Variety (Apr 1949)

40 OBCIIESTItAS-]Mir$IC Wednesday, April 6, 1949 Capitol Sues to Block Mercury s Use Of Telefunken Masters via Czechs Claiming exclusive manufacture Ing and distribution rights in the western hemisphere to the classi- cal catalog of Telefunken Records, Gapitol Records filed suit in New •york federal court Fi-iday, (1 > against Mercury Records to re-f strain Merc from pressing certain 3^elefunken masters without its coa- sent. Damages and a permanent injunction are also sought. Gapitol, according to its com^ plaint, maintains that last October it completed an agreement with Telefunken, German recording company. As approved by the Al- lied Military .Government's joint exportTlmport agency, the pact ^ve Capitol the right to" press and market all past,- present and future disks by Telefunken, in the U, S. and South America. In addition, Capitol contends that through the deal it also holds : Fights to use the name, trademark and goodwill of Telefunken. Mer- cury is specifically charged with procuring masters of performances recorded by Telefunken and "man- ufacturing and distributing" rec- ords'etched from them. Plaintiff, - lucidetitaUy, this week released first 'pressi'ngs of its new Capitol. Telefunken'catalog. Mercury's Telefunken mastets were acquired via the company's reciprocal deal with Gzechoslova- kian recording flrms^ made last ysar, CpL's Pop Spfee On LP Bufldup Columbia Records Is approach- ing the sale of pop music via its Microgroove LongrPlaying platters from a new angle. It is readying a 10-inch LP disk for release with- in-the, next month or so which will • carry a minimunb of eight pops by • different artists on two sides. Tunes will be a mixture of current, new and slightly frayed melodies, and the package will sell for $2.85. If'Il be called "Popular Favorites." Another grouping, which might be called Columbia's one-disk hit parade, will involve eight to 10 "Country Hits" by various artists on two sides of a 10-inch LP sell- ing at the same price. Columbia also is producing 10- Inch LP's carrying .the cream of past hits by such;artist$ as Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, Frankie Carle and Claude Thomhill. Each platter will carry eight tunes, and sell for $2.85. They will be shipped from Bridgeport, Conn., starting week of April 18. Goodman sides will carry his "Jersey Bounce," "String of Pearls," "Somebody Else Is Taking My Place." "Gotta Be This pr That," et al. Herman's, for example, will tote his "Caldd- nia," "Apple Honey," "Goosey Gander," "Northwest Passage" all crack jump items, plus four others equally strong. Thomhill's release will consist of his pre-war hits, "Autumn Nocture," "Piano Con- certo," "Small Hotel," "Night and Day." Carle's will be equally rep- resentative. j 'Messiah' Blacks Out Good 1 Friday Pops for 2 Hours Denver, April 5. ' On Good Friday (15) Ray Per- kins will continue for the third year his playing of Handel's "Mes- I siah"' on disks, instead of his reg- j ular pop disk show on KFEL. Two I hours, 2:30-4:30 p. m., will feature i Columbia's "Messiah" by Huddersr I field Choral Society and Liverpool I Philharmonic Orchestra under di- I rection of Sir, Malcolm' Sargent.: I Perkins' sponsors have agreed to forego all commercials with list- I ing of' backers, presented at , end \ of uninterrupted two^houT fsession. 