GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 71, 24 March 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

GRAMOPHONE NOTES.

ARTISTS AND THEIR RECORDS.

(By SOUNDBOX.)

Harmony is always understood by tbe crowd.—James Usher.

Cleverly amusing vocal work is done by the Yacht Club Boys in "You Can't Walk Back from an Aeroplane," and "I Fell Head-over-heels in Love" (3671).

Effective sacred singing is given us by the Criterion Male Quartet in "When the Roll ia Called up Yonder," and "When They Ring the Golden Bells for You and Me." (3295).

One of the best Hawaiian melodies I have heard for some time is "Hanalei Bay," which is played as a Hawaiian guitar duet by Hanapi and Kaleipua, with "Song of Hawaii" on the other side, also good. (3662).

That delightful ginger of ballads, Frank Munn, whose voice, by the way, may often be recognised in the "vocal chorus" of dance recordings, sings "Watching the World Go By," and "Are You Lonesome To-night," in his usual pleasing fashion. (3660).

A new orchestra, the Anglo Persians, is responsible for an excellent playing of an unusually fascinating composition "Dancing Tambourine." The following quotation tells the story better than J can. "There is something wierdly thrilling in the throbbing rhythm to which two distinct melodies are beautifully interpreted by the Anglo-Persians. 'Dancing Tambourine' is primitive, alive, and as enigmatical as a breath from the Orient. Perfectly recorded tambourines dance in and out, to the pulsating beauty of the melody by the lead instruments." On the reverse is "Siren Dream," the similarity of which makes it a suitable coupling. In this is very effective solo work by the oboe which succeeds remarkably well in conveying an impression of the East. (3655).

Here's a rather good story. Frederic Fradkin, an American violinist, who finds himself equally at home in the classics and the song hits of the day, was travelling in a train and on his return from the dining car heard a gramophone playing his record of Irving Berlin's "Russian Lullaby," with several young ladies listening in rapt attention. Fradkin stopped and remarked that they seemed to like the record. After listening to praise that would have brought a blush to the cheek of modesty, he remarked that he thought the record was terrible. He was indignantly asked whether he thought he knew anything about music. He .said horrible things about the violinist and only saved himself from annihilation by revealing his identity and admitting that he had been enjoying the joke. This month he plays "One Rummer Night" and "Just Another Day Wasted Away." (3621).

Most of us know the infectious melody "Down South," though perhaps not by name. It is played and sung very effectively by the Anglo-Persians with "Call of the Desert." The former ia of American negro origin, while the latter is another of the Oriental class of music this capable little orchestra doea bo well. (3612).

I do not remember any month since 1 have been writing these notes so prolific as this one as regards picturetheatre organ recordings. My friends in the trade inform me that the public finds this class of music much to its liking, and having played this month's issues I must agree that in the diversity of effects through which the melody is always apparent, there is reason for the popularity. With such a wealth of this class it is impossible on this occasion to do more than list the titles with the comment that all are good. Lew White playing the Kimball organ of the Roxy Theatre, New York, does "Are You Lonesome To-night?" and "Under the Moon," (3672), "Just Like a Butterfly (That's Caught in the Rain"), and "Broken Hearted" (3618), "Underneath the Weeping Willow," and "At Sundown;" while Eddie Dunstedter, a new artist, displays ability of high order in "Dancing Tambourine," and "Just a Memory" (3678J, and "Blue Heaven," and "Are You Happy" (3680).

The new dance records in my present parcel include "Blue Heaven" and "Bamboola' (Vaughn de Leath, who sings the choruses wrote the words of the latter, I believe), by Kenn Sisson's orchestra. (3595). "I'm Saving Saturday Nifht for You," and "Blue River," by a new band, The Music Masters, (3644) "Cheerie-Beerie Be," a very good waltz! and 'I Could Waltz on Forever," bv Ben Silvin and his orchestra. (3634) "Miss Annabels Lee" and "Swanee «£° r ? y Bernie s Orchestra, (3631), and wtl i OU f," and "Underneath the Stars sj°« u ,sr by ,h *

Announced as a great "hit" overseas Blue Heaven" has arrived, and after hearing it I can understand its irreat popularity. Good melody and good sentiment, combine to produce an unusually attractive song. Here are the words of the chorus:—

When whip-poor-wills call and evening Is T V ' I hurry to my Blue Heaven. wn. ul 7 l !? the r, * ht ' • litt,e white llirht, Will lead you to my Blue Heaven. You see a smiling face, a fireplufce. a cosy room, A little nest that nestles where the roses bloom. an . d *!?' K d bal> y ® ake » three, We re happy in my Blue Heaven.

What a Blue Heaven is I do not know, but certain it is that we all aspire to something of the sort. Indeed Nick Lucas, who sings this song, says in his second chorus, "As soon as I'm through, strum and crooning for you, I'll hurry to by Blue Heaven," voicing the universal appreciation of the restful content of a home where the "heat and burthen of the day" may be forgotten (3684).