Judy - I'll Plant My Own Tree

Audio only - Early in 1967, Judy Garland was signed by 20th Century Fox to create the role of "Helen Lawson" in the film version of Jacqueline Susanne's "Valley of the Dolls". Not to be, and the role was eventually played by Susan Hayward. But before she left, Judy did record "I'll Plant My Own Tree". Not the greatest song she ever recorded but Judy managed to make it something special.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Judy
• Garland
• VOTD
• 1967

[johnnilesh]

Judy's performance of "I"ll Plant My Own Tree" is at the apogee of her talent. The pathos, the drama, the glory that she infuses into each note is only of one who has lived life and performed on the stage of life! Judy - I love you! Thank you.

Sincerely,

John-Niles of California

[inmyguts]

The voice is as compelling as ever. I've read that this was not the final take, it was to be recorded again, but do to Judy being fired, it never happened.

[erichudson2009]

rest in piece both SHARON AND JUDY

[TDog14126]

@johnnilesh oh shut up. =P

[Dexie78]

I've never heard this take before. It's MUCH better than what I believe was in essense- a "demo".  Still though - she's not 100% there, but considerably better than what I've heard before.... the beginning of what I'd heard starts out something like: "Soundtake 8-13".

[iwannabewonderful]

Judy really declined after this. Hold fast to the last remnant of fabulous.

[bradly2007]

Judy belting it out as only she could & sounding supremely magnificent...such excitement packed all in to one song...pathos, drama, notes to end them all...Bravo Judy and you are missed!

[nandesneto]

Considering the period in which she recorded this, 1967, she was in really great voice.

This was her last studio recording, by the way.

[jimblackwood]

@mrspatrickcampbell I beleive in Gerald Clark's bio "Get Happy", he writes of judy having lost her caps for her teeth and having to make a mad dash about LA getting replacements(?) prior to the start of her scenes being filmed. She hoped to buy a home with the money but alas....

[lacking556]

I swear I'm not one of those nut job fans who think that everyone she did was perfect...concurrently, I'm not one of those "let's trash everything she did after 1963" fans. That said she sounded good here...like the song, don't like the song..whatever...but she was in good voice and on par with her series.. Done!

[thejonquil]

Margaret Whiting sang the song for the "Valley of the Dolls" movie and Susan Hayward did the Helen Lawson part and lipsynked the lyrics excellently. Judy Garland was great but this is the first time I heard her version and it is powerful.  She could definitely have pulled off the part in the movie. Susan did wonderfully. The Golden Era of Hollywood produced such exquisite talent who could do anything.