Automatic Age

Issue: 1942 January

KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED
ON SUGGESTIVE RECORDS
G o o d M usic Assures Future
By JACK NELSON
Vice President & G eneral Sales M anager
R ock-O la M a n u fa ctu rin g C o rp o ra tio n
Every once in a while some
newcomer with little or no con­
cern for the future success of
the phonograph business comes
up with the idea that suggestive
records will improve the phono­
graph business. Locations, oper­
ators, and distributors suffer as
a result of such undesirable pro­
motion. Many patrons visiting
the locations will cease playing
automatic phonographs.
It was only a few years ago
that suggestive records first
came into existence in the coin­
operated phonograph field. It
required only a short time for
the practice to be stopped by
dr a st i c moves of farsighted
representatives of the automatic
phonograph industry in cooper­
ation with the Government. The
Government deals hard with
“smut”—either in the printed
word, pictures, or recordings.
"Blackout" Sm utty R eco rds
From my experience through
acquaintance with phonograph
operators I know that most of
them are good business men . . .
shrewd and alert in this fast-
moving business world of ours
today. So it is up to these men
who represent our business to
the public to lend every support
for a “blackout” of suggestive
and smutty records.
How thoughtless for an oper­
ator to use suggestive records
especially in these prosperous
times when phonograph earn­
ings should be the highest since
prohibition was repealed. And
what a dangerous mistake it is
for locations to allow operators
to use suggestive records on
their phonographs. Surely, the
tavern owner has many prob­
lems to keep his business clean
and aboveboard. Any tavern
owner will see the light if he is
forewarned and the danger is
properly explained to him.
M inority Risk M a jority
Of course there will always
be a small minority who ask for
risque r ecor di ngs. But the
minority do not pay your rent,
buy your trucks, and show you a
profit at the end of the year. In
the automatic music business
you cannot cater to the minority
without offending the majority.
Don’t be misled into thinking
you can purchase a few of these
records for a few appropriate
spots, and control them so they
will not tear down your good
reputation. Once you get started
in the handling of suggestive
records, with the responsibility
for placing them divided among
several of your men, you will
find yourself gradually flirting
more and more with trouble. A
further hazard is the fact that
•January, 1942
© International Arcade Museum
some locations have additional
loud speakers which duplicate
the recording to passers-by on
the street—or to another part of
the establishment.
J A C K NELSON
The recording companies have
invested millions of dollars to
give the phonograph operator
good-playing, clean records. The
famous orchestra leaders and
artists are doing everything pos­
sible to show the phonograph
operators that they, too, want to
cooperate for the stability and
permanency of the phonograph
operators’ business. The Auto­
matic Phonograph Manufactur­
ers’ Association is also striving
for the stability and future of
the business.
So let’s all cooperate in this
one move to stamp out the germ
that eventually will eat away at
our business until there is noth­
ing left of it. Keep the door
closed on suggestive recordings
—there is no place for them in
our business.
GROOMING "YOU HAUNT MY
HEART" AS HIT BALLAD
As the old year bowed out, the
Associated Music Publishers,
Inc. (AMP) current plug ballad
YOU HAUNT MY HEART was
bowed in by means of a double
plug with Lanny Ross featuring
it on his CBS Program the same
day his Victor Record No. 27723
was released. An even bigger
break will be a triple play by
James Melton scheduled for the
week of January 19. The Tele­
phone Hour Tenor will sing it
on his NBC Red Ne t wo r k
Stanza on Monday, and later in
that same week his Victor Red
Seal Recording No. 18466 will
be released. Completing the
three way tie up, the song will
be featured as James Melton’s
Hit of the Month in the March
Issue of Radio and Television
Mirror Magazine which comes
to the newstands the last week
of January.
AUTOMATIC AGE
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13
"Laugh, Laugh, Laugh," Bud A b b o tt and
Lou C o ste llo , V ic to r 27737: A new type
T U R N T A B LE
P R E V IE W S
By W ILLIAM (BILL) MDGLE
Automatic Age flecnrding E ditor
I, fellers— this here 1942
brings loads of lucky
lucre, for there’s dis-
cings aplenty and winners by
the bushel. There is however,
one noticeable trend in the type
of music offered for turntable
consumption. The trend is def­
initely toward a sweeter type
of banding—mellower and in a
tempo mild and leisurely.
The hep-cat era seems to be
on the decline, and the more
restful soothing type of tune is
climbing fast to take over from
king swing the upper brackets
in phono take.
This is not too much of a sur­
prise, as the public is badly in
need of the more restful type of
music, due to the present day
world conditions.
So, 1942 will introduce the
pleasanter type of tune along
with a quantity of patriot­
ic numbers — good or bad as
they may be.
H
N um ber of Releases
Then, too, 1942 will bring
about a change in the number of
weekly releases. It cannot be
otherwise — there will be less
new releases per week. And
that, should mean less work and
more profits for the music ma­
chine operator. Changes may
not always mean an improve­
ment. But in the case of record­
ings, this change to less releases
will b r i n g about a much
healthier condition for you op­
erators — less records to test,
and consequently, a higher
quality tune in the making.
Tune Ratings
For the busy music operator,
record reviews are typed into
location preference, and brief
minute analysis given each new
release.
