Variety (November 1954)

50 MUSIC Wednesday, November 10, 1954 .By HERM £CHOENFELD- It’s now open season, for'Christ las tunes and all the diskeries re shooting for that big, smash with a flock of novelty entries with top vocalists. One of the strongest sides to turn up thus far is Kitty Kallen’s “Baby Brother,” a cute number which Miss Kallen bounces brightly for Decca. The flip, “The . Spirit of . Christmas,” is a lovely ballad with a more adult approach and it’s the official song of this year’s Christmas Seal drive. Red Buttons, for /'Columbia Records,, has another good juve- slanted seasonal entry in “Bow- Wow Wants A Boy For Christmas,” which has the same kind of idea as “Baby Brother,” and, for that matter, the oldie, “All I Want For Christmas Is Two Front Teeth.” Spike JoneS made the latter tune about five years ago and now comes in the U, S. market. This excellent coupling of ballads makes for an attractive launching of Hilton in this country. Archie Bleyer: “The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane”-“While The Vesper Bells Were Ringing” (Ca- dence). Archie Bleyer . again takes on a major label with a “cover” disk that may prove to be the best one. Ames Bros; sliced “Naughty Lady” for Victor and Bleyer, as in the case of “Her- nando’s Hideaway,” has come up with a swinging choral and instru- mental arrangement that may. well pick up the marbles. Flip is a soft- tempoed change-of-pace side that also makes for attractive listening- Joan Weber: “Let Me Go Lover”- “Marionette” ^Columbia). Col’s new songstreSs,, Joan Weber* debuts auspiciously with this coupling. KITTY KALLEN ( Decca) DORIS DAY (Columbia) ... BABY BROTHER .....The Spirit of Christm READY, WILLING AND ABLE ... . Hold Me In Your Arms 'up'*with- “I Want Eddie Fishef For Christmas," also on the RCA Vic- tor label. It’s an unusual plug for Fisher that Jones handies straight via a vocal by youngster Linda Strangis and the/St. Mary's Mag- dalen Choir. For the hillbilly youngsters, Eddy Arnold has cut “I’m Your Private Santa Claus” on Victor, while the hepper kids may go for “Santa Plays, the Trom- bone.” as. played by Poppa John Gdrdy A His Dixielanders, also on Victor. On. the same, label, the Walter Schumann choir has sliced “Calypso Christmas,” a beautiful carol in calypso tempo. Doris Day: .“Ready, Willing And Able”-‘‘Hpld Me In Your Arms” (Columbia). “Ready” is a rowdy rhythm number which Doris Day belts with commercial sock against a jazzy harpsichored background, It’s a jukebox natural. “Hold Me In Your Arms,” from. the Warner Bros, pic, “Young At Heart,” is given a highly attractive rendition and could emerge as the top side in the long pull. Johnny Desmond-Alan Dale- Buddy Greco: “Doh’t”-“There’s No Happiness For Me” (Coral). As in “Heart of My Heart,” Coral has teamed a group of its top.male vocalists in a songfest coupling with heat/ results. “Don’t” has a contagious beat with strong poten- tial while the flip is a pretty ballad also attractively, handled. Ronnie Hilton:, “I Live For You”- I Still Believe” (Victor). Ronnie. Hilton sounds like a British Eddie Fisher- .. He has Fisher’s direct, open-voiced attack and a set of fine pipes. He has big. possibilities “Let Me Go,” froi “Studio One” production, is a country-styied torch song which Miss Weber gives a very intense and effective read- ing. “Marionette” is a dramatic opus again projected With emotion- al point. Wandra Merrill: “If You Could Only Read My Mind”-“All I Do Is Dream . Of You” (Victor). Wandra. Merrill, a recent addition to Vic- tor’s roster, is an unusual stylist. She gives the ballad, “If You Could Only Read My Mind,” a straight treatment, but on the oldie on the reverse* she shoots the works with a stridently . jazzy ren- dition; Jane Morgan: “The Heart You Break”-’“Why” (Kapp). “The Heart You Break” is a snappy rhythm time that Jane Morgan belts for maximum results with a simple projection. “Why” is in ;a quasi- religioso groove that has been worked and overworked since the click of “I Believe ” This one is okay for the genre but the format is too familiar. Billy- Farrell “Booten Baby’’- “Runaround” (Mercury). Billy Far- rell is a high-powered Crooner who drives his material to a fare-thee- well. It’s the kind of delivery that usually pays off, especially oil the juke level. He brings a lot of punch /to “Booten Baby,” a Wild novelty number, and the. free- wheeling “Runaround” on the bot- tom deck, • The Singing Wanderers: “The Wrong Party Again” - “Three Roses” (Decca). This vocal combo has definite rhythm & blues in- clinations but its style is not too LAWRENCE WEEK and hit champagne MUSIC 165th Consecutive Week, Aragon Ballroom* Santa Monica* Calif. Exclusively on .Coral Records THERE’S. A SMALL HOTEL ' . «nd • SAW YOUR EYES far-fetched for pop appeal: Wan derers' acceptance in the pop field could come easily with “The Wrong Party Again-” It’s brisk and frisky, but that's just the kind of tune and delivery the teen- agers have been requesting from their pop platter spinners. They also give “Three Roses” a vibrant workover and it, too, rates turn- table time. Peggy King: “I’m Gonna Put Some Glue ’Round The Christmas Tree” .