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Mistetoe Recordings 8T-MLP-1208
A Product of Springboard International
| 1. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas The Rosary O Tannebaum |
3. Medly: O Little Town of Bethlehem cont'd. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Joy to the World O Holy Night Beauty of the Holiness |
| 2. O Tannenbaub cont'd. O Holy Night What Child is This Medly: O Little Town of Bethlehem |
4. Beauty of the Holiness cont'd. Ave Maria Gesu Bambino |
"...he was dressed in fur, from his head to his foot..."
A Visit From Saint Nicholas, by Clement Moore.
This is my only Liberace 8-track, but considering the many years he was in show business, I'm sure there must be plenty out there. This one features a great reading of "A Visit From St. Nicholas," the only spoken word on this tape. That's the thing I remember most about him, the way he talked, and his flamboyant style, not his piano playing. Let's face it.... everyone I know has always made fun of the guy, but at least he had his own campy style and survived many years as an entertainer and had a huge fan base.
Liberace became a star in the '50s, both through his records and assorted television and film appearances. He dressed himself in rhinestone, gold lame, furs, and sequins while playing everything from Gershwin and show tunes to lounge jazz and light classical pieces, with a candelabra placed on his piano.
The late 50's was also the time that his star began to dim somewhat. Cassandra, a
columnist for the English tabloid The Daily Mirror, inferred that Liberace was
homosexual. He sued the paper and won, yet he still made an effort to tone down his
appearance. However, the public didn't want a subdued Liberace and he reverted to
his kitschy showmanship in the early '60s.
Liberace didn't have any more pop hits in the '60s,'70s, and '80s, yet he continued
to sell out concerts around the world and sell a number of records, even though he never
earned the favor of the critics. In 1982, a former chauffeur and bodyguard sued the
pianist for palimony; the case was settled out of court. Liberace remained a
celebrity and a popular performer until his death in 1987.
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