The Comedian Harmonists: Deutsch Doo Wop!

Right now in my German class, we're learning about a group called the Comedian Harmonists. They were active in Germany during the late 1920s and early 1930s, and their name suggests exactly what they were. They harmonized great together, and they sure did entertain audiences in the Weimar Republic. But their story got murkier from there, as the Nazi regime took over in Germany. That's because 3 out of the 6 members were Jewish, and another had a Jewish wife. There was internal strife among the group about whether to leave Germany, but they fortunately made the decision to do so. Their decision was prompted by a ban of their performances in Germany, as the Nazi regime ramped up its brutal antisemitism. It technically only banned the Jewish members from performing, but if you're missing half the group, it's essentially a total ban. But today, I want to focus more on the musical stylings of the Harmonists. And specifically, I want to focus on how they may have foresaw doo wop two decades before it happened. And they did so in Germany of all places!

The group was started by Harry Frommermann, an unemployed actor who had known what economic strife was like. The Weimar Republic had just gone through its era of hyperinflation, and Harry was living in a dingy apartment where his only companion was his parrot, Paganini. In Germany, his parrot would be better referred to as a "Papagei"! Frommermann went through a selective audition process for his group, where he tested people on his complex arrangements. He was heavily influenced by The Revelers, an American group that was famous for their close harmonies. Frommerman's group would later go on to incorporate that barbershop style harmony in their sound. They were famous for their ability to have individual members be prominent and then blend back to be less prominent within the overall sound. 

But how was their sound similar to doo wop? Well, Frommermann's voice was a prominent lead falsetto, as was the case with many doo wop groups (i.e. the Paragons). Also like with the doo wop style, the bassman has a prominent role. In the Harmonists, that role belonged to Robert Biberti. He got plenty of solos in the Harmonists songs, and his rich voice is definitely heard often. The group also likes to use nonsense syllables, much like the doo wop groups of the 1950s and 60s. They do so in a more barbershop-esque style, but it's definitely still comparable to doo wop. For example, the use of nonsense syllables is clear on their most famous record, "Veronika, der Lenz ist Da". In English, the name means "Vernoika, spring is here". On that song they scat on "da-da-da-da" for a while, and bassman Biberti has a nice little solo at the end. The way they use Biberti reminds me of how the early doo wop group the Ravens would use their bass, Jimmy Ricks. One last doo wop-like aspect of the Harmonists is sparse instrumentation. Typically, the only instrument playing on their songs is that of pianist Erwin Bootz. And it complements their harmonies quite well, just like Raoul Cita's piano did for the Harptones.

While the Harmonists typically entertained audiences with their upbeat and cheerful songs like "Veronika", their repertoire was certainly not limited to this. For example, during their last concert in Germany, they performed "Aufwiedersehen, leb wohl", or "Goodbye, my dear". It was a very emotional performance, especially with all the rising tensions with the Nazis. It was dramatized in the Comedian Harmonists movie I am currently watching, and the actors in that movie lip-synced to the original recording. Additionally, the movie showed the reaction of one audience member in particular, Erna. She had been the love interest of Harry, before Robert went full Eric Clapton and swooped her up. In any case, Erna was moved to tears by their last performance in Germany, and that's something that I don't think is purely movie drama. I truly appreciated how the movie used the Harmonists' original recordings, which are timeless. By the time the Harmonists' recorded in the early 1930s, music technology had moved a bit beyond the crudeness of "singing into a can" that was prominent in the early 20th century. So while the recording technology is still a bit primitive to today's ears, one is still able to appreciate the richness of the Harmonists harmonizing. 

That picture above features the Harmonists as they were cast in their 1997 movie. Harry Frommerman is seen at the top, and Robert Biberti is seen on the far right. In addition to all the great harmonies they create, the movie focuses on the power struggle of a relationship between Harry and Robert. Harry was Jewish and therefore wanted the group to leave Germany, while Robert wanted to stay. While Harry was the founder and arranger of the group, Robert was seen as more of a "leader", speaking for the group's finances. And obviously, the two men fought over Erna as well, who left Harry for Robert. Internal dispute was central to the group. Dispute was there when they left for America in 1934, and it was there when they eventually came back to Germany. Evidently, they returned to Germany because the non-Jewish members feared American internment as German nationals if they stayed during World War II. So after they moved back to Germany, the three Jewish members fled immediately to Vienna, where they performed with a new group. So clearly, their story is complicated and full of tension (hey, that's why a movie was made). But, their harmonies were, as they would probably put it, fantastisch.

