Radio broadcast .. (1922-30)

rE ARE celebrating the four-month birthday of this department by climb- ing out of our rompers and taking a big step. Henceforth we shall aim to be a guide to all the best phonograph records. You cannot read all the books published each year in order to choose the best volumes, so you consult book re- views and guides. Neither can you while away the hours in your favorite music store listening to the new—and old—offerings of the very active phonograph companies. When you buy records the chances are you act on the advice of the music salesman, or take the word of a friend, or if you happen to be on the mailing list of a music store, you check over the catalogue and select the most likely sounding titles. Any one of these methods is precarious and the element of chance is large in each. When this department was mapped out in the editorial mind, the word went forth that these two pages were to be devoted to a general re- view of phonograph records which had been produced by artists who were familiar to lis- teners-in as broadcast performers. Now we will extend the field to include the records of all artists whether or not they play the dual role. Some of the recordings will be briefly reviewed, others will merely be mentioned, and each month there will be a list of records which we consider well worth hearing, and buying, if the spirit moveth. WHAT HAVH WE HERE? AFTER inspecting the current supply of records we find that it contains the follow- ing ingredients: The usual popular vocal numbers by the usual popular vocal artists; an array of good dance numbers with one outstanding suc- cess, Dream Kisses', several old favorites rendered superbly by such distinguished artists as Sophie Braslau, John Charles Thomas, Charles Hackett, and Maria Kurenko; seven minutes of very beautiful choral singing by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus; and an album of Rimsky-Korsa- kov music, of which, more anon. These ingre- dients have been highly seasoned with the senti- ment which, we are led to believe by song writers, song singers, and phonograph com- panies, the public cries for, and they have been expertly mixed, and sifted, spread on the discs by the new electrical recording method, and served hot to the public, for prices ranging from seventy-five cents to ten dollars. Taken as a whole there can be no question of the general excellence of the output. Our chief complaint is that it is too sweet for our taste. Is our taste vat? Don't Miss These Scheherazade Suiti (Rimsky-Korsakov) played by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski (Victor). Cavalleria Rusticana-Gli Aranci Oletfano and Immeggiamo II Signor (Mascagni) sung by the Metropolitan Opera Chorus, with Orchestra (Victor). Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile (Verdi) and Cavalleria Rusli- cana: Siciliana (Mascagni) sung by Charles Hackett (Columbia). Liebestraum (Lizt) and Sbeep and Goat Walkin' To Pasture and Gigue (Bach) played by Percy Grainger (Columbia). Among My Souvenirs and Washboard Blues played by Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra (Victor). Dream Kisses and Among My Soui-enirs played by the Ipana Troubadours and Ben Selvin respectively (Columbia). My Lady and Two Loving Arms played by Cass Hagan and His Park Central Orchestra and The Cavaliers res- pectively (Columbia). A Shady Tree and There Ain't No Land Like Dixieland To Me played by Ernie Golden and His Hotel McAlpin Or- chestra (Brunswick). Back Wbere the Daisies Grow and Lonely in a Crowd played by the Park Lane Orchestra (Brunswick). Liliue and Hanobano Hanalei by the South Sea Islanders (Columbia). peculiar or are there others who do not clamor for sentiment as the pervading flavor in their musical diet? Would they, too, like a little humor in their daily slice of song? More or Less Classic Cavalleria Rusticana — Gli Aranci Ole^ano and Cavalleria Rusticana — Inneggiamo II Signor. By Metropolitan Opera Chorus with Orchestra. (Victor). An expert recording of two of the 374 Short Reviews of Recent Releases by Victor, Brunswick, and Columbia— A List of Some New Record Albums —Rimsky - Korsakov's Scheherazade Suite Obtainable in Complete Form most melodious of the choruses of Mascagni's opera, sung with great beauty and restraint. (a) Sheep' and Goat Walkin to trie Pasture (Guion), (b) Gigue from First Partita (Bach), and Liebestraum (Liszt). By Percy Grainger (Columbia). Here is variety itself: a humorous tale, a lively jig, and a romance all on the same record, and each feelingly interpreted by this master pianist. Hungarian Dance No. i (Brahms-Joachim) and Slavonic Dance No. 2, in E minor, (Dvorak- Kreisler). By Toscha Seidel (Columbia). Two lusty dances played with too mechanical vehe- mence to suit us. Lucrefia Borgia: Brindisi (Donizetti) and Come to Me 0 Beloved\ (Bassani-Malipiero). By Sophie Braslau (Columbia). We prefer the rol- licking joyousness of the drinking song to the heavy solemnity of the cantata but that is a matter of opinion. The rich contralto voice of this artist handles both expertly. Love's Old Sweet Song (Molloy) and The Sweet- est Story Ever Told (Stults). By Sophie Braslau (Columbia). Miss Braslau digs way down in the bag and brings up some of the old tricks. But she sings beautifully. Rigoletto: La Donna c Mobile (Verdi) and Caval- leria Rusticana: Siciliana (Mascagni) by Charles Hackett (Columbia). So convincingly does this glorious tenor sing Verdi's surprise number that one is almost ready to agree that woman is fickle! Well, were it necessary, we would agree to anything for the privilege of listening to Hackett's singing. Coq D'Or.. Hymn to the Sun (Rimsky- Korsakov) and Song of India (Rimsky-Korsakov) By Maria Kurenko (Columbia). We would like the first selection better were it minus a few coloratura frills. As for the S. of I. we said what we had to say about that years ago. However, it is beautifully sung. Smiling Eyes and Roses of Picardy. By John Charles Thomas (Brunswick). Why turn this fine baritone voice loose on such shop-worn ballads as these? "Popular" Among My Souvenirs and Washboard Blues by Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra (Victor). Whiteman at his unique best. You can't dance to these but who wants to? It's music worth hearing. Dream Kisses by the Ipana Troubadours (Columbia). At last we have something different in dance numbers! A soothing, insinuating rhythm built for dancing and played for dancing