Variety (December 1954)

42 MUSIC Wednesday, December 22, 1954 Decca 'Show Business’ Set Parlays Top Names, Berlin Score Into B.O. Wax By ABEL GREEN < Decca, with its penchant for original soundtrack albums from top filmusicals, wilf hit the jackpot again with its newest, Irving Bei- lin’s "There’s No Businless Like Show Business.” It will ride the crest for big sales, as did Decca’s "Glenn Miller Story," produced by its affiliated Universal Pictures Co., and as did the more recent Par pic, "White Christmas,” another Berlin score. The diskeries have a pretty good inside track with their contractual tieups of personalities so that what- ever the Hollywood producer’s in- clinations and merchandising ideas, the picture companies must bow to the platteries. If, as in Decca’s circumstance, Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye happen to be exclusive artists, then automatically the "White Christmas” package se- gues to the Milton R. Rackmil firm. Metro, which has its own MGM disk label, has found itself de- feated frequently in original sound- tracking where, for example, a Mario Lanza happened to be an ex- clusive RCA Victor recorder, or such as when Judy Garland was with Decca (since shifted to Co- lumbia). Decca had Ethel Merman, Don- ald O’Connor, Dan Dailey and Mitzi Gaynor already signed. Vic- tor wouldn’t release Marilyn Mon- roe. just signed exclusively, but Columbia did a noblesse oblige and loaned Johnnie Ray to help round out the original cast of stars for the Decca album. In the case of this Decca omni- bus. Dolores Gray, a regular con- tractee, but not in the film, sings the Marilvn Monroe songs—"Heat Wave" and "After You Get What You Want”—assuming that MM’s sizzling performance comes under the generic category’ of "singing.” (As a matter of fact Miss Gray, while simu’ating the Monroe style, will probably emerge a standout with her own individual singles of the same songs, maintaining the Alfred & Lionel Newman orches- tral interpretations). This has certainly been Berlin’s year, with two kingsize filmusicals a month or two apart, playing the two top deluxers in the world— "White Christmas” at Radio City- Music Hall, where it established a No.»2 money record for the mam- (Continued on page 45) Cavalcade’s Debut Disk To Feature Bahamas Cop Cavalcade Records, a new indie label, will hit the market after the first of the year with a coupling featuring former Nassau, Bahamas, policeman Eddie Munnings. Tunes on the initial release will be “Goombay” and "My Heart.” Cavalcade has been set up by- Allan R. MacLeod with headquar- ters in New York. Label already has lined up 20 distributors around the country. Another recently formed indie Thunderbird Records, also will tee off with the new year. Diskery, which w ill be headed up by Jordan Ramin with Meyer Gendel as gen- eral manager, has inked Jack Has- kell, crooner with Jack Paar’s CBS- TV show. Haskell’s initial sides, "I Remember Mambo” and "Who Can Say,” were cut under the musical direction of Sidney Ramin, who’s associated with Milton Berle’s tv show-. Distribution will be handled by Sam Clark. TO TRY SOAP & SHELLAC FOR DISCUCK FORMULA j Having scored twice in one mouth with a tv tieup, the diskers 1 are now prepping a collaboration with a soap opera. Columbia Rec- ords is readying a longplay album, "Joanne Sings,” with which it will tie with CBS-TV's daytimer, "Search for Tomorrow.” Platter was cut by Mary Stuart, j star of the soaper. The tunes will be integrated into the story line and the platter will be played on a regular basis. Previous disk-tv tieups were one- shot plugs: Joan Weber’s Col slice of "Let Me Go, Lover" via CBS- TV’s "Studio One” and Bob Man- ning's Capitol cut of "My Love Song to You” via Jackie Gleason's CBS TV show. Col and CBS will get an extra promotional push for the album from Procter & Gamble and the Biow agency. Ruby BrafT Quartet (Bethle- hem 1 . Bethlehem Records, one of the new entries in the jazz field, has been turning out consistently tasteful releases in a variety of jazz idioms. In this set. Ruby BrafT’s trumpet is showcased on a group of eight standards. Braff is a swing exponent and plays with a light touch that makes him highly listenable. He’s supported in this album by Johnny Guarnieri on piano, Walter Page on bass and Bobby Donaldson on drums. Also on the Bethlehem label is another new jazz set titled "Horn o’ Plenty,” which features a jazz nar- ration by disk jockey A1 Collins and Charlie Shaver’s trumpet in a series of carbons of other great horns. The takeoffs are accurately executed by Shavers and this set can properly be categorized as vaudeville jazz. Gloria DeHaven - Tony Curtis - Gene Nelson - Paul Gilbert: "So This Is Paris” (Decca>. This is a neat-sounding soundtrack album from the Universal pic, “So This Is Paris.” The title tune by song- writers Pony Sherrell and Phil Moody sets the Gallic mood for a series of catching numbers. Tony Curtis and Gloria DeHaven