Variety (October 1952)

40 OHCMSTKAS-MTSIC Wednesday, October 22, 1952 Jocks, Jukes and Disks By MIKE GROSS Helen O’Conncll-Gisele MacKen- ale: “Water Can’t Quench The Fire of Love”-"A Crazy Waltz” (Capi- tol). Miss O’Connell and Miss Mac- Kenzie have put their pipes togeth- er on a pair of offbeat novelty items that should please the juke trade. Gals are in a frivolous mood here and the dual gaiety projects strongly, “Love” should hit payoff bracket first because of its driving country-styled beat and catchy lyric. Femmes give it plenty of spark. “Crazy Waltz” is a cute entry but it doesn’t hit as hard as its mate. It’ll get plenty of spins, however. Have Cavanaugh offers an a-one orch assist. Hugo Winterhalter Orch: “Blue Violins” - “Fandango” (Victor). „Hugo Winterhalter has a sock fol- lowup to his highriding “Vanessa” with “Blue Violins.” It’s a tasty 'in- strumental dish which will chalk up hefty spins on all levels. Tune has a captivating melodic? line which Winterhalter delivers with a rich, full interpretation. Reverse is in a lighter groove and shows off the brighter side of the Winterhal- ter orch styling to advantage. Due for solid play. A1 Martino: “Now”-“In All This World” (Capitol). Since he switched to Capitol several months ago after kicking off the smash “Here In My Heart” on the indie BBS label, A1 Martino hasn’t been able to move out of the near-hit bracket. “Now” may do the trick. Martino is in top. vocal form on thi$'4$ide and the tune serves as an excellent show- casing for his big-voiced technique. It’s an above average ballad that could catch on..Martino’s efforts on the bottom deck are less suc- cessful. Tony Alamo: “If I Had Wings”- : 41 After Your Love” (M-G-M). Tony Alamo, ex-Sammy Kaye orch vocal- ist, impresses as a platter potent in solo initialer for M-G-M. He’s a fine legitimate baritone who doesn't need any wax-gimmickry to create : impact. Sides, however, will rate spins’ on the Alamo pipings only Since his material is far from top calibre output “Wings” is the bet- ter tune but its take-off chances are slim. “After Your Love” is a lacklustre entry which even Alamo can't help. Norman Greene's orch is standout on the backing. Kai Erlcson - Gordon Jenldns Orch: “Bring Back The Sunfchine”- “North Country” (Decca). Decca’s latest male vocalist entry, Kai Eric- son, will have to wait for tunes that are stronger pop fare before his impact on the market can be as- certained. He displays a good set of pipes and a sock masculine qual- ity which should appeal to the femmes. “Bring Back The Sun- shine is a moderate entry that rates occasional spins because of the tbp- drawer blending of Ericson’s vocal and the Gordon Jenkins orch and chorus. They show best on “North Country,” a spirited number with some commercial potential. Ella Mae Morse: “Greyhound”- “Jump Back Honey” (Capitol). This is a high-voltage platter headed for big returns. Both tunes are offbeat items which Ella Mae Morse drives home with clicko effect. Sides are packed with frenzy a la Miss Morse and will attract plenty juke trade coin, “Greyhound” is a tour de force for Miss Morse and the orch backing under Joe Lippman’s baton. “Jump Back Honey” is in the* same frantic groove but it’s closer to orthodox pop material and should take off fast. Danny, Winchell: “Carolina in the Morning”-“There Goes My Heart” (M-G-M). “Carolina in the Morning” gets an old-fashioned ride via Danny Winchell’s neat workover. Winchell’s pleasant piping style brings a charm and freshness to the oldie that should keep it moving with the platter spinners. He elves “There Goes My Heart” the kind of warmheart- ed reading that wins fans. Dorothy Loudon: “Nickel and Dime Man , '-“Sinnin' Again” (Vic- tor). 