No other time is celebrated in as many different and sophisticated ways all over the world as Christmas. And the same holds true for our musical perceptions and emotions, which are shaped and influenced in the most distinct ways. In 1963, Bert Kaempfert transformed the typical cheerful and carefree North American rhythms he loved so much into his unique and swinging sound with his Christmas production CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND. During the past, the original album CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND was succesfully published several times under different album titles and with various covers.
In the same year as the Christmas production, Bert Kaempfert arranged and composed some other songs so as to add to the festive mood of a musical journey during Christmas time and end with strong emotions and Bert’s version of Sentimental Journey. This is how the original album CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND has become the present album DREAMIN’ & SWINGIN’ CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND.
This “2 on 1” CD includes the soundtracks of the two movies “Terror After Midnight” and “A Man Could Get Killed”. The latter’s theme tune Beddy-Bye became the hit of the century Strangers In The Night. There are also two bonus tracks: Love Theme and Flight To Mecca, the two theme tunes from the movie “You Can’t Win ’Em All”. The colourfully illustrated booklet with the CD includes details about the soundtracks composed and recorded by Bert Kaempfert.
Ivo Robic und Bert Kaempfert began working together when they made the legendary song Morgen. Following a succès d’estime in Germany, this single was a sensation in the US and earned both artists a Golden Disk.
Many co-productions followed. In 1968, there was “Ivo Robic singt Bert-Kaempfert-Erfolge”. The succinct voice of the amiable Croat in conjunction with the distinctive arrangements and the sound of Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra is a hallmark for all fans. Almost all the songs by this successful team are available on the CD “Träume vom Glück”.
In remembrance of two great artists – the re-release of the 1979 legendary album EINS & EINS – KNEF & KAEMPFERT.
Just like Hildegard Knef, Bert Kaempfert was one of the few German artists to have enjoyed international success, and the two were good friends for several years. In the late 1970s, when the tracks that appear on the re-release CD were first released in a music scene dominated by Pop, Rock and Disco sounds, Kaempfert and Knef were both still seen as unsurpassed doyens of their music genre, easy listening orchestral music and the Chanson.
But this was not just a “rendezvous” between two artists. In fact the album represents the zenith of each of their very individual and special repertoires. In addition to Bert Kaempfert’s characteristic sound, the album includes another three of his compositions, L.O.V.E., Danke Schoen und Remember When (Wer will noch mal), all of which have been heard throughout the world in numerous cover versions from artists ranging from Nat King Cole to Wayne Newton. And these swinging numbers quite clearly appealed to Hildegard Knef with their natural walking bass style.
In fact, Knef’s huge hits of the 1960s – bearing the artist’s special trademark and with lyrics written by the artist herself – were also immensely popular in Germany. These hits were then performed in the joint album with Kaempfert, whose arrangements lent them a fresh touch. The album also included a song track (Du hast mir so gefehlt) of the hit Petula, which Kaempfert originally wrote as a purely instrumental track, as well as a song that he had composed especially for Knef: Der Mensch muss unter die Leute. Indeed, Kaempfert’s enthusiasm for Hildegard Knef was evident: “There are very few people in Germany who can swing like Hilde. I especially love her blue notes.”
To top it all the album has four instrumental tracks from the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra, making this a particularly appealing musical experience: these bonus tracks not only include Intermission Riff from the 1978 album SWING, but also three tracks from the 1979 album SMILE (the title song from the LP, I Cried For You and Just You, Just Me). Just You, Just Me is performed by the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra as a kind of overture for the musical rendezvous with Hildegard Knef – indeed this song is the ultimate prelude to a compilation of swinging hits which has since become a legend. If you listen very closely you can discover Hildegard Knef’s wonderful talent for combining lyrics and music in a way which is as natural as it is brilliant. This was the very art of Hildegard Knef, whose voice has now fallen silent forever. Thankfully a legacy of these two great artists has been left behind on this CD.
Polydor / Universal Music launched an exclusive series in the year 2006. The “Colour Collection“.Bert Kaempfert and his Orchestra have to be included in this series. A delightful compilation of world hits with the Bert Kaempfert sound.
This compilation CD featuring 42 tracks was released in conjunction with the Bert Kaempfert printed biography and the TV documentary on his life story. After three year’s preparation and negotiations with the owners of the copyrights of the many different recordings, we have finally managed to put together this sensational double compilation CD by way of homage to the all-time great composer and band leader Bert Kaempfert. The CD includes a selection of the most beautiful instrumental tracks ever produced by Kaempfert plus vocal versions of his greatest hits sung by famous international vocalists. The CD comes packed in a classic CD box including an extensive CD booklet. All in all, a must for any music fan and collector – and it even makes the perfect gift.
Available as double vinyl edition 
The compilation is also available to vinyl fans as a double LP (#583 784-1).