- “Counting Sheep” (Colum- bia). The 1954 Yule season is. loaded with novelty tunes and it’s becoming difficult to tell one from the other. This one is pegged on the idea that if you. put glue around the; Christmas tree, Santa will stick around all year. Peggy King’s whispy delivery makes the whole/thing that much cuter and the juve set ma^ go for it. Miss King continues ’ the moppet groove on “Counting Sheep.” She’s got a better potential When she acts her age. Morton Gould Orch: “Fariny”- Why Be Afraid To Dance?” (Vic- tor). Morton Gould gives the dee- jays some excellent programming material with his coupling of Har- old Rome melodies from the legit musical, “Fanny.” Both tunes are, given lush and .stylized orch work- overs with the title song coming through as the more listenable side. Nothing wrong with “Why Be Afraid To Dance?”, but it lacks some, of the ear-catching melodic phrases that Rome put into “Fan- ny.”. .. Myron Cohen: “Soup And Fish”- “Mr. and Mrs.” (Coral). Myron Coheri, latest of the .comics to give a few samples of his routine on wax; does the. unusual in the dia- lect field, He manages to be very funny and, at the same time, hon- (Continued on page 56) ♦ on X I- IF I GIVE MY HEART TO YOU (9) , 2. I NEED YOU NOW (10) 3. PAPA LOVES MAMBO (5) 4. HOLD MY HAND (6) 5. HEY THERE (16) 6. THIS OLE HOUSE (11) 7. SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL (4) 8. TEACH ME TONIGHT (I) 9. SKOKIAAN (11) ;; 10. SH-BOOM (17) X MISTER SANDMAN } WHITHER THOU GOEST SMILE IT’S A WOMAN’S WORLD X THAT'S WHAT I LIKE f MOOD INDIGO THINGS I DIDN’T DO MUSKRAT RAMBLE COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS HONEY LOVE (Figures in parentheses ♦ l ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦» Doris Day , ........... Columbia X Denise Lor ...........,.. Majar Connee Boswell ........i Decca X Dinah• Shore . .Victor Eddie Fisher Victor Perry Como ..............Victor Don Cornell .. Coral Rosemary Clooney ... . Columbia Sammy Davis, Jr. ........ Decca Rosemary Clooney .... Columbia. Bill Haley’s Comets ..... .Decca De Castro Sisters ........ Abbott Ralph Marterie .......Mercury Louis Armstrong ....Decca, Four Lads .. ..... . Columbia Ray Aniliohy ... Capitol Crew Cuts ; ...... .Mercury Sian Freberg ........... Capitol $ Chordettes .•. Cadence l Vaughn. Monroe Victor Les Paul-Mdry Ford .... ...Capitol ( Nat ( King) Cole ........ . Capitol ( Sunny Gale .... Victor ( Four Aces ..........,... Decca l Ray Anthony . , Capitol Don, Dick & Jimmy v., .Crown Norman Petty Trio ... . .Label X Perry Como .. .Victor ( McGuire Sisters ..........Coral \. Matys Brothers Essex Eddie Fisher ..... ..... .Victor | Vicki Young ............. Capitol l Drifters .........,..... .Atlantic indicate number of weeks tong has been in the Top 101 ♦♦♦ ♦ ♦♦♦»♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦-»♦♦♦ ♦ »♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦» Handel: Messiah (Angel). Bril- liant sounding a$ well as emotional- ly moving version of the oratorio by Sir Malcolm Sargent with British soloists, chorus and the Liverpool Philharmonic. Orch and choral blend is vivid as well as smooth. Good soloists are headed by a fine tenor in Richard Lewis. Casals Festival (Columbia). Lush, full tone and grand style of inter- pretation offset technical flaws in vet Pablo Casals 1 version of the Schumann cello concerto. Album also has flavorsome short pieces by Bach and others, played solo or with the Prades Festival orch. Brahms: Violin Concerts (Decca). Famed Russ fiddler David Oistrakh shows his lyrical tone, massive technique but a somewhat florid style here, and accomp of Saxon State Orch under Konwitschny is solid, not airy. An Intriguing ver- sion, nevertheless. Offenbach: Bluebeard A Helen of Troy Suites (Capitol). Two charming ballet suites. “Blue- beard,” especially, is fun, and played with verve by the Ballet Theatre orch under Joseph Levi . Chopin: Etudes (Epic). Two sets of 12 etudes each, widely con- trasted in mood, tempo and style, but all lovely creations, and inter- preted