'Dorothy Loudon, one of Vic- tor’s recent femme acquisitions, continues to impress as a sock platter stylist with breakaway po- tential. She’s got some interesting material to work with on this coupling- but sides aren’t strong enough for hit bracket spotting. They rate solid spins though, as fine examples of Miss Loudon’s technique. On “Nickel and Dime Man,” she hits a neat Calypso beat while “Sinnin’ Again” showcases her exciting torchy style. Best British Sheet Sellers (Week ending, Oct. ID London, Oct. 14. Homing Waltz ...Reine Here In My Heart Mellin -High Noon .Robbins Auf Wlederseh’n Maurice Blue Tango Mills I'm. Yours Mellin Meet Mr. Callaghan Toff Half as Much '...Robbins Somewhere Along Way . Magna Walkin’ My Baby.... Victoria Isle of Innisfree Maurice Sugar Bush Chappell ' Second 12 Rock of Gibraltar Dash Day of Jubilo Connelly Botch-a-Me Kassner Trust in Me..» Wright When In Love Connelly Kiss of Fire Duchess Feet Up Cinephomc Time Y’u Say G’dbye. Pickwick Zing a Little Zong... .Maddox Take My Heart Dash Delicado Lafleur If I Had Wings Kassner Longhair Disk Review Lehar: The Merry Widow. With Dorothy Kirsten, Robert Rounse- ville, Genevieve Warner, Clifford Harvuot, Wesley Dalton, others; orch and chorus; Lehman Engel, conductor; Goddard Lieberson, producer. (Columbia, LP, $5.45). This is a warm, lively recording of the charming Viennese operetta perennial, done in English, with complete score. Expert singers do the engaging operetta full justice for a gay, lilting production under Goddard Lieberson’s careful, per- sonal guidance. Cast has been well selected, and the graceful score, full of charming melodies, many of them familiar, sounds fresh and intriguing again. Dorothy Kirsten brings a beauti- ful lyric soprano to a choice rendi- tion of “Villa,” and to such fine duets (with Robert Rounseville) as the gay “Cavalier” and especially the lilting “Merry Widow Waltz” (“I Love You So”). Rounseville’s ringing high baritone is also an asset for the “Maxim’s” solo, and in the rousing march, “Women” (“Girls, Girls, Girls”), supported by chorus. Other leads, chorus and orchestra lend good support, under Lehman IJngel’s sensitive baton, for a merry recording. Bron. Philly Orch's 50th Anni In N.Y.; Zorina as Lead The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Nov. 18 Carnegie Hall concert will officially mark the 50th anniver- sary of the Quaker City orchestra’s New York debut. To celebrate the event, conducts Eugene Ormandy will direct a concert version of Arthur Honegger’s “Jeanne d’Arc Au Bucher.” Vera Zorina will take the speak- ing role of Joan of Arc. Best Bets HELEN O’CONNELL-GISELE MACKENZIE.... FIRE OF LOVE (Capitol ) ....A Crazy Waltz HUGO WINTERHALTER ORCH BLUE VIOLIN ( Victor) ......... Fandango ELLA MAE MORSE *.. .. GREYHOUND (Capitol) Jump Back Honey 10 Best Sellers on Coin-Machines Week of 0ct - 18 4ft M 4 *-»»♦ » » » ♦ ♦ » ♦ ♦♦♦ 1 . *. I. 4. f. «. I »• t. i. X II. X WENT TO YOUR WEDDING <6)<St.. Louis) Patti Page Mercury Trot! BELONG TO ME <8> <*ld t eway) | \ \ \ \'. '. C °CapiM JAMBALAYA (7) (Acuff-R) t • Jo Stafford Columbia GLOW WORM (4) (Marks) . Mills Bros Decca WISH YOU WERE HERE (10) (Chappell) ...., Eddie Fisher Victor TRYING (3) (Randy Smith) Hilltoppers Dot l Les PauLMary Ford Capitol MEET MR. CALLAGHAN (6) (Leeds) ) Harry Grove Trio. London ‘• 'f'- > *• \ Mitch Miller Columbia TAKES TWO TO TANGO (1) tttotinan), Pearl Bailey Coral wnnw te\ \ Frankie Laine Columbia HIGH NOON (*) (Feist) j Bill Ha yes MGM HALF AS MUCH (8) (Acuff-R) Rosemary Clooney Columbia Second Group X AUF WIEDERSEH’N (17) (HIU-R) J k ynn „ London ' l Eddy Howard Merciiry YOU'LL NEVER GET AWAY (Bourne) D. Cornell- T. Brewer .... Coral I LAUGHED AT LOVE (Redd Evans) Sunny Gale Victor FOOL. FOOL, FOOL <rregressive) Kay Starr Capitol SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY (8) (United) \ £ at Cole Capitol l Tony Bennett Columbia SHOULD I (2) (Robbins) ^ Four Aces Decca ■ BOTCH-A-ME (10) (Hollis) Rosemary Clooney .... Columbia ! WALKIN' TO MISSOURI (Hawthorne) Sammy Kaye Columbia “ BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE (Feist) \ Nat (King) Cole Capitol ' - . / Mario Lanza Victor : ; MY LOVE AND DEVOTION (Shapiro-B) Perry Como Victor ! : EARLY AUTUMN (Cromwell) Jo Stafford ’Columbia < • STRING ALONG (Regent) Ames Bros Coral ZING A. LITTLE ZONG (Burvan) Bing Crosby J. Wyman . Decca VANESSA (4) (E. H. Morris) Hugo Winterhalter Victor MJNA BOSSA (BVC) Alan Dean MGM X INDIAN LOVE CALL (Harms) Slim Whitman Imperial f IFigures in parentheses indicate number o) weeks song has been in the Top 10J 4 • tlMM(MttM)ttHlMtHH) H Hr * t ♦ 11 f-t tit tvrftrtl + Too Many Disks’ Squawks Prompt Major Cos. to Hold Down Releases