2 Memorials To Honor Jack Kapp I A meeting today (Wednesday) in adman Milton H. Blow's office may result in the N. Y. Hearth Fund, this year, signalizing its drive with a tribute to the memory to Jack Kapp, the late president of Decca Records, who died sud- denly of a cerebral hemorrhage March 25. It would take the form of an all-star show along the lines of the salute : to Mark Hellinger the year before. ■ Industry leadbrS'also have been in consultatipn with officials of the; N. Y. Public Library to perpetuate the recorded word, voice and sound in the form of a Jack Kapp Dis- cology Collection, as a permanent tribute in his honor. This would be an extension ;of the Theatre Library, which is so important an adjunct of the N. Y. Public Library. '. Meantime Dave Kapp, veepee of Decca who was voted extended re- cording powers, leaves' tonight (Wed.) on a flying trip to the Coast and upon his return next week will go into the Jack Kapp Disk Memorial more'fully. Ormonde Wilson, sax lea'der of the Basin Street Boys, has broken up the unit. Wilson will join his stepbrother Steve Gibson, who heads the Red Caps combo, sup- planting Arthur Miller, who steps out to join the Four Blues. Disk Jockey Review ART TACKEK 10-12 a.m.; 2-4 p.m. (Daily) iParticipatinff WTAO, Cambridge, Mass. Here is a d.j. who has succeeded in building himself a substantial listening audience at this small indie in neighboring Cambridge. Following no particular format for his two daily two-hour shows he manages to keep his program A\- .. versified enough to hold listener's interest. . He seldom employs gimmicks save an occasional phone interview. When caught he was interviewing Patti P^ge in W. Va., where a last t^»Iiinule booking had taken herj , causing her to miss a personal ap- pearance planned with Tacker. Hep as to records: and music. Tacker gives a good solid line of musical chatter offering plenty of info, He has a good radio voice and manner and proves especially, in- gratiating to the younger listeners, who rank him' plenty high locally as a Jock. Elie. LORRY RAINE "Can't Sleep"—Decca , DISK JOCKEY SALUTE: ED FARRON, WKtO LouisviUe's alrlanes are bright- ened daily by the Kd Farron-Hobin Bright show, Bd Parron traded geology for ra- dio. Ed says Lon-y's "It's Too Late NoWi",' by Tim Gayle, Matt Furlu and J. Fred Goots (Bourne, Inc.) Is "really taking off." TIM GAYLE Hotel Sheraton, Detroit . Cohen, Palladium Op, Nixes Cuffo Goodman Drugstore Concert Hollywood, April 5. Although widely-heralded In adr vance, a scheduled Benny Good- man band appearance at the Owl Drug headquarters, was called off Saturday after Palladium operator. Maury Cohen nixed the deal. Goodr •man flnaled a five^week stay at the terpery Sunday (3). Bandleader said Cohen "was un? der the impression my appearance at the .Pavilion (in front of the drugstore) would interfere with business at the Palladium" and protested vigorously. Goodman was forced to notify management of the, "World's Largest Drug Store" that he wouldn't be .able to appear and firm was able to rush through ads Saturday morn- ing announcing the cancellation "due to circumstances beyond our control." 1/.. , Shep Fields orch has signed term contract with M-G-M Rec- ords. He had previously recorded for Musicraft.. Jocks, Jukes and Dhks By BERNIE WOODS Buddy Clark "Chapter In My Life Called Mary"-"Whispering Waters" (Columbia). Kind of a tune Clark does exceptionally well, "Mary" has a solid chance fot hit rating. Interesting ballad melody and good lyric and jocks should find wide use for it. Backing also is appealing; a western ballad, Clark does it with choral accom- paniment and background under Ted Dale. Binr Crosby "Bali Ha'i"-"Some Enchanted Evening" (Decca). Standout tunes from "South Pa- cific" score. Crosby does them in the style to which he's accus- tomed, which means they're jobs. But, neither is the equal of Perry. Como's versions, except that these are in a better dance tempo. John Scott Trotter backs Crosby lushly. Peggy Lee "Simalou" - "While We're Young"- (Capitol). - Cap's Miss Lee may nave another out- standing hit in >'SimaIou." A weird, far eastern type tune which she works over in fine fashion, the