Variety (January 1953)

Oft€HSTftAS.MIJSI€ MBuEfr Wednesday, Janu ary 14 , 1953 U.S.Pops In Argentine Continued from page 41 something gayer and faster, the Paraguayan polkas have their pos- sibilities. Imported Disk Sale Radio set sales plummeted in ’52 as a result of depression and the disk factories* ‘ sales of around 500,000 platters a month each fell by about 60 to 70%. Disk 'stores, however, continued selling plenty of imported long-play novelties, which pointed to disk fans still hay- ing coin to spend if they were able to get what they liked. The disk factories don’t seem to have known how to supply it. This has led to a hefty trade being done by small stores which sprang up all over town, selling imported disks brought in by travelers from abroad, who used this type of mer- chandise as a means of repatriat- ing coin held abroad. As result of the deejay’s efforts and this type of importation Doris Day, Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray have been “discovered” local- ly, and “Domino,” “Jealousy” and “Cry” are familiar numbers. “Jeal- ousy” has been published here by Fermata with lyrics by Ben Molar in Spanish, and local warbler Elena de Torres has waxed a version of it. Doris Day especially has whammed into top spot and “Domi- no” is a current disclick under the Columbia label. Two top ‘American disk celeb- rities have buttered the bread of Argentine bands and dee jays for many years now. These-are Bing Crosby and A1 Jolson, and prac- tically every radio outlet has daily sessions devoted to their platters. Radio Mitre, for instance, has had a Crosby stanza at 10:30 every night for eight years, Crosby rates -as No. 1 favorite in Argentina. The Jolson vogue, sprang into be- ing when Columbia's “tfhe Jolson Story” was released about five years ago. It got a new fillip when the picture was revived during the 1949-51 film famine and this year both “Jolson” pictures were again reissued, keeping the Jolson cult plenty lively. “A Guy Is a Guy” (Ludlow Mu- sic), published locally in sheet BILL HAYES Sings HOW DO YOU + SPEAK TO AN ANGEL MGM 11394 K 11394 THE DONKEY SONG 78 RPM 45 RPM MGM RECORDS THE G ^ : r \ i \ E V.' 1 c ? K 3 n retail disk best sellers music form as “Que Muchacho” by Fermata, was a boffo click on the June hit parade here, and had been recorded by most name bands for all the diskeries. Fermata is still the publishing outfit hep to all the selling angles, and therefore re- sponsible for most local tunes hit-» ting an international pitch. Musicals Backlog “Song of ~ September’ 1 also rode the crest locally in 1952 through the impact made by the film “Sep- tember Affair,” in which it was first heard. The'suspension of film imports proved a setback for American popular music, and Ar- gentine audiences are only just catching up with a backlog of musi- cals, all pretty dated, such as ‘.'Three Little Words,” “A Date with Judy” and “Duchess of! Idaho.” The film influence also serves to put over local tunes, and two Para- guayan tunes dished up by direc- tor Hugo del Carril in “Las Aguas Bajan Turbias” (“Muddy Waters”), which was exhibited at the Venice Festival, are due to become top favorites in 1953, to judge by. audi- ence reaction*, when the picture was released. j Following the nationalist trend j evident in every phase of Argem tine life, authorities are severe in forcing, a preponderance of native tunes on the air, in niteries, on juke- boxes and so on. Fifty percent native tunes must be played in all entertainment spots, and