Song Of The Day 10/7/2015: Drafi – “Marble Breaks and Iron Bends”
Deutscher’s biggest hit was “Marmor, Stein und Eisen Bricht,” thoughtfully translated for English-speaking audiences into “Marble Breaks and Iron Bends” (#80, 1966). Although lyrically it’s Schlager all the way, instrumentally it’s a partial concession to rock and roll with those staccato guitar chords in the intro and the very pleasant release in the chorus. The "dum-dum" refrain in the verses is typical Schlager strategy. Otherwise it’s a welcome rave-up.
Oh, why was Drafi fascinating? He became one of German music’s most sought-after producers, bringing people like Boney M and Tony Christie to prominence. He almost shot it all to hell in 1967, when he was convicted and sentenced for public indecency. This would refer to a brief moment of drunken lunacy when he urinated from a balcony in full view of some schoolchildren. Say what you will about Jim Morrison, at least his whipped-out member had some limits. The conviction was so devastating that Deutscher had to use a pseudonym for all his professional efforts for quite some time afterwards. Nowadays that kind of behavior gets you a show on TLC.