| Artist: | Marlene Dietrich |
| Studio: | 3 |
| Live: | 4 |
| Video: | 1 |
| Singles: | 41 |
Marlene Dietrich's recording career spanned sixty years, from 1928 until 1988. She introduced the songs "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" (from the film The Blue Angel) and "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" (from "Destry Rides Again"). She first recorded her version of "Lili Marlene" in 1945.
Her first long-playing album was Marlene Dietrich Overseas, was a prestige success for Columbia Records in 1950.[1] She also recorded several duets with Rosemary Clooney in the early 1950s: these tapped into a younger market and charted.[2] During the 1960s, Dietrich recorded several albums and many singles, mostly with Burt Bacharach at the helm of the orchestra.[3] Dietrich in London, recorded live at the Queen's Theatre in 1964,[4] is an enduring document of Dietrich in concert.
In 1978, Dietrich's performance of the title track from her last film, Just a Gigolo, was issued as a single.[5] She made her last recordings — spoken introductions to songs for a nostalgia album by Udo Lindenberg — from her Paris apartment in 1987.[6]
Dietrich told Maximilian Schell in his documentary, Marlene (1984), that she thought Marlene singt Berlin-Berlin (1964) – her interpretations of Berliner popular songs from the start of the 20th Century – was her best album.
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| GER [7] | ||
| Overseas |
| — |
| Die neue Marlene |
| 34 |
| Marlene singt Berlin, Berlin |
| — |
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| GER | ||
| Live at the Café de Paris |
| — |
| Dietrich in Rio |
| — |
| Wiedersehen mit Marlene |
| 3 |
| Dietrich in London |
| — |
| Title | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Decca Presents Marlene Dietrich |
| |
| Sings |
|
|
| Souvenir Album |
|
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| Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| Lili Marlene – Sung In German |
|
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| The Legendary Marlene Dietrich |
| |
| The Magic Of Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| Marlene Dietrich In Deutschland |
|
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| Marlene Dietrich |
|
|
| Mythos Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| The Legendary Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| Ich Bin Von Kopf Bis Fuß Auf Liebe Eingestellt |
|
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| Marlène |
|
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| Con Plumas |
|
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| The Legendary, Lovely Marlene |
|
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| The Best Of Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| The Blue Angel — The Original Recordings |
|
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| The Essential Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| The Marlene Dietrich Album |
|
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| Art Deco: The Cosmopolitan Marlene Dietrich |
|
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| Mythos Und Legende / Myth And Legend |
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| Falling in Love Again |
|
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| Marlene Dietrich – Legends Of The 20th Century – Original Recordings |
|
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| Der Blonde Engel |
|
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| Marlene Forever |
|
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| Classic: The Universal Masters Collection |
|
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| The Ultimate Collection |
|
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| Marlene Dietrich W Warszawie Z Archiwum Polskiego Radia |
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Hermine: Udo Lindenberg singt Lieder von 1929 bis 1988 (* Spoken verse introduction to Illusions and Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte)
Many of Dietrich's numerous radio performances have been included on compilations of her music.
The Polish label Wifon issued a cassette tape of a Dietrich concert, recorded in Warsaw in 1966, in 1992 (catalogue number MC283).[33] [34] The release contained the following tracks: "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby", "You're the Cream in my Coffee", "My Blue Heaven", "See What the Boys in the Backroom Will Have", "The Laziest Gal in Town", "Shir Hatan", "La Vie en Rose", "Jonny", "Go 'Way From My Window", "Don't Smoke in Bed", "Lola", "Marie–Marie" and "Frag nicht warum ich gehe".
