Variety (April 1953)

50 OflCBOESTHAS-MUSIC Wedaegday, April 29 , I953 Jocks, Jukes and Disks By MIKE GROSS Norman Brooks: ‘Somebody Wonderful”- 4 ‘You Shouldn't, Have Kissed Me the First Time’' (Zo diac). Wax tyro Norman Brooks has a surefire followup to his preem clicko, “Hello Sunshine,” in “Somebody Wonderful.” Brooks’ Jolsonesque styling beats, out its ingratiating rhythm beat for socko impact. Pegged for hefty spins on all levels. Reverse is another standout rhythm side which should make some noise in the market. Frankie Laine: ‘‘Ramblin’ Man”- “I Let Her Go” (Columbia). “Ramblin’ Man ” another country item by the late Hank Williams, should sustain the current comball vogue. Laine gives the slice the kind of driving and emotional reading that appeals to urban tastes and it can’t miss moving into the hit brackets. M-G-M has released Williams’ waxing of the tune pegged strictly at the alfalfa aud. Laine packs a lot of power Into “I Let Her Go,” another hay- seed product, but its chances are slim. Freddy Martin Orch: “There’s Music in You”-“Featherfoot” (Vic- tor). “Music in You,” a Rodgers- Hammerstein collaboration for the pic, “Main Street to Broadway,” is a topflight ballad blending of melody and lyric. Freddy Martin’s orch gives it a tasteful workover with Stuart Wade coming in for a charming vocal rendition. A1 Mar- tino works it over on the Capitol label for okay results. Martino’s style here is restrained and tender and he never sounded better. Martin has a brisk instrumental in “Featherfoot” on the Victor flip. Jimmy Palmer Orch: “Never, Never, Never”-“Somebody Stole My Gal” (Mercury). Palmer’s is a bright, energetic orch which dis- plays plenty of bounce in its wax product. This coupling is a stand- out example of its-gay style. In “Never, Never, Never,” Palmer has a flavorsome melody to play with and he gives it a delightful deiiv- “Frenesi” (Coral). Eydie Gorme continues to look like a good bet to crack through the hit brackets one of these days. Each succeed- ing slice demonstrates her wax potential and vocal moods. On “All Night Long” she hits an effec- tive moody beat for potent effect. On “Frenesi” on the reverse, her ■) lively piping makes it a must play. Rosemary Clooney - Marlene Dietrich: “Dot’s Nice - Donna Fight”-“It’s the Same” (Columbia). The Rosemary Clooney-Marlene Dietrich tandem • has an offbeat slice in “Dot’s Nice-Donna Fight” but it’s the kind of unusual entry that could crash through for a big payoff. It’s bright and gay with a humorous melodic beat that de- mands replays. Gals complement each other excellently. Bottom deck is another catchy novelty good for jock and juke action. Bob Santa Maria: “Don’t Ever Cry”-“You’re Mine, My Love (M-G-M). Bob Santa Maria, recent addition to M-G-M’s artists roster, gets off to an impressive start with this coupling. He’s of the big-voiced school but he has a legit- imate style that carries plenty of impact. “Don’t Ever Cry” is a neat ballad that rates attention. Santa Maria drives hard on “You’re Mine, My Love” building it into’ potent shellac. . Eddy Howard: “Broken Wings” “Say You’re Mine Again” (Mer- cury). “Wings,” a British import, gets another fine waxing via Eddy Howard’s cut. It's a pleasing item with an ingratiating melodic line and a charmingly sentimental lyric. Howard delivers in his A-l style. Although there already are a flock of “Say You’re Mine Again” disks out on the market, Howard’s slice will grab plenty of attention. He works with a trio on both sides. Four Aces: “Honey in the Horn”- “Organ Grinder’s Swing” (Decca), Aces hit “Honey,” a lively rhythm entry, with a brisk vocal pacing in on interesting harmony arrange- Best Bets NORMAN BROOKS SOMEBODY WONDERFUL ( Zodiac ) You Shouldn't Have Kissed Me FRANKIE LAINE RAMBLIN’ MAN ( Columbia ) I Let Her Go ery. Tiny McDaniel gets across the vocal with an appealing zest. Palmer and McDaniel ditto on the oldie on the reverse. The Toppers: “Who’s Gonna Win This Pennant This Year?”