Variety (May 1947)

Jocks, Jukes and Disks By George Frazier Maurice Chevalier is back on shel- lac this week and ha is dynamite. In this new Victor—a coupling of "Louise" and "Just a Bum"—he is still a great performer and an al- together irresistible personality. Be- yond this, there is little to say about the disk. It's first-rate Chevalier. It also, offers some attractive back- ground stuff by Henri Rene orches- tra. "Louise," of course, is pure nostalgia and needs no comment here. "Just a Bum," one of the big Best Bets Ballad — "Louise" (Maurice Chevalier), "Ask Anyone Who Knows" (Dinah Shore), "Ivy" (Dick Haymes), and "Come In Out of the Rain" (King ColeX »ance—"Things Are Different Now" and "I Won't Be Home Anymore" (Freddy Martin), "My Young and Foolish Heart" (Tex Beneke), and "Saloon" (Jerry Colonna). Hillbilly—"Hitler Lives" (Her- man the Hermit) and "Candle- light and Roses" (Elton Britt). Novejty—"Love In Bloom" (Spike Jones). Standard — "Louise" (Maurice Chevalier). clicks in Chevalier's one-man con- certs, is a carefree bit of special material in which he—to borrow a phrase Jimmy Cannon once applied to Mark Hellinger—"makes poverty gleam." "Louise" is unquestionably th- side that will sell the platter, however. Our own feeling is that "Louise" should get a play on the jukes, but we cannot be sure. We do feel, though, that the Jocks will spin it constantly. Jerry Colonna's . "Cowpasture Polka" (Capitol) has prompted Capitol's publicity department to put put the following commentary: "There is probably nothing objec- tionable in the lyric of "Cow Pas- ture (sic) Polka" as sung by Jerry Colonna, but the song is probably not suitable for broadcast purposes." Well, it isn't, but simply because It's inordinately dull. A trio and the San Fernando Pals (vocal) works valiantly with The Mustache, but the material just isn't there. Re- verse—"Saloon"— is a big improve- ment. It's also rather danceable. However, there doesn't seem much chance that this disk will sell im- pressively. Frank DeVol — up to now a rather blameless man—wrote "Polka," by the way. Doris Day, who went from sing- ing with Les Brown's band to a aingle at The Little Club, is one of the more talented of the up-and- coming girl singers. Her Columbia ol "It Takes Time" and "Pete," in which the reliable Mitchell Ayres provides the accompaniments, adds up to extremely pleasant stuff. 'Pete" has such tricks as whispery breaks at the end of "the bridge and they lend the proceedings the bless- jjjg of freshness. Miss Day handles "Time" more conventionally. Both sides should do okay on the coin- boxes. Dinah Shore's Columbia of "Ask Anyone Who Knows" and "Poppa, fion't Preach to Me" probably won't i>e any smash, - but it has its points. One of them is the growing popu- larity of "Ask Anyone." Another is the really slick background by Son- ny Burke's band. "Poppa"—a rather frantic extract from Frank Loes- ser's score for "The Perils of Paul- ine"—is scarcely the sort of thing in which Miss Shore is at her best, however. At the risk of becoming monotonous, we revert to a point we brought up when Betty Hutton's Capitol of "Poppa" was reviewed, to wit: It strikes us as flagrantly cheap for Loesser to have used a sug- gestive line. If the line were fun- ny it would be different—but, like "Cowpasture Polka," if s<#S~T3ore. Spike Jones and His City Slickers' "Love In Bloom" (Victor), in marked contrast to "Poppa" and "Cow Pasture" (we spell it both ways lust so Capitol won't be embar- rassed) has genuine humor. There may.be a funnier group than Jones' Boys around, but we have yet to hear them. His satiric genius was never more evident than when Capi- tol came out a few weeks ago with • rather- similar group. This "Love In Bloom" is further confirmation of the Slickers' vast comedic talent, yocal is by The Barefooted Penn- •vlvanians, Dr. Horatio Q. Birdbath and The Saliva'Sisters. -It's slated for an imposing nickleodeon play. "Blowing -Bubble Gum," on the other side, is all right, but hardly a wow, .. Peggy Lee is the latest inter- preter