Screenland (Feb-Oct 1949)

"Tree In The Meadow." Then he outSinatras Frank on the one from Christina's Daddy's own flicker — "The Kissing Bandit"— "I Offer You The Moon, Senorita." Vic's adenoids are as delicious as his Mom's ravioli — and this kid knows! Yummy! (Mercury) Margaret Whiting — This rascal etched "Far Away Places," too — planting another hit right next to that "Tree" which so many record buyers leaned against. And Maggie's packed this ten-inch travelogue with a heap of heart. T'other cheek is "My Own True Love," from the Paramount celluloid of the same handle — a smart tune which needs more than one needling — but'll stick around longer than cheap fly-by-night pops. (Capitol) Johnny Mercer And Wingy Manone — Oh, put the tailgate down! 'Cause the cracker's on the lacquer with Joe Manone from San Antone — and that's better than ham and cheese! Wingston's Dixie band's on the up face, "The Tailgate Ramble," with him and Johnny riding on the wagon and tattooing a bouncin' bit of two-beat on you. Then they board the "Tuscaloosa Bus" on the under side with the Pied Pipers and Paul Weston and Co. and the vehicle comes on like the "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Hydromatic static! They make a fine team and should cut lotsa shellac! (Capitol) Peter Lind Hayes — Wow! Whatta surprise this is! Pete Hayes is a great comic, actor and monologist — gets off some hilarious characterizations in his club and theatre dates all over the country and does a few things which make use of his tonsils. Well, along came Decca and wound those chords around their label — establishing P. L. H. as definite hit material. There's "My Darling, My Darling," with the Stardusters, "Dainty Brenda Lee," copping the proper shucking from Pete's versatile throat, "That Certain Party," and "Life Gets Tedjus" — all getting just what the doctor ordered. Stuff for every taste here — but "My Darling" is the best. Looks like Petey's made a lot more work for himself 'cause the audiences'll be askin' for these. (Decca) Perfume Set To Music — A languorous sheaf of scents by Corday set to sound — using the theremin, the instrument with the ethereal sound — with a chorus of scented gullets directed by Les Baxter, who used to be in the Mel-Tones. Come and let your ear sniff "Fame," "Jet," "L'Ardente Nuit," "Possession," "Toujours Moi" and "Tzigane." Rapturous sound, and a brilliant idea! (Victor) Johnny Desmond — See that you don't catch cold when you dig Desmo's fresh cookie — 'cause there'll be bunches and gobs of shivers down your fine spine. "Tara Talara Tala" — is a sweet lullaby that'll have you as happy as the babe in the tree top — and is sure to be a big waffle. Flip — "Before Long" — has more of Johnny's soulful breathing on a new ballad. CBS's television star comes on like ermine! (MGM) BEST IN THE NEST "Polka Dots And Moonbeams" — Claude Thornhill (Columbia) "Tara Talara Tala" — Johnny Desmond (MGM) "The Tailgate Ramble" — Johnny Mercer and Wingy Manone (Capitol) "Perfume Set To Music" (Victor Album ) "How High The Moon" — Gene Krupa ( Columbia ) "My Darling, My Darling" — Doris Day and Buddy Clark (Columbia) "Harlem Holiday" — Stan Kenton (Capitol) "A Foggy Day" — Mel Torme (Musicraft) "Say It Isn't So" — Dick Haymes (Decca ) "Suddenly It Jumped" — Duke Ellington (Victor) Stan Kenton — Scrape me off a saucer and call me buttercup! That Kenton gang comes on like Truman! 