- “Chicken in the Basket” (Decatur). The “Pennant” disk fits right into the season’s top sports activity and should get a good ride from the platter spinners and coinboxes during the season. Okay melodic beat; and familiar ballclub refer- ences in the lyric get an added as- sist from The Toppers’ delivery. Fred Lightner and The Savoir Faires take over the reverse with an average rhythm novelty, “Chicken in the Basket.” Red Buttons: “Strange Things Are Happening” - “The Ho-Ho Song” (Columbia). This coupling can’t miss in areas where the Red Buttons’ CBS-TV show has become a Monday night must. Coupling is a rehash of his familiar patter ma- terial and he projects- on wax with the same effect as he does on the TV screen. Both sides were cut with a live audience and the laughter and community sing that backgrounds gives the impression that you’re tuned in to the But- tons show with no picture but plenty of sound. Fran Warren: “A Puppet On a String” - “I Challenge You” (M-G-M). Fran Warren has been given some fine material for this coupling and her top warbling on both makes it one of strongest en- tries in some time. “Puppet” should be the big one for her. Its rich melody and romantic lyric excellently suit her warm warbling treatment. Reverse is slow and moody but winning. Donald O’Connor: “Crash”-‘Tm Walking Behind You” (Decca). Screen star Donald O’Connor’s Decca debut should win an okay payoff with deejay spins and juke plays. O’Connor has plenty of wax projection but it appears that he’s more at home on a rowdy novelty, “Crash,” than a sentimental ballad, “Walking Behind You.” At any rate there’s too much strong com- petition on the latter (Eddie Fisher on Victor and Frank Sinatra on Capitol) for the OlConnor cut to mean much. However, he’s fast> bright and in safe territory on the "Crash” cut" and it could be a strong entry. ment. Good juke fodder. Combo gives the oldie on the reverse the kind of rhythmic polish that makes it seem bright and new. Buddy Morrow Orch: “I Wonder Why’V'Heap Big Beat” (Victor). The Morrow crew has styled an- other rhythm & blues item for the pop market and it should be greeted with the same enthusiasm given his previous r. & b. etchings. Orch hits a socko beat as Frankie Lester belts out the mournful lyric, “Heap Big Beat” is strictly instrumental and shows the Mor- row band to advantage. ’ Leslie Caron-Mel Ferrer: “Hi Lili-Hi»Lo”-“Lili and the Puppets” (M-G-M). From the soundtrack of the Metro pic, “Bili,” M-G-M has culled a flavorsome item that should create some noise in the pop market. It’s got a charming lilt and an ingratiating reading by such non-vocal pros as Leslie Caron and Mel Ferrer. Reverse is a fine instrumental shellac entry. Edwards & Mann Form New Pubbery . Another instance of the cleffer- to-pub trend is the recent forma- tion of Commercial Music by -tune- smiths Jack Edwards and Bert Mann. Initial copyright in Commer- cial catalog is “How Many Stars Have to Shine” by Edwards and Mann. Edwards, incidentally, is the nephew of the late Gus Edwards. Pocket Books Continued from page 1 low-price pop platters already on the market are peddled via chains and department stores but the Bell distrib setup will be much wider. . Move marks the second time a book publishing firm has stepped into the diskery biz. Simon & Schuster set the pattern several years ago with the formation of Golden Records. Golden, however, is pegged strictly for the juve mar- ket. No artists