RECORDED MUSIC

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1927, Page 2

RECORDED MUSIC

NEWS OF THE WEEK. TWO HUMOROUS RECORDS. Columbia 3790: “Soft-Hearted Sally” and “Did Tosti wear a bowler when he said Good-bye?” Duets ■by. No rah Blaney and Gwen Farrar. I know somebody who went eighteen times in succession to hear this well-kuow T n pair sing one of these songs—l won’t say which one. Hear this record at your dealer’s; perhaps you may like it as well as my friend. Columbia 3718—“ Could Lloyd George do it?” and “That just gets me out on the Day.’’—Stanley Lupin. (Comedian), I was forewarned that this record was not very good, but tastes differ. Happy memories of Lupiho in Loudon induced me to try it, and I was “tickled to death”; at least, with the Lloyd George song, which is one of the funniest ditties that has found its way on to a record. A CLEVER BAN JOIST, , Columbia 3078—“ Persiflage ” and “The Coeoanut Dance.” —Banjo solos by Fred van Eps. Fred van Eps plays these two tuney little bits with extraordinary dexterity and skill. He gives his banjo a mellowness rather unusual after the usual twangy tone of this friendly instrument. THE STEEL GUITAR. Columbia 3745—“151e of Oahu” and “Waters of Waikiki.” —Steel guitar novelties by Frank Ferara. Frank Ferara has made a name for himself as the foremost exponent of the steel guitar, and it is hardly to be wondered at. What an astonishing command of his instrument he has! There is a peculiar fascination in the pTSthtive whine-y tone of the steel strings that reminds one irresistibly of everything ever written about Honolulu and tropical nights. In my ignorance I <lon’t know what Hawaiian, music /should be, but these two tunes have a genuine ring about them and the record is altogether worth-while. OTHER SONG NUMBERS. Columbia are putting out a lot of very good popular ■song 'records. Here are one or two of the best which. I advise everyone to hear:— iColuiTubia • 4129—“ Ukulele Dream Girl” and “I Don’t Care What You Used to Be”—-Sung by Jack Blake, baritone. Jack Blake is already established as a great favourite' .with, gramophouisfs, and this last number should be one of his biggest successes. Columbia 0720 —“Mother, My Dear” -r-Franklyn Baur (tenor); “The Prisoner’s Release”' —Walter Kingsley (baritone). ; Two song numbers that are all the rage just now’, both exceptionally well sung and excellently recorded. A POPULAR BARITONE. Columbia 2454—“ Father O’Flynn” and “Off to Philadelphia.”—Sun by Thorpe Bates, baritone. No need to introduce these songs to my readers! Or Thorpe Bates, for that matter. His pleasing, manly voice is particularly well suited to these popular ballads, and he tackles them with a boldness and vigour that could well stand as an object lesson to some of his rivals. Past his best, is he? Not if this record is anything to go by. A ROLLICKING QUARTET. Columbia 2349 “The Mulligan Musketeers” and “The Hunt is Up.” Sung by the Westminster Singers. The Westminster Singers make* a capital quartet '.for every kind of art song, but here they have chosen something more rollicking , and sprightly than 'usual. They have done well with it too. The Mulligan Musketeers is great stuff, and I should imagine the bass gentleman enjoyed himself thoroughly in his imitation of a drum. Just as good is “The Hunt is Up” on the ether side, our friend turning himself from a. drum to a hunting-horn. But even the almost nonsensical lightness of itheir material, does not. disguise the fact that they are remarkably fine singers.