Customer Reviews

Comedian Harmonists

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lester Bangs has written a review of these wholly _sui generis_ singers I can only echo: These songs radiate pure joy of singing. There is no category for them. Imagine six young fellows with the spirit and the blooming ensemble notes of a barbershop quartet, with European sensibilities and a repertoire from German lieder to American classics like "Daisy, You're Driving Me Crazy" and "Happy Days are Here Again". Now imagine this repertoire performed mostly in German for audiences in the Cabaret days of Berlin. These recordings are verging on seventy years old but are wonderfully mastered and as fresh as spring air. This music bridges genres: it speaks to everyone. BUY IT and prepare to be stunned and lifted to the sublime.

Just as comedians so often make good dramatic actors, these 'comedian' harmonists were the finest of their time. A friend of a friend passed me a cassette tape of them in Germany in 1995, and I listened to it for years without knowing who they were, awed by the complexity of their harmony and the simple charm of their melodies. I think Matt's reference to Elmer Fudd can be explained by the similarity of their musical styles to early music of Warner Brothers and Disney cartoons; the Harmonists loved American jazz and blues records, as you can tell by the list of titles on this CD. Fans of the band should see the German biopic, The Comedian Harmonists, for a decent telling of their tragic story--at the height of their fame in Germany, and on the brink of international success, the blight of Hitler's dark parade ruined their careers and dashed their hopes of spreading their music across the Atlantic to the country that had inspired so much of their ground-breaking music.

Even if you don't understand their German lyrics, the music of the Harmonists will cheer you, especially if you have any nostalgic feeling for the old tunes we hear in the earliest Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons. A musician will tell you there's nothing trivial about their talent -- singing stuff like this is *hard* -- but you don't have to be a musician to love this stuff.

I certainly can't top the reviewer from Northampton, who so eloquently expressed what the Comedian Harmonists are about. But I do want to add that these are tight vocals, very seamless, smoothly melodious. (I'm not sure how the Elmer Fudd image came to Matt the reviewer, above, but it certainly couldn't have been from the SOUND of the Harmonists: overall, these guys are silk.) Also, the pianist that accompanies them has a deft way of supporting the vocals without overwhelming them or becoming underwhelming himself. It's a balancing act of pure magic. The Hannibal CD has superb sound quality (considering the age of these recordings)--it really sparkles--and great selections. This is music you can listen to when you're happy, when you're sad, when you want to do a little two-step for the heck of it, when you want to think. It's versatile. It's perfect. And, as the reviewer from Northampton said, it's sublime.

I listen to this cd every day. It is the most interesting,joyous, and poignant music I have ever listened to...I love it

I love this CD - it has the most important songs that the Comedian Harmonists did and the quality of the remastered recordings is very good. The songs are so phenomenal that I just keep listening to them. This CD is a great way to become familiar with this unique group, especially before seeing the Barry Manilow musical based on their experience now on its way to Broadway. I also recommend the movie "The Harmonists" (in German).

Sui generis is right!!! Six voices that blend so harmoniously - it's a joy to hear!!! Regretablly, the group broke up because some members were Jewish and migrated before Hitler's policies were enforced throughout Germany. Interestingly enough, the last surviving member of the group, Roman Cycowski, died about two years ago, and was the oldest living cantor in the U.S. at the time of his death. One can only speculate about the group's popularity and influence if allowed to remain together.

Gosh! Wow! I can't express how wonderful this is. I wonder if Duke Ellington ever heard these six Germans singing "Creole Love Call"? Please, someone show us the seventies German TV documentary!

This is a rare combination of human voices that creates a perfect
harmonious version of ever green melodies. A unique vocal pleasure to those who belong to the pre elctronical era.
A high quality listening experience along memory lane.
Undoubtedly the best recordings of these six unforgetable vocalists.

This music is different and really great. I never thought that I would like this kind of music.

Only found the Comedian Harmonists recently; and I am so very glad I did. Their superb music brightens my life. This CD has a marvelous and varied selection, but to tell the truth I like everything they do. The song 'Veronika" is a terrific arrangement, while "Baby" is unbelievably moving. This is a good choice for the beginning of your Comedian Harmonists collection!