Confessions (Liza Minnelli album)

Confessions is a studio album by American singer and actress Liza Minnelli, released by the Decca Records label on September 21, 2010. The recording marks her first studio release in nearly fifteen years.[1][2]

Confessions
Studio album by
Liza Minnelli
ReleasedSeptember 21, 2010 (2010-09-21)
GenreJazz
Length45:20
LabelDecca
ProducerBruce Roberts
Liza Minnelli chronology
Liza's at The Palace....
(2009)		 Confessions
(2010)

The tracklist includes frequently re-recorded "standards" such as "I Got Lost in His Arms" and "At Last," but it also delves deeper into the Great American Songbook, exploring lesser-known personal favorites.[3] Some media outlets reported that there would be two versions of the album: one with 10 songs and a deluxe edition with an additional five tracks.[4] However, only a 14-track edition was released.

Despite the album's potential to become a notable addition to her discography, Minnelli stated that the origin of Confessions was completely spontaneous and hardly planned.[5] The recordings began when Minnelli showed up at her neighbor Bruce Roberts' door in Beverly Hills late at night, nearly a decade earlier, saying, "I just want to sing."[6] Minnelli relaxed on a couch while Billy Stritch played the keyboard, and she sang 20 old standards while Roberts recorded the session.[6] In an interview, the singer revealed, "Imagine the scene: me with my leg hanging and Billy playing the piano."[7]

In 2009, Roberts found the tapes with these recordings in an old box and realized he had found excellent audio material.[6] According to him, "They (the recordings) were brilliant. So, I [just] enhanced them."[6] He also spoke about the relaxed and spontaneous nature of the tracks: "It's like having Liza singing in your living room."[6] With the recordings in hand, the duo signed a contract with the Decca label in November 2009.[6]

As a form of promotion, the singer performed a series of shows in various countries, including Brazil.[8] During her stay in Brazil, the singer met with various Brazilian fans, including actress Claudia Raia.[9] The setlist included tracks like "All the Way," "I Got Lost in His Arms," "At Last," and "This Heart of Mine," interspersed with career hits such as "Cabaret" and "Ring Them Bells."[10] The show received positive reviews from the media.[11] Some tour dates were canceled after Minnelli was diagnosed with pneumonia.[12][13]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[14]
PopMatters[15]

The music critics' reviews for the album were mostly favorable. John Bush of the website AllMusic gave it three and a half stars out of five, stating that the album takes an intimate approach, without grand orchestral arrangements or grandiose numbers. Minnelli skillfully enriches her aging voice, turning occasional weaknesses into interpretive strengths and conveying warmth in songs like "You Fascinate Me So" and "I Hadn't Anyone Till You."[14]

Christian John Wikane of the PopMatters website gave it eight out of ten stars, stating that the album is an expanded view of a woman whose greatest gift is to touch the audience, even from the distance between the stage and the last row in the gallery or, in this case, from the recording studio to the sound system in her living room. He concluded that Confessions would be excellent company for the next 14 years.[16]

Comercial performance

Commercially, it failed to chart on the Billboard 200.[17] However, it did appear on the Top Current Album Sales chart from the same magazine, peaking at number 196 on October 9, 2010, its only appearance on the chart.[18]

Track listing
  1. "Confession" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 1:45
  2. "You Fascinate Me So" (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh) – 3:10
  3. "All the Way" (Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 4:09
  4. "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" (Ray Noble) – 2:47
  5. "This Heart of Mine" (Arthur Freed, Harry Warren) – 2:47
  6. "I Got Lost in His Arms" (Irving Berlin) – 3:43
  7. "Remind Me" (Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern) – 3:05
  8. "Close Your Eyes" (Bernice Petkere) – 2:53
  9. "He's a Tramp" (Johnny Burke, Peggy Lee) – 2:33
  10. "I Must Have That Man" (Fields, Jimmy McHugh) – 3:31
  11. "On Such a Night as This" (Marshall Barer, Hugh Martin) – 3:54
  12. "Moments Like This" (Burton Lane, Frank Loesser) – 2:46
  13. "If I Had You" (James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro) – 4:48
  14. "At Last" (Mack Gordon, Warren) – 3:29

References
  1. Gardner, Elysa (September 21, 2010). "Liza Minnelli shows her softer side on 'Confessions'". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  2. "Can 'Confessions' make Liza Minnelli a grand slam awards champ?". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. September 30, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
  3. Gardner, Elysa (September 21, 2010). "Liza Minnelli shares softer 'Confessions'". The Courier. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  4. "Liza Minnelli publica 'Confessions', un nuevo álbum de estudio". todoMUSICALES (in Spanish). May 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  5. Sierra, Gabrielle (July 13, 2010). "Liza Minnelli Releases Her New Album". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  6. Ronamai, Raymond (September 20, 2010). "billy joel,bruce willis,confessions,liza minnelli's tapes to be released tomorrow". Filmi Beat. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  7. Brasil, Ubiratan (September 7, 2012). "Liza Minnelli volta a SP para apresentar clássicos". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  8. Coburn, Nicolas (June 14, 2010). "Liza Minnelli Announces 'Confessions' Tour Dates Through 12/4". BroadwayWorld.com. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. "Cláudia Raia encontra Liza Minnelli em SP". CidadeVerde.com. September 26, 2012. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  10. Essinger, Silvio (August 29, 2012). "Liza Minnelli traz as suas confissões para os palcos brasileiros". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  11. "Liza Minnelli, Confessions, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow". HeraldScotland. July 8, 2011. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  12. "Liza Minnelli cancela shows após ser diagnosticada com pneumonia". Folha de S.Paulo. UOL HOST. October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  13. "Liza Minnelli cancela shows nos EUA devido a pneumonia". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra Networks. October 15, 2010. Archived from the original on August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  14. Bush, John. "Liza Minnelli - Confessions Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  15. Christian John Wikane (28 October 2010). "Liza Minnelli - Confessions review". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  16. Wikane, Christian John (October 28, 2010). "Liza Minnelli - Confessions review". PopMatters. Archived from the original on June 16, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  17. "Liza Minnelli | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. December 23, 2015. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  18. "Top Current Album Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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