A Brand New Me

Performer: Liberace
Distributor: Infinity Entertainment Gr

Notes: Liberace's first release for new label Warner Bros. is an attempt to reposition the pianist as an icon for the flower-power generation -- and damned if it isn't florid. While by no means the psychedelic odyssey its cover suggests, A Brand New Me does vault Liberace into the post-Woodstock consciousness via a series of well-chosen covers that play to his prodigious gifts as a performer, emphasizing melody and emotion. Case in point, he avoids more challenging Beatles fare in favor of the fledgling standards "Here, There and Everywhere" and "Something," and finds safe harbor in the Brill Building classicism of Neil Diamond ("Sweet Caroline") and Bacharach/David ("Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"). There's even a wry medley, dubbed "Parks and Recreation," that shoehorns "Cherry Hill Park," "MacArthur Park," and "Echo Park." But regardless of the material and its modern production sheen, this is still a Liberace record, with all the pomp and theatricality the concept implies -- he may be covering "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," but his heart's still with the blue hairs. ~ Jason Ankeny

Legendary pianist/showman Liberace was born Wladziu Liberace in Wisconsin in 1919. He was a child prodigy, winning a scholarship at age seven and making his solo concert debut four years later. When he returned from performing in an armed forces band during WWII, however, he decided to leave a promising classical career behind in pursuit of pop stardom. By the early 1950s, he was a successful recording artist. As Liberace began utilizing everything from cocktail jazz and Tin Pan Alley standards to rococo easy-listening versions of classical themes, his showmanship expanded, encompassing outrageous costumes and elaborate stage designs. Even after his records stopped selling, he remained a huge concert attraction for decades.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25