Search - Sophie Tucker :: The Great Sophie Tucker

Vintage music in every sense

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 07/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sophie was actually born Sonia Kalish in 1884 (but always known as Sophie), while her mother was in the process of migrating from Russia to America. The birth took place in Russia, near the Polish border, but they took another three months to reach Boston, where mother and father were re-united. Eventually, the family move south to Hartford, where they bought out a restaurant. This gave Sophie the chance to work as a child waitress, earning extra tips for her singing. From such humble beginnings, Sophie eventually emerged as a star of vaudeville. She became one of the biggest stars of her era, both in America, where she lived, and Britain, where she performed more often than one might expect, considering the difficulties of international travel in those days. Maybe she was able to perform her shows on board ship and if so, the time wasn't wasted.



Covering the period from 1929 to 1937, plus one track from 1944, this compilation focuses on Sophie's later recordings. Sophie's records actually started appearing in the popular music charts in 1910, but those very early records were on wax cylinders, so I doubt that they'll appear on CD any time soon, if at all. Among those early cylinders were her first recording of Some of those days, which was a huge hit at the time and became her trademark song. Re-recordings of that song open and close this compilation, though neither of the recordings presented here were hits. Sophie's biggest hit with the song came via a version recorded with Ted Lewis and his band, which was a huge American hit early in 1927. The versions here are a later 1927 recording (with orchestra directed by Ted Shapiro) and a 1937 recording (with Harry Sosnik and his orchestra).



In between the two featured versions of her trademark song, you'll find fifty other songs, all different, most of which have long since faded into obscurity, though there a few familiar songs among them. Songs by the famous composers of the era, which are so familiar to those who love the music of the era, are a rarity here although Sophie's excellent recordings of The man I love and The lady is a tramp (which song became Sophie's last American hit in 1937) are included, along with a duet version of April in Paris with Rudy Vallee, which has a long introduction. Of the other songs, My Yiddish Momme was Sophie's biggest hit to be included here and I've heard other versions of this song. I ain't got nobody (one of Sophie's B-sides) is a cover of a song previously popularized by Marion Harris, who had a huge hit with it in 1917 and again with a re-recorded version in 1921. While the other songs have, for the most part, faded into obscurity, they are definitely worth a listen, and were very likely written with Sophie's live performances in mind. Indeed, on some tracks, you'll hear Sophie speaking rather than singing, though she sings most of the time.



This compilation provides a fascinating glimpse into a world that vanished even before I was born. As I write this review, it is the most comprehensive collection of Sophie Tucker's music yet released."

A real entertainer

Shalom Freedman | Jerusalem,Israel | 06/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Who remembers Sophie Tucker anymore?

One of the first of the type of the high- power entertainer and truly independent women , . She had a sense of humor about herself, and especially about her weight, that was a major part of her act. But she also could truly sing.

A legend of her time and age, who like so many others great in their own time seems to have faded from public consciousness with the years.

"

Memories

S. Adair | 11/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sophie Tucker was always a headliner at the old Blue Room in New Orleans and seeing her was a treat and experience. My parents had autographed albums from her that they lost in Katrina when their house was washed into the Bay, my sister and I could not replace the things they lost but this was one we could and they truly enjoy hearing her and recalling memories of a bygone time."