Variety (October 1954)

120 Wednesday, October 20, 1954 By MIKE GROSS LeRoy Holmes Orch; "Tara’s] Theme”-"Jamie” (MGM). Motion- picture themes seem to be right up LeRoy Holmes’, alley. He scored^ with "High and The Mighty” and he’s back just as strong with J "Tara’s Theme,” from Max Steiner’s background music for "Gone With The Wind.” It’s an, intriguing theme and Holmes gives it a slick orch workover. Fred Lowery’s whistling, as on "HATM,” enhances the "GWTW” melody. A natural enthusiasm could rub olf on the disk buyers. "Black Velvet” lacks any distinguishing qualities to make arty noise anywhere. Sophie Tucker: "Middle Age Marnbb”-"Dowh South” (Mercury). “Middle Age Mambo” is a good piece of material for Sophie Tucker but it’ll do more for her on. the. nitery floor than on the turntable. Tune has a cute chile beat but it's middleage. message is not for the teenager who con- trols the disk-destiny with deejay LeROY HOLMES ORCH. (MGM) .. .... ROSEMARY CLOONEY (Columbia) TARA’S THEME Jamie ..... ITALIAN0 MAMBO We'll Be Together Again in all spinning departments. On the. flip side, Holmes works over another pic melody, “Jamie,” from "A Bullet Is Waiting,” but it shoots 'ide of its mark. Rosemary Clooney: "Mambo Ita- lianO”-"We’Jl Be. Together Again” (Columbia);. Combination of the Italian kick and the mambo beat adds up to hit bracket material Rosemary Clooney. It’s clever idea spicing a spaghetti song with chile and thrush takes advantage of the opportunity. She belts with The kind of enthusiasm that means spins, on all levels. "We’ll Be To- gether Agai ” is a mild ballad that won’t get too far. Georgia Gibbs: “Mambo Baby”- "Lo.Ve Me” (Mercury). You can’t blame Georgia Gibbs for taking a crack at the mamb& vogue but she won't get far with it. It’s a. syn- thetic chile-sprinkled item which she belts according to Pedrp. "LoVe Me” gives her the opportunity to shout out a blues-styled number but it’s doubtful if even the noise- lovirig juke trade will go for. it. Smith Bros.:. "In A Little Spanish Town” — “Lonely Little Petunia” (Label X). There’s been some spinning interest in the instru- mental Versions of "In . A Little Spanish Town” so it’s inevitable that a Vocal combo should take a crack at a lyric w'orkover. The Smith Bros.’ updated harmony technique doesn’t seem to work bn this one, though. Their nervous buoyancy may find some favor with the coinbox clientele. "Lonely Little Petunia” is a half-baked novelty that won’t get much chance to bloom. Frank Chacksfield Orch: "Misty Valley”*"Black Velvet”. (London). When Frank Chacksfield has a good nmlodic line to work from, he never disappoints. "Misty Valley”- gives him a chance to bring forth his rich and imaginative orch styling. It’s the kind of slice the disk jockeys could latch on to and their requests and retail purchases, Her. rendition of “Down South” rates play especially on the juke level. Ames Bros.: "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane”-“Adio” (Victor). Give the Ames Bros, a jaunty item, Whether it adds up lyrically or not, and they take it for a zingy ride. However, it does have some appeal and could get to mean something in. the spinning ratings. “Adio” makes more sense than "Naughty Lady” and since it has a pleasant romantic line, it could take the play away. De John Sisters: "Mandoiinb”- "Lover’s Slang” (Epic). “Mando- lino.” is bright item that gets a frisky workover by the DeJohn Sisters. Fact that it’s breezy and j gay should Win deejay and juke play. “Lover’s Slang” is the kind of novelty trap that some perform- ers fall into for no conceivable reason. Juliette: "Let Me Remember”- “Am' I Wasting My Time On You” (Label X). Juliette's disk demeanor is okay. All she needs now to make a dent, on the platter market is some above par material. All she has to work with on this coupling is an Ordinary ballad and a, remi- niscent rhythm riff. She sounds fine on the ballad, "Let Me Remem- ber,” but. it’s not'enough to crash through the platter competition. There’s a neat change of pace dis- play on the flip but it’s hardly worth the effort. Sammy Kaye Orch: "Rosary of Roses”-"Darling I Love You” (Co- lumbia). “Rosary of Roses” has a lot of one of Sammy Kaye’s clicks, "Mission of