In December of 1999, Liza Minnelli staged a comeback of sorts by holding a tribute to the musicals of her father Vicente Minnelli, called Minnelli on Minnelli. It's no coincidence that the concert series was held at the Palace Theater in New York, since that's exactly where her mother, Judy... [+] Expand

In December of 1999, Liza Minnelli staged a comeback of sorts by holding a tribute to the musicals of her father Vicente Minnelli, called Minnelli on Minnelli. It's no coincidence that the concert series was held at the Palace Theater in New York, since that's exactly where her mother, Judy Garland, staged a lavish comback concert of sorts in 1967. Also, it should not be forgotten that Garland met Minnelli while starring in his musicals, thereby adding another level of meaning to Liza's tribute. The setting, the music, the stage all were deliberately designed to evoke Minnelli's heritage as showbiz royality -- and, after a decade of failed crossover attempts, uneven recordings and personal health struggles, it was time for her to resassert her legacy and status. Minnelli on Minnelli pretty much does just that, as Liza embraces some of the greatest songs in Hollywood musical history with the assistence of arranger/conductor Marvin Hamlisch. The concert is divided into two acts, with the first devoted to medleys and the second to full-on songs. The sequencing wasn't just for dramatic effect -- the slow start allowed Minnelli to build her voice, which has grown a little shaky in recent years. There are times throughout the album that you can hear her quiver and quaver, at times she slurs or slips, but she continues to gain strength as the album progresses. Whether this is through performance or skillful studio editing may be a matter of debate, but the end result is a record that gains in momentum as it continues. That's due in some part to Hamlisch, who's wise enough to adhere to the original arrangements that made these songs famous, but it's impossible to discount the sheer power of charisma from Minnelli, either. Even hardcore fans will have to admit that her vocals aren't what they used to be, since there are times that it seems like a tune is about to slip out of her reach. However -- and this is a big however -- she succeeds in spite of these shortcomings. She still isn't a subtle singer, although the occasional murmured vocals gives an impression of nuance, but that's her strength -- she sounds the most convincing when she's passionately belting out a song. She does that here, most notably on the prolonged, powerful concluding note of "The Trolley Song," which should convince any doubters that Liza still has vocal chops. And the rest of Minnelli on Minnelli should prove to skeptics that Minnelli still has the magneticism and professionalism that made her a Broadway and showbiz legend. Nevertheless, this album is really for the fans, who not only will appreciate this comeback warts and all, but will love it because it captures Liza's talents as well as her humanity. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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