here with taste and skill by. pianist Alexander Uninsky. Tchaikovsky: N u t c r a c k e r A Grieg: Peer Gynt No. 1 (MGM). Lush, familiar melodies in suave style here, tonally and technically firstrate, by the Philharmonia of Hamburg; Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier (RCA Victor). Final instalment preludes and fugues Nos. 17-24, Book II) played as expected, with :authority and taste, by harpsichor- dist Wanda Landowska. Beethoven: Sonaias No. 7 A 10 (London). Violinist Ruggiero Ricci and pianist Friedrich Gulda a good, (..artistic team for the impassioned C Minor (No. 7) and the lighter but, emotionally strong G Major, in an appealing coupling. Piston; Symphony No. 3 (Mer- cury). Striking, imposing modern wbrk (the long lyrical line of the; slow movement .builds up beauti- fully), well-handled by the Eastman orch under Howard Hanson. Berg: Violin Concerto A Cham- ber Concerto (Vox), Coupled with the bare, sparse violin concerto, ably interpreted by gifted young Ivry Gitlis, is the lesser-known chamber concerto, also terse and lean, but melodic and interesting. Virile reading by Gitlis, pianist Charlotte Zelka and ensemble; Bach: Cantatas No. 78 A 106 (Vanguard). Two lovely, devout works, simply and poignantly sung and played by the Bach Guild Choir, and Orch. No.. 106, intended for a funeral service, is especially appealing. 1 A fine coupling. I Music! (Angel). Two fine albums by a brilliant bunch of young Italian string players, inter- preting lovely, tuneful 17th-18th century baroque music in great, style. One disk has four Vivaldi concert! for strings and cembalo. Other offers a charming Rossini sonata, a slower-paced but no less appealing Galuppi concetto; a graceful, , stately Tartini concerto and a lively though refined Mar- cello suite. Bron, The top 30 songs of-week ..(more in cade of ties), based on copyrighted Audience Coverage Index & Audience Trend Index. Published by Office of Research . Inc.. Dr. John Cray Peatman , Director. Alphabetically listed. * Legit musical. t Film. Survey Week of Oct. 29-Nov. 4, 1954 Best Things Happen—1“White Christmas” Berli Cara Mia / Feist Count Your Blessings—1“White Christmas” .......Berlin Fanny—t«“Fanny” ...,.... ........ Chappell Hajji Baba—1 “Adventures Of Hajji Baba”.........Remick Hey There—*“Pajama Game” Frank High And The Mighty—t“High And The Mighty” Witmark Hold My Hand—t,“Susan Slept Here” ......... ... .Raphael I Need You Now ................,..,.,.,...... . Miller If I Give My Heart To You ...........;....... . . Miller It Worries Me. ... ............................... Bourne It;s A Woman’s World—1“Woman’s World”. ....... Robbins >;Lila .................. Garlock-S Little Shoemaker Bourne Love, You Didn’t Do Right—t“White Christmas” .Berlin Mister Sandman Morris Mood Indigo ..... Mills Muskrat Ramble .... , ..Simon My Own True Love—t“Gone With The Wind” ..,.. . . Remick Oop Shoop ........... Flair " Papa Loves Mambo ............ Shapiro-B Sabrina—t“Sabrina” Famous Sh-Boom .... H A R Skokiaan ..... ,.. Shapiro-B Smile — ......... .... . Bourne Teach Me Tonight ....... ... . Hub-L This Ole House ... Hamblen Time Waits For No One. .... Remick Whither Thou Goest Kaveli Wooden Shoes And Happy Hearts .Marks You’re Nobody ’Til Somebody Loves You ...... v ., . Southern Top 30 Songs on TV (More In Case of Ties) Boy Wanted .. .... Joy Champagne Wine ............,...,.,......;.... ^blpntclaire Cinnamon Sinner . Raleigh Count Your Blessings—t “White Christmas” .,.. Berlin Hajji Baba—t“Adventures Of Hajji Baba” . .Remick Happy Wanderer .......... ........ . Fox Hey There—*“Pajama Game” ........ Frank High And The Mighty— t“High And The Mighty” . . Witmark Hold My Hand—t “Susan Slept Here”.... Raphael I Have To Tell You—+“Fanny” . *. Chappell I Need You Now ........... ...... I Never Felt More Like Being In Love If I Give My Heart To You It Worries Me It’s Crazy .......... Lila .... . • . 4 i ...,.».,....,... Little Shoernaker ................ ...,;, Bourne Little Things Mean A'Xot .... /......../ ...... . Feist Man That Got Away—t“A Star Is Born” ........ . .Harwin Mister Sandman .;..... Morris My Own True Love—t“Gone With The Wind” .... Remick Oh, Baby Mine, (I Get So Lonely) Melrose Papa Loves Mambo Shapiro-B ■1® OO m _ ; . . ■. . ... i.. . . ,,,, . H 3iC Shake, Rattle And Roll Progressive Show Me .Trinity Smll6 ......................, ., , ,*, , j , ; ,,.., Bourne Stars Never Cry .:. .... 1 ... ...... BVC Teach Me Tonight ,............ .;... ,. Hub-L r This Ole House ..,.../ .Haiqblen ; Miller .... Korwi . . . .Miller . . . . Bourne ....; Crestvievr ..... Garlock-S I