Esther Ofarim and Abraham

Esther Ofarim and Abraham is the American debut album by Israeli folk duo Esther & Abi Ofarim. It was released on Philips Records in 1963. The album was titled Songs Der Welt in Germany.

Esther Ofarim and Abraham
Studio album by
Esther & Abi Ofarim
ReleasedSeptember 1963
Recorded1963
Genre
LabelPhilips
ProducerMilton Okun
Esther & Abi Ofarim chronology
Foibles and Fables
(1962)		 Esther Ofarim and Abraham
(1963)		 Melodie Einer Nacht
(1965)
Singles from Esther Ofarim and Abraham
  1. "Lay-La"
    Released: 1963
  2. "Viva La Feria"
    Released: 1963
  3. "Cha Cha Ballahoo"
    Released: 1965

Recording and release

Singer Esther Ofarim and her husband Abi Ofarim relocated from Israel to Switzerland in 1963. Esther represented Switzerland in the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, where she came in second place with the song "T'en va pas."[1] The competition gave her considerable exposure and she signed to Philips Records.[2] Prior to Eurovision, Esther had won first place in the Kol Israel song contest and the Sopot International Song Festival.[3]

The duo recorded the album during their personal appearances in the United States in 1963.[4] The musical direction, arrangement and production was done by Milton Okun. The Ofarims recorded songs in French, Hebrew, Spanish, and English with Abi accompanying on guitar.

The album opens with "Dirty Old Town" by British folk singer Ewan MacColl. "Viva La Feria" is a traditional Spanish folk song. "Adama Adamanti" and "Lay-La" are songs from the Ofarims' native Israel. "Cha Cha Ballahoo" is a calypso influenced song. "Every Night," a song originally from Scotland, was revived by folklorist Cecil Sharp.[5] There are more traditional folk songs on Side B with "Freight Train" and "Oh Waly Waly," the latter is a rendition of "The Water Is Wide." Esther sings in French on "Entends Tu Le Vent" and Spanish on "Ya Viene Marzo Con Flores."

Esther Ofarim and Abraham was released in the United States in September 1963.[6] In Germany, the album was released as Songs Der Welt (Songs of the World), and reached No. 2 on the Albums chart in 1966.[7]

Critical reception

The album was chosen as Billboard's Folk Special Merit pick.[6]

Billboard (September 14, 1963):

Miss Ofarim has achieved considerable distinction in her native Israel as a folk stylist and actress. Here she makes her American disk debut, with a collection of folk material with French, Spanish and American roots. Particularly impressive is her apparent complete mastery of English which she sings without a trace of accent. Her voice is pure and sincere, and her support from brother Abraham on guitar is superior. The traditional "Freight Train" with wonderful guitar licks is especially rewarding.[6]

Track listing
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dirty Old Town"Ewan MacColl2:30
2."Viva La Feria"Traditional1:45
3."My Fisherman, My Lady-O"Waldo Salt & Earl Robinson3:10
4."Lay-La"Nathan Alterman & Mordechai Zeira2:35
5."Cha Cha Ballahoo"Fran Minkoff & Fred Hellerman2:27
6."Every Night"Milton Okun2:46
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Adama Adamati"Alexander Penn, Mordechai Zeira1:54
2."Entends Tu Le Vent"Henry Lemarchand, Louis Rey2:10
3."Freight Train"Traditional2:29
4."Oh Waly Waly"Milton Okun3:01
5."Oh Babe You're Gonna Wonder"Tom Paxton2:25
6."Ya Viene Marzo Con Flores"Milton Okun2:25

Chart performance
Songs Der Welt
Chart (1966) Peak
position
Germany[8] 2
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References
  1. Wedge, Don (April 6, 1963). "Denmark Wins Eurovision Final, Edging Switzerland" (PDF). Billboard: 3.
  2. "International News Report" (PDF). Billboard: 33. June 8, 1963.
  3. "Polish Song Fest Names Winners" (PDF). Billboard: 26. August 11, 1962.
  4. "Holland" (PDF). Cash Box: 50. November 9, 1963.
  5. Lomax, Alan (1994-01-01). American Ballads and Folk Songs. Courier Corporation. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-486-28276-3.
  6. "Album Reviews: Special Merit Picks" (PDF). Billboard: 32. September 14, 1963.
  7. "Esther Ofarim & Abraham - Songs Der Welt". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  8. "Esther Ofarim & Abraham - Songs Der Welt". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
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