” and “Miss Show Business” and reconsider her as one of the greatest singers of the 20th century’s Great American Songbook, one who took us beyond entertainment to a level of artistry unique in classic American popular music. The importance of Judy Garland is amply highlighted in this detailed, richly-illustrated study that covers Schulman’s writings on Garland between 1993 and 2023 that concentrate on her recordings, and not all the hoopla, hagiography, and tragedy usually attached to her short 47-year life. Utilizing published articles, reviews, liner notes, interviews, program notes, talks, and prefaces, the Schulman opus, which includes a Foreword by John H. Haley and an Afterword by James Fisher, took thirty years to write, and revolutionizes the trite take on Garland as having had just “a talent to amuse.” A read which meticulously includes all the facts but does not exclude amusing anecdotes and unsettling stories that shed light on this complicated artist, Garland – That’s Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland resembles Garland in that it is indeed entertaining, but also spotlights an artist whose frightening talent takes us over the rainbow to a reality in song that is devoid of complaisance or artifice.
“Few figures in twentieth-century American popular culture continue to fascinate audiences with such verve as Judy Garland. Compiling a robust archive of writing that showcases the author's breathtaking encyclopaedic knowledge on all things Judy, Lawrence Schulman's Garland - That's Beyond Entertainment - Reflections on Judy Garland proves to be a must-read tome for anyone keen to understand (or be reminded of) the thrall this electric and eternal performer elicits still. A gargantuan effort as attentive to minute recording details as to broad cultural readings of the artist (not to mention fascinating and juicy anecdotal tidbits sprinkled throughout), Schulman's body of work here all but anoints him as the preeminent expert of a figure who has no shortage of them.”
BRAND NEW TELEVISION INTERVIEW on Maine's WABI:
https://www.wabi.tv/2024/02/01/maine-author-highlights-career-judy-garland-over-2-volume-book-series/
— MANUEL BETANCOURT, film critic, culture writer and author of 33 1/3: Judy at Carnegie Hall, and others
“Schulman’s highly readable and deeply researched and analyzed collection of his varied essays and reviews provides a feast for even the most informed of Garland admirers and, at the same time, an indispensable guide for those who have just caught Garland fever.”
— JAMES FISHER, Professor Emeritus at the School of Theatre at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and author of The Theater of Tony Kushner, Al Jolson: A Bio-Bibliography, and others
“Lawrence Schulman's book is a deep dive into the lore, the legacy, and the legend of one of the world's greatest and most iconic entertainers. It's absolutely essential for Judy Garland fans - and who isn't a Judy Garland fan?”
— WILL FRIEDWALD, journalist and author of Sinatra! The Song Is You – A Singer’s Art, A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers, and others
"Schulman’s writings about Judy Garland and his tireless engagement on behalf of her legacy have greatly enriched our appreciation of the artistry and the career of one of the supreme vocalists of the twentieth century."
— WALTER FRISCH, Columbia University, author of Arlen and Harburg's Over the Rainbow, and others
“Erudite and indefatigable, Lawrence Schulman is the poet of Judy Garland.”
— JOHN H. HALEY, head of Harmony Restorations LLC, has worked on numerous Garland releases, and former Editor of the Sound Recordings Reviews section of the ARSC Journal
“Every so often a critic comes along who is able to blend a clear-eyed, objective intelligence with a fan’s ebullience. Such a man is Lawrence Schulman. The result is a most rewarding appraisal of over a dozen Judy Garland recordings, remastered and, in the case of the famous Carnegie Hall concert, re-pitched to give us the true sound of that amazing voice. Bravo, Mr. Schulman, fine work!”
— JOHN MEYER, songwriter, playwright, and author of Heartbreaker: A Memoir of Judy Garland and Operation Ruby Slipper
"REGARDE En Coulisse" Book Review in the original French:
https://regardencoulisse.com/judy-garland-par-lawrence-schulman-derriere-la-fantaisiste/
along with the English Translation:
With Lawrence Schulman, Judy Garland continues to be in the spotlight. The woman who would have been 100 years old last year and who passed away in 1969 is featured in a two-volume book, Garland – That's Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland, as well as a CD, Judy Garland : The Two-a-Day Is Back in Town – Closing Night at the Palace – February 24, 1952 .
Lawrence Schulman, emeritus producer, passionate critic and tireless historian of the unforgettable Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, once again delights his fans. Unlike other works, That's Beyond Entertainment – Reflections on Judy Garland chooses to go beyond the image of music hall fantasist or show business queen to reestablish the full value of the one who was one of the greatest singers of American standards of the 20th century , one of the most talented interpreters of American popular music. With all the analysis he constructs from articles, notes, anecdotes – sometimes funny – and interviews, the author focuses on the recordings and artistic qualities of Garland to examine his talent , without complacency or artifice, thus putting aside all the hype and sometimes sordid rumors surrounding a troubled existence which was brief – only 47 years.
As for the CD, it is a first: the complete remastered recording of the legendary evening of February 24, 1952 at the Palace in New York which concludes a historic series of nineteen weeks of sold-out shows . Judy Garland is accompanied by the RKO Palace Orchestra conducted by Jack Cathcart; Hugh Martin is on piano; eight boyfriends sing and dance around the star; and even the great Wagnerian tenor Lauritz Melchior is also there. More details, including the full program, on the website judygarlandnews.com .
The two-volume book is available on the Fnac website ; just like the CD, published by JSP Records ( it's here ).
Lawrence Schulman was Laurent Valière's guest on his show "42 e Rue" on February 14, 2016. A fascinating interview enhanced with numerous extracts from recordings sung by the glorious Judy. To listen to the podcast show, click here .
"BROADWAY WORLD" BOOK REVIEW:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Book-Review-GARLAND--THATS-BEYOND-ENTERTAINMENT-Is-a-Grand-Guide-to-Judys-Legacy-20231104
GARLAND: TV Interview with author Lawrence Schulman:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmw_AOISKI
A BOUQUET of REVIEWS:
“A grand guide to Judy's legacy…You can learn a lot from a guy like Lawrence Schulman. And in admirably massive detail.”
— Rob Lester, Broadway World
‘Lawrence Schulman once again delights his fans.”
— Gilles Taillefer, Regard en Coulisse
“An absolute 'must read' for the legions of Judy Garland fans, Garland: That's Beyond Entertainment--Reflections on Judy Garland is exceptionally informative, insightful, groundbreaking, well written biography.. an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to collections.”
— The Free Library
“An excellent examination of Judy’s life and career, which has blended both aspects seamlessly and delightfully.”
— John Meyer, author of Heartbreaker
“Schulman's body of work here all but anoints him as the preeminent expert of a figure who has no shortage of them.”
— Manuel Betancourt, author of 33⅓: Judy at Carnegie Hall
“Lawrence Schulman's book is a deep dive into the lore, the legacy, and the legend of one of the world's greatest and most iconic entertainers. It's absolutely essential for Judy Garland fans - and who isn't a Judy Garland fan?”
— Will Friedwald, author of Sinatra! The Song Is You: A Singer's Art
“A labor of love.”
— Rob Caldwell, WCSH-TV Portland, Maine
ANOTHER "GARLAND" Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRfuZrFeB7I
