The Magic of Marlene (also issued as The Best of Marlene Dietrich and Die Besten Von Marlene Dietrich) is a compilation album by German-American singer and actress Marlene Dietrich, released in 1970 by Odeon Records as part of its Worldwide Series.
The collection compiles material from Dietrich's 1960s albums Wiedersehen mit Marlene (1960) and Die neue Marlene, both recorded during a period of artistic transition following her post-Hollywood career. It includes performances in German and English, blending elements of chanson, cabaret, and popular music. It also features the single "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", a song written by Pete Seeger in 1955 and recorded by Dietrich under the direction of Norman Newell.
The Magic of Marlene combines songs from 1960s albums: Wiedersehen mit Marlene (1960), Die neue Marlene (titled only Marlene in the LP) (1964). The first album originated during Dietrich's emotionally charged 1960 return to West Germany, a tour marked by both public admiration and intense hostility. Despite artistic success, the tour's financial failure and personal toll led her to refuse future returns. Marketed as live, the album was actually studio recordings enhanced with overdubbed applause, though the reissue (and the present album) removed these effects.[1][2] Recorded in London in 1964, Die neue Marlene (The New Marlene) introduced Dietrich's renewed artistic direction. Featuring chansons, a Christmas track, and a new Spoliansky composition, the album notably departed from her earlier collaborations with Burt Bacharach. Originally planned as Sag mir wo die Blumen sind, it was retitled to reflect her evolving public image and creative reinvention.[3][4]
The single "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" (His Master's Voice – POP 1379) is also featured, a folk song written by Pete Seeger in 1955, adapted from the Cossack folk tune "Koloda-Duda" and set to an Irish melody.[5] The song was later honored with induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002.[6] According to Billboard, Dietrich first recorded the piece in Englishin London in 1963 under Norman Newell's direction, though dissatisfied with the results, she subsequently re-recorded the vocals in Paris before the single's eventual Australian release in December 1965.[7][8]Cash Box gave the single a “B” rating in its April 18, 1964 issue,[9] while Record Mirror described it as a professional release, praising Burt Bacharach’s delicate arrangement and Dietrich’s gentle, effective interpretation of Seeger’s song.[10]
Release
The album was released in 1970 by Odeon, as part of their "Worldwide Series" – a line of LPs dedicated to compilations by renowned artists. This series included similarly titled releases, such as The Magic of Theodorakis (catalogue no. PSCX 6399, 1E 062 ◦ 28498), The Magic of Edith Piaf (SCX 6401), andThe Magic of Amalia Rodrigues (SCX 6407).
Despite the series' unified title, Dietrich's edition received distinct treatment in some markets: in the Netherlands (#6E 054-28498) and Denmark (#6E 054-28498), it was marketed as The Best of Marlene Dietrich,[11] while in Greece it was incorporated into the Portrait of collection (#SCXG 13019) by Columbia Records, an EMI subsidiary.[12] Later, in 1973, it was reissued in Netherlands with new cover and titled Die Besten Von Marlene Dietrich.[13] In its February 26, 1977 issue, Billboard reported the release of the album in Norway.[14]
Alan Street, the CBS's catalogue marketing manager, cited the project Worldwide Series as an unexpected success case: "A couple of years ago we did an album called Magic Moments [The Magic of series], available at mid-price and featuring many of the old favourites — we were staggered at its success." According to a 1985's Music Week report, the strong commercial performance of this mid-priced LP series validated the market's appetite for nostalgic re-releases and directly paved the way for the development of the next LP series.[16]
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