Marlene Dietrich's recording career spanned sixty years, from 1928 until 1988. She introduced the songs "Falling in Love Again (Can't Help It)" (from the film The Blue Angel) and "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" (from Destry Rides Again). She first recorded her version of "Lili Marlene" in 1945.
Her first long-playing album, Marlene Dietrich Overseas, was a prestige success for Columbia Records in 1950. She also recorded several duets with Rosemary Clooney in the early 1950s: these tapped into a younger market and charted.Bach, 1992. p 364. During the 1960s, Dietrich recorded several albums and many singles, mostly with Burt Bacharach at the helm of the orchestra.Bach, 1992. p 525. Dietrich in London, recorded live at the Queen's Theatre in 1964,Bach, 1992. p 526. is an enduring document of Dietrich in concert.
In 1978, Dietrich's performance of the title track from her last film, Just a Gigolo, was issued as a single.Bach, 1992. p 176. She made her last recordings — spoken introductions to songs for a nostalgia album by Udo Lindenberg — from her Paris apartment in 1987.Bach, 1992. p 472.
Dietrich told Maximilian Schell in his documentary, Marlene (1984), that she thought Marlene singt Berlin-Berlin (1964) – her interpretations of Berliner popular songs from the start of the 20th century – was her best album.
Albums
Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positionsGERPeak positions for Germany: Die neue Marlene: "Der blonde Engel – Marlene 100": Decca Presents Marlene Dietrich (The Souvenir Album) Released: 1940 Label: Decca Records Formats: LP — Overseas Released: 1951 Label: Columbia Records Formats: LP — Die neue Marlene Released: 1965 Label: Electrola Formats: LP 34 Marlene singt Berlin, Berlin Released: 1965 Label: Polydor Records Formats: LP —
Live albums Title Album details At the Café de Paris Released: 1954 Label: Columbia Records Formats: LP Dietrich in Rio Released: 1960 Label: Columbia Records Formats: LP Wiedersehen mit Marlene Released: 1960 Label: Electrola Formats: LP Dietrich in London Released: 1965 Label: Pye Records/Columbia Records Formats: LP
Extended Plays Title Album details Rosie and Marlene. Released: 1953 Label: Columbia Records Format: LP Marlène Released: 1962 Label: La Voix De Son Maître Format: LP (#EGF 597)
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart positionsGER Marlene Dietrich SingsReleased: 1948 Label: Vox Records Formats: 3 × Shellac, 10"— Marlene DietrichReleased: 1957 Label: Decca Records Formats: LP— The Legendary Marlene DietrichReleased: 1967 Label: Music for Pleasure Formats: LP— The Magic of MarleneReleased: 1970 Label: Odeon Formats: LP— The Best of Marlene DietrichReleased: 1973 Label: Columbia Records Formats: LP— Marlene Dietrich in DeutschlandReleased: 1976 Label: EMI Formats: LP— Ich Bin Von Kopf Bis Fuß Auf Liebe EingestelltReleased: 1980 Label: Odeon Records Formats: LP— MarlèneReleased: 1981 Label: EMI Electrola Formats: LP— Con PlumasReleased: 1982 Label: EMI Odeon Formats: LP— The Legendary, Lovely MarleneReleased: 1982 Label: MCA Records Formats: LP— The Best of Marlene DietrichReleased: 1985 Label: EMI Records Formats: LP— The Blue Angel — The Original RecordingsBach, 1992. p 522.Released: 1990 Label: Pro Arte Digital Formats: CD— The Essential Marlene DietrichReleased: 1991 Label: Capitol Records Formats: CD, digital download— On Screen, Stage and RadioReleased: 1992 Label: Legend Formats: CD, digital download The Cosmopolitan Marlene Dietrich— Released: 1993 Label: Sony Music Formats: CD— Falling in Love AgainReleased: 1998 Label: MCA Records Formats: CD— Marlene Dietrich – Legends Of The 20th Century – Original RecordingsReleased: 1999 Label: EMI Music Formats: CD— Der Blonde Engel – 25 LiederReleased: 2001 Label: EMI Formats: CD98 Marlene ForeverReleased: 2002 Label: Universal Music Formats: CD— Classic: The Universal Masters CollectionReleased: 2003 Label: Milan Music Formats: CD, digital download— Love SongsReleased: 2004 Label: Columbia Records Formats: CD, digital download— The Ultimate CollectionReleased: 2015 Label: Universal Music Group Formats: CD, digital download— Marlene Dietrich W Warszawie Z Archiwum Polskiego RadiaReleased: 2017 Label: Polskie Radio Formats: CD, digital download—
Box sets Title Album details The Magic of Marlene Released: 1969 Label: Capitol (#DTCR-300) Format: LP Marlène Released: 1974 Label: CBS (#CBS 66317) Format: LP The Legendary Marlene DietrichReleased: 1978 Label: Columbia Special Products Formats: LP Mythos und Legende / Myth and Legend Released: 1994 Label: EMI Electrola (#8 31420 2) Format: CD Der Blonde Engel – Die Retrospektive Released: 2001 Label: Toshiba EMI Format: CD Marlene DietrichReleased: 2022 Label: Electrola (#06024 4821060) Formats: CD, digital download
Video albums Title Album details An Evening with Marlene Dietrich. Released: 1986 Label: EMI Format: VHS, LD
Other Hermine: Udo Lindenberg singt Lieder von 1929 bis 1988 (* Spoken verse introduction to Illusions and Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte)
Many of Dietrich's numerous radio performances have been included on compilations of her music.