of "Chi-Baba Chi-Baba" (Capitol). Backed by husband Dave Barbour and a good band, she sings the lullaby very well, indeed. The Wurlitzers will like it. On the back- side she does "Ain'tcha Ever Comin' Back," a tune which represents the collaborative efforts of Paul Weston, Axel Stordahl, and Irving Taylor. It's an extremely effective job. If the tune starts moving—as it should —this face will be big. Herman the Hermit, a hillbilly singer who accompanies himself on five-string banjo, assisted by a guitarist, does well by "Hitler Lives" (Capitol). "Hitler Lives" is a fur- ther example of hillbilly music's predilection for the topical. It has its maudlin aspect, but there can be no denying the .validity of its message. Once again, we suggest that metropolitan jocks—most of whose programs are ruined by a conventional selection of tunes— i add flavor to their shows by playing an item like this Capitol, Reverse—"Big Sue"—is acceptable backwoods stuff, but not much more. Three Suns' "Across the Alley from the Alamo" and "Peg o' My Heart" (Victor)-is a sound commer- cial bracketing. "Alamo," with a vocal by Artie Dunn, is one of the better versions of a song that should begin moving. "Alamo" is the bet- ter bet, but "Peg o' My Heart" should- do fine on the strength of the revival of the tune. King Cole trio's newest Capitol is a coupling of two ballads—"Come In Out of the Rain" and "Can You Look Me In the Eyes?" Nat Cole Suggested Program "Stars Fell on Alabama"— Eddie Condon (Decca). "Louise" — Maurice Chevalier (Victor). "Chi-Baba Chi-Baba" — Peggy Lee (Capitol). "Just One of Those Things"— Benny Goodman (Columbia). "Pete" —Doris Day (Colum- bia). "Begin the Beguine"—Eddie HeywCod (Decca). "Hitler Lives" — Herman the Hermit (Capitol). Keynote Into Folk, Kid Recording Line Keynote Records, taken over re- cently by a group headed by John Hammond,- will go into a children's and folk song line of records soon, further diverting the company fjom its original jazz record premise. Only a few months ago, Keynote signed Igor Stravinsky, which was a start in the direction of a line of classical material, and added since is the Fine Arts Quartet. Actual recording and talent to be used for the kiddie disks isn't blue- printed as yet. Trustee Prober Takes Dim View Of Cosmo Future Cosmo Records' chances of re- suscitation are slight, according to the report turned in to U. S. district court, New York, last week by trus- tee Louis J. Castellano, appointed to investigate the Cosmo situation. Castellano turned in an 18-page document which went out to vari- ous stockholders and subscribers, inviting suggestions for a plan of reorganization. In his report, Castellano scores the operators of Cosmo as inade- quately versed in the recording business. He points out that the prospectus gotten up prior to the floating of a stock issue (which the Securities & Exchange Commission has been investigating following complaints),did not give an accurate picture of the company's status. He also points out to prospective re- organizers that "the trustee has con- sidered the possibility that causes of action may exist under the SEC Act of 1933." Assets of the company are $68,000 for land and pressing' equipment at Massapequa, L. I.; 400,'000 records valued, overall, at $20,000, and $80,- 000 in debts "of doubtful collecti- bility." Cash on hand is $610, Liabilities include $100,000 in taxes due N. Y. State; real estate mort- gages of $23,500 plus another $10,000 in interest; chattel mortgages on machinery, etc., of $51,200; trade creditors, $135,000; disputed claims in litigation, $200,000. All this in addition to the loans of directors of, about $250,000 plus coin invested by Rubin Uslander and Harry Weiner, principal backers of the company, amounting to $400,000. sings on both sides—easily, pleas- antly, and with real feeling for the words. You'll be hearing both sides on the buffalodeons. Elton Britt's "Candelight and Roses'' (which Victor labels as "Billy Hill's last song") is a natural for hillbilly consumption. Britt is cer- tainly