Radio varieties (Sept 1940-June 1941)

PATTER OFF THE PLATTER BENNY GOODMAN is back and all's right with the orchestra worid! The clarinet virtuoso began recording again for Columbia last month and started his new band on a round of one-nighters through the East. The records are swell and the band is certainly the finest outfit Benny has ever fronted. Take "Wholly Cats" and "Royal Garden Blues", two Sextet numbers. Both feature the amazing trumpeting of Cootie Williams, formerly Duke Ellington's ace growl trumpet man. Then there's Count Basie's piano tricks for real thrills. On tenor sax, Benny is spotting Georgie Auld, who had his own outfit for a time and is rated one of the all-time greats on his instrument. Charlie Christians plays a sparkling electric guitar and bassist Artie Bernstein shares rhythm honors with drummer Harry J. Yaeger. Through both sides, of course, runs the exciting clarinet of maestro Goodman. With his big crew, Benny disced "Henderson's Stomp" and "Nobody" on conventional 10-inch platters and stepped into the 12inch field with a super coupling of "The Man I Love" and "Benny Rides Again." The latter pair represent the high point of modem jazz, especially in Goodman's clarinet takeoffs with drum backing. Eddie Sauter and Fletcher Henderson ore to be congratulated for their brilliant arranging feats for the ensemble. Getting 15 topflight soloists to sound well playing together is a task but Benny and the arranging staff have done a marvelous job. Lend an ear to Helen Forrest, one of the nicest and the best, of today's girl vocalists. Welcome back, Benny — there's nobody to fill your placel That lovely Hildegarde, star of stage, radio, theaters, nightclubs and any other amusement field you might mention, has turned out a Decca album which deserves mention. Heldegarde sings Vernon Duke composition in a lovely, eloquent voice that grows more pleasant with each hearing. The haunting "April in Paris" receives fresh beauty once more and "What Is There To Say" doubles the enjoyment. You'll like every disc in the collection. BoogieWoogie harpsichord has another expert in Artie Shaw's pianist John Guamieri, heard to good advantage in "Summit Ridge Drive" and "Cross Your Heart." The Gramercy Five contribute some exemplary chambermusic jazz to this coupling. Lanny Ross doubles "Crosstown" and "Maricmna Annobelle" for a neat twosome. Hal Kemp's dcmceable music grows more mellow through the years. Try "The Moon Fell In The River" and "Lady With Red Hair" for proof. (Victor.) Raymond Scott continues his sweet series with "Yesterthoughts" and "Strangers" with A-1 results. We still like Dave Harris' tenor sax though against any soloist Ray has had since the days of his first big band. (Columbia). "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar," seems to be the nation's theme these cold Winter days and Woody Herman thrums his way through another exciting version of the boogie woogie thriller. Reverse is "There I Go" and features excellent Herman vocal. Of course, if you've missed Will Bradley's waxing of "Beat Me Daddy" — you just don't live right. Beatrice Kay's "Gay Nineties" album really started something. Tommy Tucker disced an interesting version of "Oceana Roll" and now the King Sisters harmonize "Don't Go In The Lion's Cage Tonight." Neither Tommy nor the King Sisters come up to Miss Kaye's hilarities with the tunes but we can heartily recommend them anyway. However, we can't recommend E r s k i n e Hawkins' tooting "Norfolk Ferry" and "Put Yourself in My Place." CHATTER: Look for Barry Wood's first Victor discs... Irene Beasley with a new idea in children's records... Andre Kostelanetz' new album... Edward Kilenyi as the newest and brightest name in the classical field. RADIO VARIETIES No. 3— Volume 12 December 1940 Patter off the Platter Page 2 WMMN In the SpotHght 3 Information Please 4 Quick, Watson— the Needle! 5 & 20 Dick Powell Builds Dime Stores 6. 7 & 16 Louise Massey and the Westerners 8 Meet Mary Ann 9 What I Think of Swing 10 Guiding Light Cast 11 Down on the Farm 12, 13 & 21 Lets Not Be Matter of Fact About Radio ' 15 Housebcat Hannah Cast 17 Letters From a Flying Cadet 18619 F. L. ROSENTHAL, Publisher WILTON ROSENTHAL, Editor Published at 1056 West Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois. F. L. Rosenthal, Publisher. 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 lanuary 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. Pago 2 RADIO VARIETIES — DECEMBER