many niteries have been shuttered as a penalty for infraction of this rule." This creates a problem for enter- tainers, since the supply of lively native tunes is limited. D.C. Memorial to Foster ... Washington, Jan. 13. A memorial bust to Stephen C. Foster was unveiled last night (12) in a ceremony at the Library of Congress. Tribute was paid to the 19th Century songwriter by John Tasker Howard, member of the ASCAP board. j Survey of retail disk best . sellers based on reports ob- tained from leading stores in 9 cities and showing com- parative sales rating for this and last week. o a o National Rating This Dec. wk. 27 Week Eliding Jon. 10 Artist, Label, Title 1 - P. O •2 U Ph & - cu 5 ►J s e M Q 5 y *0 1 3 I 1 I 1 § B M tfl PERRY COMO (Victor) 1 2 “Don’t Let Stars in Your Eyes” 2 2 JONI JAMES (MGM) 2 ■ 2 “Why Don’t You Believe Me” 1 7 MILLS BROS. (Decca) 3 2 “Glow Worm” 10 4 TERESA BREWER (Coral) 4 5 “Till I Waltz Again With'You” 7 3 JO STAFFORD (Columbia) 5 6 “Keep It a Secret” 6 .. GAYLORDS (Mercury) 6 8 “Tell Me You’re Mine” 8 1 DON HOWARD (Triple A) 7 20 “Oh Happy Day” 3 .. MARIO LANZA (Victor) 8 7 “Because You’re Mine” 9 .. PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 9A 16 “Conquest” 5 JONI JAMES (MGM) 9B .. “Wishing Ring” 4 .. PEARL BAILEY (Coral) 11 18 “Takes Two to Tango” t 5 9 LES PAUL (Capitol) 12A ..“Bye, Bye Blues” 6 PATTI PAGE (Mercury) 12B 10 “I Went To Your Wedding” . FOUR KNIQHTS (Capitol) 12C .. “Oh Happy Day” LAWRENCE WELK (Coral) 12D 16 “Oh Happy Day” EDDIE FISHER (Victor) 16A .. “Lady of Spain” : JONI “JAMES (MGM) 16B .. “Have You Beard” JOHNNY STANDLE1? (Capitol) ! 18A 12 “It’s in the Book” 10 LES PAUL-MARY FORD (Capitol) 18B .. “My Baby’s Coming Home” AMES BROS. (Coral) 20 .. “My Favorite Song” 4 ,. 3 3 6 2 1 .. 2 2 1 3 4 4 3 .. 5 .. 7 ..... 27 8 .. 19 7 6 6 16 . •. . • 9 .. 13 8 11 4 8 1 10 7 9 . 7 . 8 .. 6 FIVE TOP ALBUMS BECAUSE YOUR MINE Mario Lanza Victor LM 7015 WDM 7015 DM 7015 I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE Eddio Fisher Victor LPM 3058 WISH YOU WERE HERE Bway Cas»- Victor LOC-1007 WOC-1007 OC-1007 4 LIBERACE Liberaee ' Columbia CL 6217 JAZZ CONCERT Benny Goodman Goodman SL 180 Halasz to Remington As Executive Director Laszlo Halasz, founder and for- mer musical director of the N. Y. City Opera' Co., has been named exec director of Remington Rec- ords, indie low price label. Hal- asz who ankled the opera com- pany post last year after a seven- year tenure, plans an extensive re- vision of Remington’s classical repertoire. Halasz will be assisted by Jes- sica Colter who served in the same capacity when he was with the Opera Co. Miss Colfer previously had been with Columbia Artists Management. Walters Exits BMI Hollywood, Jan. 13. Billy Walters has resigned from Broadcast Music, Inc., Coast pub- bery operation as professional man- ager. Eddie Janis is remaining as Hollywood rep for the firm. Jules Steams, BMI's music firm general manager, is not planning to replace Walters. Kardale’s New Firm Chick Kardale, topper of Kardale Music, has opened up two new music firms in conjunction with Chubby Jackson, bassist, and trom- bonist Bill Harris. The Kardale- Jackson firm wili be known as Ze- bra Music while the Kardale-Harris firm has been tagged House of Joy. Both firms will be affiliated with Broadcast Music, Inc. Jean, Johann, Giovanni, Jan— Every Tom, Dick and Harry’s calling COY lOMBAMDO'S Great New Decca Record rmw *\®v#ry Tom, Dick and ^ (J p ^Harry’s Called John) j| MU.IS MUSIC Presatf . VICTOR 20-4997