10 Great Songs From Country Legend Hank Williams Sr.

Hank Williams left an incredible body of work during his six years in the recording studio. Though his life was not long, he left an undeniable impact on country music. I became a huge fan of his music last year. I know I still have more of his obscure songs to dive into, but here are 10 of my favorites so far.

1.) Move It On Over

You can consider this 1947 gem an early rock 'n roll song, and you can also consider it Hank's first hit. Four years before the commonly cited "Rocket 88", this song had a rollicking feel to it. I'm not saying it's the first rock 'n roll song by any means, but you can certainly see Hank's influence on the genre. After all, the basic melody of this song was copied in Bill Haley and The Comets' "Rock Around The Clock". Even the guitar solo is exactly the same! George Thorogood made a solid 80s cover of this song.

2.) Your Cheatin' Heart

This was recorded in Hank's final session in 1952, and what a sendoff it was. It exemplified the tragic country songs that he sang, and the song became a #1 country hit right after Hank died in 1953. The song described his first wife, Audrey, as a "cheatin' heart". He was telling that to his then-fiancée, Billie Jean Jones. Either way, Hank had a tough time with the women in his life, and perhaps should've listen to the advice of his own song: "I'll Be a Bachelor Till I Die".

3.) Jambalaya (On The Bayou)

Also recorded in 1952, "Jambalaya" is an upbeat honky-tonk song with a Cajun twist. Hank heard Cajuns talking about the food they ate while on a tour bus, and was inspired to write this song. Though I am personally not a fan of the foods Jambalaya, crawfish pie, and filé gumbo... I do appreciate Cajun fried chicken. Gripes with seafood aside, Hank makes spending time on the Bayou sound like a joy. It stands out as one of the most happy songs in the Hank Williams catalogue, and was a #1 country hit for 14 consecutive weeks.

4.) Why Don't You Love Me

This upbeat ditty from 1950 is one of my absolute favorites. It's a very catchy tune, and I simply couldn't get enough of it in 2021. That's why it was my most played song that year on Spotify! It's another song about Hank's troublesome relationship with Audrey, but it's not one of those heartbreakers that are scattered throughout this list. It keeps a driving tempo throughout the song, and the Drifting Cowboys (Hank's backing band) put on a fantastic performance. Especially noteworthy are Jerry Rivers on fiddle, and Don Helms playing the steel guitar.

5.) Cold, Cold Heart

Whereas Hank Williams appealed to broke white people with his pained vocals on this song, Tony Bennett appealed to well-to-do white people with his mediocre cover that became a #1 pop hit. Whereas Hank Williams died in the back of a car in 1953, Tony Bennett is still alive at 95 and just won a Grammy. Well, that's the way it goes I guess. Again, another song inspired by his turbulent times with Audrey. Notice how Hank stretches out the word "apart" on this song, it's beautiful. No one could hold a note quite like him.

 

6.) (I Heard That) Lonesome Whistle

This 1951 song is about trains and prison, two common themes in country music, and two very common themes in Johnny Cash's music. That's why it's unsurprising that Cash would later cover this song. But the Man in Black could not top the passionate vocal performance that Hank puts on here. Again, it's very notable the way that Hank holds onto notes. My favorite line in the song is, "I'll be locked here in this cell 'till my body's just a shell, and my hair turns whiter than snow". Pure devastation.

7.) You Win Again

1952 was a horribly rough year for Hank in terms of his personal life and health. His marriage to Audrey met a brutal end, and then he wed a 19-year old he barely knew shortly afterwards. His back pain that he had since childhood was getting terrible, and he took lots of meds and drank more and more to numb the pain. It is with all this context that it's unsurprising his body couldn't take any more in the early hours of 1953. But it's with this context that you can understand how he wrote and sung such beautifully haunting songs as "You Win Again". If any song is a white flag of surrender, it's this one. And if any song exemplifies Hank's ability to hold onto a note, it's this one.

8.) I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)

From the high cry of the steel guitar that begins this song, you can tell you're in for another one of Hank's desperately sad love songs. Much like with "You Win Again", Hank surrenders his love to his partner. He admits that despite all the pain she puts him through, he loves her just the same. Released as the B-side to "Howlin' at the Moon", it was a greater success on the chart. And listeners and DJs got that one right. Hank sang a beautiful duet of this song with Anita Carter, which you can see here. 

