TV Radio Mirror (Jul - Dec 1961)

OF THE MONTH a h«t .s a gamble • Hottest Single! Take Good Care of My Baby, Bobby Vee (Liberty 55354) Transistor Sister, Freddie Cannon (Swan 4078)— Delightful novelty done in swinging style. Little Sister, Elvis Presley (RCA Victor 7908)— Elvis back in the groove after a couple of so-so hits. The Way You Look Tonight, The Lettermen (Capitol 4586)— This lovely old standard is given appropriate modern styling. I Love How You Love Me, Paris Sisters (Gregmark 6) — The girls have a haunting, delicate style that makes this very appealing. Frankie & Johnny, Brook Benton (Mercury 71859) — This rip-snortin' folk ballad is well told in bright up-tempo fashion. Sweets for My Sweet, The Drifters (Atlantic 2117) — A solid blues rhythm effort by these hit makers, now sounding softer without Ben E. King's lead voice. Let Me Belong to You, Brian Hyland (ABC-Paramount 10236)— He's got a lot of voice on this ballad-rock. Big Cold Wind, Pat Boone (Dot 16244)— A fine follow-up to "Moody River," this is sung with strength and conviction by Pat. The Astronaut, Jose Jimenez (Kapp 409) — Bill Dana's pacing and inflection makes this riotous — and timely — selection from his LP listenable over and over again. Stop Giving Your Man Away, Joyce Davis (United Artists 339) — An exciting new voice and percussion-styled arrangement lifts this rocking rhythm blues way out of the ordinary. Hello Fool, Ralph Emery (Liberty 55352) — This answer record (to "Hello Walls") by Ralph, who's a Nashville disc jockey, has all the commercial ingredients. Let's Get Together, Hayley Mills (Vista 385)— This talented young actress, whose father John is also an actor, has done a remarkable job of this tune from her starring movie, "The Parent Trap." HOT SINGLES CONTENDERS Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor, Lonnie Donegan (Dot 15911). I'll Never Smile Again, The Platters (Mercury 71847). Cryin', Roy Orbison (Monument 447). It's Gonna Work Out Fine, Ike & Tina Turner (Sue 749). More Money For You and Me, The Four Preps (Capitol 4598). Magic Moon, The Rays (XYZ 607). Baby, You're So Fine, Mickey & Sylvia (Willow 23000). One Track Mind, Bobby Lewis (Beltone 1012). Packin' Up, Chris Kenner (Instant 3234). Well I Ask Ya, Kay Starr (Capitol 4620). My Blue Heaven, Dwayne Eddy (Jamie 1200). It's Been A Long Long Time, Dottie Clark (Big Top 3081). Memories of Those Oldies But Goodies, Little Caesar & Romans (Del-Fi 4166). The In-Between Years, James MacArthur (Triodex 112). Back-To-School Blues, Jack Larson (Fraternity 884). If You Don't, Somebody Else Will, Connie Stevens (Warners 5232). I Talk To The Trees, Bud Dashiell and the Kinsmen (Warners 5231). Take Five, Dave Brubeck (Columbia 41479)., ....,,-. I Don't Like It Like That, The Bobettes, (Gone 5112). But it can be done— with $1,000 and luck • So you'd like to be a hit recording star! Years ago you studied harmony and counterpoint in school, attended special school of music, worked under a famous tutor, or were born into a show business family where your career started at three with a cute soft shoe. All you need now is a guitar, a reasonable knowledge of how it works, claim the South as your birthplace, and have about $1000. Usually, although not necessarily, you should be able to carry a tune as well as the guitar. Here's how it can work! Get a couple of tunes whipped into shape, preferable with a "bluesy" or "funky" sound to them, get a bus ticket to Nashville, or Hollywood or New York, rent a recording studio for about $150, make a tape recording and have it edited for about $100. For another $112 you can get a master recording made. Another $100 will go for a label design and a thousand single records will cost lltf apiece. Now that you've got your records, get the local deejay to play your record. Then it's simple to find a distributor to handle it in the area. Now all you do is wait for the public clamor for your record. If it's got it "in the grooves" you'll have your hit and might sell half a million at 98tf. You could come out with about $75,000 — after taxes! Of course, of the 6,000 or more singles made each year, only about 300 are hits, and a scant 25 of those get past the half-million mark. You can see it's a pretty big gamble. And one more word of advice: Don't call us, we'll call you! 80G