German Evergreens - Caterina Valente & Silvio Francesco

 

German Evergreens

German Evergreens

Caterina Valente & Silvio Francesco

London Records SW 99025

1962

From the back cover: Record friends here it is! Exciting news, something to celebrate, something to rave about! But let's read the text later. Now, take the disk out of its cover, on with the needle... and here we are, right in the studio! Quiet please... stand by... rolling... Sing With Me!

While you Are getting acquainted with this newest LP of hers, Caterina Valente celebrates her 25th anniversary as a performer. For 25 years this truly musical, dainty little lady has graced the world's most widely known stages. Caterina doesn't have to keep her age a secret – she was born in 1931. For her 25th-year jubilee her husband, manager and current record producer Eric van Art, has prepared this production as a special present for his and our Caterina Valente, together with her brother Silvio.

The 20's and 30's  are rightly called the great Age of Melody, and our rushed and harried days since 1945 the fast paced Age of Rhythm. Therefore we find today many families with very distinctly separated record cabinets. What mother and father like to listen to hurts the ears of the teenagers and "twens" – and vice versa! Caterina Valente now opens the way to a big musical reconciliation. Born under the sign of melody, so to speak, raised and grown famous in the hot, stimulating days of rhythm, she brings these two basic elements of all music together to a shining climax. 25 Years of gay music, heard as never before, unites older and younger generations.

Orchestra leader and arranger Heinz Kiessling tells what he concocted for you before and during the recording session. "When the idea for such a platter with German evergreens was born, we agreed to use a different orchestra for each title – from big band down to combo. Each number should have its proper setting. We chose the most beautiful selections, decided upon tempi, keys and style – and then I went to work. It was work that gave me great pleasure, especially since I knew that in Caterina and Silvio I had the most versatile talents in Europe to interpret my arrangements, and fulfill my musical demands so perfectly. Above all the idea of having all song solos, chorus solos and back ground choruses sung in synchronized dubbing by Caterina and Silvio alone was a very appealing one. This very tricky task was not only performed easily by the two but resulted in a most interesting sound effect. The secret is the unbelievable precision that they achieved in synchronizing "with themselves" – singing twice and three times over onto the same tape. On the whole record, therefore, you hear the voice of only Caterina and Silvio. There are no other chorus groups or singers.

So much for Heinz Kiessling. And Caterina and Silvio say: "This LP is in every way our most successful recording to date, and the one we've enjoyed making the most."

Listen to it. What do you think?

Sing Mit Mir

Kuss Mich, Bitte, Bitte, Kuss Mich

Es War Einmal Eine Liebe

Fur Eine Nacht Voller Seligkeit

Die Kleine Stadt Will Schlafen Geh'n

Wer Ist Heir Jung, Wer Hat Hier Schwung?

Ich Weiss, Es Wird Einmal Ein Wunder Geschen'n

Ganz Leise Kommst Die Nacht

Haben Die Schon Mal Im Dunkeln Geküsst?

Kauf Dir Einen Bunten Luftballon

Musik! Musik! Musik!

Sag' Beim Abschied Leise "Servus"