A limited special edition of the book Photographs and Memories (published in 2001 by Nicolai, Berlin) included a recording of the soundtrack of Dietrich's 1963 filmed concert at Berns Salonger as an audio CD bonus.[35]
The Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin's archival holdings include soundtrack prerecording discs and unissued radio and concert recordings.[36] The following of Dietrich's studio recordings remain unreleased: "Du, du liegst mir im Herzen", "Aus der Jugendzeit", "Das zerbrochene Ringlein", "Treue Liebe" (all recorded July 1954 with Jimmy Carroll and orchestra)[37] and "Wot cher! [Knocked 'Em In the Old Kent Road]" (recorded in 1955 with Wally Stott and orchestra).[38]
Recordings first issued on 78 rpm records:[39] [40] [41] [42]
| Year | Song Title (A-Side) | Song Title (B-Side) | Label | Catalogue Nr | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | "Wenn die beste Freundin" | – | Electrola | EG 892 | Duet with Margo Lion and Oskar Karlweis. From Es liegt in der Luft. | |
| 1928 | "Potpourri from Es liegt in der Luft, Part 1" | "Potpourri from Es liegt in der Luft, Part 2" | Electrola | EH 146 | Selections from the revue performed by the cast. | |
| 1930 | "Falling in Love Again" | "Blonde Women" | HMV | B 3524 | From The Blue Angel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. | |
| 1930 | "Naughty Lola" | Victor | 22593 | From The Blue Angel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. | ||
| 1930 | "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt" | "Nimm dich in Acht vor blonden Frau'n" | Electrola | EG 1770 | From Der Blaue Engel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. Two versions of "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß..." were recorded on different dates. Both were issued under the same catalogue number. | |
| 1930 | "Ich bin die fesche Lola" | "Kinder, heut' abend, da such ich mir was aus" | Electrola | EG 1802 | From Der Blaue Engel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. | |
| 1930 | "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte" | "Leben ohne Liebe kannst du nicht" | Electrola | EG 2265 | From "Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht" / "Nie wieder Liebe". Piano: Friedrich Hollaender / Mischa Spoliansky | |
| 1931 | "Peter" | "Jonny" | Ultraphon | A 887 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | |
| 1931 | "Jonny" (Alternate Version) | Ultraphon | AP 249 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | ||
| 1931 | "Quand l'Amour Meurt" | "Give Me the Man" | Electrola | EG 2775 | From Morocco. Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | |
| 1933 | "Assez" | "Moi, Je M'Ennuie" | Polydor | 524180 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | |
| 1933 | "Assez" (Alternate Take) | Decca | M 452 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | ||
| 1933 | "Allein in einer grossen Stadt" | "Mein blondes Baby" | Polydor | 524181 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. | |
| 1933 | Deutsche Grammophon | 25296 | ||||
| 1933 | "Ja, so bin ich" | "Wo ist der Mann?" | Polydor | 524182 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. Trumpet: Arthur Briggs. | |
| 1933 | "Wo ist der Mann?" | "Warum, warum hast dumir weh’ getan" (Sung by Tatjana Birkigt) | Deutsche Grammophon | 47002 | Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. Trumpet: Arthur Briggs. | |
| 1935 | "If It Isn't Pain (Then It Isn't Love)" | "Three Sweethearts Have I" | Decca | The Devil is a Woman promotional issue. | ||
| 1939 | "I've Been In Love Before" | "You Do Something To Me" | Decca | 23139 | Orchestra: Victor Young. | |
| 1939 | "You've Got that Look" | "You Go To My Head" | Decca | 23140 | Orchestra: Victor Young. | |
| 1939 | "Falling in Love Again" | "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" | Decca | 23141 | Orchestra: Victor Young. | |
| 1945 | "Lili Marlene" | "Symphonie" | Decca | 23456 | Orchestra: Charles Magnante. | |
| 1948 | "Illusions" | "Black Market" | Decca | A14582 | From A Foreign Affair. | |
| 1952 | "Too Old to Cut the Mustard" | "Good for Nothin'" | Columbia | 39812 | Duets with Rosemary Clooney. Only single to make US pop chart, peaking at No. 12. | |
