Variety (Apr 1949)

84 WedneBclay, April 13, 1949 Jocks, Jukes and Disks By BEBNIE WOODS Jo Stafford-Gordon MacRae "My One and Only Highland Fling"- "Thank You" (Capitol). Miss Staf- ford and Mac Rae can have a solid smash in "Highland." One of the best things they've done together —•the lyric in a completely: convinc- ing Scottish buiT; Melody Is good, too. "Thank You" also a good side; tune fair, performance good in dance beat. Bill Lawrence "A Million Miles ; Away"-"If 1 Could Be With You" i (Victor). Lawrence's second release ' got him two good tunesr!-^a pop and standard. He works "Miles," a solid new tune by Charlie Tobias and Nat Simon into hit proportions and bolsters it with the ilipover. Dinah Shore "A Wonderful Guy"-"Younger Than Springtime" (Columbia). "Guy," from "South Pacific," is the type ; of melody thill's a pipe for Miss Shore as a rule. She does fairly well with it, Jjut it laclcs the real zip of which she's capable. "Springtime" is even less imixressive. Backing by ■ Hari-y Zimmerman is dull. Art Mooney "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blues"-"Again" (M-G-M). Mooney zoomed back fast into the groove in which he made "Four- Leat Glover," -when "Five Foot Two" started to show in the mid- west by Benny Strong (Tower). This is a solid disking from a com- mercial angle. and it should draw spins like ilies. Entire band vocals. f?Again" should have: been done again. Pcgsry Lee "Bali Ha'i"-Dave Bar- bour Oix'he.stra "There Is Nothing Like a Dame" (Capitol)...Miss Lee is the first femme name'to tackle VBali Ha'i" (Itis done by a femme in the show). It's not as good as she might be expected to do. She seems so concerned with singing the tune that she puts nothing of Miss Lee into it. It comes out rather ordi- leaso' of five records by various "new music" names it signed— Dave Lambert, Three Bips and » Bop, Lennie Tristano Sextettei Miles David and Tadd Dameron and a sixth by Dave Barbour, Four are worthwhile, "Always"-"Hawai' ian War Chant" (Lambert); "Pro- fessor Bop"-"Capitolizing" (Three Bips); "Crosscurrent" - "Wow" (Tristano); "Little Boy Bop" and "Eensenada" (Barbour). The two by the others are ordinary monot- onous sides. Platter Pointers Dinah Washington rang Mer- cury's sales bell solidly with her "What Can I Say Dear, After I Say I'm Sorry" and "Pete" . . . Jazz jocks should look into Hank D'Amlco's "Over the Rainbow" and "Cole Heat" (National) . . . Ditto George Shearing;'! VMoon -Over Miami" (bop piano) and Georgie Auld's "They Didn't Believe Me" and"Hollywood Bazaar" (both Dis- covery) s .. Any disk jock can use "The Huckle-Buck" by Bi« Sis An- drews (Capitol) . Johnny Desi mond follows Buddy Clark with a good disking of ''Chapter in My Life Called Mary" (M.G.M.) , . , Another good bop ballad is "I'll Be There" by Three Biffs (Atlantic) . . ^ Deep River Boys made some- thing out of "Cry and You Cry Alone" (Victor) . . , Bill Harris' fine tromboning is all over his "How High the Moon"-"Moon Is Low" (Capitol), but they're strict- ly for cats. Frankie Laine Big B.O. At Portland, Ore., April 8 Frankie Laine did near capacity business at Jantzen Beach Ball- room April 2. Drew 3,472 admis- sions at $2.40, students receiving cut on their student LORRY RAiN£ "Can't SUip"—Dacca Disk Joekay Saluta: . TED HUSING, WMGM New Yorkers who hear "Ted Hiia- Ing's Bandstand" know that all the country knows him as a sports au^ thorlty and one of radio's pioneers. He. was the first big: name in sports to become a disk Jockey. Always alert to new talent and helping foster It (he dlscoveMd Harry Von Zell, gave him. his start) Lorry Ralne's. platters are frequent "Bandstand" ofCeringSi He picks her as one of the new singing stars. TIM GAYLE Hotal Sheraton* Detroit, Mich;' Inside Orchesbras-Music Because of his onernighters and generally Itinerant I'oute, Spike