one of the three or four big- gest-selling performers in rural communities. Given a slice of sen- timentality like "Candlelight and Roses" he achieves a performance that of its kind is superlative. Qn the other side he* does "I Wish You the Best of Everything." On both faces he is accompanied by The Skytoppers. Wax Facts Two of the more danceable faces of the week are Freddy Martin's "Things Are No Different Now" and "I Won't Be Home. Anymore When You Call" (Victor) . . . Leslie Scott, a sob singer with Louis Armstrong's band, has a potential hit in his Vic- tor of the swell oldie, "You Go To My Head!" -This is sugary singing, but the tune should help sales con- siderably . . . Lawrence Welk's "Champagne Waltz" (Decca) is an accomplished job of its kind and— in what sounds like an era of sweet music—a potentially fair hit . . . Tex Beneke's "My Young and Fool- ish Heart" (Victor) has one of Garry Stevens' best vocals. This Lewis- Tobias-Murray tune is a good one, incidentally, and may move . . .The best version of "Ivy" this week is Dick Haymes' (Decca), is backed by "They Can't Convince Me." Hot Dancery Calgary, May 27. When fire started in a business place under the Dreamland dance hall here, Frank Grummett, a guard, had Vic Ager's band play the na- tion anthem, "God Save the King," and averted a panic. Dancers stood at attention and then, quietly left the .building. Uslander Sues NatTs Green Rubin Uslander, director and stockholder of the defunct Cosmo Records, is suing Albert B. Green, prexy of National Records, in N. Y. supreme court seeking to recover the sum of $17,000 which he claims he made as a loan to Green in three different installments in July and August, 1946. Answering the suit, Green made a general denial of Uslander's allegations and stated that the money was credited on Cosmo's records as a current syndi- cate loan payable account. In answering the denial of the defense, Uslander charges Green's claims are untrue and again charged thaf the money represented a per- sonal loan. Supreme Court Justice Edward R. Koch reserved decision last weelc on a motion of Uslander for summary judgment and to strike out Green's answer. British Best Sheet Sellers (Week Ending May 15) London, May 16. Anniversary Song.... .Connelly April Showers Chappell How Lucky You Are Kassner Among My Souvenirs Wright Marianne Southern Old Lamplighter Dash A Little Tenderness.. .Connelly You Went Away Box & Cox Gal in Calico Feldman Stars Will Remember. .Feldman I Call You Sweetheart.. . .Dash Harriet Keith, Prowse Second 12 Don't Fall in Love Wood Violetta Di x Hi-Jig-A-Jig Box & Cox Sentimental Reasons.. .Maurico Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Sun It Happens Eve»y Day Yale Rickety Rickshaw Southern China Boy, Girl Macmelodies Open Door Richard Leeds Go Home Yale Oh, But I Do Feldman Beginning of End Victoria Dreyer-Carle Into Music Pub Biz; Berlins 2 New Songs, Sets Staff Harms Sues Buff. Nitery On Infringement Rap Buffalo, May 27. In the first copyright infringement suit brought in the U. S. District Court here in several years, Harms, Inc., has brought suit against Benjamin Salemi, operator of Club Rainbo, for damages and a perma- nent injunction arising out of the alleged unauthorized use of "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" and "As Time Goes By." Harold Weisenberg, of Syracuse, is counsel for the plaintiffs, who ask the statutory damage of $250 per infringement. 