Rackmil Back East Milton R. Rackmil, prexy of both Decca Records and Universal Pic- tures, returns to New York tomor- row (Thurs.) after a three-week visit to the Coast. Rackmil has been operating in the prexy spot of both companies under a pact which requires him to give two-thirds of his time to Universal and one-third to Decca. ELMORE WHITE FORMS OWN BMI PUB FIRM Elmore White, general profes- sional manager of Henry M. Spitzer’s music firms until latter’s death last month, is forming his own pubbery to be known as the Elmore White Music Co. Firm is being set up by Broadcast Music, Inc., with which it'll be affiliated. White, who expects to begin op- eration within the next few weeks, will headquarter in the N. Y. of- fices of Porgie Music. In response to squawks from all sectors of the music biz over “too many disks,” the major companies are currently holding their weekly releases to the lowest figure in several years. Most of the majors are now turning out about four records a week, and occasionally have been dipping to two or three platters in an effort to milk past releases to the maximum. Coral Records, Decca’s subsid. highlighted the trend last week with an announcement to its dis* tributors that it will release only a couple of more records for the balance of the year. Company is now riding with 10 good sellers and has decided to push these instead of issuing additional sides. Retail outlets have been clamor- ing for fewer releases over the past few years as a result of overloaded inventories. Under a setup where some 60 to 75 disks a week are re- leased on the major labels, it has become virtually impossible for the average nabe store to keep abreast of the releases and remain solvent at the same time. New policy of fewer releases represents a more selective approach which permits the retailer to j*et off the hook on any current stocks that he buys. Songs With Largest Radio Audience The lop 30 songs of week (more in case of ties), based on copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. Published by Office of Research, Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman, Director. Alphabetically listed. Survey Week of October 10-16 Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart Hill & R - Because You’re Mine—^Because You’re Mine"..... Feist Down By the O-hi-o ., Forster Glow Worm .....Marks . Half As Much Acuff-R I Went To Your Wedding St. Louis I’m Never Satisfied Simon H Jambalaya ;, Acuff-R Lady of Spain ' Fox Live Oak Tree Burvan Meet Mr. Callaghan Leeds My Love and Devotion Shapiro-B No Two People Frank Once In a While .* Miller Outside Of Heaven Bregman-V Ruby and the Pearl Famous Should I .. V... Robbins Somebody Loves Me—t“Somebody Loves Me” Harms Somewhere Along Way United There’s a Ship Coming Id* Amusement Till The End Of The Wbrld ....Southern Trying Randy Smith Walkin’ My Baby Back Home DeSylva-B-H Walkin’ To Missouri... Hawthorne When I Fall In Love Young Whispering Serenade. Chappell Wish You Were Here—*“Wish You Were Here”... .Chappell You Belong To Me Ridgeway You’ll Never Get Away Bourne Zing a Little Zong—t“Just For You” Burvan Second Group Any Time Hill 8c R Comes A-Long A-Love ...Shapiro-B Early Autumn Cromwell Everything I Have Is Yours Robbins Forgetting You DeSylva-B-H forgive and Forget Leeds High Noon—t“High Noon” •. Feist If'n Disney Maybe Robbins Mommy’s Little Angel Beacon Roses Of Yesterday Berlin Sinner Or Saint ,,. Witmark Takes Two To Tango Harman Thanks to You Paramount Tre-Tac-Toe Pickwick To Know You (Is To Love You). Roncom Two-Faced Clock Robbins Vanessa Morris Walkin' By the River Sheldon Where Did the Night Go Chappell You Intrigue Me Remick Top 10 Songs On TV Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart Hill 8c R Belle of the Ball Mills IT 1 'n , Disney - Jambalaya Acuff-R Should I? . Robbins Somewhere Along the Way United Walkin’ My Baby Back Home DeSylva-B-H Walkin’ to Missouri Hawthorne Wish You Were Here—’'‘“Wish You Were Here” ... Chappell Zing a Little Zong—t“Just for You” „ .... Burvan FIVE TOP STANDARDS Hello My Baby Harms Ma, He’s Making Eyes At Me Mills My Blue Heaven Feist That Old Black Magic Knmous They Didn't Believe Me Harms t Filmusical. * Legit musical.