Jones tape-records his CBS programs for Coca-Cola, which so far has gotten him a flock of unexpected fan mail. If the auditor ihisses the opening announcement he is confused by the fact the show is heralded as "originating by transcription from Philadelphia" (or whatever the city may be). When fans see Jones booked into New England, or a similar remote spot, they can^t figure it out. Jones settles down at the Biltmore theatre, Los Angeles, for three weeks May 15; thence to the Curran, Frisco, June 6 for ditto, both being concert dates at $3.60 top. They lay ofE during July; the Fla- mingo hotel, Las Vegas, in Aug.; fairs in Sept. and Oct., etc., and then repeat dates such as the Studebaker, Chicago; where they stayed lo weeks; the National, Washington, and Music Hall, Detroit, where they played two weeks,eachi Ralph Wonders, for MCA, handles their tOuV; "Ting-A-Ling (The Waltz of the Bells)," a 1926 hit, is being revived again via an ancient Jesse Crawford recording recently; uncovered by WJBK, Detroit, disk jockey Ed McKenzie. Written by Little Jack Little and Addy Britti the tune aroused such interest that Mills Music, its publisher, is now getting behind it. Last waxed by Decca in 1936 by the Midwest Novelty Band, "Ting" was cut by Blue Barron last week for MGM, while a flock of other recording dates are.slated to follow. Crawford etched his disk on Victor more than 20 years ago while a Paramount, N, Y,, theatre organist. AKRON JUKE TAX OF 3% OF GROSS OKAYED Frankie Laine finally gets around to etching a quartet of fresh sjdes for Mercury next week. His first wax session since before the Petrillo ban went into effect On Jan. 1, 1948. He's one of the top biscuit bakers Who haven't made a platter since the ban was lifted. Kay Kyser hasn't either. Neither was in a great hurry to make recordings since each had a considerable backlog and preferred tO; wait for new, likely tunes. Kyser still isn't ready, having answered Columbia's importunings with the'advice that he's "too busy." All other top recording artists have rushed into wax since the ban ended. nary "Bali Ha'i" with excellent Dave Barbour backgrounding. Flip- a 75>cent over i.s another tune from "Pacif-i cards. ic," by Barbour and a male chorus. | Marked I..qirip'« fir<5t annparanr-o It's good, but light commercially. I he^^ He appeared wUh' (George Eve YounK "Cabaret"^"It's Me" i Brun's orchestra, a local outfit, (Victor). "Cabaret" a new ballad | signed for the dance melody, catches attention. Miss i played from 9 5. Young does it simply and saleably and her disk could start the tune on a hit run. It's worthwhile. "It's Me'! is cute, but light melodically. Charlie Green orchestra backs both. Doris Day "How It Lies, How It Lies"-"If X Could Be With You" (Columbia). "How It Lies." a good new tune, is not exactly Miss Day's type of melody, biit on her it looks _ good. She gets a lot of help from 4 !• George Siravo's shuffle-beat back- ing and a male quartet. Good side: I 2 Her work on the standard reverse is excellent. She's inclined to over- jl » do some of the lines, but it's not ▼ »' too noticeable! . Marion Hutton "All Right, Louis, Drop the Gun"-"Bop Goes My Heart" (M-G-M). On the basis of —these-sidesrMi.ss Hutton-isn't-doing enough recordings. M-G-M is late with "Louis," but the singer does a solid job with a unique arrange" : ment and finish. It's good. Rhythm reverse is even better. It's done well. • Marffaret Whiting "A Wonderful Guy"-"Younger Than Springtime" (Capitol). Two fine sides. Miss Whiting does an excellent job on both tunes and she gets a lot of help from bright, sparking assist- ance of Frank De Vol's orchestra . and a chorus on the lively "Guy." 1 J and De Vol alone .on "Springtime." Jerry Wald "Rjimbalero" Atwo'- sides) (Columbia). Jerry.. Walk's' new bop band shows in' a •most unexpected ligiit on these "new music" sides. Outfit punches smooth and hard and forms some- thin.