Variety (Mar 1949)

40 OnCHESTllAS-^nJSIC WcJnesJay, March 23, I949 3 Mpk Retailers in 25G Anti-Trust Suit Against 5 Major Record Labels Minneapolis, March 22. - In one of tiie most unique anti- trust actions ever flled, three local retail record dealers have begun a $25,000 3uit in Federal court here against five major record labels and 11 other local dealers and dis- tributors. Trio allege they started in the record business after being given to understand they would be serviced with major record prod- uct and that rival retail dealer de- fendants had formed an alliance designed to halt competition. And that the distributors had been in- fluenced against selling product outside the offending group. It's alleged that the echelon of retailers being sued is called, •'Records, Inc.", but no record p| any such organization can be found here. Plaintiff dealers, however, allege that because of their in- ability to secure product locally, they have been forced to protect their Investments by buying rec- ords directly from New York, at prices averaging five cents higher per disk, plus shipping costs. They say that when they sought service from one major label, they were refused On the basis that a, rival label didn't sell to them. Retailers assert that's discrim- ination in violation of the anti-trpst laws and they ask $43,200 in triple damages. One of the complainants, House of Records, which opened in January, this year, has lost $200 monthly since. The others. Studio Record Shop and Arrow Hecord and Radio, assert they have lost $300 monthly due to the sales -block; Defendants in the case are Melo- dee Record Shop, McGowan's Music, Reinhard Bros., F. C. Haver, Roycraft Co., Record Deal- ers, Inc., Campus Record,- Century Record, Camera Sales, Inc., Disc and Needle, Edina Record, Gabbert, Inc.: Labels involved in- clude Columbia, Victor, Decca and M-G-M-. New York Tommy Dorsey Returns To Coast on July 26; First Tone in 2 Years HollyWDOd, March 22. Harry James orch, currently playing three-nights weekly at Tommy Dorsey's Casino Gardens on the pier at Santa Monica will tee off terpery's six-night-weekly_ summer operation June "3 for a seven-week stretch. Then owner Dorsey comes in on July 26 to fin- ish off the summer with his first Coast date in nearly two years. James, getting $2,500 guarantee against 60% of the gross for the present three-night arrangement, checks out temporarily April 3 for a skein of eastern one-nighter^. Wheii Dorsey takes over in July, James will disband his own aggrc gation: until mid-September - for his annual vacation with wife, Betty Grable, coincident with the Del Mar racing meet. During the eight weeks James is trekking east. Casino will feature a combination of Dick Stabile and Ish Kabibble, but on a Friday-Sat- urday arrangement only. Stabile now is forming a 16-piece crew he'll take into the terperyv with sidemen getting scale and Stabile drawing $100 a night. Kabibble (Merle Bogue), erstwhile Kay Ky- ser member, will front an eight- piece comedy combo . now being put together by MCA. Unit will get a slice above scale. Al Donahue band moves from the Statler hotel, Washington, D. C. to Statler, Boston, April .4 and back to the D. C. hostelry m the summer, following Guy Loni- bardo ....Carlos Vydal, conga drummer, and Ray Wetzel, trum- peter, both formerly with Stan Kenton, join Charlie Barnet's or- chestra ... Lou Levy, head ot Leeds Music, to Florida for couple weeks... Sydney Kornhelser stays in N. Y. until May directing Edwiii H. Morris and Melrose staffs ori "Connecticut Yankee" score. .. .