Bert Kaempfert

Bert Kaempfert - The World of Bert Kaempfert 1

Bert Kaempfert – The World of Bert Kaempfert 1

Reader’s Digest is a publishing concern of global proportions. One of its sidelines was the compilation record box set of which this particular release was once a component. Bert Kaempfert’s records are some of the most obvious contenders for inclusion into the Cover Heaven galleries. To see more of his output check out these covers.

Sleeve Notes:

Popular music these days is very different from what it used to be In the old days, say twenty or thirty years ago, when America ruled the world markets it was quite common to see the same records becoming hits in every country in the world. But today with listening tastes varying from country to country, and with hit records becoming more and more localised in appeal, it is pretty unusual to find an artist whose records are best-sellers all over the world. Such an artist is Bert Kaempfert. Because Mr. Kaempfert’s music does sell all over the world – not only in huge quantities but consistently year in and year out – rivals are forever trying to analyse and probe the secret of his success. But the amiable Mr. Kaempfert modestly claims that he has no secret. He simply selects – or in many instances composes himself – songs with a strong melody line and then arranges them so that nothing gets in the way of the melody. He believes that everyone, irrespective of which country they live in, will always respond to a good tune especially if it is well played and the tempo right for dancing to.

But the Kaempfert musical philosophy really sounds too easy to be true. If all one had to do was to choose popular tunes and arrange them attractively then every bandleader in the world would soon be as popular as Kaempfert – and this just doesn’t happen. So you might reasonably argue that there has to be something more to Bert Kaempfert’s popularity than the ability to make good music Indeed. there IS one other ingredient in Kaempfert’s musical make up. Sincerity.

Bert is a hundred per cent sincere about his music. He really enjoys a good melody. Thus, Bert gets as much fun out of making his records as his many followers do out of listening to them.

This particular disc, which contains a truly international musical programme, illustrates perfectly the reasons for Bert Kaempfert’s world-wide popularity in addition to presenting such permanent favourites as Poinciana,. Skokiaan. Wirnoweh and A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, it contains three massive hits from Kaempfert’s own pen as well as a few other compositions closely connected with him) – the infectious Swingin’ Safari, the gently rhythmic Danke Schoen and the hauntingly beautiful Spanish Eyes. This latter song which was a big hit for Al Martino has also been successfully recorded by other singers such as Andy Williams and Engelbert Humperdinck, and is now an accepted standard.

Other ports of call in this spicy musical journey are Portugal (The Portuguese Washerwoman), Germany (Wiederseh’n), Tahiti (Tahitian Sunset), Brazil (Cha Cha Brazilia) and Japan (Japanese Farewell Song). Each delightful track is a firm testament to the broad appeal of Bert Kaempfert – an artist who, although German by birth, is indeed very much a world citizen both in temperament and popularity.

Label: Reader’s Digest/Polydor

1968 1960s Covers

Easy Listening

Easy Listening

Easy Listening. Not to be confused with music that is hard to listen to. This record features some of the giants of the easy listening world including James Last and Bert Kaempfert who open sides 1 and 2 respectively.

Easy Listening

Label: Polydor 2675 002

1970 1970s Covers

Bert Kaempfert - That Latin Feeling

Bert Kaempfert – That Latin Feeling

Sleeve Notes:

What is THAT LATIN FEELING? It’s a magic country of the heart… an exhilarating slate of mind. And your passport to that happy state is the pulsating music of Bert Kaempfert and his orchestra.

THAT LATIN FEELING is an album that captures a wonderfully exciting atmosphere – a mood of fun and fiesta time… exotic romance … music with the unique quality that only the Latin rhythms possess.

How does Bert Kaempfert create this magic? With the same superbly danceable and listenable style that has made each of his succeeding album releases a bigger favorite than any before.

His continental background, of course, gives him a certain instinctive flair for the Latin tempos. Certainly in the soaring trumpet notes, he communicates the emotional quality of this graceful and stirring music. And as the Kaempfert tones ring out, you truly share the glow of THAT LATIN FEELING.

Bert has gathered a wonderful array of tuneful treats in this album – including many great standards, SWEET AND GENTLE, THE BREEZE AND I, POINCIANA, MARIA ELENA, BESAME MUCHO – they’re all here, offering bossa nova, cha cha, rumba-bolero or merangue. And you’ll also find yourself swept up in the beat of some delightful originals.

Feel the inclination to get a melodic change of pace? Well, there’s no need to pack a bag, or get a visa stamped. Bert Kaempfert will take you all the way to THAT LATIN FEELING.

Bert Kaempfert - That Latin Feeling

Label: Polydor 237 633

1966 1960s Covers

Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

Sleeve Notes:

Over several years and many records, musicians have searched for that elusive, different – and commercial – “sound”. And one or two of them have even found it. Glenn Miller, as a notable example. He truly struck gold in the big band field with those distinctive and so individual arrangements. But that Miller Magic was born many years ago and few, if any, bandleaders have been able to emulate him since.

Few bandleaders, that is, with the exception of the remarkable Bert Kaempfert. For the Hamburg-born musician did a Miller and hit upon a unique, inspired way in which to blend and voice the instruments under his command. A way which produced an overall sound – the dominant bass line, the regimented swing of the beat, the muted brass, and the general air of quality – that quite literally grabbed the public by the ear. All of which is very evident from the many millions of Bert Kaempfert LPs which have delighted record listeners the world over.

Bert Kaempfert became interested in music at a very early age – when he was discovered trying to make tunes on the old piano in the parlour. His parents encouraged him by sending him for private lessons and later he was enrolled at the Hamburg School of Music from which he graduated with flying colours.

In addition to piano, he learned to play clarinet, saxophone, and accordian. And, before long, his talents as arranger and composer began to emerge.

His recording career began effectively in 1960 when the “single” of his own song, Wonderland By Night, topped the American charts and became a million seller. And there were to be many more successes along the way – notably his Strangers In The Night composition, which he wrote for a film and which gave Frank Sinatra a long awaited Number One hit, and Bye Bye Blues, his British chart debut record.

The Bert Kaempfert talents are all contained on this LP, with many of his own compositions, like Happy Trumpeter, The Bass Walks, Explorer and Catalania, sharing the honours with such well loved “standards as Blue Moon and Cherokee.

Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra

Label: Contour CN 2029

1978 1970s Covers