The record changer (Jan-Dec 1950)

Ill star studded shellac john mcandrew RUDOLPH VALENTINO singing El Relicario (in Spanish) and Kashmiri Song (in English). Brunsivick Special Label. Like any mortal man, Rudolph Valentino got a hankering to hear himself on wax, and during a trip to New York in May, 1923, hied himself to the Brunswick Studios and relieved his tonsils of a brace of trilled trivia. His efforts hardly pegged him the progenitor of the Golden Throat, but they weren't quite the forerunners of Florence Foster Jenkins, although closer to this than the other. Unlike Florence, he did it for kicks — unrehearsed, with makeshift studio accompaniment and with electrical equipment not yet around the corner. The Sheik chose two favorites : El Relicario, sung in Spanish, and the song perennially identified with him from the moment he first scorched Edith M. Hull's burning sands and Kashmiri Song, which thenceforth was cued into practically all Valentino film scores from the one-finger circuit to Erno Rapee. The initial assault on the unprepared ear may be little short of appalling, with the voice going flat, the orchestra flatter and the singer's deplorable breath-control discouraging further attention. However, a couple of repeats at judicious intervals do reveal passable timing, a feeling for the song allowing him to project pathos without bathos and a latent tonal quality not inconsistent with the Valentino screen personality. The record never was intended for commercial release ; Valentino himself very likely did some grave-spinning when somebody with more enterprise than ethics unlocked the closet and unloosed the skeleton, spurred on, perhaps, by Pola Negri's success at the Valentino funeral as a portable shroud, which made it difficult to determine just who was being buried. Nevertheless, sales of the wax oddity languished and quickly died of pernicious anemia, despite a special bizarre label that included Rudy's likeness in dashing sombrero at no extra charge. It is now an obscure collectors' item for the personality hunter or surviving Valentino faddist. Several Valentino laments appeared on records, mostly of hill-billy persuasion of the Vernon Dalhart type, and of these, only one. There's a New Star in Heaven Tonight — Rudolph Valentino, was recorded differently : as a pipe-organ solo on Domino No. .3802 (and affiliate labels), and one good concert-style vocal by Frank Munn on Brunsivick. 3314. Speaking of Pola Negri, her thrilling mezzo-soprano has been almost completely ignored on wax. Her exciting rendition of Paradise, which song was cleffed for her film, A Woman Commands, never reached record counters. Pola's only known recordings are some Russian folk-song sides, sung in Russian and with authentic gypsy chorus and guitar background, made in Europe but appearing briefly in the Victor International listings ; they included Black Eyes and Farewell, My Gypsy Camp. Pseudonyms on records continue to plague record historians and intrigue collectors. A name used exclusively on one label and its sister labels. but never heard of elsewhere, either on other records or on stage, screen or radio, is usually some luminary hidden under a bushel. But a great deal of information regarding such personalities has been found to be misinformation, often in spite of its appearance in some published musical compendium as authentic. What is rumor, and what is fact? Gay Ellis was indisputably Annette Hanshaw ; The Singing Sophomores were The Revelers, as were The Merrymakers ; but was Jane Grey ever Ruth Etting? Was Honey Duke Cliff Edwards? Did Arden and Ohman ever appear on cheaper labels as The Piano Twins? Who was the crooner on early Melotone called Ross Colby? Was it Russ Columbo? And did the latter ever sing with the Isham Jones Orchestra — on the recording of Poor Butterfly, for instance, as some believe? Bing Crosby is said to be labeled Will Perry on some obscure pressing — what is it, and is it indeed Bing? What pseudonyms are you aware of ? In the interests of all collectors, send them in to this column, which will, conversely, be glad to answer any queries along these lines, if possible. And please state why you have reason to believe Lizzie GJutz is really Percy Pushover. Address me c/o the Changer, or at 2569 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn 26, N. Y. for THE CONNOISSEUR at the "Collectors Paradise " Classical. Tremendous assortment of RARE OPERATIC GEMS, including BATTISTINI, CARUSO, GIGLI, RETHBERG, MARTINELLI, MELBA, DESTINN, RUFFIO, and all the greats of the past. Rare SYMPHONIC, OVERTURES & CONCERTOS. "EUROPEAN IMPORTS" Personality include NOEL COWARD, MAE WEST, GERTRUDE LAWRENCE, FRED ASTAIRE, BING CROSBY, and all known Film and Stage Celebrities. Jazz Items Galore include LOUIS ARMSTRONG, BECHET, DODDS, JELLY ROLL MORTON, ELLINGTON, NICHOLLS, TATUM, NEW ORLEANS, DIXIELAND, SWING, ETC. HUNDREDS OF ORIGINAL GLEN MILLERS', BARNET, SHAW, GOODMAN, KRUPA, DORSEY, ETC. Also all late popular releases and Be Bop . . . ALL CAN BE OBTAINED from LEWIN Record Outlet 5600 Hollywood Boulevard, L. A. 28 CALIFORNIA Hi. 8088 "COLLECTIONS BOUGHT"