Beat Frauleins

Why hasn't there been a collection like this before, when most other European female singers of the 60s have already been charted, evaluated and pressed onto a shiny silver disc? It could be argued that Germany's girls are widely regarded musically as Europe's ugly stepsister. Its Fräuleins will always be measured against two much-admired beauties: the UK's Brit girls and the French Yéyé mademoiselles. The Brits were at the forefront of musical ingenuity. This was, after all, the decade of the British musical invasion and the UK was the very epicentre of pop. The French on the other hand, had nonchalantly invented a new type of Lolita singer - provocative, flirtatious and at the same incredible stylish and cool. And while the Fräuleins might not sing like Dusty or look like Sylvie, we ask you to take a step back, listen and recognise their individual charms. These young Germans were not as insipid as their collective reputation might lead you to believe. What the Germans brought to this mix was the catchiness and straightforwardness of schlager and a severe dedication to fine-tuning. Krautrock and Kraftwerk were still a decade away, but there was a certain playfulness that hinted at things to come. We have carefully selected 19 slices of German girl pop that should prove that these Fräuleins have no reason to hide bashfully behind their European sisters.