and repertoire staff has yet been set for Bell nor have any artists been pacted to the label. LAWRENCE WELK and h is CHAMPAGNE MUSIC 88th Consecutive Week, Aragon Ballroom, Santa Monica, Calif. Exclusively for Coral Records “MINNIE THE MERMAID” Backed by “SAY IT ISN'T SO” SOME ADDENDA TO BASEBALL TUNE LIST Vinton, Va, Editor, Variety: For the sake of completeness, I’d like to mention a few baseball songs and records not included in my story in April 8 i§sue of Variety. Songwriter Ray Walker tells me a “Base Ball Polka” was published in 1867, and in 1927 Jack O'Brien wrote “Batterin’ Babe,” dedicated to Babe Ruth, with a picture of The Bam on the cover. In 1911 Joseph W, Stern pub- lished “You’ve Made a Home Run With Me,” by Thomas J. Gray knd Edna Williams. It didn’t sell, but Herbert E. Marks, president of Ed- ward B. Marks Music, says it’s al- ways been onje of his favorite base- ball tunes since he was "a kid in kneepants rooting for the Giants Henry I. Marshall about the same time wrote, “I Want to Be a Pitch- er in the National League.” And also in 1911, a vaude comic Murry K. Hill, made a Victor rec- ord, “Through the Hole in the Fence,” comparing life to a game of baseball. He spoke, with appar- ent awe, of Hans Wagner’s being paid “I hear, $10,000 a year,” But Hill, pessimistically and accurate- ly, predicted that in another 10 years The Dutchman would be washed up as a player. However, he was wrong in saying “he’ll be through in baseball,” because Ho- nus hung on as a coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates until his recent retirement. Jim Walsh. Adams Continued from page 49 formerly held by Paul Cunning- Ham, while Bourne stepped into the treasurer’s spot.-George W. Meyer and Connor were named assistant o treasurer and assistant secretary, respectively. 4 Adams said that his major ob- jectives for the coming year wil be negotiation of a new pact witl the TV networks, the film studios and theatres using music for exii and intermission purposes as wel as live stage performances. He dis- closed that the talks with the T\ nets are underway although still in the preliminary stage. Anothei important goal for ASCAP, Adams stated, was the passage of a Copy- right'Act amendment through Con- gress, removing *the jukebox li- censing exemption. A graduate law student from New York, Adams broke into N the music business by writing several varsity shows. While in law school, he collaborated with Fats Waller on his first song dnd first hit, “Roll- in’ Down the River.” He also wrote the lyrics to “What a Difference a Day Makes,” “Little Old Lady,” ’There Are Such Things,” “La Cutaracha,” and numerous other songs. Adams also has written songs for several pictures, includ- ing “Duel in the Sun,” *<My Repu- tation” and “Viva Villa.” Among Adams’ collaborators have been Sigmund Romberg, Victor Herbert, Hoagy Carmichael, Oscar Levant, Ray Henderson, Max Steiner and George W. Meyer.' Brahms: Quartet No. 2 In A (Co- lumbia, $5.45). Clifford Curzon and Budapest Quartet members in a highly engaging performance* of the melodic work for piano and strings. Some Incisive playing by Curzpn is matched by fine fiddling of the supporting trio. Smetana: Bartered Bride (Ura- nia, 3 LP, $18.50). Lively perform- ance of the charming, sentimental comic opera, given complete, and in original Czech, by soloists, cho- rus and orch of the Prague Na- tional Theatre under Jan Vogel. Good voices .and proficient orch add to the authority of the home- based opera. Mozart: Impresario and Abduc- tion From Seraglio Overtures (London, $2.95). Josef Krips and London Symphony ably present two sparkling Mozart overtures, the “Impresario” being no less lively for being less known than “Abduction.” Musio by Strauss and Guhgl (Westminster, $4.95). Leslie Bridgewater and his Westminster Light Orch in engaging perform- ances of waltzes and dances by Johann Strauss, Jr., and another Viennese composer, Joseph Gunei Telemann: Concerto in E Anri Vivaldi: Concerto in D (Decca 1 $3.85), Two charming suites for viola d’amore, flute, lute and strings, from the classic 18th cen- tury period, tastefully played bv some talented German musicians Debussy: Afternoon of a Faun and Ravel: Alborado del Gracioso (London, $2.95). Ernest Ansermet and L’Orchestre de la Suisse R 0 - mande in fine readings of prime concert bits, the Ravel being per- ticularly deft and appealing. Folksongs From British Isles (Westminster, $4.95). Pleasant, ap- pealing Irish, Scotch and old Eng- lish folksongs, capably performed by* Leslie Bridgewater and his Westminster Light Orch. Boito: Meflstofele (Urania, 3 LP $18.50). Something of an operatic novelty, this sprawling, disjointed but dramatic and musically inter- esting opus is excellently recorded by a group of Italian artists under Franco Capuana. Giulio Neri Is a distinguished bass as Mefistofele; Gianni Poggl & good tenor as Faust. Bron. Songs With Largest Radio Audience The top 30 songs of week (more in case of ties), hosed on copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. Published by Office of Research, Inc., Dr. John Gray Peatman, Director, Alphabetically listed. Survey Week of April 17-23, 1953 (Listed Alphabetically) A Fool Such As I Robbins-M All By Myself Berlin Anywhere I Wander—t“Hans Christian Andersen” *. Frank April In Portugal Chappell Blue Gardenia—t“Blue Gardenia” Harms Caravan American Doggie in the Window Santly-J Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes Four-Star Gomen Nasal Disney How Do You Speak To An Angel—* “Hazel Flagg”.. Chappell Hush-A-Bye—t“The Jazz Singer” Remick I Believe Cromwell I’m Sittin’ On Top Of The World Feist Just Another Polka Frank Kaw-Liga Milene My Jealous Eyes Famous Nearness Of You Famous Ohip—*“Wonderful Town” Chappell Pretend Brandom Quiet Girl—*“Wonderful Town” ...' Chappell Red Canary Shapiro-B Ruby—t“Ruby Gentry” Miller Say Si Si Marks Seven Lonely Days Jefferson Side By Side ‘ Shapiro-B Song Front Moulin Rouge—t“Moulin Rouge”Broadcast Tell Me You’re Mine Capri When Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along. Bourne Wild Horses Simon Your Cheatin’ Heart Acuff-R Second Group A Little Love Downhearted , Golden Years—t“Houdini” Have You Heard Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me ;. k Hot Toddy I Confess I’ll Be Hangin’ Around Is It Any Wonder Keep It A Secret Magic Touch Moving Away ■, My One And Only Heart JMo Help Wanted Pickin’ Sweethearts Say It With Your Heart Say You’re Mine Again Sweet Thing Till I Waltz Again With You ! Why Don’t You Believe Me .. Lion .. Paxton .. Paramount .. Brandom ..Mills .. Coachella .. Wltmark .. Broadcast .. Midway .. Shapiro-B .. Sheldon .. Kramer ... Roncom . Acuff .. Bellemeade . Feist .. Blue River ..Hill & R ..Village . .Brandom Top 10 Songs On TV (More in Case of Ties ) Can’t I Harvard Doggie In The Window Santly-J Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes Four-33tar I Believe , Cromwell I’m Sittin’ On Top Of The World Feist My One And Only Heart Roncom •: - Brandom Side By Side . v* ;. Shapiro-B That’s What Makes Paris Paree ...; Harms Till I Waltz Again With You A Village Five Top Standards T’More In Case of Ties) I Feel A Song Coming On *., Robbins I Get A Kick Out Of You Harms It’s A Grand Night For Singing . Williamson Possibilities * ;. Morris Rockabye Baby Mills That’s What I Like About The South Southern Then I’ll Be Happy Bourne t Filmusical. * Legit musical.