Comedian Harmonists
With three tenors, a baritone, a bass, and pianist Erwin Bootz, the Comedian Harmonists took early 20th century American vocal harmony music and gave it a European, almost Teutonic sensibility. With an eclectic repertoire that took in jazz, pop, film, opera, and cabaret tunes, they were popular in Germany in the early 1930s, as well as other parts of Europe. Leader Harry Frommerman worked out demanding vocal parts for the band that shifted throughout the song, setting them apart from many other popular vocal groups of those and future times. The Comedian Harmonists were torn apart as the '30s progressed. Three of them were Jewish, and they were asked by the Nazis to stop singing Jewish melodies before getting blacklisted. The Jews in the Comedian Harmonists left for Austria, and both they and the rest of the trio tried to keep the group going with replacements. Several decades after their prime, a cult grew around them that included such unlikely converts as rock critic Lester Bangs and top folk and rock producer Joe Boyd, who oversaw the first officially licensed compilation of their work in the U.S. on Hannibal in 1999. There have also been a film (The Harmonists) and a Broadway musical (Band in Berlin) inspired by the group's story.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
Similar artists
-
BD Music Presents Comedian Harmonists
Pop - Released by BDMUSIC on 5 Nov 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Greatest Hits
Vocal Jazz - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Mar 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Comedian Harmonists Edition
Germany - Released by Akabaka Good Music Records on 15 Jul 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Goldstar Records on 10 Sep 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Die größten Hits von Comedian Harmonists
World - Released by Coha Records on 21 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Collection
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 17 Apr 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ich möcht' ich wär' ein Huhn (Comedian Harmonists)
Miscellaneous - Released by SI-WA on 22 Jun 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Album
Lounge - Released by BlackLine Collection on 29 May 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Star Collection
Folk - Released by Fiesta Records on 23 Nov 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Comedian Harmonists Story, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Daylite Network on 18 Oct 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
International (18 Songs in German, French, English and Without Words)
Pop - Released by Traditional Line on 10 Aug 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Słynne Przeboje Retro: Comedian Harmonists - The Most Famous Songs Vol. 3
Tango - Released by J.d.L. RECORDS on 10 Nov 2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ultimate Edition
Folk - Released by Remember that Records on 17 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
COMEDY HARMONISTS: Whistle While You Work (1929-1938)
Classical - Released by Naxos on 7 Apr 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Platinum Album
Folk - Released by Remember that Records on 11 Mar 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best of Comedian Harmonists22 Great Performances of the First Boygroup Ever
Pop - Released by Lazy Day media on 13 Aug 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Edition
Pop - Released by Bello Acapello Music Records on 13 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus
Miscellaneous - Released by Bella Musica Edition on 31 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Comedian Harmonists (Complete Recordings 1935-1939)
Classical - Released by 78rpmmusic on 1 Dec 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schellack Schätze: Treasures on 78 RPM from Berlin, Europe and the World, Vol. 9 (Remastered 2018)
International Pop - Released by Jube Pops on 24 Aug 2018
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo