Variety (November 1954)

Wednesday, November 17, 1954 Variety MUSIC .63 In a move to drum up activity for its needle division, Columbia Records is shelling out cuffo diamond needles to dealers, along with a special Hit containing a simulated Col diamond jewel needle and gift certificate. Purpose of the kit is to enable the gift shopper to buy a needle without .having to. specify the type.of phono player upon which it will be used. The recipient just returns the certificate to the dealer and selects the proper needle. Diskery also is prepping „ hefty promotional campaign via window streamers, consumer book- lets on disk and needie care as well as tieins with its national advertising on records and phonographs. Income-building power of a disclick for artiste is again spotlighted by the Crew Cuts, who are riding on the hot-selling “Sh-Boom” for Mercury Records. Group kicked off the *year with, a booking at the: Casino Theatre, Montreal, at $.350 a Week and are returning to,the shine spot Dec. 30 for more than $5,000 and a percentage deal. Mean- time, the boys are set for their New York area bow,at the Boulevard, Queens, Nov. 24. .They’ll also appear on CBS-TV’s “Toast of thie. Town” Nov. 28, Les ElgarMs shaping up as the “cover”* lan for Columbia Records. In the past couple of weeks Elgart’s orch “covered” “Mr. Sandman,” ' Kitty Got Jn” and “I Need Your Lovin’ ” Gene Becjcer, who heads Col’s special pop projects; instigated the, “covering” of clicks by . j-ival diskeries. Heretofore, Col had shied away front following break- through platters with its. own versions. MGM Records is. rushing into release ah etching of “The Last Time I Saw. Paris” by Odette to tie in with the Metio pic of the same name. Although Odette warbles the tune in the film, platter Is not a sound- tracker. Thrush also will do a guest warbling - stint at New York’s Ca itol Theatre at the pic’s preem Nov. 18. Scot Whiskey Coin Runs Out; Countess Seeks U.S. Aid for Natl Orchestra Edinburgh, Nov. 9. Th Countess of Roseberry, prexy of the Scottish National Orchestra Society, plans to visit America and Canada to enlist fi- nancial support for the orch.; She said here that more players are needed to build up the playing strength of th orch, and that means more coi In America the Countess hopes to contact heads of large firms who might help put. She said’'that dis- tillers connected with big whiskey firms had been generous in Scot- land,,but they were still very short of coin; Musical co§ts had been rising rapidly. John G. Banks, civic, chief of Edinburgh, complained that the British Broadcasting Corp, is not giving a . fair deal in radio airings to the Scottish National Orch. ■ . • * i ■ m ■ .1 i ■ 111. i i■ ■ Marlin Block Continued from page 53 off-base in his judgment as an a&r ma ? (Block .mentioned names, which are purposely elided). “But; if oh the .other hand;” he continues,*' “I play such-and-such record and I get ah avalanche of phone calls from justifiably irate Americans of Italian extraction, then I know that my judgment is correct when 1 next refuse to play such-and-such record. In fact, on my show tomorrow (this was last .eek) I’ll mention this is No. 23 in the nation’s standings but I re- fuse to play a record that is of- fensive (Block did not play the Col disk of Rosemary Clooney's “Mambo Itaiiano” on his Saturday (13) roundup of hits.)' “The main point is that hearing them with my public is still the A WONDERFUL SEASONAL SONG V , . ■ r "i H C.r^ n 5 'Iff If SNOW r "UTIT$N 0 W!“ "UT IT SNOW" CAHN MUSIC COMPANY best Way to hear them, as they sound on th ' not in the privacy of some de luxe, over-electronicked pickup. And of course it removes the onus that I’m setting myself up as a one-man judge to appraise the artistic values of recording com- pany experts, .But if the public writes and phones me that ‘you Americans don’t dig what some of these Itaiiano innuendos mean, or that they offend,’ then it’s no long- er my one-man Opinion but the public’s, which is paramount.” ; IIe : concedes, however, that the r&b (rhythm & blues) stuff is the most offensive, and in that instance he doesn’t take any chances by just hot playing them. Soundtracks Continued from page 53 package, Victor plans to issue, its own “Show Business” album fea- turing Miss iUonroei Decca is sub- bing with Dolores Gray, The swapping vogii , however, is evidenced in MOM’s okaying the Mercury release of the soundtrack from the Metro musical/“Athena,” because it. stars Merc pactee Vic Damone. Coral, Decca’s subsid, okayed ‘Victor's soundtrack release of the Otto Preminger pic; “Car- men Jones,” with Pearl Bailey. A couple of . years ago MGM launched the trading vogue when it gave Victorian okay to issue Mario Lanza’s soundtrack from the Metro pic, “The Student Prince.” It’s also, expected that MGM' will give Columbia the soundtrack rights tq “The Ruth Etting Story,” currently, being shot on the Metro lot with Doris Day. MGM made a previous