a r t i s t : Gerry Tenney & Betty Albert Schreck
t i t l e : Let's Sing A Yiddish Song
d a t e : 1988
l a b e l : Global Village
g e n r e : Folk
r l s. d a t e : May/2007
t r a c k s : 13
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 39,4 MB
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Gerry Tenney has long been one of the pillars on which the San
Francisco Bay Area Yiddish and Klez communities rely. Even
when he isn't performing, he is often the person to bring the
sound equipment and to ensure that a benefit or other worthy
concert happens. In the '80s he and his wife, Leslie, appeared
frequently, either as a duo, or with friends, singing Yiddish
songs and creating an unusually heimish (homelike) atmosphere.
A concert featuring Gerry or Betty is the equivalent of being
invited into a large living room and being made feel welcome.
This is especially important when recording Yiddish folk
songs, as the temptation in recent years has been to either
drown them in cutesy orchestral arrangements, or to sing down
to the (presumably?) childish audience. These days they most
often appear as "California Klezmer," and, depending on the
occasion, incorporate various amounts of everything from
Yiddish rock 'n' roll to straight-ahead
impossible-to-sit-still klez
Although many of the songs on this recording are intended for
kids, the singers manage to make this an album that everyone
will want to listen to. Consider this the obviation of
"shmaltz." Yes, Virginia, Yiddish folk songs can be sung as
though they are fun! Needless to say, the Bay Area's best
musicians showed up to provide backup, and have a grand time.
This is a wonderful Yiddish recording. This is one of the very
rare Yiddish recordings that is worth listening to, and fun to
listen to. What more can I say of the disk containing the
definitive recording of "Oy Mayn Kepele".
--Ari Davidow
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01-amol is geven (once upon a time) [03:16]
02-lomir zingen a yiddish lid [03:19]
(let us sing a yiddish song)
03-helf ich mamen (helping mother) [02:48]
04-hob ich mir a mantl (once i had a garment) [03:38]
05-tsu dayn geburtstog (for your birthday) [00:40]
06-hop dunai dunai (the boss is at the door) [02:37]
07-homen's tantz (homen's dance) [02:25]
08-oi mayn kepele (oh, my head) [01:56]
09-hob ich a por oxsn (i have a pair of oxen) [02:11]
10-tayere malke (dearest malke) [02:41]
11-yomele yomele (folk song) [02:05]
12-ich min poysin ivy (poisen ivy) [02:19]
13-vig lid (sleep my child) [04:41]
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34:36 min