9.) Hey, Good Lookin'

Much like "Jambalaya", this is one of the few genuinely upbeat songs on the list. It's just a fun song to listen to, and Hank originally wrote it for Little Jimmy Dickens. But realizing the hit potential he had with it, Hank kept it to himself. Hank told poor Jimmy, "that song's too good for you". And what a great song it was! This song may not have stylistically been an influence on rock 'n roll, but it was in terms of the subject matter. It spoke of hot rods, dancing sprees, and soda pops. And Hank could treat his date to all this fun with a $2 bill... it was different times in terms of the value of money!

10.) I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

The poetry that is this 1949 song makes it my absolute favorite Hank Williams song (well, this or "Why Don't You Love Me"... it's 1a and 1b). Hank's vocals sparkle on this song, comparing himself to a lonesome whippoorwill that "sounds too blue to fly". Each of the four verses are sung in the same form, with all four being punctuated by the verse "cry". There's no stylistic variation to these songs other than maybe the fiddle solos. But the lack of musical complexity doesn't matter in my view, as I simply appreciate the poetry. The song sounds like it was originally written as a poem. This song has inspired countless covers, including by Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, and even Terry Bradshaw! But the best of the bunch is definitely this version by Randy Travis.

Well, that was my 10 favorite songs by Hank. Let me give an honorable mention to "Lovesick Blues", which was actually Hank's biggest hit during his lifetime. It launched him to country superstardom, even though everyone around him didn't like the song that much. And if you listen to it, it's solid and catchy, though certainly not as good as some of the songs on this list. Another song deserving of a shoutout is "Men With Broken Hearts". It was one of Hank's narrated songs he did as "Luke the Drifter". And as Hank said, it really is the most morbid song you'll ever hear.

10 Great Songs From The Man in Black, Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash is one of the true legends in the history of American music. His music transcended genres and tastes. That is why he's inducted into the Rock 'N Roll, Country, and Gospel Halls of Fame. From the Sun Records sound of the 1950s, to the emotional end in the early 2000s, that fantastic voice of Johnny Cash shined. There are many hundreds of songs he's recorded, and still plenty I have yet to listen to. But here are 10 of my favorites so far.

1.) Folsom Prison Blues- released in 1955

Johnny Cash's first single was "Cry! Cry! Cry!", b/w "Hey Porter". Not too shabby, I'd say. But, his second release, "Folsom Prison Blues", is an iconic song to this day. Cash kicked off his legendary "At Folsom Prison Album" with this song. And yet, I prefer the original. There's a certain hunger in his voice on the original cut, a desire to be known. Cash knew he had the talent, and was worthy of being famous. The song itself is about a desire to escape prison, and was inspired by a video Cash watched while stationed in West Germany during his Air Force service. Cash certainly spoke to prisoners, as we'll find out with other songs on this list.

2.) Give My Love to Rose- released in 2002

Originally, this song was buried as a B-side to "Home of the Blues" in 1957. "Give My Love to Rose" is the far better song. It combines all three elements common in Cash songs- trains, pain, and prison. A dying prisoner encounters a man while on a train back to meet his wife. He tells this stranger to give his love to his wife, Rose, and give her all his money. The song is heartbreaking, and gets more so as Cash goes along in his career. His performance at Folsom Prison is even better than his original. And then, his 2002 recording is even better than that. His brokenhearted voice perfectly encapsulates the meaning of the song. Cash deservedly won a Grammy for his final performance of this song.

3.) I Still Miss Someone- released in 1958

This was one of the first songs Cash recorded for Columbia Records, and was the B-side to the hit "Don't Take Your Guns to Town". Again, this is the superior song. The song was co-written by Cash and his nephew, Roy Cash Jr. It certainly incorporates the boom chicka boom style that was so prevalent during Cash's Sun Records days. But Cash is singing with more raw emotion than he was during those first records of the mid-50s era. He puts on another great performance of the song during his Folsom Prison album, though it is abbreviated. Therefore, the original 50s cut is the best version.

4.) I Walk The Line- released in 1956

At least at one point, it was pretty inarguably Cash's signature song, and you simply cannot go wrong with it. Did Cash "walk the line", and was he faithful with his first wife Vivian? No, but based on the stories I've heard, pretty much no rockstar was. It's probably why Cash referred to himself as a "C+ Christian", and his biographer called that a generous assessment. But musically, this song is iconic from its opening guitar riff, to Cash's great vocal performance. His humming actually has a purpose besides sounding cool; it is Cash adjusting to the various key changes throughout the song. The song was Cash's first #1 hit on the country charts, and even crossed over to the pop charts. Put simply, it made him a star.

