Merna Claire
At Home with the Barry Sisters

The Barry
Sisters

The Barry Sisters were the first to bring popular adaptations of Yiddish folk songs to a mass audience. It took just one record or so for them to be established as the United States' leading exponents of Yiddish Swing. From that point on, their tremendous abilities --as international pop singers, a hugely successful sister act, and two fun, charming beauties-- quickly led to international stardom. No small part of their success was the wonderful talent of arranger, conductor, and composer Abraham Ellstein, a major leader of dance orchestras and symphonies.

Claire's voice is the higher; the late Merna's was lower. What did they sing? Everything from a rollicking Hava Nagila, Roumania, Abi Gezunt, Ay Ay Hora, Zuges Mir Noch Amool, Die Greene Koseene, and Dem Nyem Scher (same as Carmen Miranda and the Andrews Sisters' "Wedding Samba") to Around the World, Ciao Ciao Bambina, Cry Me a River, Misty, Why Don't You Do Right, and a fairly scandalous version of Who's Sorry Now. They were regulars on the "Ed Sullivan Show," Jack Paar's show, and "Tonight" in addition to being mainstays at top nightspots in several countries. The Barry repertoire included songs in nine languages. So, as long as you don't have fifty childhood bar (or bat) mitzvahs to get over, and even if you do, the Barry Sisters are the perfect pop blend of fun and first-rate talent.

Claire takes aim in Israel Claire is still going strong as the millennium winds down, looking and performing as well as --or better than-- ever. We wish her the very best. A special thanks to her for visiting Hyp Records!



Barry Sisters LPs

Rating
7The Barry Sisters; Cadence CLP-4001
7At Home with the Barry Sisters; Roulette SR-25060 (w/Abe Ellstein)
7Side by Side; Roulette SR-25136
6We Belong Together; Roulette SR-25156; 1961 (w/Jerry Fielding)
6Shalom; Roulette SR-25157
6The Barry Sisters in Israel (live); Roulette SR-25198
The World of the Barry Sisters: Memorable Jewish Melodies; Roulette SR-25258
7Our Way (Tahka-Tahka); Roulette/Mainstream/Red Lion MRL-393; 1973 (w/Jim Tyler, Jerry Graff)
6Fiddler on the Roof; ABC-Paramount ABCS-516
5Something Spanish; ABC-Paramount ABCS-578 (arr. & cond. Chico O'Farrill)
7A Time To Remember; ABC-Paramount ABCS-597
8The Barry Sisters; Banner BA-1009 (compiles 78s--their earliest recordings?)


Barry Sisters 45s

Rating
6I Hate to Lose You/Let Me Be Your Honey Honey; Cadence 1262
7Intrigue/Till You Come Back to Me; Cadence 1295 (A side from movie "Foreign Intrigue")
6The Door is Open/Big Dilemma; Cadence 1326 (B-side crossover calypso)
5I Hear Bells/I Get Up Ev'ry Morning; Roulette R-4114; 1958
7I'll Wait/Mama, May I?; Roulette R-4197; 1958
Who Do You Belong To/Our Love is...; ABC 10713


Barry Sisters 78s

Rating
8Bei Mir Bistu Shein/Mein Yiddishe Meidele; Banner B-2036 (w/Sam Medoff)
7Pound Your Table Polka (One More Chorus)/Old Chief Walla Hoo; Standard T-2005 (w/Sammy Meade's Orchestra)


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