Search - Elisabeth Welch :: Berlin Songbook

A Lost Treasure

Bill Davis | Berkeley, CA USA | 07/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I stumbled upon this album (I actually have the vinyl version) at the end of the 1980s. What was so amazingly touching was the richness of her voice, considering that she was over 80 years of age at the time. Her interpretation of Berlin's music is a fitting tribute to a great American songwriter whose music has truly stood the test of time. I was saddened to learn of her death (July 15,2003) at the age of 99. Her professional career spanned several decades from 1923 to her last public appearance in 1996. Because she had been a long time resident of Great Britain I had not been able to follow her career as closely as I would have liked. After learning of her death I immediately logged on to Amazon to find some of her other works. I listened to some of the cuts from the CD "Harlem in My Heart" and immediately fell in love with it, and ordered it. If Amazon would make available other cuts for customer listening from other works (including from this album), more people would likely buy her music and be able to enjoy her timeless interpretations of songs for years to come, as I have. Her voice is one I would listen to singing anything. I have enjoyed all of her music that I have heard, and I think you will too."