^I. H. Greengrass sextet at BoHe- wiek's Br on X spot.;. Lionel Hampton Overflowed M u t u a 1 Arena* Toronto, Saturday (19) play- ing to 4j600 at $1.75 and $2; spot stopped selling tickets at 7:30 p;m. . ..Frank Marino, guitar, jotned Hed Ingle's band replacing Haydeh Causey. . . M-G-M Records again being used at Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, L. I., which opens May 6.:. .Elliot Lawrence band taking, first vacation since debuting band in July, 1945 It's J. Russell Robinson who collaborated with Gordon Burdge on "Portrait of Jennie," tune. Incidentally, has | been shifted to Chappell Music j from Crawford for which; firm Max Dreyfus bought it from Msirk War- ..now Music.,-" ,'■ Hollywood BuUmoose Jackson combo fol- lows stand at Million Dollar here with a two-weeker at the Barbary Coast, Frisco, at $2,000 per session I. . . Doris Donovan, who bowed out [as chirp with Benny Strong's band I in Chicago, joined spouse Fraiik I Parsons here . . . Ziggy Elman as- and sembled a band to slice a pair of sides for M-G-M today (22) . . . Victor Lombardo ork . starts its first local stand next Wednesday (30) opening at the Aragon on a fullweek basis at flat $2,400 per frame:. . :„-■■'.■-■•. Frank De Vol guest-conducts the Cleveland Symphony June 11^ in his original, "Combat Concerto" .,, Eddy Howard's orch on a string 6f midwest one-nighters . . Del Courtney, who opens at Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador next Tuesday. (19), will trek 'back north after the stint to open May 5 foi' the summer season - at Jantzien; (Continued on page 42) : LORRY RAINE "Can't -Sleap"—Dacca Racordt Di»k Jockay Saluta ED McKENZIE, WJBK Detroit's "Jack the Bellboy" has pioneered every phase of radio, His persuasive, authentic: across^the- table delivery has him heavily-spon- sored. His thorough knowledge of the music business, plus his astute ability at picking records, rates him one of the country's outstanding disk jockeys. McKenzie has made "Jack the Bellboy" one of the trademarks of radio. TIM GAYLE (Publicity-Personal Manaaement) Hotel Sheraton^ Detroitt Mich* Jocks, Jukes and Oisks " By Bernie Woods ' Ksk Jock Bids For Mayor s Job San Antonio, March 22. Bud Whaley, KMAC disk jockey and one of this town's most out- standing spinners, has tossed his hat into the ring in the njayoralty race. Using the phrase, "I'm a disk jockey running on my rec- ord," Whaley is completely serious about bidding for the city's top po- litical post. He's 42 and is given a good chance by experts. Whaley's reasons for entering the mayoralty race is said to; be based on , "hundreds of requests'' from friends to do so. He wants to dean up What he believes are extremely poor political conditions in San Antonio. Whaley, incidentally, is making his campaign runs in a 1912 Ford model "T," which is labelled the "Whaley machine." perry Como "When Is Soms- time"-"A You're Adorable" (Vic- tor). Two excellent sides. "Some- time" is an extremely palatable ballad arrangement ^o£ a tune from Bing Crosby's "Connecticut Yankee." "Adorable" is the best recording of the tune thus far; it uses the Fontane Sisters behind Como on a light rhythm beat. It s swell. Frank Sinatra "Bali Hai"-"Spme Enchanted Evening" (Columbia). Top disk tunes from "South Pacific." Sinatra does a fair job, pouring his best effort into "Ball.' "Enchanted Evening" is mechanic- ally sung. Perry Como's (Victor) versions are far superior. These are in better dance beat, however. Axel Stordahl directs the accom- paniment solidly. Mel Torine "Agaifi"-"Blue Moon!' (Capitol). On "Again" Torme again deserted the "Fog" style to some extent, working the lyric of the excellent tune in fine fashionj^Its backed by a Latin beat. ' Blue Moon" sinks too deeply into his whispering style and doesn't click as well, though it's listenable. Eddy Howard "I Get Up Every; Morning"-"Don't Cry, Cry Baby" (Mercury). Twb good sides, and tunes. "Get Up" shows signs of getting up and moving fast and Howard's disk is almost, not quite, comparable to Guy Lombardo s (Decca). It's good Jock and juke material, however. Howard and trio vocal in light dance beat. Flip- over is an item that fits Howard's silky style smartly and he alone puts a high gloss on the lyric. Guy Lombardo "My Heart's In the Middle of July"-"Scalawag'' (Decca). Typical