'Specially on "Harlem Holiday," which gets away from the too progressive and swings like Tarzan from the nearest tree! Sort of a modernized deal on Stan's biscuit of "Harlem Folk Dance" and with the added bongo — wow! And triple wow! Junie Christy puts down some of her finest chirpin' ever on the under side on "Don't Want That Man Around," slow, bluesy deal with lots of interesting changes. Come and get your Kentonia, Caledonia! (Capitol) Buddy Clark-Doris Day — The "Love Somebody" kids flutter like a couple of starlings on "My Darling, My Darling," the beauty from "Where's Charley," and one of the big smasheroos of the year, dear. Then turn right around and revive the oldie, "That Certain Party." Yes they have, you know what! And we mean "Sparkle Plenty" and the baritone lark! They're perf together! (Columbia) Also Ear worthy — FRANK SINATRA'S "If I Steal A Kiss" and "Senorita" from Christina's daddy's fresh flicker, "Kissing Bandit" — pleasant, but not hit stuff (Columbia) . . . EVE YOUNG AND JACK LATHROP'S— "My Darling, My Darling" — another coosome twosome — (Victor) . . . MARTHA TILTON'S welcome reissue of "I'll Remember April"— luscious thrushin' (Capitol) . . . PEARL BAILEY'S "I'm Lazy, That's AH" and "Say It Simple" — more of my girl Pearl's EVELYN KNIGHT (Decca) . . . JOHNNY LAURENZ on "A Red Rose For A Blue Lady," a fetching etching (Mercury) . . . THE PIED PIPERS' reissue of "The Whiffenpoof Song" and "Dream" (Capitol) . . . GORDON MACRAE AND JO STAFFORD entwining their lung tissue on "My Darling, My Darling" and "Girls Were Made To Take Care Of Boys." These kids go together like you and SCREENLAND (Capitol) . . . NELLIE LUTCHER— T Wish I Was In Walla Ditto" — backwards allaw allaw — but like measles. ( Capitol) . . . LENA HORNE— "One For My Baby"— the great Johnny Mercer deal from the flick er, "Road House." Rebaked cookie and delish! (Victor) . . . TEX BENEKE pouring "Blue Champagne" — a sparkling thing! Watch the bubbles! (Victor) . . . Capitol's welcome album, "Join The Band" — wherein you can perform as soloist, or vocalist — to the backgrounds of "Body And Soul," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Sweet Lorraine," "Sunset And Vine Blues," "I Got Rhythm," "I May Be Wrong," "I Surrender Dear," and "Just You, Just Me." S'like singing or playing your instrument with a full band — this one led by Billy May. Great idea! . . . HAL MCINTYRE'S beautiful ear massage of Hoagy Carmichael's "One Morning In May" — one of both H's best (MGM) . . . DINAH SHORE on "Far Away Places" and "Say It Every Day" — enchanting chanting from Melissa's cute Mommy (Columbia) . . . CLAUDE THORNHILL 'S magnificent styling of "Polka Dots And Moonbeams," instrumentally — and you can imagine the red tape he had to go through to do this hit of several years ago that way (Columbia) . . . VIC DAMONE'S "My Fraternity Pin," which '11 stick on you like one (Mercury) . . . and "Say It Isn't So" by KAY KYSER (Columbia) . . . CONNIE HAINES' "My Man" and "Stormy Weather" (Signature) . HOT!!! Gene Krupa— The rascal with the light brown drumsticks (and the Columbia short we made together is flickering around the country so watch for it) tattoos you with a full band explosion on "How High The Moon," the jazz standard and wow! How it leaps! All other cookies on it are by small groups, this the first big band one. Flip has Anita O'Day pouring "Tea For Two" in both of your avid audio cavities with steaming solos all thru the cup. These were cut ages ago — s'about time they were released! (Columbia) Duke Ellington — Maybe they took a cue from Columbia, but Victor mashe* a reissue on you, too, Sue. And can it be anything but great! It's Ellington — and that's all you need — on "Suddenly It Jumped" — spotting Taft Jordan on trumpet — and it does jump just as suddenly as you put needle to wax. Ray Nance cavorts thru the under face in "My Honey's Lovin' Arms." This'll be one of your loving cookies! (Victor) Charley Ventura — Play this for anyone who says he doesn't like be-bop! It's Chaz Ventura's troublin' hunk of bubblin' — "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"— with Jackie Cain and Roy Krai on the bop vocal — ee-be-de-be-be-de BUBBLES! You'll be doin' that all day long after two spinnings. S'darling. it jumps and it's bop! (National) Benny Goodman — Rachel's Daddy salivates the reed on his woodwind on a brace of sextet deals and you know it's got to be impeccable stuff, Benny being the perfectionist he is. "Varsity Drag" is right in the side pocket, with Red Norvo on vibes and Al Hendrickson. guitar, 52 S GREENLAND