5.) Dark as the Dungeon- released in 1968

No star musician could relate to the pains of the common man quite like Cash could. He covered this coal-mining song that was originally released by Merle Travis in 1946. Travis grew up in Kentucky, where he knew what the poverty of rural America looked like. Well, Cash came from similar circumstances growing up in Arkansas. So, he puts plenty of emotion into this performance from his legendary Folsom Prison album, and even a little bit of humor as well. One of the prisoners was laughing, and Cash said "No laughing during the song, please!". The prisoner replied "Hell", to which Cash said "I know, hell!". Then at the end of the song, he brilliantly adds that this is a live album for Columbia Records, so you "can't say hell or shit" or anything like that. It's a performance that exemplified both his vocal talent and charisma.

6.) Hurt- released in 2002

The second-most played Johnny Cash song on Spotify is "Ring of Fire", which we'll get to later. "Ring of Fire" has 252,000,000 plays. "Hurt" is in first place, with 466,000,000. That's nearly twice as many plays! It shows that "Hurt" has become Cash's most iconic song, at least among my generation. It speaks to a sadness and isolation that we Gen Z folk feel. And yet, ironically enough, this song wasn't sung by some young kid dealing with depression. It was sung by a broken-down Cash that was in the last year of his life. Much like "Give My Love to Rose", a lingering pain is clearly audible in his still-powerful voice. He covered this song by Nine Inch Nails and truly made it his own. And while "I Walk The Line" is the Cash anthem for Boomers, "Hurt" is the defining Cash song for my generation.

7.) A Boy Named Sue- released in 1969

This was my grandfather's favorite song, which is definitely a bit of irony, considering he was quite the mild-mannered man. Still, he was a big Johnny Cash fan, and it is still quite popular among fans today. It's certainly one of my favorites! Its irreverent humor comes from the legendary Shel Silverstein, who wrote another great song that Cash did, "25 Minutes to Go". But this more famous Silverstein composition was a roaring success for Cash from his prison concert at San Quentin. In fact, it was almost a #1 pop hit for Cash, being held out of the top spot by the Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women". After the success of his prison concerts in the late 60s, Cash had ascended to superstar status, which would later lead to him having his own TV show.

8.) Ring of Fire- released in 1963

This song was written by Cash's future wife June Carter, and she sings quite a nice backing vocal on this particular song with Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters. It helped relaunch Cash's career with a big #1 country hit, as he was sputtering a bit with his records at the time. It had the unique idea of combining mariachi with country, as the trumpets are quite prominent on this song. Evidently, the trumpets were Cash's idea, as he heard them in a dream. The song is now regarded as one of Cash's all time classics, and is especially well liked by the critics. It is #87 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 all time songs list, well, the one from 2003 at least. 

9.) Cocaine Blues- released in 1968

Nothing gets a crowd of prisoners riled up quite like singing a song about doing a "shot of cocaine", then proceeding to "shoot your woman down". Cash sings this song with a certain snarl and conviction that absolutely captures his target audience. The Tennessee Three provide a simple but rocking instrumental track, one that is quite befitting of this track. But the main thing that makes this song entertaining is the lyrics, and the way Cash performs them. Cash noted that the song had "nearly did his voice in", and you can clearly hear that on this recording. He is leaning right into his skills as an entertainer on this brilliant song... but it's this last song on my list that's his true vocal masterpiece.

10.) Sunday Morning Coming Down- released in 1970

Kris Kristofferson has written two of the all time great songs in the history of music, in my humble opinion. There's "Me and Bobby McGee", and then there's this. "Sunday Morning Coming Down" exemplifies loneliness and isolation in a way that even "Hurt" cannot touch. It's the story of a loser who witnesses the happiness of the world around him, all on one lonely Sunday morning. And Cash sings from that perspective of isolation, knowing he's been in that world of loneliness given his history of drug problems. And what an incredible vocal performance he gives, famously adding extra emphasis to how he wishes he was "stoned". Just like the happy outside world mocks the narrator in this song, the happiness and bright sounds of the orchestra seem to mock Cash."Hurt" is the Cash song that my generation has such a strong emotional attachment to, and it is undoubtedly a fantastic and emotional song. But there's just something about Cash's voice when he was in the prime of his career. He has the heartbreak that the drugs and hard living caused him, while not sounding half-dead like he did in the early 2000s. This is my choice for greatest Cash song of all time, and one of the great songs of all time.