reg- ister on "The Two Of Us.” while Curtis. Gene Nelson and Paul Gil- bert join brightly on a clever number. “A Dame’s A Dame.” "If You Were There” is a swinging ballad handled lightly by Nelson and Miss DeHaven, while Nelson solos effectively on "Looking For LAWRENCE WELK and hit CHAMPAGNE MUSIC 171 *t Conaecutiva Waek, Aragon Ballroom, Santa Monica, Calif. Exclusively on Coral Records Latest Album VIENNESE WALTZES (For Dancing) Someone To Love.” Joseph Ger- shenson batons the studio orch. "Private Hell 36” (Coral). This is a series of mood instrumentals i taken from the soundtrack of the Ida Lupino starrer of the album’s title. Leith Stevens, who also did the expressive score for "The Wild One,” again displays his agility with modern jazz techniques which he juggles in a variety of tempos, all interesting. The sidemen in the orch. conducted by Stevens, are all firstrate and they execute I the solo and ensemble choruses with perfect precision. It's for the hipsters and Bill Simon has written an appropriate liner to the set. Woody Herman Orch; "The Three Herds” (Columbia). This is another one of Columbia’s super- lative historical jazz sets. In this package. Woody Herman’s various bands from 1945 to the present are collected on wax and Herman’s ! niche in the jazz world, as both a swing traditionalist and a modern innovator, is greatly clarified. Above all, this set swings in all idioms. Among the great sidemen spotlighted in this package are Stan Getz. Kai Winding, Urbie ' Green, Shorty Rogers. Neal Hefty. Dave Tough, Zqot Sims, Serge Chaloff and numerous others. Johnny Holiday Sings *Pacifica). Johnny Holiday, a younger singer from the Coast, shows consider- able savvy in this indie label set. : He doesn’t belt, but gets impact via proper phrasing and sensitive piping. He also has the fortune to be backed by a solid combo un- der Russ Garcia’s baton. Tunes include "I’ll Never Smile Again.” “Speak Low.” "Come Rain Or Come Shine.” "Baby All The Time.” "I’ll Never Be The Same." "Julie Is Her Name,” "She Doesn’t | Laugh Like You” and "Please Re- member.” Jocks, Jukes and Disks .By HERM SCHOENFELDh Four Aces: "Melody of Love”- "There's A Tavern In The Town" • Decca). The 1942 oldie, "Melody of Love,” which was revived re- cently by Dot and Mercury Records releases, is now sparking an un- usually intensive competitive race among major labels. It’s the only pop to make its way through the current holiday tune crush and promises to be a big one in the post-Christmas period. One of the unique aspects of the flock of cur- rent versions is that the interpreta- tions are varied, instead of being carbons of each other. All are solid, with the Four Aces, slice for Decca having top potential. The boys give it a slow, schmaltzy workover with plenty of commer- cial impact. The flip is a fine ar- rangement of another great oldie that also may take off. Jill Corey: "Edward’-’Tm Not At All In Love” (Columbia). Jill Corey, Columbia’s young song- “Tweedle-Dee,” she essays some of the rhythm A blues idiom with her usual forcefulness on one of the brightest items in this genre. She may, however, be a little late on I this tune. Flip is a fine ballad | which she also gives a strong | reading. Bob London: "Mister Publisher”- ;“Is That Asking Too Much” (Amer- ican). "Mister Publisher” may have I originated as some kind of gag be- tween vet songwriter L. Wolfe Gil- bert and publisher Irving Mills, * but the tune has definite merit as a piece of material despite its in- side trade stuff. Bob London gives it a highly effective rendition and this young baritone also shows con- siderable savvy on the pretty bal- lad on the reverse. The Ameri- can label, incidentally, is part of the Mills Music enterprise. Bernice Parks: "Only Love Me"- "Lovin’ Machine” (Coral). Bernice Parks makes an impressive bow on Best Bets FOUR ACES ( Decca ) JILL COREY ...» (Columbia) .... MELODY OF LOVE . . Tavern In the Town EDWARD I’m Not at All in Love stress who is still looking for her first hit. may find it in "Edward.” It’s a cute novelty by tunesmith Bob Merrill and she delivers with enough zest to ride it up into the bestsellers for a short stay typical of this type of number. On the re- verse, Miss Corey changes pace on one of the fine ballads from the legit musical, "The Pajama Game." Dinah Shore and Tony Martin ef- fectively duet "Melody of Love” for RCA Victor and this side could be the biggest one these artists have had in some time. The smooth voice blend gives this class. Victor has also issued an excellent instru- mental version of the number by harmonieist Leo Diamond and has also reissued the original Wayne King side. Frank Sinatra has turned up with a solo vocal on "Melody of Love” for Capitol that’s due to get plenty of spins by the new' wave of Sinatra fans. It’s an easy, almost casual interpretation with the usual Sinatra inflections. On the flip, Sinatra clicks on "I’m Gonna Live Till I Die.” a number which never