Alice Babs meets Erwin Lehn

Alice Babs, the famous Swedish singer and actress, was mostly seen in the industry as the crooning "Swedish girl," known for the film of the same name, which was very popular in post-war Germany. But following her true passion, the vocalist also ventured into swinging and jazzy realms again and again. This was also the merit of Erwin Lehn, who invited her to the microphones of his legendary Südfunk dance orchestra from 1952 onwards. That this was more than a good idea can be heard on the recordings that were made on various occasions between 1952 and 1955 in the studio of the Stuttgart Villa Berg. On the one hand, Alice Babs's rootedness in European vocal culture can be heard, but on the other hand, the presence and clarity of her interpretations are impressive. In every one of the songs is the smile of her own enthusiasm, which also makes Erwin Lehn's orchestra shine acoustically. For this reason alone, these finds from the SWR archives are jewels of European swing history.