Berlin By Night - Berlin by Night (20 tracks) +Album Reviews

A glimpse of Berlin in the 1930s.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 06/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It might be on record that the Berlin light music scene was its most exciting in the 1920s, but this CD shows that there were many good things to be heard in the 1930s too. It begins with a rhythmic little piece, "Gipsy Wine", played with heavily accented snaps from the strings, some bubbling saxophone and a dash of cimbalom astringency by the Barnabas von Geczy Orchestra. Two "schatz" of German cinema then provide a luscious duet: the matinee idol Willi Fritsch and the English-born Lilian Harvey. And so the "cabaret" goes on. Even singers who sang opera, such a Wilhelm Strienz and Herbert Ernst Groh, can be heard, together with the short-lived Lizzi Waldmüller whose singing always conveyed so much joy and sunniness. Of course the Comedy Harmonists are here, proclaiming with perfect ensemble and beguiling ease that "happy days are here again", a prediction that denies the growing anti-Jewish persecution that would soon force them to disband. Included also is the original 1940 recording of "Lili Marlene", a song that became one of the major hits of W W 2.
All of the items found here were also included in a "Schlagerparade" series - 15 CDs covering the years 1930 to 1944. Interested collectors might search for them to find more of the important culture that is glimpsed in "Berlin by Night"."

Goose-stepping Good Tunes!!

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 04/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been to Germany a number of times and having developed somewhat of a taste for German music as a young man, I occasionally throw this on while kicking back with a large glass of hefeweizen or with a nice bottle of auslese. These are mostly songs from the Third Reich period although a few predate it. Nothing political here, the song themes are universal and timeless. What I like is the wide variety of styles and the different musical ambiences felt while listening...Cabaret, ballroom, tavern and concert hall. While there are a couple tunes I don't particularly care for the ones I like more than make up for them. My favorites are Ungarwein, the very danceable Musik! Musik! Musik!, the deep baritone of Wilhelm Strienz in Abends in der Taverne, Will Glahe's Rosamunde polka, O Mia Bella Napoli so evocative of Italy, the amusing Liebe, Kleine Shaffnerin, and the stately Sag Beim Abschied Leise Servus. This CD is a perfect vehicle for your mind to be transported to times more elegant and yet more simple. Suitable for both home and office, if you have a soft spot for German romantic music, you'll find some goose-stepping good tunes here."

Berlin by Night

Kurt Harding | 02/27/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD reminds me of the Cafehouse music from the 30's and early 40's. You feel yourself transported back in time. Close yours eyes and dream. Some songs are from movies and represented by the original performers. "Liebling mein Herz laesst Dich guessen, Bel Ami, Regentropfen, Music, Music, Lili Marlene, Ich tanze mit Dir, etc." As a born "Berliner" I say you can feel the atmosphere of the city."

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