Variety (February 1959)

42 MUSIC PfikiJBT? Wednesday, Febrnary 18, 1959 Jocks, Jukes and Disks By MIKE GROSS Frank Sinatra (Capitol). “FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION” (Barton*) is-an okay uptempo item with Its “best attraction 'coming from Sinatra’s forceful beat. “TIME AFTER TIME” (Sands*) has the crooner working an oldie into choice spinning material. Jerri Adams (Columbia). “WHO “Beer Barrel” from a polka to conga setting and it should keep the jukes swinging. “77 SUNSET STRIP CHA CHA” (Witmark*) adds a proper hip-swinging groove to a solid melodic bfeat. Tommy Mara (Felsted). “YANCY DERRINGER” <H. R. Music*) is out of the tv show of the same Best Bets CONNIE FRANCIS.....~.IF I DIDN'T CARE (MGM).. Toward The End Of The Day Connie Francis’ "If I Didn't Care” (Chappell*) is another modernization of an oldie and it wiU*go all the way because of thrush’s current pop appeal. “Toward the End of the Day ” (Fran- con*) is just an average ballad effort but Miss Francis gives it a spinning potential. * * * TONY BENNETT..' .BEING TRUE TO ONE ANOTHER (Columbia).. It’s So Peaceful In The Country Tony Bennett’s “Being True to One Another ” (Jack-Do*) is a stickout bajlad in melody and lyric lines and it’s vocalized into a hot spinning bet. “It’s So Peaceful in the Country” (Regent t) is the popular Alec Wilder tune in a handsome vocal setting . - * * * BILLY FURY. .....MAYBE TOMORROW (London)...Gonna Type A Letter Billy Fury’s “Maybe Tomorrow” (Peter Maurice*) has the rock¬ abilly flavor that pulls in the teen audience. It should make Billy Ftiry a new juke /are. “Gonna Type a Letter” (Burlington*) swings out a hot beat for good spinning reaction. * * * CARMEN McRAE... .PLAY FOR KEEPS (Kapp).,... . .Which Way Is Love Carmen McRae’s “Play for Keeps” (Korwin*) will take a strong hold on jock and juke spinning time because of the way she puts a . solid pop touch into a. nifty ballad item. “Which Way Is Love” (Garland*) is a net ballad that ought to attract special spinning attention. * * * DOMENICO MODUGNO..... PIOVE (Deeca) ...... FarfaUe Domenico Modugno’s “Piore” (Robbins*) is another San Remo winner and might get him on to the turntables the way his “Volare” did last year. “FarfaUe” has a beat that’s lively enbugh to attract the Modugno fans. * * * JUNE VA!L T . THE ANSWER TO A MAIDEN’S PRAYER (Mercury) ..1 ..... . .In His Arms June Valli’s ‘‘The Answer to a Maiden’s Prayer” (Cheriot) is a plaintive, romantic item that will gee a strong spotlighting on the turntables around the "country. “In His Arms” (Goldsen*) is a novely i f em with just a fair impact. * * * SENOR WENCES.’S-ALL RIGHT? ’S-ALL RIGHT? (Joy)... .Deefeecult For Yon—Easy For Me Senor Wences’ “’S-All Right? ’S-All Right?” (Joy*) is a cute cha cha-flavored novelty that will take off for happy spinning re¬ sults. “Deefeecult for You—Easy for Me” (Joy*) is another Latino-styled piece that gives Senor Wences and “friend” a chance to toy with some vocalistics. It’s ir-simulation of Wences * w.k. ventriloqual act. LAWRENCE WELK First DOT RECORD Releases . “MR. MUSIC MAKER” Dot L.P. Album No. ”3164 Two E.P/s—Nos. 1079-1080 (Also Available in Stereo) NEEDS YOU” <Korwin*> features a slick, lively beat that will get this one-time Four Lads’ dick into the payoff spinning groove again. “PLAY FOR KEEPS” (Korwin*) plays up a warm ballad sentiment in way that will win the program¬ mers to its side. The Kittens (Unart). “A LETTER TO DONNA” (Unartf) is a tribute to Ritchie Valens, 17-year-old singer who died in the air crash a few weeks ago. It’s done with a rocking beat and with the juve- styled sentiment that the kids are sure to eat up. “IT’S ALL OYER NOW” (Unartt) features a swift rocking beat for an okay change qf pace. Julius LaRosi (Roulette). “WHERE’S THE GIRL” (Plane¬ tary*) puts Julius LaRosa in a vig¬ orous marching setting and- he builds it into a good spinning po¬ tential. “PROTECT ME” (Par Music*) forms a nice ballad mood via crooner’s warm delivery. , Les Brown Orch (Coral). “BOOLA” (Gilt) is a snappy instru¬ mental with a hot drum showcasing that will win it lotsa spinning time. “SAY IT WITH MUSIC” (Berlin*) has Les Brown saying it in precise daneeable terms. Carla. Beni & Gino Latilla (Brunswick). “AL CHIAR DI LUNA PORTO FORTUNA” (Skidmore*) fits into a rockachile groove that’s good for pop jock and juke action. “O SORRACINO” is a flavorsome slice that will do well in Latino hangouts. Debbie Reynolds (MGM). “THE MATIN GAME” (Robbins*) plays up a catching lyric and melody for. okay spins to tie in with the Metro pic of the same name. “RIGHT AWAY” (Carrie*) is a moderate ballad with doubtful spinning pos¬ sibilities. Pete Canddi (Warner Bros.). “BEER BARREL CONGA” (Sha- piro-Bernstein*) transfers , , (bp c name and Tommy Mara gives it the western flavor that could push it onto the turntables. “WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE” (Knoll- wood*) will get some of the spin¬ ners who go. for a soft ballad style that’s intelligently handled. Jim Backus (Jubilee): “ROCKS ON THE ROOF” (Budd*) has Jim Backus in the role of a lecturer lo teeners, with enough funny lines to get the side its share of plays. “CAVE MAN”' (Budd*) swings along with a wild beat and a lyric idea to match. Bobby Summers (Capitol). “PAD” (Lizannf) develops a hot, rocking sound that should bring the side to the. spinning forefront. “PARADE ROCK” (Beechwoodt) is; a nifty instrumental that will keep the teeners hopping. Eileen Rodgers (Columbia). “I NEVER KNOW WHEN TO SAY WHEN” (Ankerford*) sets-a-bluas- ballad mood for Eileen Rodgers and she belts in a way that will attract the spinners. Tune’s from current Broadway musical, “Goldi¬ locks.” “KING OF MY HEART” (Evans*) is a full-bodied ballad with a strong vocal to get it on the spinning circuit. Vincent Lopez (Carlton). “NOLA” (Sam Fox*) is already riding high With several potent slices but Lopez ought to pick up a share of the play because of his longtime association with the tune. “ROSA¬ LIA” (Carl Fischer*) spotlights Lopez’s piano in an appealing in¬ strumental setting. The Ja Da Quartette (Warner Bros]). “GOOD TIME CHARLIE” (Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell*) fea¬ tures a happy beat in an appealing vocal backing that will gain lots of spinning approval. “MY CUTEY’S DUE AT TWO, TWO, TWO TO¬ DAY” (Stasny*) projects an old- fashioned beat with a flavorsome vocal styling. Leo n Merian Orch (20th-Fox). “THE ROCKIN’ BEE” (Delaware*) is a flashy takeoff on The “Flight of the Bumble Bee” for some juke attention. “BABY-O” (Famous*) fits current terp needs and should do okay around the jukes. * ASCAP. t BMI. Gwen Verdon: “Redhead” (RCA Victor). This original Broadway cast album is a natural for a big payoff. Riding with the marquee lure of Gwen Verdon and hit notices, package is sure to mop up in key markets and work into one of the bestselling original cast sets RCA Victor has had in a long time. Dorothy Fields (lyrics) and Albert Hague (music) have given Miss Verdon and such supporting players as Richard Kiley and Leonard Stone, among others, good assortment of ballads and .special material pieces to play with. “Just For Once” and “Look Who’s In Love” are the stickout ballads and “Erbie Fitch’s Twitch” will develop into a popular special material item and the instrumental “Pick-Pocket Tango,” develops, lots of appeal. Miss Verdon’s en¬ ergetic approach comes through the grooves for strong impact and Kiley projects as a likable leading man. Fred Reynolds, of RCA Victor’s artists & repertoire staff, did a standout job in putting the whole thing together. The Platters: “Remember When?” (Mercury). Currently pac¬ ing the pop singles league with their reworking of the “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” oldie. The Platters have extended the click formula to 11 other vintage numbers for an LP that’s sure to turn into a hot selling item. Even though, this treatment of the faves is in the modern idiom, the adult LP buyer will find lots of pleasing material here, too. “Garry Moore Presents That Wonderful Year — 1940” (Warner Bros.). The recap of a “wonderful year has worked into a popular format on Garry Moore’s CBS-TV show and it transfers to the disk extremely well. It could develop Into a fine album series. Out of the 1940 pop tune catalog are such memorable items as “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “Taking A Chance On Love,” “How High The Moon” and “You Are My Sun¬ shine,” to name a few. A choral group under the direction of Keith Textor and an orcji under Irwin Kostal handle the tunes in a sim¬ ple, straightforward manner and with lots of taste. Nat King Cole: ‘‘Welcome To The Club’* (Capitol). Nat King Cole switches to an uptempo jazz mood in this package and works it into an exciting musical excursion. He’s as sure With this jazz beat as he is in the more familiar soft ballad groove, giving the album a strong catch-on potential. An important assist is delivered by Dave Cava¬ naugh who fronts an orch of hip sidemen. Sabicas: “The Day of The Bull¬ fight” (ABC-Production). This is a handsome package in all respects and rightly belongs in ABC-Para¬ mount’S higher-priced Aristocrat series. Music, especially conceived for this package by Sabicas and Kenyon Hopkins, is striking and picturesque as it traces the various moods of a bullfight-day. Sabicas’ PBmety JO Best Sellers on Coin Machines. 1. STAGGER LEE (6) ...... Lloyd Price . ABC-Par 2. DONNA (5) ....... Ritchie Valens . Del-Fi 3. PETITE FLEUR (2) ....... Chris Barber . Laurie 4. ALL AMERICAN BOY (4) ......... Bill Parsons . Fraternity 5. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES (9) ... Platters .*_ Mercury Cyril Stapleton . London *'' * ‘ *'' ’ -.( Mitch Miller . Columbia 7.16 CANDLES (6) . .. .... Crests . Coed 8. GOTTA TRAVEL ON (7) _'.... Billy Grammer . Monument 9. I CRIED A TEAR (1)..... LaVern Baker . Atlantic 10. MY HAPPINESS (7) ..... Connie Francis . MGM 6. CHILDREN’S MARCHING SONG (4) Second Croup I GOT A WIFE . .. Mark IV . LONELY TEARDROPS ... Jackie Wilson CHARLIE BROWN ...... Coasters ..... TALL PAUL .... . ..... Annette . PETER GUNN THEME ...,....... Ray Anthony . HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG ..... Andy Williams GOODBYE BABY ..... Jack Scott . Carlton THE LONELY ONE ....... Duane Eddy .. Jamie ^ GIRL ON PAGE 44 . ...... 4 Lads . Columbia WITH WIND & RAIN IN HAIR ......./ .]........ Pat Boone . Dot lFigures in parentheses indicate number of weeks song has been in the Top 101 .... Mercury Brunsvnck .. .. • • Atco .Disneyland .... .Capitol .... Cadence guitar highlights the set, of course, but he’s accompanied by some other flamenco guitarists who give the whole idea ah added zest and flavo% , Polly Bergen: “All Alone By The Telephone” (Columbia). Taking Irving Berlin’s “All AloitS” as a peg and a starting point, Polly Bergen has followed through with a charming potpourri of slickly concocted material. In her reper¬ toire are lots of wellknown - items and some less familiar stuff done with a vocal know-how that gives ’em all some stature. Irene Krai-Herb Pomeroy: “The Band And I” (United Artists). There are few opportunities for a thrush to blossom forth via big- band vocalist route; Irene Krai is one of the few who have received the opportunity and she’s making the most of it. Working with the fine Herb Pomeroy orch. Miss Krai is showcased in a way that gives her plenty of room to display a savvy piping style. Also to Miss Krafs credit is her tune selection. Most of the songs she’s picked haven’t picked up . too often but they’re all gems and give the al¬ bum an added importance for those who have become tired of having the same old songs crop up on new albums. : Ellis Larkins: “Blue and Senti¬ mental” (Decca). This is a quiet hut impressive display of Ellis Lar kins * ' keyboard class: He’s is a “mood jazz” groove but that shouldn’t frighten away the squares because Larkins has keyed it for wide- ranged appeal. His rhythm accom¬ paniment is niftily handled by Jim Crawford (drums), Joe Beniamin (bass) and Skeefer Best (guitar). Among the more familiar tunes that come up for the Larkins’ touch are “Blue Moon” and "Am I Blue.” The Larkins’ originals, of which there are six, have a highly attractive quality. Dick Roman: “Dick Roman Sings” (MGM).. There’s a pleasing quality to Dick Roman’s song styl¬ ing that will bring devotees his way. Working without any syn¬ thetic pipiqg pyrotechnics, Roman builds the proper musical mood with a straightforward approach that’s easy to take. He gets a lot of mileage out of such nifties as “Stella By Starlight.” “Lazy After¬ noon,” “Midnight Sun” and “My Foolish Heart.” Jad Paul: “12th Street Bag” (Liberty). This is for the banjo buffs. Jad Paul is a top plink- plunker and he gets a lot of drive into his efforts. He works over the title song and an item called “Liebestraum For Banjos,”. giving an idea of the range of bis reper¬ toire. The Ambassadors: ‘‘The Ambas¬ sadors Get-Together” (Jubilee). The Ambassadors, a piano-organ duo, whip up an okay sound for mood music listeners. The LP de¬ velops into a tuneful ride as they work their way through a flock of solid material from the ASCAP catalog. The piano and organ blending develops each item pleas¬ ingly and a drum is added to round out the beat. “George Jessel Sings Tear. Jerk- ers of the Not-So-Gay *90s” (Treas¬ ure). The beat may change, but the heartbreaking, tearjerking mo¬ tif has remained a dominant pop song element over the years. In a parallel to the current flock of despair-laden clicks, this set re¬ creates some of the doleful ditties of 60 and 70 years ago. George Jessel supplies the narration for this songalog and delivers, with an appropriately oMfashioned vibrato, some of the numbers with an assist from the Ted Auletta orch and chon»s with Johnny Amoroso, Beverly Wesp, Bob McGrath and Retina Price handling the 1 other solo ass'miments. This fascinating song folio, loaded with dead mothers, drunken fathers and ladies of doubtful virtue, includes number'’- Pke “In The Baggage Coach At'—'d;” the grisliest item in the r-Uection), “Father, Dear Father Come-Home With Me Now.” “Hello Central. Give Me Heaven,” “Take Back Your Gold,” “Just Break News To Mother,” • “She’s M°re To Be Pitied Than Censured” and others in the same lachrymose groove. The Grail Singers: “Easter At GrailvIHe” (Period). This is a standout item for the Lent and Easter season. T’'e <^rail Singers from Loveland. O., have take” up folk songs, sniritual and chants and worked them into a relMoso pa^ka^e of considerable merit. It wilt develop into a staple- v. :V >*ch . dealers v’*U want every^year. The interr*'e**'l groiiD of femme formers are conducted by Angela M<Pcr. Gros. . . »*•»»» *.r.-Jr rJ