Notes about the recording dates for "The London Sessions": The liner notes have what first appear to be incorrect recording dates.  The following are all listed with a recording date of August 9, 1960.  The confusion resulted from mistakes in the dates when the recordings were released, decades later. The first, limited, release in 1972 correctly notes that they were recorded "Aug 2 - 9, 1960." Even Capitol's 1991 seminal, deluxe 3-CD boxed set, "The One and Only," has incorrect dates.

This CD's producer's notes explain: "In recent years CD re-issues of Garland's Capitol recordings have included incorrect recording information, and with this issue we have made every effort to provide correct recording dates. Where we have had the original tapes, these have been the source for the discographical information, but in other instances we have had to rely on a document prepared by Capitol in 1977, some dates from which do not correspond with those on the extant tape boxes."

That 1977 document that Capitol prepared is probably one of the sources of the massive "Capitol Label Discography" (2007) compiled by Michel Ruppli, Bill Daniels, and Ed Novitsky (with assistance from Michael Cuscuna). That discography is over six thousand pages long, and lists every Capitol Records recording session from the very beginning up to the mid 2000s. As to be expected with a project that big, there are some errors, at least in the Garland entries. Luckily, they're mostly minor, but they, too, have a few incorrect dates.

The following are the recordings in question:

• Stormy Weather Matrix 33440 - The released version was recorded on August 9. A previously unreleased alternate take (Take 4), included in this release, was recorded on August 2. Additionally, Take 1 (not included on this release), also recorded on August 2, was released on the 2007 CD "The Very Best of Judy Garland"
  
  
• Over The Rainbow  Matrix 34448 - The released version was recorded on August 9. Take 1 (not included in this release) was recorded on August 4 and released on the 2007 CD "The Very Best of Judy Garland."
  
  
• Garland Medley  Matrix 34449 - The released version was recorded on August 9. The original session for this song was on August 5, although no takes from that session were released.
  
  
• Palace Medley  Matrix 34453 - The released version was recorded on August 9. The original session for this song was on August 8, although no takes from that session were released.
  
  
• It's A Great Day For The Irish Matrix 34456 - The released version was recorded on August 9. An previously unreleased alternate take (Take 2), included in this release, was recorded on August 8.
  

Additionally, the following recording dates dates have been updated with this new release:

• It's Lovely To Be Back In London - Some sources note this as being recorded on October 12, 1957, when in fact it was recorded on October 11, as noted in this set.
  
  
• Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe  Matrix 34451 - The released version was recorded on August 8. recorded August 5.

"The London Studio Recordings" is beautifully packaged in the "digi-book" format (hardbound book style, with the two CDs in their own sleeves).  Plus, the sound quality is excellent and the liner notes by Jonathan Summers are excellent.

It's a "must have" for Judy fans, and of course all fans of great music.

All images on this page from the collection of Scott Brogan.