Search - Marlene Dietrich :: Cocktail Hour: Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich became one of America's most unlikely stars--singer, patriotic entertainer, actress and, eventually, gay cultural icon. Though not vocally gifted in the traditional sense (a cynic might say in any sense!), Dietrich could sell a song by the sheer force of her sultry, world-weary persona. Even traditional American provincialism was no match for her seductive, European charms, and the two-dozen-plus radio recordings on this double-disc compilation are a great way to sample her legend. Nearly half the material is in German or French, backed by slinky arrangements that ooze sexuality from every bar, with Dietrich's live vocal performance giving ample evidence of her unique charms. --Jerry McCulley