Marlene Dietrich:
Lili Marlene

Liner notes

The glamorous Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) is one of the most enduring female icons of the twentieth century. Singing, dancing, acting, and, most importantly, being her own mysterious self, the Berlin born star captivated the imagination of everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Jacques Chirac. What accounts for this matchless allure, that fascinated audiences from the 1920's through the 60's? The question has elicited numerous answers, many of them contradictory. Naturally, there are those who point to her slinky figure and aristocratic face as the primary components of her charm. But, there is much more to Marlene Dietrich than just a pretty picture. Though not immune to the self-absorption that is the occupational hazard of those who perform for a living, Dietrich was also a woman of remarkable courage, who regularly defied censure in order to do what she thought was right. The most famous demonstration of this bravery occurred during World War II, when Dietrich enrolled herself in the Allied cause. After declining Hitler's invitation to return to her native Germany on the eve of the war, Dietrich eventually made her way to the front, where she performed for the embattled troops.

The central feature and primary weapon of that willful, determined, intelligent self was the inimitable voice which Dietrich used to amuse, to tease, and, when necessary, to snub. For many Americans, the first exposure to the unusual qualities of Dietrich's voice came in 1930. Playing a night-club performer named Lola in the classic movie The Blue Angel, Dietrich seduced and then ruined a shy, repressed German professor, who could neither possess nor forget the lovely chanteuse. Throughout her career as an actress, whether singing or simply speaking, Dietrich continued to use her voice as an instrument of enchantment. But it was on stage, with a song, that Dietrich's voice, and Dietrich herself, worked their most effective magic. Like the Lola whom she portrayed so memorably, Dietrich was two parts ice-queen and one part vamp, and she seemed to love to be in front of a crowd, seemingly in touch, and yet so distantly removed. Singing in a Paris nightclub, entertaining battle-weary soldiers, or performing at a Las Vegas cabaret--that is where, when one thinks of Dietrich, one imagines her to be. Listening to the songs on this album, recorded in 30's, when Deitrich's fame was at its zenith, one gets to hear a remarkable woman being her own remarkable self.

--Joshua Brown