Lombardo—good recordings. "July," from the show, "All for Love" is a good tune and it's well done, sung by the Trio. "Scalawag" is a cute thing reminis- cent of "Scatterbrain." It has a chance. Kertny Gardner handles the •vocal smoothly. ■ Arthur Godfrey "All Right, , , - , . - . * , , Louie, Drop the Gun"-"Could I? I nH"f■ too, is good .lock fare Certa nly Could" (Columbia). God- ! and in many .sections will outstrip become a solid hit. It's an eerie western, recorded with the use of echo technique that heightens, the tune's own power. This disk tops the Burl Ives (Columbia) version in the pop vein, at least. Backlne "Side Saddle" is okay, too. Jerry Wayne-Dell Trio "You're So Understanding"-"Because You Love Me" (Columbia). Wayne and the Del]s made an excellent record- ing of a tune that carries solid hit possibilities. Theirs matches the Blue Barron M-G-M recording, ex- cept that it hasn't the fullness Vocal quartet works with Wayne and the Dells. Fin* jock material Reverse, a waltz, is listenable. Pled Pipers "Tennessee Saturdav Night"-"You Broke Your Promise'' (Victor). Pipers go nowhere with the first half of their initial Victor platter. "Tennessee" is draggy. Reverse, however, is worthwhile' They drew a good tune in "Proln^ ise" and they dress it up in a good beat: and the hand-clapping style used by Paula Watson. Good jock material. Johnny Desmond "Comme CI Comme Ca"-"My Dream Is Yours" (M-G-M). Desmond constantly im- proves on records/ These two are both good sides. His "Comme Ci" has plenty of competition, but it doesn't suffer by comparison ivith anyone except Dick Haymes. His "Dream," from the Warner film of that name, is well done and is the - best recording so far. Tony Mot- tola combo backs both. Dick Jurgens "Women, Women, Women"-"Red Head" (Columbia). Jurgens may have snagged himself something good in "Women." It's a cute novelty that could, happen. Jurgens does it on a medium beat, vocal by Al Galante, Jimmy Castle and the band. "Red Head" is fair. Burl Ives VGhost Riders In the Sky"-"Wayfairing Stranger" and Woolie; Boogie Bee'' (Columbia). Ives' dug up "Ghoist Riders" and, in his style, he works it to great ad- vantage, al.so using the echo tecli- frey didn't do much with "Louie but so gfeat is his pull that this disk probably will be in demand. He does it almost straight along the melodic line, with only minor comic twists. Chorus and Archie Bleyer band accomp. Wesson.Bros. (National) is still best disking. Flip- over is fair. Vaughn Monroe "Ghost Biders In the Sky"-"Side Saddle" (Victor). Monroe's v e r si ffn of "Ghost i Riders" carries enough potential to '. 3. LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME (18) (Bourne) + 4. POWDER FACE WITH SUNSHINE m (Lombardo).... 5. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS (3) (Melody La»e) . PUBS GRIPE OYER LAMBS CLUB NICK Music p u b 1 i s h e r s are a bit peeved currently over the way they have been approached for contri- butions to the Lambs Club relief fund. Pubs had never been asked on a large scale to kick in in past years. But this year Fred Waring Is designated as a committee of one to contact pubs and gather .contributions. Waring has contacted all major; pubs by letter suggesting that a $100 check would be nice. They I f don't mind so much kicking into a {1 fund that has no connection with | 4 the music biz, but they do mind 11 10 Best Sellers on CoiiL-Machines Week of March f 9 I. CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER (6) (Spltzer). 2. FAB AWAY PLACES (14) (Laurel). 6. GALWAY BAY (11) (Leeds) 7. LAVENDER BLUE (7) (Santly-Joy). 8. RED ROSES FOR BLUE LADY (5) (Mills) I fttiss Moraon.. .. . . . . ..Decca J Blue Barron . M-G:M f Bi?i9 Crashy . . ... .... .ji». jpeeca i j Perry Como.. ...».....: ^. VtCtor ;' \ Evelyn Knight. , Dccco •' XPaula Watson. ..... ... .SupremjS: ; ; \ Evelyn Knight .......,... Deccft '' t Prima Scala. ,......... London J } Mills Bros .............,. DeccO I Buddy Clark.. .. . .... .Columbia ( Bing Crosby .. ........... . .Decca., \ Anne Shelton. ........ . .London ( Dinah Shore .......... Columbia \ Sammy Kaye ... ;., . > . . Victor yVaiiglin Monroe .... . .Victor I GuV' Lombardo.. .. ..,... Decca 9. I'VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM (12) (Berlin) { MIs^Xm.V.V.V.V.V.'.^^'dccco 10. AGAIN (1) (Robbins) Vera Lynn London Coming Up I Bill (7 Crosby Deccn SO IN LOVE (T. B. Harms) I Dinah Shore Columbio ^„ ^ SRuss Morgan Decca SO TIRED (Glenmore) ^ ^0?/ Starr Capitol YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISE (Pic) Pattla Watson Supreme o«»rr.w o».inn .w^^ ^ <, Russ MoTQan Decca SUNFLOWJER. .(Famous) , iPrank Sinatra Columbia YOU, YOU, YOU ARE THE ONE (Campbell) Ames Bros Corol BEAUTIFUL EYES (Duchess) Art Mooney M-G-M , 5 Billy Eckstine M-G-M ( Ink Spots .; :x>ecca BEWILDERED SWEET GEORGIA BROWN (Remick) NO ORCHIDS FOR MY LADY (Leeds) FOREVER AND EVER (Robbin») •, :. . J Brother Bones.. ,....,.. .Tempo I »..»••.»»•..•....■. . • ■ I Ciwj/ Lonibardo., .,..,. . . .Decca, ^vrsiilj/ ^ .... .... . , . .. ^ j^jj^. Spots . . . . .. .. . yDcCGO .....).. . j Grade Fields. . \ . . . .... .London ■ • COMME CI. COMME CA (Leeds) j^^^ ST\\\\\\\\coIuX ^ SOMEONE LIKE YOU (Remick) {dotT D'^a'/-.'.XoSS ii UP ABOVE MY HEAD (Taps) Sister Rosetta Thorpe... .Decca f .Decca the fact that Waring, because he performs songs on the air and on r^ords and they must cater to him somewhat, was given the job of colIectiiDg Irom themi V . V . . .^.^.^.^^..^^ IS IX TRUE ABOUT DIXIE (Caesar) Al Jolson-Millj Bros (Figures in pareiitheses indicate number cj weeks itono has been in the Top lOJ the Vaughn Monroe disk (Victor). Backing Rives Columbia, for whom Ives recently began work; a eopy of his standard "Wayfaring," a hit item of the pa.st, combined with tiie cute and highly acceptable VBee." Platter Pointers Soft Winds (Mercury) recording of the way "St. Louis Blues" might be done in < various parts of the ' U. S. and the world is an interest- -ing-item—(T'wo—sities) . -r-r-Hoagy— Carmichael pours a lot of his flavor into "An Old Piano Plays the Blues" (Decca), a cute side . . . Decca reissued Count Basic's "Jumpin' At the Woodside" and "Exactly Like You," things tliat don't show up often enough any- more, on Coral . .. In the same re- issue groove on Coral is Jimmie Lunceford's "I'm In a Jam" and "BuSz, Buzz, Buzz" . . . Connee Bos- well's"When 1 Come Back Crying" and ''You Can't Say 1 Didn't Try" (Coral) demonstrate why the singer ,is so superior . . . Coral also re- issued Ben Pollack's orchestra do- ing "Rose Colored Glasses''' and "Song of the Islands;'' Additional worthwhile jazz sides ■ are "Ballin' the Jack" by Miff Mole's Dixieland Orch, one of Decca's first Brunswick reissues . . . And Machito's "Asia jyiinor' arid "Un Poquito De Tu Amor," cut by a crack, well-reheiirsed band . . . Sy Oliver's initial disk.for Decca carries a novelty possibility in "Grandma Plays the Numbers' . . . Columbia's moppet blues gal, Ton! Harper, pu.shes a good side in "Miss In-Between Blue's^' . . . Vic- tor's succesis with Bay Noble s "Lady of Spain" brouglit a Decca version of the tune, by Milt Herth; it's good . . . Disk jocks will be; enriched by Ethel Smith's "Teddy Bear's Picnic" and "Fiddle Fad- die," good current and library pieces. Standout western, hiUybiJly. race, jazz. Big Sis Andrews, ' That Ain't the Way to Do It" (Capitol . . . Jimmy Wakely, "I Don't Care (Coral) . . . Ben Webster, "The Horn" (Brunswick) . . . Bed Sovine, "Who's Lonely Now" (M-G-M) . . ■ Country Washburner' Moiiey-Mai;- bles. Chalk" (Capitol . . , BoD Atcher, "SmiUng with a Broken Heart" and "Don't Rob Another. Man's Ca.stle" . . . Miles Davis. "Budo" (bop) (C a p i 101). • ■ "Whoopee John" Wilfahrt, 'JDoro- thy Polka" ... Rex Allen, "Ten- nessee Tears" (Mercury) . •„ Smokey Rogers, "Sul Sin Fa (Capitol) ... Sob W1U«, "GoodWt Liza Jane" (Colmubi?).