| 1952 | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | "Love Me" | Columbia | 39797 | ||
| 1953 | "Time For Love" | "Look Me Over Closely" | Columbia | 39959 | ||
| 1953 | "Dot's Nice — Donna Fight" | "It's The Same" | Columbia | 39980 | Duets with Rosemary Clooney. | |
| 1953 | Philips | PH 21057 | ||||
| 1953 | "Besides" | "Land Sea and Air" | Philips | PB 314 | Duets with Rosemary Clooney. | |
| 1954 | "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin" | "Peter" | Columbia | 40497 |
Recordings first issued as 7" (45 rpm, except where noted otherwise) singles:[39] [40] [43]
| Year | Song Title (A-Side) | Song Title (B-Side) | Label | Catalogue Nr | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | "Near You" | "Another Spring, Another Love" | Dot | 15645 | Recorded in Los Angeles. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1957 | "I May Never Go Home Anymore" | "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" | Dot | 15723 | Recorded in Los Angeles. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1958 | "This Evening Children" | Electrola | 7 EG 1770 | From The Blue Angel. Originally recorded in 1930, the English-language version of "Kinder heut' abend..." was first issued in 1958.[44] | ||
| 1959 | "An Interview with Marlene Dietrich" | Columbia | WPSC49788 | Promotional issue for Dietrich in Rio backed by album excerpt.[45] | ||
| 1962 | "Cherche la Rose" + "Où Vont Les Fleurs (Where Have All The Flowers Gone)" | "Marie, Marie" + "Déjeuner du Matin" | La Voix de Son Maître | 7 EGF 597 | Recorded in Paris. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1962 | "Sag mir wo die Blumen Sind" | "Die Welt War Jung" | Electrola | E22180 | Recorded in Paris. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1963 | "Bitte Geh Nicht Fort" "Warum Tut Liebe Weh" | "Für Alles Kommt die Zeit" "Kleine, Treue Nachtigall" | Ariola | 40352CU | Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. Dietrich was unhappy with the first issued take of "Bitte Geh Nicht Fort"; at her request the record company used an alternate take for all subsequent pressings.[46] | |
| 1963 | "Die Antwort weiß ganz allein der Wind" | "Paff, der Zauberdrachen" | Electrola | E22612 | Recorded in London. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1964 | "Marie–Marie" "Das Lied ist aus" | "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" "Lola" | Melodia | 14217 | 33⅓ rpm. Live recording from Moscow (May, 1964). Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1965 | "If He Swings By The String" | "Such Trying Times" | Kapp | HLR9883 | ||
| 1965 | "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" | "Blowin' in the Wind" | His Master’s Voice | POP 1563 | Recorded in London. Arranged and conducted by Burt Bacharach. | |
| 1965 | Capitol | 72474 | ||||
| 1966 | "This World of Ours" | "Candles Glowing" | Decca | 45 32076 | Recorded in England. | |
| 1966 | Pye | 7N 17238 | ||||
| 1966 | "Glocken Läuten" | "Still war die Nacht" | Philips | 45 346024BF | German versions of "Candles Glowing" and "This World of Ours". | |
| 1967 | "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" | "Go 'Way From My Window" | Columbia | 45 444326 | Live recordings. Souvenir issue sold at concerts.[47] | |
| 1978 | "Just a Gigolo" | Columbia | DB9050 | Recorded in Paris. B-side is an orchestral cue from the film soundtrack. |
Dietrich recorded the following tracks in Washington in 1944 – 1945 for OSS use:[41]
These recordings were not meant for commercial issue. "Gib doch den Männern am Stammtisch ihr Gift", "Ich Heirate Nie" and "Du hast 'nen Blick" were issued for the first time in 2001 on Der Blonde Engel (EMI 7242 5 27567 2 7). All the other tracks remain unissued, with the partial exception of "Lili Marleen". With its massive success on the war front, specifically on the German language OSS MO radio station "Soldatensender", where it became the station's theme song,[48] the song was re-recorded in English and released, with the spelling "Lili Marlene", as a 10" single by Decca in 1945. Though other recordings of the song in German were performed by Dietrich, the original OSS recording of the track is presumed unissued.
Many of Dietrich's performances of songs in her films[41] have been included in compilations of her music:[49]