St. Augustine,” in it, i so it has a good chance to repeat its predecessor’s success. Tune blends romance and religion, with a simple melodic beat and crooner Jeff Clay does' an effective job in telling us all about it. Best: thing about "Darling I Love You” is its lilting waltz tempo, which is enough to pab some jock and juke play. LAWRENCE WELK * and his CHAMPAGNE music 162d Consecutive Week, Aragon Ballroom, Santa Monica, Calif. Exclusively on Coral Records -THE GREATEST FEELING IN THE WORLD ' and LUXEMBOURG POLKA Lee Wiley’s R&H Vocals "Lee Wiley Sings Rodgers. & Hart” (Storyville 10-inch LP) may e.ven match the. breathless wordage of George Frazier’s jacket "liner,” but it’s gonna be a close race whether the obviously devoted aficianado of the Wiley-R&H school doesn’t eclipse the magic, with which he endowed this prime in*, terpreter of early Rodgers—Hart, by his Own arresting literary style. No gainsaying Miss Wiley’s prow- j ess as a full-blown songstress who knows What to do with a lyric, especially such Wordage as the late great Lorenz. (Larry) Hart whipped up for this eight-part portfolio. It is sufficiently intermingled with i old familiars and not-sO-familiars to ! intrigue the most ardent R&H devotees. In sequence Miss Wiley, aided and abetted by a truly fine group, of • which Ruby Braff’s mel- low muted trumpet is not the least of it, uncorks “My Heart Stood Still” (from "Connecticut. Yankee,” 1927); "You Took Advantage of Me” (“Present Arms;” 1928); “My Romance” (from "Jumbo,” 1935), and "Glad to Be Unhappy” ("On Your Toes, 1936). The flip quar- tet comprises. "Mountain Green- ery” (from the 1926 "Garrick Gaie- ties”); “My Funny . Valentine” ("Babes In Arms,” 1937); "It Never Entered My^ Mind” ("Higher and Higher,"’ 1940) and "Give It Back. (Continued on page 122) Bellini: Norma (Angel); Impres- sive rendition of the richly-melodi- ous, dramatic opera by La Scala forces under the sure baton of Tul- lio Serafin. Maria Callas, who has the proper colorful voice for: the title role, does a superb job, vo- cally and histrionically. Ebe Stig- nani, a resonant contralto, is ex- cellent as Adalgisu, and Mario Filippeschi and Nicola Rossi-Le- meni furnish good support in other leads, Choice album.. Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne & Chopin: Les Sylphides (Columbia) Two familiar ballet scores get un- usually good performances by a top combo, the Philadelphia Orch un- der Eugene Ormandy. Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 1-7 (Vox). There’s surprising musical content in these encore pieces. When as beautifully played here by skilled, sensitive pianist Alexander Borovsky. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 (Angel), Rousing yet musicianly reading of the Warhorse by the Philharmonia under Herbert von Karajan. Berlioz: Harold In Italy (West- minister). Virile yet poetic per- formance of , the dramatic tone- poem. Vibla soloist Frederick Riddle: has a sweet, rich tone, Used with refinement and skill. London Philharmonic under Herman Scherchen adds, fine support. Haydn & Boccherini Cello Con- certos (London). Facile. readings of two charming, melodious clas- sics. Cellist Pierre Fournier’s fine phrasing and refined playing stand out. Karl Munchjnger’s Stuttgart Chamber Orch in nice assists, Schumann: Carnaval & Franck; Prelude, Chorale & Fugue (RCA Victor). Sumptuous' piano playing by Artur Rubinstein, either in the rugged, spacious Franck or. the more delicate, fragrant Schumann. Holst: The Planets (London). Sonorous symphonic suite offers vivid pictorial pieces excellently^ performed by the London Sym- phony under Sir. Malcolm Sargent. Schumann: Symphony No. 4 & Liszt: Les Preludes (Mercury). Paul Paray and the Detroit Syihph bring proper drive and force to the flam- boyant Liszt, while investing the sunny Schumann symphony with Warmth and flavor. Beethoven: Symphony No. 1, Eg- Diont & Leonore No. .3 Overtures. (Angel). Substantial renditions of attractive Works by the Philhar- moni Under Karajan, The sym- phony ‘ properly light arid Mo? zartian. Schubert:. Death & Maiden Quar- tet, Quartettsatz (Vox). Barchet QUartet in solid readings of two serious but appealing Schubert works;: Broil. CoslowNow