CD, стоящие на полке рядом : World Music (Jewish)      

2 LP on 1 CD

## 1-12 'Something Spanish' 1966 (ABC/ABCS 578 - ABC-Paramount Album)

All Music Guide

## 13-22 'My Our Way' (Tahka - Tahka) 1973, Mainstream Records, New York, USA

All Music Guide

It was a big night in Hollywood when Burt Bacharach accepted an Oscar for his great song, "Trop'ns Fin Regen OifMeinKop".

It's always a big night when Frank Sinatra addresses himself vocally to everyone within earshot and proclaims he does things "Mein Vaig." We figure that all along, anyway.

"No, No Nanette" revived itself on Broadway and in the process brought back the fabulous, "Toy Far Tzvay ".

When Perry Como tells us "S'ken Nit Maiglich Zein" we believe him.

And Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal suffered so beautifully to the tender strains of "A Meiseh Fin A Liebeh."

Onstage in "Irene" Debbie Reynolds gets set for a lavish party while everyone is so enthralled with her ensemble they sing, "Klaideleh Fin Himel Bloi."

When you're in love the whole world is Yiddish!

Naturally you realize by now that the aforementioned songs are better known as "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "My Way," "Tea For Two," "It's Impossible," "Love Story" and "Alice Blue Gown." You can sprinkle this heavenly half dozen with "Mame" and "Cabaret," add a liberal dose of "To Life" ("L'Chaim") from "Fiddler On The Roof and everyone's favorite memory bon mot, "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon " and you have an elpee that may be the most unique, charming and entertaining example of what imagination and talent can do for a round piece of wax with a hole in the center!

The artists are the inimitable Barry Sisters, Claire & Merna, who have been doing things "Their Way" all through their illustrious show business careers. And to that add tah-ka, tah-ka, which means really, really! The girls have been commercial and they have been stars in their own milieu, belting Yiddish favorites to world-wide acclaim.

To quote from the old truism, there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come. Claire and Merna had an idea and this elpee is the result.

Their idea was profound, their thinking basic-why not take some of the most popular songs around today and sing them in Yiddish? The language is warm and mellifluous, easily lending itself to English lyrics without the slightestiota of mood change. Plus there was the inescapable novelty of hearing "Raindrops" as "Trop'ns Fin Regen Oif Mein Kop".

The girls sought out an old and dear friend, Herman Yablokoff, a veteran of fifty years in the Yiddish Theatre. Herman was as excited about the concept as Claire and Merna and he readily agreed to translate the material into Yiddish.

They next went to Jerry Graff to conduct the orchestra and write the vocal arrangements. Jerry too was an old friend, often referred to by the girls as their "security blanket." It was apparent the project was to be a labor of love strictly among "family." The results bear this out.

That the Barry Sisters were able to perform these songs in Yiddish and then, after hearing a line or two of lyrics, make listeners forget they were hearing a song in another language, is a tribute to their masterful artistry and total versatility.

The impact of the elpee can best be summed up by the reaction of a friend who stopped at their apartment to hear the master tape. Before it was played he commented, "I love the idea. I think it'll be a sensation in the Catskills when you perform the material live." After hearing the tape he shook his head, smiled and said, "Not just the Catskills-you can add the Rockies, the Alps and Mt. Everest!"

After one listening you'll know what he meant. Let's hope Claire and Merna Barry keep doing things "their way"- even if it sounds a little like "Mein Vaig" the first time you hear it!