Automatic Age

TURNTABLE PREVIEWS
By
W IL L IA M
( B IL L )
Y O U N G FO LK S
"I'm Misunderstood," Andy Kirk, Decca
4141: Kirk and his Clouds of Joy cut
a smooth one in slow tempo. Henry
Wells vocalizes neatly. Lyrics, a bar­
rel full of dribble. Just another re­
cording. "No Answer," on reverse side.
M BGLE
A u t o m a t ic A g e B e c o m i n g E d i t o r
"I Remember You," Jimmy Dorsey, Decca
4132: Vocalist Bob Eberly takes over
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 automatic
turntable.
EVERYW H ERE
"We're the Couple in the Castle," Barry
Wood, Victor 27751, vocadance: The
treasury trouberdore scores highly
again on a Hoagy Carmichael tune.
Barry Wood is fast climbing into re­
cording prominence. Th i s l a t e s t
release, a tune taken from the Para­
mount animated pix “Mr. Bug Goes to
Town” substantiates Wood’s claim to
the higher recording brackets.
It
goes without saying baritone Wood
does neatly on a tune that is fresh and
warm with highly commercial lyrics.
The tempo is leisurely and the or­
chestra compliments the singer with
an excellent background of melodic
beauty.
"Who Calls," on reverse
side. ****
"Last Night I Said a Prayer," Vaughn
Monroe, Bluebird B- 1 1422: A pretty but
pretty dull platter with the singing
bandsman Monroe doing his best to
make something out of very little. It’s
big fault and one which covers the
disc from thread to thread is the ex­
tremely slow tempo. The lyrics are
excellent however. Nothing much for
the automatic turntable. "Pretty Little
Busy-Body," reverse side. *
"The Night We Called It a Day,"
Johnny Long, Decca 4126: A distinctive
recording yet, lacking in many points
to make it successful turntable ma­
terial. Vocalist Bob Houston starts
the cutting, singing the first three
notes alone with the orchestra follow­
ing in with a very thin background.
Houston sings fairly well, in a slow
clear vibrant voice and blue. "Russian
Rose," on reverse side. **
"The Lost Chord," Shep Fields, Bluebird
B-11424: There is no reason for this
side. Fields and his new music tackle
something that is entirely out of their
sphere. A modern counterpart on
Sullivan’s classic “The Lost Chord!”
It’s like the real thing with the guts
taken out. Ken Curtis, vocalist, too
sings the famous lyrics as if he were
lost in the wilderness. This side is
worthless. "Someone's Rocking My Dream-
boat," on reverse side. *
"On The Street Of Regret," Sammy Kaye,
Victor 27750: Sammy Kaye pulls an old
one from the bag of musical tricks and
frankly, the results are none too good.
He has added a narration to assist
Tommy Ryan’s excellent vocal. But it
all sounds a little antiquated and
somewhat saccharine. Sammy Kaye,
however, achieves top honors in a
magnificent orchestral arrangement
in a tempo that is mild and leisurely.
Possibly it’ll pass for Kaye fans—
dyed in the wool fans! The lyrics are
so so. "Pretty Little Busy-Body," on re­
verse side. **
"Rose O'Day." Woody Herman, Decca
4113: This waxing is indeed a surprise
for Woody Herman sings nicely which
may prove after all that there is pos­
sibilities. Carolyn Grey assists in tak­
ing the vocal honors on this tune that
is fast gaining public favor. The or­
chestration is bright with rhythms
that rock. The lyrics are excellent
and highly commercial. This is all-
high phono copy. A nickel nibbler,
sure. "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat,"
on side “A ”. ***
"Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancinq In a
Hurry," Jimmy Dorsey, Decca 4122: This is
too good to miss. A slightly mad re­
cording of a tune from the Paramount
pix “The Fleet’s In.” It ’s a sweet de­
parture from the ordinary type of
popular recording. Helen O’Connell
does everything from singing to hoot­
ing. The lyrics are slightly wise, but
permissible. Grab this ’un off. "Not
Mine," reverse side. ****
"Ollie Ollie Outs In Free," Ted Weems,
Decca 4138: A delightfully different
discing with rhythms that sparkle and
in a medium tempo, with solid and
well balanced orchestral arrangement.
Lyrics possess a new twist to an age
old famous game the “kids” still like
to play. Harry Como does the vocal in
passable style. Most everyone will like
this side. "Deep In the Heart of Texas,"
on reverse side. ****
"The Train Song," Kay Kyser, Columbia
36495: Tempo, leisurely. The cleverest
novelty tune to be released in many a
month. The lyrics tell a story in song
and Sully Mason with Trudy, Max
and Jack sing the vocal refrain with
neat condensation with an air of non­
chalance. Smart discing and will ap­
peal to all. The phono fans will like
this no end. "It Happened In Hawaii," is
on reverse side. ***
12
AUTOMATIC AGE
© International Arcade Museum
this side. From the Paramount pix
“The Fleet’s In ” Dorsey bands a
rather thin orchestration in a leisurely
tempo. Just another recording. "If
You Build a Better Mouse Trap," on re­
verse side. **
"I Love You Truly," Erskine Hawkins, Blue­
bird B-11419: ’Bout time someone recut
this old favorite— but certainly not
like this. The 20th Century Gabriel
(Continued on page lk)
20
TURNTABLE
TUNES
TO
SU CCESS
"Rose O'Day"
Kate Smith, Columbia 36448
"Ev'rything I Love"
Dinah Shore, Bluebird B-II4I3
"Don't Leave Me Daddy"
Dinah Shore, Bluebird B-1 1370
"The White Cliffs of Dover"
Kay Kyser, Columbia 36445
"Keep 'Em Flying"
Gene Krupa, Okeh 6506
"Cancel the Flowers"
Guy Lombardo, Decca 4105
“ Remember Pearl Harbor"
Charlie Spivak, Okeh 6555
"This Is No Laughing Matter"
Jimmy Dorsey, Decca 4102
"The Biggest Aspidastra in the World"
Art Kassel, Bluebird B-1 1418
"Chattanooga Choo Choo"
Claude Thornhill, Columbia 36472
"Moonlight Sonata"
Glenn Miller, Bluebird B-1 1386
"Madelaine"
Bob Chester, Bluebird B-1 1355
"The Shrine of Saint Cecilia"
Kate Smith, Columbia 36468
"The Little Guppy"
Ozzie Nelson, Bluebird B-l 1403
"We're the Couple in the Castle"
Barry Wood, Victor 27751
"Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In a
Hurry"
Jimmy Dorsey, Decca 4122
"It Was Only a Dream"
Bob Crosby, Decca 4137
"Fooled"
Les Brown, Okeh 6557
"Russian Rose"
Wayne King, Victor 27752
"The Train Song"
Kay Kyser, Columbia 36495
(And Don't Forget)
Barry Wood's grand recording. Victor
274758, "Any Bonds Today"
February, 1942
http://www.arcade-museum.com/