Pleasant; Pushing ‘Acres’ Religiose Sam CoslOw Music has changed its tag to Pleasant Music. It’ll re- main affiliated with ASCAP. Pleasant currently is prepping a push on the religiOso tune, “God’s Green Acres.” It’s already, been sold to six foreigri countries. Tune was written by Billy Kaye and H. J. Lensfelder. t'fitefETY. ♦»♦»♦♦»♦♦♦»»»♦» 1. IF I GIVE MY HEART TO YOU (6) 2. I NEED YOU NOW C) 3. HEY THERE (13) 4. PAPA LOVES MAMBO (2) 5. THIS OLE HOUSE (8) 6. SH-BOOM (14) 7. HOLD MY HAND (3) 8. SKOKIAAN (8) 9. SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROIL (1) 10. WHITHER THOU GOES! (1) on >* - Doris Day .Denise Lor ... Connee Boswell t Dinah Shore Eddie Fisher ( Rosemary Clooney j Sammy Davis, Jr, Perry Como Rosemary Clooney I Crew Cuts l Stan Freberg Don Cornell (Ralph Mafterie Four Lads . Louis Armstrong R.ay Anthony Bill Haley-Comets Les Paul-Maty Ford . Columbia .Majar .... Decca ..Victor ’ Victor , Columbia . .Decca .Vi . Columbia .. Mercury >.. Capitol . . Coral Mercury . .Columbia .Decca ... Capitol .Decca Capitol X HIGH AND THE MIGHTY SMILE FORTUNE IN DREAMS HONEY LOVE I CRIED GOODNIGHT, SWEETHEART, GOODNIGHT MUSKRAT RAMBLE OOP-SHOOP THEY WERE DOING THE M'M!3d f’JVI A FOOL TO CARE 1 Pictures , *n parentheses indicate number of f Victor Young J LeRoy Holmes , 1 Johnny Desmond 1 Les Baxter \N : at . (King) Cole. } Sunny Gale Kay Starr ( Vicki Young l Drifters Patti. Page ( McGuire Sisters j Sunny Gate. ( McGuire Sisters (Matys Brothers Crew Cuts Vaughn Monroe • : • Les Paul-Mjary Ford weeks 'song Has been in the Top 10] » M » ♦♦»♦♦♦ 44-4 ... Decca v.,.... .MGM Coral ;..... Capitol Capitol ..:,. Victor : Capitol ..... .Capitol . .Atlantic Mercury . Coral ,.., .. Victor .. Coral , Essex .... .Mercury Victor Capitol r«.i t . n i i* 10 The top 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 8-14, 1954 Cara. Mi ...... ...... . Feist . Count Your Blessings—( "White Christmas” ..,,,. .Berii Fanny—* "Fanny” . .... ‘ ..Chappell Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight .. . ;Arc Hajji Baba—^"Adventures of Hajji Baba” ,. Remick Heaven Was Never like This ,,,... . Famous Hernando’s Hideaway—.♦"Pajama Game” . Frank Hey There-—*"Pajama Gartie” .. . .... . . Frank High And The Mighty*—t“High And The Mighty” Witmark Hold My Hand—t"Susan Slept Here” .......... . Raphael I Have To Tell You Chappell I. Need You Now . ,.......... ....... Miller If I Give My Heart To You . .Miller I’m A Fool To Care -... ..Peer In-The Chapel In The Moonlight ,-i ......... Shapiro-B Little Shoemaker Bourne Love, You Didn’t Do Right—t"White Christmas” .Berlin Man That Got Away—1“A Star.Is Born” Harwi Mood Indigo . ,............... Mills Muskrat Ramble . Simon Papa Loves Mambo - Shapiro-B Sabrina—(‘"Sabrina ’ Famous Sh-Boom . .. H & R Skokiaan Shapiro-B Smile .... ... . '....Bourne Song Of Barefoot Contessa—("‘Barefoot Contessa” .. Chappell Sway ........ . ... ... ... ... peer There’s A Small Hotel—*"On Your Toes” Chappell This Ole House Hamblen You’re Nobody ’Til Somebody Loves You ..Southern Top 30 Songs on TV (More In Case of Ties) Count Your Blessings—t"White Christmas’! Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight ,....... Hernando’s Hideaway—^♦“Pajama Game” Hey There—♦"Pajama Game”.; ...... High Arid The Mighty—f"High Arid The Mighty I Cried' A. V. Ar.'v ■. I Need You Now .> ....... ... I Wpiildn’t'.Walk Across The. Street' If I Give. My Heart To You .... I’m A Fool To Care . ....,. In The Chapel In The Moonlight . . JOCy ...... i .. r i -. , . . , ; , Little Shoemaker ..... Mama Doll Song Man That. Got Away—t"A Star Is Born” Muskrat Ramble ....... Never ynderestimate One Arabian Night Papa Loves Mambo Sh-Boom Shangri-La .... i..... Sisters—("White Christmas” ...... Skokiaan Smile .■.. .. .. ,. --.. Steam Heat—^♦"Pajama Gartie” .....,....,.. Sway Teach Me Tonight • They Were Doing The P.l This Ole House Uno .. . Berlin . . Arc .. Frank .. Frank .. Witmark .. Meadowbrook . . Miller ... Hawthorne ..Miller .. Peer . . Shapiro-B . v Lowell . . Bourne ., Lear .. Hartvin . i Simon .. Laurel . .Meridian , . Shapiro-B .. H&R .. Robbins .. Berlin .. Shapiro-B ... Bourne .. Frank . .Peer .. Hub M a yf a iY .. Hamblen ...'Peer t Filmusical. * Legit musical