Customer Reviews

Cosmopolitan Marlene Deitrich

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my second purchase of this CD; it's actually a melding of two of her old LP's. The German work on here was on an LP, and the other work on another. I loved the German LP until I heard the CD with its improved sound quality. I don't speak German, but I love her work in German. "Time On My Hands" sounds so much better by her in German than I've ever heard it in English! It's a shame the Amazon sampler doesn't include her rendition of "La Vie en Rose". Somehow, it comes across as much softer, more intimate than the matchless Piaf. It's my second-favorite version behind Piaf's. I'm least attracted, and listen least, to her 'updated' works such as the song with Clooney on here. It seems a little too 'sanitized' for me. Whether Dietrich was a singer or not will probably always be a subject for debate. What is beyond argument, however, is her ability to take a song and make that song uniquely hers. Who'd have ever thought that she would tackle "Surrey With a Fringe on Top"?

I recommend, still, that if you can own only one of Dietrich's CD's, this is the one because of the beautiful German recordings. A great price, too!

I hate most old time Hollywood singers and jazz standards of any kind but Dietrich is a special case. She totally transcends all categories. She is the ultimate 'romantic' singer, in the sense that there isn't a trace of mawkishness to be found in her personality. You can play a classic Dietrich song like 'Time on my Hands' after anything anybody else plays and thinks is hip and it will always be hipper. That groovy, surreal German voice; that allure of the total woman; that mystery and glamour; that andorgyny and instant 'noir.' Dietrich can pull more emotion and pain out of a song just by talking through most it than others can singing in 4 octaves.

From Dietrich's 30's movies, you wouldn't expect her to sing as well as she does on this CD, compiled from her 50's studio sessions for Columbia. Informitive liner notes by author of "Jazz Singing" Will Friedwald, are a definite plus, and lot's of glamorous photos inside. Dietrich sounds best singing in german, highlights are German versions of American jazz standards "Time On My Hands," "Surrey With The Fringe On Top," and "Lili Marlene." Another gem is the duet with young Rosemary Clooney "Good For Nothing." And in English Dietrich sings the difinitive version of "No Love, No Nothin'" If you want sultry vocals, and want to hear the under-rated Dietrich really sing, try this CD, she might shock you with her vocal abilities, on this CD she really can sing, and very well. Don't judge her as a vocalist till you've heard this. Recommended

For those who are not familiar with Dietrich, this is a great first album. Several of her most famous standards along with a few surprises make this a stong overview of the Blue Angel's 50's sound. While few singers are brave enough to tackle the Piaf/Dietrich cabaret repertory, serious fans of this genre would be well advised to obtain Ute Lemper's "Illusions" album. Dietrich sounds wonderful crooning these standards and really owns them due to the arrangments and the vocal placement in the recording. It really is a shame that we can't hear her full glory on modern equipment. There are times when the quality of the originals shows through the careful engineering of the CD, but overall, this is one of the best samples of this period. The softly intimate arrangements are well suited to Dietrichs vocal power and interpretations. Dietrich IS a singer, but she had a strongly person style and crooned through her songs without showing vocal strain by attempting repertory that was outside of her comfort zone.. We should respect the low female voice for what it is.. seductive, gentle and coaxing, and infinitely feminine. Dietrich is this in spades.

She sounds more relaxed and not "flat" when singing in her own German language. It is nice to hear her singing standards in German, you regognize the melodies, and she sounds so natural and her vocie doesn't sound clunky but sexy, sultry, and romantic. Firedwald autor of the great book Jazz Singing writes some intriging liner notes. Best song here might Be Surrey With The Fringe On Top in german! Exellent caberet singing that is sure to please! Also one of the prettiest versions of Time On My Hands, I mean she sings it almost as touchingly as another forgotten crooner Russ Columbo!!!

This is a third Marlene Dietrich CD in my collection and its the best one.Never before I imagined how good she sounds singing in german - knowing her singing only from USA records mid 40-ies, mostly bland ballads of the day, I thought that she was interesting cabaret performer but this collection proves that lady had a special magic!No less than famous author Will Friewald ("Jazz singers") has written text which noticed how relaxed she sounded when singing german lyrics.On these songs, mostly german "covers" of jazz ballads and some obscure songs she showed all the shades and understanding of painting the song with words, transforming otherwise boring "Mean To Me" into seductive siren song.After too-short set of german songs had finished,CD continues with a set from 1952. where she sings on english.With exception of "Falling In Love again" and "La Vie En Rose" (beautiful songs sung with understanding and feelings)these are weaker point of compilation - I never heard a worst version of "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and her duets with Rosemary Clooney are all embarrasing now.The collected work of great Marlene Dietrich should be presented in a chronological set box, not in a hurried and irrational way as its on a market now.Many of her CD's dont have any chronological sence.In my opinion the magic of her music work can be fully enjoyed only through her performances on german language.This CD also led me naturally to discovere Lotte Lenya nd Ute Lemper, what a pity that Marlene never recorded songs by Kurt Weil, she could been perfect for that demonic cabaret songs!

As a WW2 vet who grew up in the thirties worshipping Marlene, this CD really brings back many pleasant memories. Although the cuts are later recordings of her voice, she had lost nothing! If anything she is sexier than ever on this disk, if you are a fan of Marlene, get this one, you won't regret it!

(4.5/5 stars) I would have to agree with previous reviewers that Dietrich shows more singing ability here than in latter year English recordings when she toured with Burt Bachrach. In those recordings, she sounded very much like Lili von Schtupp, Madeline Kahn's merciless parody of Dietrich in "Blazing Saddles." Though still not great, she has better range on most of the recordings in this collection. She shows great instinct for pausing and doesn't over sing the songs. She is at her best when singing sultry torch songs with "come hither" lyrics, such as on "Peter." As a person who speaks German, yet lives in a country that rarely appreciates contributions from "Old Europe," I appreciate having recordings like this available. The only gripe I have about this collection is the inclusion of "Good For Nothing," which seems out of place as a novelty comedy song among standards and love songs. Aside from that, great.

This is a great disk, but I am surprised nobody has caught this;

The disk is formatted improperly- the songs listed don't match the actual song order. The actual correct order is-

1. Lili Marlene
2. Mean To Me
3. Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore
4. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
5. Time On My Hands
6. Taking A Chance On Love
7. Miss Otis Regrets
8. I Never Slept A Wink Last Night
9. Peter, Peter, Komm Zu Mir Zurueck
10. Come Rain Or Come Shine
11. A Guy What Takes His Time
12. Good For Nothing (duet with Rosemary Clooney)
13. Falling In Love Again
14. La Vie En Rose
15. No Love, No Nothin'
16. Something I Dreamed Last Night
17. Let's Call It A Day
18. Lili Marlene

Check it out in the listening section if you remain skeptical. You don't have to speak German (or French) either, the songs in English at the end of the disk demonstrate this as well.

it's a wonderful collection for the most part, but there's a track or two that grate on my nerves, especially 'Peter'

I can't be certain why, it's just one of those things...

I loved how this album had both the german and english versions of 'lili marlene' as 1)it is beautiful in both 2)they have very different sounds, one is mournful, the other more energetic and 3)it's nice to know what she's singing about ;) (don't speak german...wanted to take it, but my school only offers french, spanish, and italien...)

Would have liked a few of her more lively songs also though, to balance out the sound. This recording's great to cry to and all, but Marlene Dietrich also did several livelier songs, such as 'boys in the backroom,' 'maybe i'll come back,' and 'lola' which would have added alot to this compilation.