The New Movie Magazine (Jan-Sep 1935)

MUSIC in the MOVIES \ With Irving Berlin himself writing musical <B scores for the movies, it's no wonder this ^^ month's tunes are grand. By JOHN EDGAR WEIR 1' f\ M V " if** * ** GOOD news for lovers of music in the movies is that no less a personage than Irving Berlin, the old master himself, is now at work for you. Five of the forthcoming tunes in "Top Hat." RKO's musical featuring nimble Fred Astaire and the equally gay Ginger Rogers, are from Berlin's gifted pen. They are "No Strings." "Isn't This a Lovely Day," "Top Hat," "Get Thee Behind Me, Satan," and "Piccolino," to which Fred dances while Ginger sings. Many of the studios are nearing the completion of new musical productions. Warner's "Broadway Gondoliers" has the popular Dick Powell in the stellar role. The film will feature another superb musical score by Dubin and Warren, the ace team who gave us those recent hits from "The Gold Diggers" and "Go into Your Dance." In "Broadway Gondoliers" you will hear, among others, "The Rose in Her Hair." an engaging little waltz, "Outside of You," "Sweet and Slow" featured in the picture by the Mills Brothers, and "Lulu's Back in Town," all of which are included in this review. "College Scandals" is also being readied for release under the Paramount banner. While this picture is not as rich in songs, it boasts of one which promises to be outstanding. "In the Middle of a Kiss" is the title and it is a melodic fox trot in slow tempo, written by Sam Coslow, who gave us "Thanks," "Please" and "Cocktails for Two." Dick Barthelmess' "Four Hours to Kill," another Paramount production, includes two very rhythmic, yes even hot, tunes called "Hate to Talk to Myself" and "You're the Cutest One." And "Masquerade," the M-G-M contribution to current musicals, features "You're All I Need." OF all the songs included in this month's review, "In the Middle of a Kiss" is, in our opinion, the best bet. This song is given first place because of the beauty of its melody, its appealing lyric, and Jan Garber's excellent recording. It is from "College Scandals," and is played by the Jan Garber orchestra as a sweet melodic fox trot ballad. The arrangement is of the simple variety with reverence for melody, and the smooth Garber saxes emphasize its beauty. A mellow trombone in a short interlude also falls easy on the ears. Lee Bennett sings an alluring vocal refrain. On the other side we hear "With All My Heart and Soul" played by the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra. This is an English band with a large instrumentation, patterned in some respects after the distinguished style of that other English leader, Ray Noble. How ever, this band is a far cry from Noble's, but still, as bands go, it is above the average. (Victor) "The Rose in Her Hair" from "Broadway Gondoliers" by Eddy Duchin and his orchestra, is an engaging waltz played in a dreamy, gliding style by the piano-playing maestro. A muted trumpet captures the waltz mood in a soft, pleasing interlude, but. as in all Duchin records, the leader's velvety fingers steal the show as they glide over the keyboard. Lee Sherwood's vocal chorus is delightful. The reverse side offers "Outside of You" from the same picture and is played by Duchin and his boys. This time we have a fox trot in medium tempo with a bouncing rhythm; just the sort of tune at which Duchin's band excels. Again the piano and trumpet are featured but the sax section turns in a grand job. Lee Sherwood sings another pleasing vocal. (Victor) "OWEET AND SLOW" from "Broad^ way Gondoliers" is the hot rhythmic tune sung in the picture by the Mills Brothers. This recording however is by that other exponent of jig time, Fats Waller. If you like a fast tempo heated to the boiling point, here it is with Fats in rare form. The band accompanying him is plenty warm. too. BEST OF THE MONTH IN THE MIDDLE OF A KISS. Played by Jan Garber. (Victor) Also Recommended THE ROSE IN HER HAIR. Played by Eddy Duchin. (Victor) TO CALL YOU MY OWN. Played by Victor Young. (Decca) YOU'RE ALL I NEED. Played by Ted Fio Rito. (Brunswick) SOME ONE I LOVE. Sung by Milton Watson. (Decca) WOULD THERE BE LOVE. Sung by Gertrude Niesen. (Columbia) "Lulu's Back in Town" is on the reverse side, and comes from the same picture. Being in the same groove, you can be sure that Fats Waller treats it as such. There is no one quite like this boy when he throws himself into this style of vocalizing. He turns in a handful of piano playing, too, on this record. (Victor) TO CALL YOU MY OWN" from "In Caliente" and played by Victor Young and orchestra is a lovely ballad of the better type. Young's band plays a fine arrangement which features three fiddles in an interlude, as well as the brass which produces some clever harmonic effects. However the splendid vocal refrain sung by Milton Watson of the operatic stage overshadows the band. The other side presents "The Lady in Red" from the same picture, also played by Victor Young's aggregation. This is the rhumba type of number, a rhythm which seems to have so captured the fancy of the dancing set, that now it has a place on almost every program. Vic Young does it up in real Mexican style, except for the last chorus which is done in fox trot time. Milton Watson shows versatility in rendering the vocal interpolation. (Decca) "T'M LIVING IN A GREAT BIG A WAY" from "Hooray for Love," is played by Louis Prima and his New Orleans Gang. This is a new band on records and is of the modern hot variety; that is, they play with a pronounced rhythm without a lot of noise, and expertly too. Coming from New Orleans highly recommended by those who should know, this outfit is said to have what it takes to gain nation-wide popularity. Louis Prima,, in addition to leading, sings the vocals. On the reverse side the same band does justice to "Put on an Old Pair of Shoes." This is the latest by Billy Hill, famous for his "Last Round Up" and "Old Spinning Wheel." The Prima band gets off another modern arrangement with the brass section as well as a clarinet standing out. Prima again warbles the vocal. (Brunswick) YOU'RE ALL I NEED" from "Escapade," as played by Ted Fio Rito and his orchestra, is a lilting fox trot with an appealing lyric. The large Fio Rito band, which comprises about twenty musicians, plays a smart dance arrangement and produces a generous amount of tonal color by skillful maneuvering of the instrumentation. The violin section does especially well, as does Howard Phillips in the vocal chorus. (Brunswick) "TN THE MIDDLE OF A KISS" from A "College Scandals" crops up again in a recording by Hal Kemp for those who prefer the unique style of this popular maestro. The tricky arrangement is well executed with the muted brass lending itself admirably, and Bob Allen singing a pleasing vocal refrain. These arrangements together with his skillful execution have made Hal Kemp's a popular recording band. Still, we prefer the Jan Garber recording for this particular song. (Brunswick) T^ROM the picture, "Four Hours to -*■ Kill," we have another recording by that colored rhythm-master, Fats Waller. The tune is titled "Hate to Talk About Myself," and does Fats steam through this one! We'll bet your feet will beat time with Fats as he sings and plays the piano with an orchestral accompaniment. The B side carries "You're the Cutest One" also by Fats and much the (Please turn to page 65) 44 The Neio Movie Magazine, Attgust, 1935