Freitag, Januar 05, 2007

Kai Warner - Warner Plays Wagner (1971)



Well, it´s just one letter, but what a difference that makes! Warner interpretes Wagner. No other artist of the Easy-Listening crowd ever DARED to touch Richard Wagner, because he was always related to a) a gay Bavarian wannabe-king named Ludwig and b) a psychotic wannabe-worldleader named Adolf. He was their favorite composer, and they both became fanatic of him. Ludwig´s castle "Neuschwanstein", which you can visit in Disneyland (for my American guests) or in Germany, a little south of Munich, had all paintings of scenes from Wagner-operas in it. One favorite track of Richard Wagner was featured in the "Blues Brothers" movie too, namely the "Ride of the Valkyries", when Henry Gibson flew away in his car...

Despite all those negative connotations, Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883) was one of Germany´s best composers. And Kai Warner (whose real name was Werner Last, and who was a brother of James) was one of Germany´s best bandleaders, so what could have gone wrong? Nothing! Nevertheless, this LP doesn´t feature Wagner´s "boombastic" opera sound. Most people can hardly stand a three-day opera like "The Ring of the Nibelungs", so Mr. Warner took the melodic stuff of Richard Wagner like "Winterstürme", "Abendstern" or "Am stillen Herd" to please the crowd on this great album from 1971. It´s VERY rare, because many Germans didn´t like it in 1971, and it wasn´t a million-seller back then...

7 Kommentare:

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ hat gesagt…

Are James Last and Kai Warner the same person. They sure look alot alike. I can say I have never seen them in the same place at the same time. Thanks for the share!

LP

Roman hat gesagt…

Almost. They´re brothers... ;o)

Anonym hat gesagt…

Hi Roman~
Happy New Year!
Can you post the whole record??
I'd love to hear it!!!
thanks
r o b

Anonym hat gesagt…

I don't suppose this album can be shared in full?

Anonym hat gesagt…

Dear Roman, thank you very much for this precious gem. It is really beautiful! Would it be possible for you to post the whole album please? Danke schon.
Sophie

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ hat gesagt…

Duh! You take the time to type all that out and I should take the time to read it. Shame on me! Thanks again. LP

Vinyl Room hat gesagt…

Yeah,thanks for that too.