disk catches full attention. It gets: great backgrounding from a crew under Dave Barbour. ''While We're Young" has gotten some good, name recordings so far and hasn't moved. Miss Lee isn't like^r ly to help. Billy Eckstine "Somehow"- "What's M^ Name" (M-G-M). Eck- stine continues gathering speed. In the past, it has been generated by standards and originals. This is his first real approach to pops and he's backed by the Quartones and a Hugo Winterhalter band. It's the right combination, but un- fortunately the wrong melodies. "Somehow," a ballad, is best, may have a chance and if it breaks, Eckstine will get the pop attention he deserves. Les Brown "A Fine Romance"- "1400 Dream Street" (Columbia). Brown could well have another "Got My Love" in the "Fine Ro- mance" side, an arrangement that's almost a carbon copy of his hit. It also comes off Columbia's shelf, where "Love" was stashed. Jocks will punch it repeatedljr enough to possibly make it hit. "Dream Street" leads nowhere; Binr Crosby - Evelyn Knight "Everywhere You Go"-"How It Lies, How It Lies, How It Lies" (Decca). Crosby and Miss Knight could break "Everywhere" for a hit. It's been moving nicely: due to Guy Lombardo's (Decca) and 1. CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER (8) (Spitzer) .........; 2. FAR AWAY PLACES (10) (Laurel).. . .. ........ ... .. I 3. POWDER FACE WITH SUNSHINE (10) (Lombardo) lElue^a^on^^" ^ It. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS (5) (Melody Lane) 5. GALWAYBAY (13) (Leeds) , ' ■ .6. -^J^^lfl Best Sellers on Coin-Machines "J^JlJKi! [Russ :M6reait. . .Decca IB lue Barron .,. i........ M-G-M j Bing ■C'rosb3/v. .>.j,. .Decca X Perry Cojnp . . Victor . . . . Dccco ....M-G-M j Mills Brps ,... w....... . .pecca ' X Buddy Clark I. ;,...,.. Columbio \ Bing Crosby - • • • •.. •.. •. • . Decca 1 Anne Shelton. ...,......London LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME (20) (Bourne) . .• Evelyn Krlight Decca ( Paula Watson Sipremc RED ROSES FOR BLUE LADY (7) (Mills) J Vaughn Monroe Victor {Guy Lombardo Decca J Vera Lynn.... . ... .London (Vic Damoiie.. ....... . .Mercury i Dinah Shbi-e , , i . . . , .Columbia ' ( Samrny Kxvyet, ;..,..,,.:.: Victor 8. AGAIN (3) (Bobbins) 9. LAVENDER BLUE (9) (Santly-Joy) X 10. I'VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM (14) (Berlin) ... H-^l, ^'"S"'" CoIumWo ' :■:■.■•■■■■..'■■ ' ( Mills Bros Dccco Coming Ip SUNFLOWER (Famous) .. SO IN LOVE (T. B. Harms) SO TIRED (Glenmore) FOREVER AND EVER (Robbins) ^. CARELESS HANDS (Melrose) CLANCY LOWERED THE BOOM (Kettmor) ..., YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISE (Pie) . , TRUE TO YOU IN MY FASHION (T. B. Harms) rou, YOU. YOU ARE THE ONE (Campbell) ... BEAUTIFUL EYES (Duchess) EmiU- Petti band at Baker Hotel, Dallas, replacing Carlos Molina or- .vheslra.: ■ . NO ORCHIDS FOR MV LADY (Leeds) * , CARAVAN (Amor. Acad.) SOMEONE LIKE YOU (Remick) LOVE ME, LOVE ME. LOVE ME (Miller) DON'T LIE TO ME (Leeds) {Figures xn parentheses indicate number o} veeks song ( Russ Morgan :. .......... Decca " ■\ Frank Sinatra Columbia I Btnfli Crosby Decca '" '\ Dinah Shore Columbia \ Russ Morgan Decca '' • j Kay Starr Capitol • ► \ Grade Fields London I • ( Margaret Whiftnfli ...... Capitol . Mel Torme Copitol t \Ames Bros Corol "■ ■ (Dennis Day Victor i Paula Watson Supreme LKay Starr Capitol •■ • ^i""/! Shore Columbia V. . Ames Bros Coral I . ■ Art Mooney M-G-M J Bill!