reciprocal trade move with Col when it leased Howard Keel for the soundtrack set of the WB pic “Calamity Jane.” In jazz Field, Too The lend-leasing also is going on in the jazz field. In the upcoming Coral soundtrack set, “Private Hell 36,” such diversified labels as Cap- itol, Victor, Pacific Jazrnmd Con- temporary Records have come in for courtesy bows with the loanout of their jazz instrumentalists. Hazards of a restricted trading policy was evidenced, a few years ago when Decca and victor locked horns on the “Call Me Madam” album. Victor .Had the original cast album rights to the Irving Berlin legltuntr, but Decca had the show's star, Ethel Merman, under an exclusive waxing, deal. Hence, the selling potential of each “Madam” album was dissipated, Victor's because it had everything but the star and Decca’s because it didnt’ have the complete Original Cast-Selling values. ‘Hit Parade’ Lineup (On Nov. 13 NBC-TV Bfcow). X. Hey ; There . .. Frank 2. I Need You Now.. . .Miller 3. If I Give My Heart. .Miller 4. Papa Loves Mambo,,. S-B 5. Count Blessings.. .Berlin 6. This Ole House... Hamblen 7. Mister Sandman. .Morris Home For Aged ToOters New York. JL'ch tor; V arxety Throughout the years that I have been in.the music business, I have heard of arid have personally wit- nessed numerous success stories. But, by the same token, for every star N who shines ‘ the musical firmament, there are many men who are no longer able to toot, fiddle or bang. It is these men I am concerned about. It is riot easy for a musician Who has worked most of his life faith- fully and well tp have advancing years, ill health or other adverse f conditions catch up' With him. A lot of musicians find work hard to come by under such trying cir- cumstances. And. even though the union arid relief agencies do fine Work in this regard, offering financial nd moral assistance, still there is a crying need for something niore. I am firmly convinced that the theatrical . profession has an an- swer to this problem in their Ac- tors’ Homes, where not only does a needy thespiah get the best of care, but he’s still in association vyith colleagiies in his profession. He. is psychologically Anff spiritu- ally at home. Why not the same soft of program for the worthy musician?. Why not set up lipmes for those . unfortunate men Who, through no real fault .'of their own, find it impossible to continue earn- ing a living tlifough music, and in. most cases in any other occupa- tion? I know that other bandleaders I have spoken to are as much in favor of this idea as l am—perhaps, even more so. How about, all of us music-makers getting together to discuss ways and means of estab- lishing such a home? I l'eel con- fident that with a little support and cooperation, we should be able to accomplish much for those not so fortunate as we are. Lester Lanin . James Stagliano,., artistic direc- tor of Boston Records, announced signing of a two-year recording contract with the Zimbler Sin- fonjetta of Boston. Hi-Fi Bugs Continued from page 53 of WGMS, With the musicians dem- onstrating the versatility of their instruments. So far as the actual hi-fi dei - onstration was concerned, It was limited to two short sections. After the brass opened the evening with a fanfare, there was a playback of the same passage as taped earlier In the day, Second, the orchestra played the first movement from Rimsky- Korsakov’s “Spanish Caprice,” With electronic engineers, on stage taping it In two fashions—as it should be done and as. it should hot be done. Both tapes were played for the audience' with an explanation by Rogers. This con- cluded the demonstration. The remainder was a concert by the National Symphony under leader- ship of Dr. Howard Mitchell, More might have been done with the electronic) portion of the pro- gram. It was interest in perfect reproduction, rather than a straight concert, which drew many people to Constitution Hall. New York RobeR Panofsky currently fea- tured on the accordion at Fraunces Tavern . . Decca thrush Kitty Kallen begins a four-day engage- ment at Cleveland’s Skyway Lounge today (Wed.) . A1 Mor- gan moved his family from Chicago to Los Angeles for permanent h.q. . , Les Malloy, dee jay at. KY A, San Francisco, in town for a cou- ple of weeks ... . Charlotte Lord, ex-aide to d.j. Bill Silbcrt, \yas married last week and moved to the Coast . . . Coral thrush Eydie Gorme hosted several deejays ait Ronnie’s Steak House last week . . . Betty Madigan into the Paraglide Club; Hempstead, L. I., Friday (19) . Alan Dean begins a six- day stand at the Ranch House, Johnston, R; I , Nov. 23'. . . Nov- ember issue of Popular Science mag ieautres a hi-fi story, illustrat- ing the piece with photos Of MGM Records’ technique from recording to cutting, of master disk. Following a Dec. 14 date at the Broad wood Hotel Philly, Sammy Kaye takes off on a two-month hiatus' in Florida. He’ll air his ABC-TV show "So You Want To Lead A Band” from