Liberace

16 Biggest Hits
$11.98
Wlasdziu Valentino Liberace was born in 1919.His father was a french horn player in various bands and introduced music not only to Liberace but his two brothers and sister.By four he was playing piano competently and strictly by ear.By eight he was playing very complicated pieces and was inspired by the meeting of his idol the great Polish pianist,legendary Paderewski.Paderewski would eventually become a good friend of the family and Liberace himself.
During the 30s he was honing his piano technique and playing at any venue he could like nightclubs,weddings and even strip clubs.
In 1941 he became a featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.By this time he had dropped his first two names and shortened it just to Liberace.Throughout the 40s he continued to hone his stage presence and act,trying all the while to connect to his audience in a more intimate way than ever before.Long before he had realized a strictly classical repertoire was not going to sustain an act like his,so his mixing of some classical with popular tunes(which he preferred anyways) by now was going over tremendously.Came the 50s and he was jumping into the new medium of television like he belonged there because he felt it the best place for the type of visual act he had.And he was right.I recently reviewed a Spike Jones DVD which has Liberace as a guest on one of his early 50s shows.I invite all who can to see this wonderful spot as Liberaces' talent and showmanship is there in all its glory.His gaze is always straight ahead and into the camera,trying to connect to his TV audience.He also often adds little flairs like the exaggerated lifting of his arms when playing designed again to get and keep your attention.And as always Liberaces' almost painted-on smile is a constant throughout.
It is this period in Liberaces' career that is highlighted on this CD,as these Columbia's were his first major recordings.And what a wonderful CD this is as it contains 16 of the maestro's best on that label from 1952 to 1956.There is a great mixture here from the Classical gems like: Rachmaninoffs'"18th Variation:Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini",otherwise known as "The Story of Three Loves",Beethovens' "Moonlight Sonata" or Chopins'"Nocturne #2 in E-Flat Major,Op.9".On the popular side we have that wonderful Weill/Anderson tune "September Song","Easter Parade" and Liberaces' closing tune "I'll be Seeing You",all sung by the maestro himself!.There is even the "Beer Barrel Polka","Chopsticks" and a well known eccentric number first penned(in part)by Slim Gaillard of Slim and Slam fame,called "Cement Mixer".Liberace turns the original tunes' feel and beat on its' ear to produce something totally different that must be heard.All these tunes,but especially the popular ones,are done in the typical Liberace manner,and he never fails to dazzle.His brother George also directs the orchestra on all relevant recordings on this release.
I recall very well Liberaces' TV show during the 50s which was hugely popular.His beautiful piano with the candlabra(a staple of his act since years before) and his smile to the audience and camera that never quit.His big demographic then was with the ladies,especially the older ones.Liberace was a shrewd businessman and performer.He knew featuring his brother George and pointing out his mother who was almost at every show, was a smart move designed to appeal to the publics own sense of family and related values.And it worked like a charm.So much so that many,if not most,of his concerts(which were invariably sell outs) would be chock full of women of all ages and stripes.
The recordings on this CD exemplify and display Liberace as his popularity was on the verge of breaking into the big time.This was before his more glam days which would come a few years into the future.Here he was dressed impeccably displaying his distinct charm and flair and with a playing that was flawless.While his later recordings for Decca are good I still prefer these over those,by a long way.And I think you will too.
No matter what you may think of the man himself,Liberace was an extremely gifted and talented musician/entertainer and I think one of the most under-rated pianists of our time.Give this CD a listen and see why I consider him one of the greatest pianists ever.

The Best of Liberace
$11.98
Liberace was the embodiment of the showy pianist, irreverent, the actor (He starred The Chandelles, a villain who had a twin in Batman)the spectacle per excellence, the outlaw generation. Liberace was for the piano what Warhol for painting. Las Vegas was for him his second home. And this album includes part of his live performances. He gave the easy to listen music a curious blending of classic and pop music with his well known eccentricities and mannerisms, but for better or worst was part of the sixties, with the rack pack, neon lights and psychedelic ambiance.

Don't miss it.

The Best Of Liberace
$14.95

Greatest Songs
$24.98
Available for the first time on DVD

Before the diamond-studded costumes and extravagant lifestyle, there was the Emmy Award-winning Liberace television series of the 1950s. A showcase for the brilliant pianist and his vast repertoire of popular, classical, jazz, and folk music, Liberace dazzled the audience week after week with his prodigious talent and personality. Liberace: Greatest Songs presents Mr. Showmanship in all his glitzy glory as he plays songs from around the world and across the ages.

Highlights include a wide-ranging repertoire including popular (I m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover, Sunny Side of the Street), classical (Moonlight Sonata, The Saber Dance), jazz (12th Street Rag, Carmen s Boogie), and folk music (La Cucaracha, Clair de Lune).

This official collection includes over 5 ? hours of digitally remastered material