Humoresk Melodios [1] - Ein wenig Leichtsinn ...

Grammophon master 2317½ GN, rec. Berlin, 17 April 1934.
Olaf Meitzner (1st tenor), Erich Bergau (2nd tenor), Herbert Imlau (baritone), Werner Rössler (bass), Fried Walter (piano).
This is the first version of one half of the original Harmony Boys' new group. The good record sales of the original group made it possible for Meitzner, Bergau and Rössler to recruit some "real" musicians to complete their new line-up. Herbert Imlau was just about to finish his studies in classical singing, and Fried Walter studied composition under Arnold Schönberg. He was a friend of Erwin Bootz and had even played with the Comedian Harmonists for a few weeks when Bootz had temporarily left the group.
Initial successes were harder to come by than expected, but this title (their third solo record) proved to be a breakthrough. It was time for excessive partying when the group learned that even the Comedian Harmonists had recorded a cover version of their song merely two years after the boys started as a Harmonists cover band.
On the photo you can see (clockwise, beginning at the bottom): Fried Walter, Werner Rössler, Herbert Imlau, Erich Bergau and Olaf Meitzner.
Not long after this recording, Imlau decided to quit the group and to devote himself to classical music. He soon changed his mind, however, and two years later started the Spree-Revellers. His departure lead to several changes in the line-up, and it took some time until a new, stable version of the group became the idols of the youth and the horror of the parents ...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 30s
• close
• harmony
• vocal
• group
• German
• Humoresk
• Melodios
• Grammophon
• Comedian
• Harmonists
• novelty

[mikemcgee]

where these the Third Reich replacements for the comedian Harmonicas? how many copy cats where there in Germany at the time?

[byline7844]

Thank you for the music and the story. Enjoyed both.