there . . Lawrence Elow and Linda Roberts, composers of “Not As A Stranger,” working on a legit musieomedy . . , Mary McCoy, Green Label thrush, on a deejay toim through the mid- west . . , Faron Young, Capitol Records’ hillbilly crooner, dis- charged, from the ITS. Army today (Wed.) . ; . The Gaylords, Mercury Records’ vocal combo; hopped into town lor two days this week, for a Sunday News color photo layout . ♦ . Earl Bostic, on a one-nighter tour through New England, hits Providence'R. I., today (Wed.) . . . Vick Knight named director and v.p; in charge of advertising and distribution at Century Records. The Rover Boys, Coral Records vocal quartet, repacted by Frank Dailey for his Meadowbrook, Cedar Grove, N, J., for 12 days beginning Dec. M . Crooner Bill Farrell on a midwest deejay junket plugging his first Mercury- release. lie opens at the Cabin Club, Cleveland, Friday (19) Ross Jungnieke! has taken over the U. S, rights to “My Son, My Son” from Edward Kassner . . Tunesmith Abner Silver headed south yesterday (Tues.) for a lew months’ stay at the Patrician in: Miami Beach. Chicago Sauter-Flnegan orch touring midwest on niters before opening at New York Statler Nov. 22 . . Tommy Reed playing Muehlebach in Kansas City. Nov, 18 for four frames . . . Los Chavales de Espana open Airport in Pittsburgh this week for 10 days, following with Nov. 23 date at Jung Hotel, New Orleans, for three weeks . . .Don, Reid orch pegged for Peabody Hotel in Memphis Dec. 31 for four frames . . . Chuck Foster into Ara- gon in Chi Dec. 25 for seven weeks, following current stint of Eddy Howard . . Cass Harrison opening Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis, this week through Jan. 7 . . .Ralph Marteirle slated for Melody Mill, Chi, Dec. 15 for three weeks. Pittsburgh Pee Wee Hunt band opens two- week engagement at Bali Kea Nov. 25 and Jack. Teagarden returns there, also for a fortnight, on Dec, 8. A1 Belietto orch follows Tea- garden, Dec. 22-Jaii. 4 . . . Walt Harper’s outfit plays for St, Fran- cis College Hop Friday (19) and Carnegie Tech Delta Upllson fra- ternity formal the next night . ; . Jole Vance Trio into the Jacktown Hotel for a limited stay ; . . Bert Pollock, graduate of the Carnegie Tech Drama School and now a clvilah in charge of Fifth Army entertainment working out of Chicago, won first prize for best lyric submitted for the Hugh Mar-: tin-Ralph Blane theme melody for Metro picture, “Athena.” Pollock got a $500 advance royalty from Leo Feist, Coral Records and Metro. Song’s already been re- corded on Coral by Don Cornell , . johnny Long plays a one- nighter at. West View Park Nov. 26. . . , Abbie Neal and her femme hillbillies off for Iceland and five weeks of playing for troops in the Northeast Command . Herman Middleman band opened an : en- gagement at the Club 30 near Ches- ter, W. Va. . . . Bill Esch now doing arrangements for Baron Elliott orch , . . Jimmy Spaniel combo playing weekends „at Colonial Manor during the fall and Winter season . . Three of a Kind into the M. and M. Lounge. Omaha Sam Fraser’s orch into Pall Garden of Legion Club here . . Leo' Pieper orch played Peony Park last weekend (13-14), with Jimmy Palmer, Bobby Mills and Tony Bradley upcoming . . Nell Rankin of Metropolitan Opera to appear with tenor Walter Fred- ericks at Omaha Symphony winter series March 21-22. London Bandleader johnny Dankworth signpd contract With Capitol Rec- ord!? . . . BBC has banned singer Dennis Lotis’s Decca recording of ‘.‘Honey Love”. . Canadian singer Stephanie Wise is joi ing the Ronnie Scott orch. Scotland Ken Mackintosh band pacted for four-week tour ol‘ Scotland from Jan. 1, with three weeks set at Green’s Playhouse and a fourth week ol‘ one-night stands . . Scot- tish Jazz Week planned to kick off Dec. 6 . .“I Love Paris,” sung by Ronnie Harris on Columbia label, ; topping Scot tune parade, with Don Cornell’s “Hold My Hand” qri Vogue in second slotting and Dean Martin’s “Sway” on. Capitol ‘ third position. Cabot Inked by Cardinal After Indie Etching Job Hollywood, Nov. 16. Batoneer Chuck Cabot makes his debut under the Cardinal ■ label early next year as a .result of an indie etching job here. Cabot cut four sides at Capitol’s custom divi- sion with Walt Heebrier producing. Tim Gayle, who handles publicity for both Cabot and-Frank Blasco’s Cardinal label, engineered the deal under which his clients got togeth- er and Blasco acquired the four sides; 1G Infringe Settlement Hollywood, Nov. 16. Infringement suit for $10,000, filed by Harold Levy against RCA and Encore Music Publications four years ago, was settled out of court for $1,000. Defendants were charged with wrongfully appropriating Levy’s lyrics to a tune titled ’ “Blue Rhumba.” A Solid Hit! .9 If i Give < 'My Heart; .« To Too « MILLER MUSIC CORPORATION "iti oJIuxuj^ bid... % WINTER W0NDERLANP ciKii . tW# qtmt nJUMcSj^ BREGMAN, VOCC.O and COI^N, INC. - NEW YORK • CHICAGO* HOLLY WOOD O r - Jr- y