All reviews are rated: 1 star,
pass; 2 stars, fa ir; 3 stars, good
recording; and 4 stars, a record­
ing that should take in the real
coin, a top tune on the automa­
tic turntable.
Dinah
Shore,
Blue­
Porter tune from
musical production “Let’s Face It.”
In leisurely tempo—lush and a solid
winner. "H a p p y In Love" side “B”. ****
"C a n c e l the
Decca 4105:
Flowers,"
G uy
Lom bardo,
The best recording to
date of this new super tune by the
writers of “Set the World On Fire.”
Kenny Gardner scores highly on vo­
cal that seethes with nostalgic lyrics.
This side will catch the coin. " W a it
T ill the Sun Shines N e llie " side “B”. ****
" I D on't W a n t To W a lk W ith o u t Y ou,"
H a rry James, C o lu m b ia 36478: This side
excels in solid orchestral arrange­
ment—tempo leisurely, with rhythms
that are definite and highly dance­
able. Helen Forrest sings the vocal
— fox trot from “Sweater Girl.” Yet,
lyrics are nothing much. "B -1 9 " fox
trot, reverse side. **
"G o o d b y e M a m a ,"
b ird B-11412: Take
Teddy
Powell,
"A b e Lincoln H ad Just One
Tony M a rtin , Decca 4111: A
chestration with much on the down­
beat. Fox trot with vocal by Art Lon­
don. Tempo, slow with much dance­
able rhythms. "Y ou D o n 't No W h a t
Love Is" on reverse side. **
Jim m y
tune—
and again in a tempo mild and lei­
surely. Plenty for the young folks
to dance to. Bob Eberly scores with
much bright vocalizing. " I Said N o "
side “B”. ****
"W h a t G ood W o u ld It D o ," Duke E llin g ­
ton, V ic to r 27740: The Duke dishes up
a double dandy ditty strong on or­
chestration. Slow, lush with lilting
lyrics— Herb Jeffries hits the high
spot with a wishful, warbling vocal.
A neat treat. "C helsea B rid g e " “B”
side— strictly a dance ditty. ****
"S om etim es," Vaughn M onroe, Bluebird
B -II4 II:
Just another ditty— but
pretty. At long last, Vaughn Mon­
roe scores neatly on vocal refrain.
The tempo is medium— bright with
sparkling rhythms. Lyrics are just
SO SO.
"O n the S treet o f R e g re t" side
**
D A N C E L O C A T IO N
"H o w A b o u t Y o u ," Dick Jurgens, Okeh
6535: An appealing tune from pix
“Babes on Broadway.” Much dance­
able rhythms in medium tempo that
will appeal to the dance fan. It
sparkles. A winner, if ever was one.
Buddy Moreno sings sweetly on
lyrics that are a beater. " I ' l l N ever
F o rg e t" is on reverse side. ****
C o u n try ,"
dramatic
vocalization— deep, rich and vibrant
with Americanism. A strong patriot­
ic bid for class “A ” locations only.
Harry Sosnik conducts the orchestra
in a solid musical setting admirably
suited and in taste with the nature
of the tune. I doubt, however,
whether many locations will go for
this. "Som ebody Else is Taking M y P lace"
side “B”. ***
"The M a rria g e Broker's D au g h te r," C a rl
H off, Okeh 6538: Oh, those rhythms—
hot—with plenty on the downbeat in
a tempo bright, and the Murphy Sis­
ters, they sure go to town. The lyrics
are novel. This is discing not to be
missed. "P ale M o o n " reverse side. ****
AUTOMATIC AGE
© International Arcade Museum
"Someone's Rocking M y Dream B oat,"
Benny G oodm an, Okeh 6534:
Solid or­
Blue­
this side for what
it’s worth. A so-called patriotic ditty
not too good—and not too bad.
Powell punches the tune out in a
racy tempo which brightens the sub­
ject matter somewhat. Peggy Mann,
Dick Judge and chorus do fairly on
lyrics. But frankly, there isn’t too
much here. "K ic k in ' the C onga A ro u n d "
on reverse side. **
14
Y O U N G FO LK
"This Is No Laughing M a tte r,"
Dorsey, Decca 4102: A winning
EVERYWHERE
"E v 'ry th in g I Love,"
bird B - 11413: A Cole
of entertainment for all location
play. The lackeys of levity— lumin­
aries of laughdom— and now Victor
presents this hilarious team in a
double plattered repartee with fun in
fortissimo and a fanfare of fiendish
feudin’. This is discing that will click
in no small way. Both sides are win­
ners— and each independent of one
another. Bud and Lou are assisted by
“The Sportsmen” quartet w i t h
Bring’s orchestra.
Get this sure.
A double killer— a nickle nibbling
disc. ****
THEATRE L O C A T IO N
"The A nniversary W a ltz ,"
V ic to r 27741: The Waltz
W ayne
King,
"W a tc h the
umbia 36480:
M artins,
C o l­
King cuts a
sweet solid side of rhythms in waltz
tempo that find no peer. This is a
clicker sure for the better class loca­
tion and the theatre bar, and parti­
cularly, w h e r e
a more sedate
clientele predominates. "S a ilb o a t In
the Sky" another Wayne King Waltz
with vocal, side “B”. ****
B ird ie ,"
The
The Martins’ with their
intimate style of vocal quarteting
score high in a tuneful tune from
January, 1942
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