Search - Irving Berlin :: Irving Sings Berlin

Entertaining Renditions of Berlin's songs

D. Mesirow | 01/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Irving Sings Berlin" contains recordings of famed songwriter Irving Berlin playing his songs on a piano and providing his own vocals. Although the performances are entertaining, the songs themselves are the real product. The performances tend to be Irving Berlin tinkering out his songs on the piano while giving either bustling or delicate vocal performances of his songs. Yet Berlin sometimes gives a rousing performance and gets a round of applouse, such as after "Alexander's Ragtime Band," one of his most famous songs.



However, other songs included on this record are clearly intended to be sent off from the songwriter to another artist to perform. For example, before the song "Marrying for Love," Irving Berlin plays the opening chord and says, "Bing, this verse was written for the show for situations so disregard it. All you'll be interested if you like this song is the chorus." Berlin is speaking to singer Bing Crosby as a proposition for him to sing this song. Crosby actually recorded a rendition of the song. Crooners like Crosby and Sinatra sang many of the great songwriters' songs, like those of Berlin, Gershwin, and Porter.



Berlin's performances are succinct, sincere, and often delicate depending on what the song calls for. Each song exudes its own character. "Let's Take An Old-Fashioned Walk" is an attempt to get someone to take a walk, not to mention the tune is melodically and harmonically very catchy and delicate with beautiful cadences. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is a celebration of Ragtime music, and "God Bless America" is a patriotic ballod about the United States. Berlin shines as a songwriter on this album, and we also get to catch a glimpse of him as a performer."