quite made it on disks, but is a fave with cafe singers. Sin- atra’s version could make it on wax. Franklyn MacCormaok’s philo- sophical romantic recitation, with "Melody of Love” in the back- ground, has also been reissued by MGM Records. This side also could share in the tune’s upsurge even though it’s hardly a jukebox item. Georgia Gibbs: "Tweedlee Dee”- "You’re Wrong, All Wrong” (Mer- cury). Georgia Gibbs is a savvy stylist who can belt any kind of number to a fare-thee-well. In the Coral label with this coupling. "Only Love Me” is a big ballad which she gives an emotional treat- ment that sells. This number could grow into a big one. Flip is a sharp contrast. "Lovin’ Machine” is a rhythm number with a clever lyric that jocks might well examine for that "smooth spice” before air- ing it. It’s a cinch for the jukes. Dean Martin: "Belle From Bar- | celona”-"Confused” (Capitol), j "Belle From Barcelona” is a pleas- ant novelty in a familiar groove. Dean Martin works it over infec- tiously and could earn this number considerable spins. "Confused” is an okay ballad with fair chahces. Jo Stafford: "Darling, Darling, Darling”-"Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” (Columbia'. "Darling” is a fair tune with an echo cham- ber gimmick which has long since become routine. Jo Stafford, how- ever, renders the number with charm. On the reverse. Miss Staf- ford changes pace w ith one of Duke Ellington’s great standards jand she gives it a good ride, al- though her pipes are not usually associated with this kind of bluesy tune. . »+♦♦♦♦»»♦♦♦♦♦♦+» ASCAP Trio Wins $750 In Albany Infringe Suit Three ASCAP publishers (Sha- piro. Bernstein; Harms and Joy Music) were awarded $750 damages and costs last week in a copyright infringement suit against Gerard’s Restaurant, Albany. Suit charged the defendant with the unauthor- ized performance of three tunes, "Pennsylvania Polka” ‘ (S-B>. "Three Little Words” (Harms) and “Honeysuckle Rose” (Joy). Judge Stephen W. Brennan of the U. S. District Court for the Northern District, N. Y., also awarded an injunction which re- strains the defendant from public- ly performing these songs in the iu t lire. 10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines • ' \ Joan We her Columbia 1. LET ME GO, LOVER (4) ' \ Teresa Brewer Coral ) Patti Page Mercury j Chordettes Cadence 2. MISTER SANDMAN (6) J Four Aces Decca ) Lancers Coral 3. NAUGHTY LADY OF SHADY LANE (1. {& ^eyer’.. \ !!!! Cadence 4. TEACH ME TONIGHT <7> '. j^o^Sta/ford“'"‘'.V: Vcofumb* 5. 6 . 7. 8 . 9. 10 . I NEED YOU NOW (16) Eddie Fisher Victor MAMBO ITALIANO (2) Rosemary Clooney ...Columbia HEARTS OF STONE (1) j Fontane Sisters _. Dot HOLD MY HAND (12) Don Cornell Coral PAPA LOVES MAMBO (11) Perry Como Victor SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL (10) Bill Haley's Comets Decca Second Croup r Doris Day Columbia J Denise Lor Major IF I GIVE MY HEART TO YOU - „ j Conhee Boswell Decca l Dinah Shore Victor MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE \ Sarah Vaughan Mercury .. ( Peggy King ... Columbia ^ THAT S ALL I WANT FROM YOU Jaye P. Morgan Victor THIS OLE HOUSE Rosemary Clooney ....Columbia NO MORE DcJohn Sisters Epic DIM, DIM THE LIGHTS Bill Haleyjs Comets Decca HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Pcr ry Como Victor WlilTHER THOU GOEST Lcs Paul-Mary Ford ... Capitol WHITE CHRISTMAS B ing Crosby Decca IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD j Four Aces Decca ( Ray Anthony Capitol ITioures In parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 101 • VOGEL WANTS TO BE IN AS‘HILLS OF HOME’PARD ! Jerry Vogel filed an action in N.Y. Federal Court last week against Carl Fischer Music to be declared partner in the tune "Hilla of Home.” Vogel is charging inter- ference by the defendant over the renewal rights. Vogel claims that Margaret M. Calhoun, heir to Floride L. Cal- houn, who penned the tune’s lyrics, assigned the renewal rights to him, while Oscar Fox, who wrote the music, assigned the renewal right* to Fischer. Vogel also is asking for an accounting of profits. Vienneau Into Lyons’ Asst. A&R Post at MGM Jimmy Vienneau will take over the assistant artists & repertoire post vacated by Dick Lyons at MGM Records. Vienneau, who’s been with the diskery’s production division for the past seven years, will work under Harry Meyerson, label’s a&r chief. Lyons ankled the company last week for a stab at the tv-film biz on the Coast. He'll be associated with the Edward Small org. Lyons left for the Coast Monday (20). Camden’s Dealer Contest To Hypo Platter Sales Camden Records, RCA Victor’s low-priced line which recently was taken over by Victor’s regular dis- tribs, is holding its first dealer contest to hypo sales. Label will hand out 53 prizes with a top award of $250. Contest will revolve around Camden’s packaged set of the six Tchaikowsky symphonies as well as a similar multiple-disk package due to be released in February.