The record changer (Jan-Dec 1950)

If star studded shellac john mcandrew From a standpoint of recorded songs, and apart from the bulk of record collectors, who are searching for discontinued or unreleased sides by their favorite band, soloist or vocalist, the three tunes most avidly sought are, indisputably, Star Dust, St. Louis Blues and Tiger Rag. So far ahead of all others are they in the preferred song sweepstakes that nothing can approach their popularity, and it is rarely that recordings of these three receive no bids on sale or auction lists ; and bidders on specific recordings of the songs in question frequently request any further data available on additional versions of the same cleffing. Omitting the glaringly known and currently available recordings, there are innumerable lesser-known cuttings of Star Dust being unearthed by eager collectors; since this covers a period of over twenty years, it would be almost impossible to account for every last commercial release, but for the benefit of those who may never have heard of some of them, here are some less-publicized renditions. Hoagy Carmichael himself is supposed to have made a bandrecording for Gennett in the mid-'20's, years ahead of everyone else. Next came Mills Hotsy Totsy Gang in 1929, followed by Isham Jones in 1930 (both Brunswick) , both good. Shortly thereafter, the Star Dust panic was on, although hardly anybody could have . foreseen it then as a future alltime great. Star Dust recordings of the early '30's, excluding the best-known ones by Bing, Wayne King and, later, BG and TD (Bing and TD each made two versions years apart), were: on Crown, by Fletcher Henderson and Adrian Schubert ; Columbia, Ted Wallace Campus Boys ; Harmony, Velvetone and Clarion, Chester Leighton and His Sophomores. These two aggregations followed the Columbia and subsidiary custom of pseudonym bands utilizing the best sweet and jazz musicians. Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies made it for Okeh, and Cab Calloway for Perfect, which also had it by the (Mills) Blue Ribbon Boys. Melotone had Will Osborne's Orch. Later '30's band releases appeared by Louis Prima (hot and good), Jan Garber, Eddy Duchin and Hudson-deLange, all on Brunswick, and Columbia produced a brace by Will Bradley and Sonny Kendis. The famous Jack Jenny version, with that lovely trombone solo, was pressed on Vocalion and Okeh, as was Sammy Kaye's. The Victor Salon Orchestra, for Victor, was the only 10-inch concert version. Two 12-inchers of this type were made by Paul Whiteman for Victor and the combined talents of The Boswell Sisters, Frank Munn and Victor Young's Orch. for Brunswick, on which The Boswells really shone. Obscure -Foreign recordings of Star Dust are more difficult to trace, but they included band arrangements by Ambrose (HMV), Kai Ewans (Swedish Odeon) and a superb, straightforward, non-vocal edition by Roy Fox, probably as good as any and superior to most. Nat Gonella did a fine Armstrong style pressing, and there was a rhythmaccompaniment release by Melody Makers Rhythm Acc. Group on 12-inch DeE. Vocally, Victor was represented by Jean Sablon ; Elvira Rios cut for Decca, and a delightful interpretation by Nan Blakstone popped up, incongruously enough, as second choice to Myrtle Isn't Fertile Anymore, a semi private edition available in some of the more specialized stores, at least in the '30's. There were piano solos bv Lee Sims (Bruns), Art Tatum (Decca), Fats Waller (BB — later reissued on Victor) and two different ones by Hoagy Carmichael, both on Victor, one of them on an LP, one of the original group of 331/3 RPM issues unsuccessfully (financially) brought out by Victor in 1933. There were org^an versions by Leo LeSieur (Crown), Louis Hoffman (Varsity), Vernon Geyer (BB) and Dick Leibert (Victor). Roy Smeck and His Vita Trio did a Hawaiian guitar turn for Perfect. Two mandolin performances were by West* Bros. (BB) and Dave Apollon (Decca), respectively, and Raymond Baird played a saxophone solo for DeE. One hot group I forgot to mention is Chicago Hot Five on Victor, and Cappy Barra's Harmonicas did their stuff for Master. There may be some who do not know of the vocal version by Eddy Howard on Columbia, with hot accompaniment by a Teddy Wilson group. If you know of any other little-known Star Dust, pass it on to us, as it may ultimately help somebody to complete his collection of this delightful, jazz-based composition. 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"