The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

By JOHN EDGAR WEI R MUSIC in the MOVIES All you want to know about those grand tunes in this month's pictures LOVERS of music in the movies will find much to delight them ' in several of the new pictures. In Bing Crosby's latest Paramount production "Here Is My Heart," released this month, you will hear three songs. They are "June in January," "With Every Breath I Take," and "Love is Just Around the Corner." These tunes were fashioned especially for Bing by Leo Robin and Ralph Grainger, who gave us "Love in Bloom." Incidentally, "Love in Bloom" won for these two hit writers the prize awarded by The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, for the year's best song. Recordings of two of these songs are reviewed by this department. United Artists also retains its stellar position in the musical picture field with Eddie Cantor's starring vehicle "Kid Millions." Eddie himself sings, among others, "Okay, Toots" and "When My Ship Comes In." And by way of something different revives "Mandy" one of his old Ziegfeld Follies favorites. The vocal charms of Ethel Merman and Ann Sothern further enhance this production. To launch Joe Penner on his first starring picture, "College Rhythm," Paramount selected the famous song-writing team of Gordon and Revel to write the musical score. These boys who were responsible for the sensational "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?" have provided a number of excellent songs, outstanding of which are the title number, "College Rhythm," and "Stay As Sweet As You Are." TN this month's selection of rec■■■ ords for review, you will note that the numbers, for the most part, are fox trots of the sweet melodic type, in the same vein as the "Love Thy Neighbor" variety. However, one selection in waltz jto *& *"! time makes a bid for favor. And now let us look at the records. The outstanding record of the month is, in our opinion, Richard Himber's recording of "June in January" from Bing's picture, "Here Is My Heart." This number is given first place because of the sheer beauty of its melody, its appealing lyric, Joey Nash's splendid vocal, and Richard Himber's excellent interpretation. The number, a sweet melodic type, is ideally suited to the suave Himber style. A unique harp introduction launches his aggregation into one of the outstanding arrangements of the month. Four fiddles lend distinctive charm throughout, and Joey Nash in the vocal does a grand job with an interesting lyric. The reverse side carries "With Every Breath I Take" from the same production. This one is also of the melodic type but with a more HITS OF THE MONTH Best Number "JUNE IN JANUARY," played by Richard Himber and his orchestra. (Victor) Also Outstanding "OKAY TOOTS!", played by the Dorsey Bros, orchestra. (Decca) "COLLEGE RHYTHM," played by Jolly Coburn and his Society Orchestra. (Victor) "HAPPINESS AHEAD," played by Ted Lewis and his band. (Decca) "FLIRTATION WALK," played by Eddie Duchin and his orchestra. (Victor) The charming view of a barber-shop duet above gives you an idea of how Hugh Herbert and Donald Woods perform in "Sweet Adeline." At the left are Douglass Montgomery and June Lang, the young lovers of "Music in the Air." pronounced rhythm, and Himber and his tunitions make the most of it. Again Joey Nash does the vocal with fine tonal shading and expression. (Victor) QKAY TOOTS! (from the ^-^ United Artists picture "Kid Millions" starring Eddie Cantor) is played by the Dorsey Brothers orchestra. Obviously designed for the familiar Cantor style, this one is light and rollicking. The Dorseys make it doubly interesting with a haunting three-trombone interlude and a sizzling bit of clarinet interpolation by Jimmy Dorsey. The band trio puts over the vocal in captivating style. If you like jazz in the modernistic manner you'll go for this. "An Earful of Music," on the opposite side, is more than an earful the way the Dorsey brothers do it, and it's very danceable. Brilliant brass work predominates and Kay Webber's swell vocal is also an earful. (Decca) "p OLLEGE RHYTHM" (from ^ the Paramount picture of the same name starring Joe Penner) is played by Jolly Coburn and his society orchestra. It remained for Gordon and Revel, Hollywood's most versatile tunesmiths, to create something new in campus rhythm. This is it. "College Rhythm" is a clever conglomeration of the fox-trot and rhumba, with even a touch of the negro spiritual. Jolly Coburn and his society orchestra gets everything out of it and that's plenty. A stirring vocal ensemble is its outstanding feature. In marked contrast, the other side offers "Stay As Sweet As You. Are," a really beautiful tune with a fine lyric. A perfectly blended saxophone section furnishes a charming bit of smooth and subdued harmonies. Roy Strom sings the vocal chorus pleasingly. (Victor) "T-JAPPINESS AHEAD," from ■*■ Warner Bros, picture of the same name starring Dick Powell, is played by Ted Lewis and his band. Maestros come and maestros go but the "high-hatted tragedian of jazz" seems to go on forever. If you're a Ted Lewis fan you'll love this. Ted's inimitable clarinet playing is a standout. On the reverse of this platter Ted does nobly by "Pop! Goes Your Heart" from the same picture. Although Lewis still retains the style of delivery that made him famous, his band is geared to the modern mood. (Decca) HP HE film "The Gay Divorcee" -* is chock-full of tunes, and the best one in my estimation is Cole Porter's "Night and Day." This is carried over from the original stage play, and played by Eddie Duchin and his orchestra. Unless I am very much mistaken this identical record was turned out by Duchin last year, but neither the tune nor the record has lost anything in that space of time and they are both just as good as ever. "Speak to Me of Love" is on the other side. It is served up in the distinctive style of Eddie Duchin. Lew Sherwood does the vocal work. (Brunswick) "TA CUCARACHA," from the L> film "Viva Villa and the color short, "La Cucaracha," is played in true Latin manner by the Mexican Bluebird Orchestra. Everyone is familiar with this tune by this time, as it seemed to take the country by storm, just as the Peanut Vendor did a few years ago. "Pajarillo Barranqueno" is the mouthful on the other side. Also played by the Mexican Bluebird Orchestra and on the same order as the one on the preceding side. (Bluebird) DING CROSBY gives us an en*-* joyable few minutes with his singing of "I'm Hummin', I'm Singin', I'm Whistlin' " from the picture "She Loves Me Not." I know that everyone who saw the picture will want this record for Bing is just as good on the wax as he is on the screen. Irving Aaronson's orchestra furnishes the instrumental background. "Give Me a Heart to Sing to" is on the other side. It's sung also by Bing Crosby with Irving Aaronson's orchestra, furnishing the background.' (Brunswick) "TF I HAD A MILLION DOL1 LARS" (from the Reliance picture, "Transatlantic Merry-GoRound,") is played by Richard Himber and his orchestra. Dick Himber returns this time with a fine recording of what may be one of the season's biggest song hits. As in his recording reviewed above, brilliant brass and string ensembles are featured. Joey Nash again does the vocal. The reverse side offers the popular "Stars Fell on Alabama." A subtone clarinet offers a striking contrast playing the melody against a background furnished by the entire ensemble. Vocal chorus by Joey Nash. (Victor). 4G The Ncio Movie Magazine, January, 1935