The Cosmopolitan - Marlene Dietrich

Scattered among this album is one of Dietrich's greatest albums- recorded for Germans rebuilding after the war. She sings in her native tongue, and as a result these are some of her most tuneful and relaxed recordings, with none of the flatness or harshness she can display her English songs. The instrumentation is very spare- the songs have a hazy, surreal feeling- there's something otherworldly about them. It's all about that voice- that husky, dark, sexy, mournful voice whispering in your ear like a lover. Leave the Rosemary Clooney duet and the Mae West cover at home. Dietrich couldn't be put in the same environment as most other singers. She had to have a unique sound constructed around her unusual, androgynous voice to really let it work it's magic. *Edit*- Here's a warning. These tracks are ALL mislabled except the first. Every one. Way to go, iTunes! The songs from the album I mentioned are tracks 1-8. The English language tracks are weaker, but a soft, romantic "La Vie En Rose", her signature "Falling In Love Again", and a sexy, teasing "No Love, No Nothin" are standouts. Here's a guide.- 1. Lili Marlene (German) 2. Mean To Me 3. Annie Doesn't... 4. Surrey With a Fringe 5. Time On My Hands 6. Taking a Chance on Love 7. Miss Otis Regrets 8. I Never Slept a Wink Last Night 9. Peter 10. Come Rain Or Come Shine 11. A Guy Who Takes His Time 12. Good For Nothin' 13. Falling In Love Again 14. La Vie En Rose 15. No Love, No Nothin' 16. Something I Dreamed... 17. Let's Call It a Day 18. Lili Marlene (English)