5 Indie Diskers Blacklisted by 47 For Pay Vamp Hollywood, May 27. Musicians' Local 47, still wielding the axe in its campaign of blacklist- ing record companies which grow delinquent in paying musikers for waxing, last week summarily boy- cotted five more Coast odd-labels— Indigo, Notable, Worldwide, Royal and Urban. Total of 17 diskeries headquar- tered here now grace union's black- list, Many ostensibly are in biz, peddling- product made in past, al- beit none is able to etch new mas- masters upon which music is used. ■4- After an association of 25 years Dave Dreyer parts from Irving Ber. lin to go into music publishing busi- ness for himself with bandleader- songsmith Frankie Carle as a part- ner. Song by Marvin Fisher, son of the late songwriter Fred Fisher, and Jack Segal, titled "For Once in Your Life," becomes the new Dreyer Music Corp.'s No. 1 plug. Meantime, Berlin has extended his New York visit to get a new ballad "Love and the Weather;" and a nov- elty "Kate (Have I Come Too Early Too Late?)", rolling as his com- pany's plugs into the fall. These mark his first plugs since "Blue Skies" and since he won't have a picture or a show score before Christmas, Berlin will concentrate on these two numbers. The vet song- smith, incidentally, did the unusual, while east, of personally contacting the recording companies to set the mechanicals. Charles Saxon and Irvin Niles carry on professionally in New York; Freddie Kramer in Chi; and Ben Gilbert in Hollywood for Berlin. Dreyer took Mike Sukin with him from Berlin's, and heads for Chi and the Coast June 15 to set professional men there as well. Dreyer doesn't start in business un- til Aug. 1, officially, but exits Berlin the end of this week. Incidentally, his "Life" plug song has been widely recorded, by Carle and others. Berlin heads for Hollywood next Monday (2), to- complete Parade" for Metro. No Sign Hollywood, May 27, 1947. •Charlie Barnet and Carolyn Scott, his vocalist, have parted. Barnet drew up a contract for Miss Scott, but she didn't like the terms. Miss Scott drew up a pact, but Bar- net didn't like the terms. Skitch Henderson Due for N. Y. Penn Skitch Henderson's new orchestra, organized within the past month or so by the pianist-maestro, is du« into the Pennsylvania hotel, N. Y., June 16, following the current Randy Brooks. Deal was completed by Music Corp. of America, which has been trying for weeks to put the new combo into the Penn's Cafe Rouge as a means of helping launch the new name with as„much fan- fare as possible. Henderson, pianist with Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby's radio shows in the past, is a Capitol re- cording name. 10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines 1. Mam'selle (6) (Feist). 2. Linda (13) (Mayfair).... 8. Heartaches (12) (Leeds) ... 4. My Adobe Hacienda (7) (Peer) 5. That's My Desire (7) (Mills) 6. Sunday Kind of Love (4) (Maurice).... 7. If I Had Life Over (4) (General) 8. Across Alley From Alamo (3) (Capitol). 9. Red Stockings, Green Perf'e (3) (Morris) 10. Anniversary Song (17) (Mood) ( Dick Haymes Decca \ Art Lund M-G-M ( Clark-Noble Columbia (Charles Spivak... Victor ( Ted Weems Decca-Victor (Eddy Howard Majestic ( Eddy Howard Majestic \ Dinning Sisters.. Capitol (Frankie Laine.".' Mercury X Sammy Kaye Victor (Jo Stafford.... Capitol \ Claude Thornhill. .Columbia (Larry Vincent..20th-century ( Buddy Clark Columbia (Mills Bros Decca ( Woody Herman. ...Columbia (Ray McKinley......Majestifl X Tony Pastor Columbia (Al Jolson Decca (Tex Beneke Victor Coming Up Chi Baba, Ghi Baba (Oxford) I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder (Robbins). Peg O' My Heart (Robbins) Jack, Jack, Jack (Sinatra) I Believe (Sinatra) . Time After Tims. (Sinatra).. Santa Catalina (Spina) Roses In Rain (Barton) * Midnight Masquerade (S-B).... You Can't Sea Sun (Simon) Ivy (Burke-VH) "... It's Same Old Dream (Sinatra) , When Am I Gonna Kiss You (Martin)...... April Showers (Harms) You Don't Learn That In School (Vanguard) That's Wher« I Came In (Robbins) (Perry Como Victor ( Blue Barron M-G-M (Martha Tilton Capitol ( Tony Pastor Columbia (Clark Dennis. Capitol j Harmonicats . .. .Vitacoustics (Andrews Sisters Decca X Jack Smith Capitol Frank Sinatra Columbia (Frank Sinatra Columbia (Tommy Dorsey ..Victor ( Freddy Martin Victor X Eddy Howard Majesrc Frankie Carle Columbia (Eddy Howard Majestic ( Sammy Kaye ....Victor (Ink Spots ....Decca (Vaughn Monroe Victor (Jo Stafford .Capitol ( Ziggy Elman M-G-M Tommy Dorsey ..Victor (Freddy Martin Victor { Dinah Shore Columbia ( Al Jolson Decca, \ Guy Lombardo Decca King Cole Trio Capitol (Perry Como Victor I Jo Stafford Capitol