The Polish label Wifon issued a cassette tape of a Dietrich concert, recorded in Warsaw in 1966, in 1992 (catalogue number MC283). The release contained the following tracks: "I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby", "You're the Cream in my Coffee", "My Blue Heaven", "See What the Boys in the Backroom Will Have", "The Laziest Gal in Town", "Shir Hatan", "La Vie en Rose", "Jonny", "Go 'Way From My Window", "Don't Smoke in Bed", "Lola", "Marie–Marie" and "Frag nicht warum ich gehe".
A limited special edition of the book Photographs and Memories (published in 2001 by Nicolai, Berlin) included a recording of the soundtrack of Dietrich's 1963 filmed concert at Berns Salonger as an audio CD bonus.
The Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin's archival holdings include soundtrack prerecording discs and unissued radio and concert recordings.
The following of Dietrich's studio recordings remain unreleased: "Du, du liegst mir im Herzen", "Aus der Jugendzeit", "Das zerbrochene Ringlein", "Treue Liebe" (all recorded July 1954 with Jimmy Carroll and orchestra)Bach, 1992. p. 524. and "Wot cher! [Knocked 'Em In the Old Kent Road]" (recorded in 1955 with Wally Stott and orchestra).
Singles: 1928 - 1954 Recordings first issued on 78 rpm records:Bach, 1992. p 525 - 528.Manfred Weihermüller: Discographie der deutschen Kleinkunst. Vol. 1., p. 51 – 54. Bonn: Lotz 1991.
Year Song title (A-Side) Song title (B-Side) Label Catalogue Nr Notes 1928 "Wenn die beste Freundin" – Electrola EG 892 Duet with Margo Lion and Oskar Karlweis. From Es liegt in der Luft. 1928 "Potpourri from Es liegt in der Luft, Part 1" "Potpourri from Es liegt in der Luft, Part 2" Electrola EH 146 Selections from the revue performed by the cast. 1930 "Falling in Love Again" "Blonde Women" HMV B 3524 From The Blue Angel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. 1930 "Naughty Lola" Victor 22593 From The Blue Angel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. 1930 "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt" "Nimm dich in Acht vor blonden Frau'n" Electrola EG 1770 From Der Blaue Engel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. Two versions of "Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß..." were recorded on different dates. Both were issued under the same catalogue number. 1930 "Ich bin die fesche Lola" "Kinder, heut' abend, da such ich mir was aus" Electrola EG 1802 From Der Blaue Engel. Orchestra: Friedrich Hollaender. 1930 "Wenn ich mir was wünschen dürfte" "Leben ohne Liebe kannst du nicht" Electrola EG 2265 From "Der Mann, der seinen Mörder sucht" / "Nie wieder Liebe". Piano: Friedrich Hollaender / Mischa Spoliansky 1931 "Peter" "Jonny" Ultraphon A 887 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1931 "Jonny" (Alternate Version) Ultraphon AP 249 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1931 "Quand l'Amour Meurt" "Give Me the Man" Electrola EG 2775 From Morocco. Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1933 "Assez" "Moi, Je M'Ennuie" Polydor 524180 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1933 "Assez" (Alternate Take) Decca M 452 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1933 "Allein in einer grossen Stadt" "Mein blondes Baby" Polydor 524181 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. 1933 Deutsche Grammophon 25296 1933 "Ja, so bin ich" "Wo ist der Mann?" Polydor 524182 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. Trumpet: Arthur Briggs. 1933 "Wo ist der Mann?" "Warum, warum hast dumir weh’ getan" (Sung by Tatjana Birkigt) Deutsche Grammophon 47002 Orchestra: Peter Kreuder. Trumpet: Arthur Briggs. 1935 "If It Isn't Pain (Then It Isn't Love)" "Three Sweethearts Have I" Decca The Devil is a Woman promotional issue. 1939 "I've Been In Love Before" "You Do Something To Me" Decca 23139 Orchestra: Victor Young. 1939 "You've Got that Look" "You Go To My Head" Decca 23140 Orchestra: Victor Young. 1939 "Falling in Love Again" "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have" Decca 23141 Orchestra: Victor Young. 1945 "Lili Marlene" "Symphonie" Decca 23456 Orchestra: Charles Magnante. 1948 "Illusions" "Black Market" Decca A14582 From A Foreign Affair. 1952 "Too Old to Cut the Mustard" "Good for Nothin'" Columbia 39812 Duets with Rosemary Clooney. Only single to make US pop chart, peaking at No. 12. 1952 "Come Rain or Come Shine" "Love Me" Columbia 39797 1953 "Time For Love" "Look Me Over Closely" Columbia 39959 1953 "Dot's Nice — Donna Fight" "It's The Same" Columbia 39980 Duets with Rosemary Clooney. 1953 Philips PH 21057 1953 "Besides" "Land Sea and Air" Philips PB 314 Duets with Rosemary Clooney. 1954 "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin" "Peter" Columbia 40497
Singles: 1957 – 1978 Recordings first issued as 7" (45 rpm, except where noted otherwise) singles: