Radio varieties (Sept 1940-June 1941)

"PATTER ON THE PLATTER" Jurgens National Favorite Jimmy Dorsey Waxes Swing in New Album News, Views and Reviews of Today's Records. By HAL DAVIS In his tenth year as a danceband maestro, Dick Jurgens has finally arrived as a national "name." Popular in Chicago and the mid-west, Dick never had much of a following in the rest of the country. However, long recording periods with Okeh and coast-to-coast airthne this summer combined to make the Jurgens cognoment one of the brighter in the orchestra world. His discs are all notable for perfect tempos, simple, melodic arrangements and grand vocals. The loss of Eddy Howard has been more than compensated by the addition of Harry Cool, one of today's finest vocalists. Cool, a graduate of KMOX St. Louis, possesses a beautiful tone and splendid diction. Dick's latest release couples "Crosstown" with "Goodnight Mother." The first side is a sprightly rhythm number with clever and amusing lyrics. The reverse impresses as a potent anti-war song. Tune is on same general style as "Goodnight Sweetheart," with Harry Cool neatly selling the lyrics. (Okeh). Woody Herman and Jimmy Dorsey are two Decca outfits which rate high up in any band poll. Herman, a vastly underrated maestro, has one of the finest blues combinations in the country. His "Blues Upstairs" is a jazz classic. Best of his recent efforts has been "Herman At The Sherman" and "Jukin." The ease and expression of this outfit plus its aatural musicianship makes listening a pleasure and dancing a "must." Dorsey has overtaken brother Tommy during the past year and fans are beginning to realize that Jimmy really has a solid orchestra. With his alto sax sparking the band, Jimmy takes a back seat to no competitor. Decca's album of "Contrasting Music" is interesting all the way through as Jimmy and the boys swing along on "Swamp Fire," Page 2 * "Rigamarole," "Cherokee," "A Man And His Drum," "Keep AKnockin," "Major and Minor Stomp," "Contrasts," "Perfidia," tc. There's plenty of material in he album for any swing cat — and it's all mellow. Not enough attention has been paid to Ted Straeter's swell music or Doris Rhodes' ditto singing. Ted has a society band that produces the finest dance-time anyone would want. Dorothy Rochelle handles the vocals more than adequately. Listen to "Tea for Two" and "Dancing in the Dark" (Columbia) for verification. Doris Rhodes, former CBS "Girl with iiie Deep Purple Voice," has waxed "Melancholy Baby" and the Gershwin's old tune "Lorelei" for the same company. Backed by Joe Sullivan's band, which includes Maxie Kaminsky on trumpet, Peewee Russell on clarinet and Brad Gowans on trombone, Doris delivers strongly on both sides. She has a gorgeous low tone and clear diction, plus a natural rhythmic feeling. Highly recommended for your library. Thomas "Fats" Waller lets loose with "At Twilight" plus "Fat and Greasy'-' to our great delight. Fats is worth hearing any time. The much improved Les Brown outfit cuts "Blue Divil Jam" and "Gravediggers Holiday" for lighter jitterbugging. In the waltz field there's Wayne King, still practically alone at his chosen tempo. "Melody of Love" has a nice L.weep. Flipover: "Forgotten" has a vocal by the Waltz King. NOTE: Let's have your comments, suggestions, queries on this column. The first 500 fans to write in will receive a new, 5x7 photo of Dick Jurgens, with a list of his latest record releases. HADID VARIETIES VOLUME 3— No. 9 SEPTEMBER, 1949 Karl Lambertz The Williams Brothers Radio Varieties Gold Cup Award Irene Rich — Glorious One Carl Hoff Lost at Sea "I Was Born to Sing" '• • "Joyce Jordan" Serial Enters Fourth Year Meet The Wilbum Children of WSM She Wasn't The Type Pix and News About the Stars Water, a Radio and Tomato Soup DeU Gibbs NBC Brings You World War No. 2 Betty V^inkler Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page U & 15 Page 16 Page 18 & 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 F. L. ROSENTHAL, Publisher WILTON ROSENTHAL, Editor Published by Radio Varieties Incorporated, at 1056 West Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois. New York Office: 485 Madison Avenue. Hollywood Office: 3532 Sunset Boulevard. Published Monthly. Single copies ten cents. Subscription rate $1.00 per year in the United States and Possessions, $1.50 in Canada. Entered as second class matter January 10, 1940, at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois, under the act of March 3, 1879. Every effort will be made to return unused manuscripts, photographs, and drawings (if accompanied by sufficient first-class postage and name and address), but we will not be responsible for any losses for such matter contributed. The publishers assume no responsibility for statements made herein by contributors and correspondents, nor does publication indicate approval thereof. RADIO VARIETIES — SEPTEMBER