CD CORNER : Wide Range of Stars Sing Irving Berlin Songs

Politics makes strange bedfellows, and so does pop music. Who would imagine an album featuring vocals by such varied performers as Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Sam Cooke, Paul Anka, Mickey Rooney, Kate Smith and Julie Andrews?

Or what about a lineup of Bing Crosby, Connie Boswell, Eddie Cantor, Fred Astaire, Johnny Mathis and Judy Holliday?

Those groupings can be found on separate albums saluting the music of the late Irving Berlin. And the diversity makes sense, because Berlin’s best music appealed to such a wide cross-section of America--songs, from “White Christmas” to “Easter Parade,” that were graced with the same timeless feel of Stephen Foster.

The first group of stars--along with Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Della Reese, John Gary and the Boston Pops Orchestra--is found on RCA’s “The Irving Berlin Songbook/A Centennial Celebration.” It’s a 15-song, 39-minute budget CD (retailing for about $10).

The second list of artists--as well as Gene Austin, Ethel Waters and the Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee--is featured on Columbia’s “Irving Berlin/A Hundred Years.” This mid-line release (about $13-$14 in most stores) contains 21 songs (including two medleys) and runs 73 minutes.

Though both CDs were released last year as part of Berlin’s 100th birthday celebration, there is likely to be renewed interest in them after the large outpouring of affection since the composer’s death last month.

Neither album can claim the definitive versions of the various songs because the selections were apparently limited to recordings that had been released on the respective labels. The Columbia package generally consists of recordings from the ‘30s and ‘40s, while the RCA album leans to ‘50s and ‘60s recordings.

For those who prefer to hear Berlin songs done by a single singer (and a great one), Verve Records has released on CD two volumes of Ella Fitzgerald’s “The Irving Berlin Songbook.” Each mid-line CD contains 16 songs and runs 47 minutes. The 1958 albums feature the backing of conductor-arranger Paul Weston and his orchestra.

Also available in CD from Verve are Fitzgerald’s salutes to such other prized songwriters as Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hart and George and Ira Gershwin.