The Complete A&M Recordings


The Complete A&M Recordings is a compilation album by American singer and actor Liza Minnelli, released by the labels Collectors' Choice Music and Universal Music Special Markets. The album came out on November 25, 2008, a week before the singer headlined a short Broadway run titled Liza's at The Palace.... This comprehensive box set compiles all four albums Minnelli released with A&M Records between 1968 and 1972, alongside previously unreleased bonus tracks from those sessions.
The release commemorated the 40th anniversary of Minnelli's first A&M album and presented the remastered tracks in their first-ever complete CD release with their original track listings. It included a 16-page booklet with an essay by historian Scott Schechter, credits, and rare photographs. Critics reacted differently, while some reviewers praised the collection for showcasing a nuanced and often overlooked period in Minnelli's career, others were less impressed with the musical direction of the original albums.

Album details

The compilation includes all four albums Minnelli released between 1968 and 1972 while signed to A&M Records: Liza Minnelli, Come Saturday Morning, New Feelin', and Live at the Olympia in Paris. Additionally, it features tracks from the recording sessions of these albums that were not included in the final track listings. It marked the first time all four of Minnelli's aforementioned albums were made available on CD. While most tracks had been reissued on other CDs over the years, they had never been compiled as complete albums with their original track listings.
The album includes a 16-page booklet with an essay by author and historian Scott Schechter, along with credits and rare photos. The release celebrated the 40th anniversary of Minnelli's first album with A&M Records and features remastered and digitally restored tracks sourced directly from the original master tapes.

Release

The album came out on November 25, 2008, a week before the singer headlined a short Broadway run titled Liza's at The Palace.....

Critical reception

John Bush of AllMusic noted that while the songs came from critically praised albums, they had failed to resonate commercially at the time of their original release. He wrote that Minnelli's A&M contract "gave her the chance to reinvent herself, and she dove in headfirst," awarding the compilation three out of five stars.
David Wiegand of CTInsider called the release "not only timely but invaluable for those who know her only from her post-Cabaret recordings." He praised Minnelli's "delicacy and subtlety" during this era, even in unconventional song choices like "Alicinha," which showcased her artistic individuality.
Steve Weinstein of Edge dismissed the tracks as "forgettable elevator music," lamenting that Minnelli was recording these songs at a time when artists like Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, and Laura Nyro were redefining women's roles in music.
PopMatters critic Steve Horowitz praised the compilation, suggesting it could be titled The Four Sides of Liza Minnelli due to the stylistic diversity of the four albums. He noted that while the bonus tracks from Disc 1 didn't fully align with their original albums’ mood, they were still worthwhile, and praised the Disc 2 bonuses for their "more low-key fashion" performances.
On November 23, 2013, Playbill critic Ben Rimalower included The Complete A&M Recordings in his list of the twelve best albums of Liza Minnelli's career.

Personnel

Credits adapted from The Complete A&M Recordings CD.
  • Producer: Scott Schachter
  • Executive Producer: Gordon Anderson
  • Project Design: Claire Morales
  • Priority supplied by: Nancy Barr-Brandon, Avi Duvdevani, Scott Schachter, Rayburn Sparks, and Steve Warren
  • Original Remastered in 24-bit by: Ellen Fitton at Universal Maximum Studios East, NYC