/ Eckstine......... M-G-M "- ■Unk Spots Decca . Billy Eckstine ., M-G-M i Peggy Lee ".Capitol t (Doris Day Columbia •■ ■ Eddy Howard Mercury Vaughn Monroe Victor "> fias bpcn in the Top lO.J »; Eddy Howard's (Mercury) diskings TWs copy isn't superior to either' but it's livelier and louder and could do the trick. Pairing do right well by "Lies," too, a piece that's likely to get equal play with "Everywhere" everywhere. BacTced by Vic Shoen's orchestra and Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires, it rides solidly. ■ Kin« Cole Trio "If You Stub Your Toe on the Moon"-"Don't Cry, Cry Baby" (Capitol). Both excellent sides. Typical Cole "Toe," from Bing Crosby's "Con- necticut Yankee," is best under his rhythm treatment. It's made to order for him and jocks will use aplenty. Ditto "Cry Baby," a bal- lad," gives up more potentialities under Cole than any other rfecoM- ing of it. Dottle Dillard "Let the Good Things Happen"-"! Didn't Know the Gun Was Loaded"; "Save That Confederate Money Boys"-"Put" Your Shoes On Lucy" (Select) These four sides launched the Se^ lect label. All four tunes are fairly well known by now. But Dottle Dillard isn't. She's worth looking into. Backed by Owen Bradley's orchestra she does a smart job on all four' sides. Andrews Sister«"Hurry,. Hurry Hurry"-"I Didn't Know the Guti Was Loaded" (Decca). Andrews gals click with both sides. "Hurry" side pops a tune that's a possibil- ity. Fast rhytlim, the trio carry the corn melody smartly. They do equally well with the hillbilly flipi over and because it's superior melodically the side figures to be the heavier. It's loaded with com- mercialism. Vic Schoen backs the group. , Kay Starr "How It Lies, How It Lies," "How It Lies"-"Wabash Cannonball" (Capitol). Miss Starr's "Lies" won't get lost in the shuffle of recordings of the tune. It shines brightly, and jocks, will find plenty of use for it. Reverse is real coun- try style, a side that carries plenty of its own appeal in Miss Starr's excellent vocal and Merle Travis' lively bumpkin background. Phillip Green Orchestra "Teddy Bears' Picnic" - "The Mosquito's Parade" (M-G-M). Late last year London Records' version of "Ted- dy Bears" started enough demand for U. S. companies to cut it. Green's version, also from England via EMI, is one worth having. It's a vocal from the outset by an un- billed quartet and it's exceptionally attractive. Same goes for the cut* melody aboard the flipover, almost a duplicate melodically. Capitol Records and Frank DeVol's Orches- tra also did "Teddy Bear." His is a lightly and brightly played in- strumental until deep in the disk DeVol himself does the vocal. It's fine, but Green's is better. Either, however, is a must for jock li- braries. DeVol's backing, "Fare- well Bliies" is okay. Russ Morgan "Barroom Polka"- Put Your Shoes On, Lucy" (Dec- ca). "Polka" is catching on fast as a novelty. Morgan, who's hot with hits, gives the tune, actually a p.d. melody with a new lyric, a commercial ride and it'll likely continue his stWng of hits. He clicks also with "Lucy," the flip- over. It's one of the best versions of the hillbilly hit; he does the vo- cal himself, and in combination with the Rhythmaires; Platter Pointers Frankie Masters' band worked two neat sides for M-G-M in "Everywhere You Go" and "She's a Home Girl," the latter a good new tune... "The One I Love" hadn't been done as well by in a long time until Georgia Gibbs cut it for Mercury..; Bop kids should get their fill from Charlie Bamet's "Cu-Ba" (Capitol) . .Ronnie Deaur ville, who isn't always convincing, is on "I'll String Along With You'' (Mercury) Bob Eberly's "You Red Head" is an unusually good sidCi made with the Tattlers, and backed by "Hurry, Hurry, Hurry," also done well. Bob Chester To Reorganize Band Detroit, April 5. Bob Chester is heading back into the dance band business. Former maestro, a disk jockey on WKMH here for some time, will> begin re- organizing his orchestra within the next 30 days and hopes to get going on ohe-nighters as soon as pos- sible. Joe Glascr's Associated Booking.. Corp. will handle the band.