£! that is at once musical and saleable. Almost any .style disk jock will, find them worthwhile. Nellie Lutcher "Ditto From Me to Yoir-"Clucken Ain't Nothing Bui a Bird" (Capitol). Neither side side IS likely to give. Miss Lutcher a standout hit. but both are very wortliuhile. "Ditto" could step! oul; cute rhythm piece, polished 1 brightly by the singer's typical 1 approach, clicks. "Chickeh" is done to a very palatable turn, loo. ; Jo Stafford "Gonna Wash Thai ' Man Right-©ut of My Hair"-"Some Enchanted Evening" (Capitol). More "South Pacific." Miss Staf- ford does an excellent performance ■ of "Wash That Man," with the Starlighters and Paul Weston's or- chestra,. It's a lively, salable side. "Evening" is done well, too, but somehow the tune doesn't carry the same punch uAdeir ber voice and style.. ,: Capitol launched a heavy bop campaign last week with tlie rer Akron, O., April 12. _ Mayor Charles Slusser will per- laniyfhUMoh j>f (to/in 1 ™* » ordinance taxing juke- JiUU^en :Deacn ai ;|>Z.4U i,oxes and.plnball machines to be- come law Monday (18) without his signaturei; ■Owhers of the coin xai-. chines launched a campaign for repeal of the ordinahce, AVhich will tax aWay 3% of'their gto^s, \ : Operators': prefer a. flat rate licensing measure, as lohg as there has to'be a tax. Joe EWsnt, presi- dent of Summit County Music Op- erators, Iiic, said the association is preparing a suggested new ordi- nance, atid said it WoUld bring in p.m; job. to Band { a.m. Laine did 30 min., at 10, p.m.* and. more money than the bill already another 30 min. at midnight. ! passed. Also opposing the 3% tax Jantzen one-niter far exceeded are the Tri-County Tavern Own- Eugene, Ore., and Seattle, Wash., ers' Assn.: and the Akrbn Res one-niters. taurant Assn. The Music Library Assn. of America selected among the 12 best music books published in 1948, Criterion Music Gorp 's publication of "New Hot Discography," by Charles Delaunay. It was the only book on popular music mentioned. The committee consisted of Dr. Harold Spivade, chief of the Music Division of the Library of Congress; Mrs, G. K. Miller, head of the Music Library of Columbia University, and Dr. Vincent Duckies,' head of Music Library of University of Cal. In the most ambitious undeitaking of its kind ever essayed by a film studio, Metro is pre-recording scores of two entire pix in 10 day.s. Scoring of 16 numbers for "On the Town" got under way last week ilhder Lennie Hayton's direction, with a five-day schedule set. It will be followed by Adolph Deutsch's scoring stint on the 15 numbers slated for "Annie Get Your Gun," also on a five-day schedule. Studio music , department head Dick Powers says no studio has ever attempted such a big chore before. In distributing his new 50-page catalog, Leeds Music prez Lou Levy reprises the organization's growth from a one-room pop establishment 10 years ago to its varied musical makeup of today. While noting a special sense of pride for the "techniques we have developed at Leeds for promoting the music we publish," he also praised the cooperation of recording execs, performers, teachers, dealers and publicists. Catalog itself lists some 41 different categories and 77"distinguished" com- posers.-. — • In an ^effort to cut cost of distributing disks to jockeys at radio sta- tions. Mercury Records announced plans in Chicago of sppplying records to station's musicariibrarles rather than jocks. Company found itself sending platter packages to 2,300 names, many of them duplicated at one station. 10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines Week of April 9 CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER (9) (Spitzer) FAR AWAY PLACES (11) (Laurel).. .. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS (6) (Melody Lane) .. GALWAY BAY (14) (Leeds) | ^ ( Russ Morgan . .......,.,. . Decca i Bhie Borron .........,.. M-G-M S Bino Crosby. , , , . , .,.,.. .Decca \Perry Como. Victor J JVrills Bros ......... . .,.. . Decca IBiiddv ClaWc......... .Columbia ing Crosby... .......... .Decca ii?ie Shelton ... .London Victor X RED ROSES FOR BLUE LADY (8) (Mills) IGwfiln^a/do. 6. AGAIN (4) (Bobbins) IGuy Lombardo. .".'.V.'.'.'.".'.Decca ballroom has been in existence for ^ ' over two years, leatunng local ;; ?.' POWD^ FACE WITH SUNSHINE (11) (Lombardo). LITTLE BIRD TOLD ME (21) (BoUme). LAVENDER BLUE (10) (Saiftly-Joy).... .y.- T. A I But, outdoor annex-will— iVtc Da7no7ie Mercury t | institute a name-band policy on a I n..-i.... T^...._7... r% I weekly basis, using one a week in I its 14-week summer season. states 10. I'VE GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM (13) (Berlin).. \ Evelyn Knight Decca <• ■ I Blue Barroji. ..... M-G-M ( Evelyn Knight . ......... :Decca ■ (Paula Watson..........Stipreme ( Dinah Shore .. ,...... . Columbia ■ I So?nTOZ/ Kaj/e.. ,.Victor .) Les Brown ......... v. . Columbia 1 Mills Bros ..... . . 'Decca Coming Dp SUNFLOWER (Famous) .. SO IN LOVE (T, B. Harms) SO TIRED (Glenmorc) . .. Morgan,, ,.i;.. .,., .Dccca (Fraiifc Sinatra,. ... . .Golumbio '\ Bmg Crosby ,,... i.,..... Dccco ( Dinah Shofe ... ; . .. .Gqlurhbii i Russ Mcrgan .,.. . . . ..,,. ■ DeCca iKay Starr. . . .... ,...... ;Gapitol FOREVER AND EVER (Robbins) ^^^^^^ London I Marfjaret Whiting ....... Capitol CARELESS HANDS (Melrose) ..' i Sammy Kaye Victor ■ ■ I Mel Tonne Capitol CLANCY LOWERED THE BOOM (Kennior) S Ames Bros Coral ' I Dennis Day... ti... .Victor YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISE (Pic) ' Watson Supreme I Kay Starr ........... Copitol LOVE ME, LOVE ME, LOVE ME (Miller) Eddy Howard.Mercury YOU, YOU ARE THE ONE (Campbell) Ames Bros '. , Coral vou. TRUE TO YOU IN MY FASHION (T. B. Harms) Dinah Shore Columbia DON'T LIE TO ME (Leeds) Vaughn Monroe Victor '' I DON'T SEE ME (Laurel) ^Gordon Jenkins..'. Decca -! ; ^ " t Perry Como, Victor I SOMEONE LIKE YOU (Harms) ,. i Peggy Lee Copitol . •'•\Doris Day Columbia CARAVAN (Amer. Acad.) ^ Billy Eckstine ;...M-(5-M NO ORCHIDS FOR MY LADY (Leeds) . ^ ''Sii^V Ecfcstine .M-G-M " ■ I Ink Spots Deprri BEAUTIFUL EYES (Duehess) ;.... Art Mooney \ .M-gZ fFigures in parentheses indicate number o) uweks song has been in the Top 101 ^^ VV «*** v * ♦ ^ --"tttiiim Name Band Policy For Chi's 1,000-1500 Cap New Outdoor Ballroom Chicago, April 12. Most expensive Chi summer ballroom operation of the pa.st decade will tee off June 3, with opening of the Martinique's open- air dancing garden. Southside Tony De Santis, owner, his new outdoor garden will cost well over $25,000 and'seat between 1,000 and 1,500 persons. Talent outlay will run from $2,500 to $5,000 weekly and bands tentative- ly scheduled include Gene Krup'a, Ray McKinley, Tony Pastor, Charlie Spivak, Eddie Howard, Elliot Lawrence. Jimmy Dorsey , Frankie Carle, Ted Weems. De Santis will convert tlie Mar- tinique indoor boUraam into restaurant for the .summer. Ever- greens, and extensive landscaping will be a feature of the outdoor garden. 'Greeting' Vocals Snowball Keating Into Businessman Cleveland, April 6. What was originally a side-job for Ralph Keating, local bandmas- ter, snowballed into a uhique "singing telephone greetings stu- dio" wliich may be the first of its kind in the country,: Maestro found himself ^O swamped with orders to sing rhymed greetings for birthdays, anniversaries, etc., via the phone that lie set up a service bureau in a florist shop. Telephone com- pany has been plugging his agency, but Keating I.? beginning to woriT about the heavy pressure on his vocal pipes and has been audi- tioning crooners to spell him in the "happy birthday" singing grind. ,