KlUyWJdWJd Hi-mum
Judy Garland
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by Norman Weser
f ith the fourth of July behind us
and the vacation season officially under way,
we'd like to offer some listening hints for
the liizy Summer days ahead.
TOPS ON THE RECORD SHELVES: It has
been said that Judy Garland is to the ballad
what Ella Fitzgerald is to jazz, and now
"Miss Versatile" has come up with prob
ably her best waxing effort. Titled simply
"Alone," this Capitol package is a must.
VOCALIST I NGS: A number of excellent
vocal albums have appeared recently, and
here is the cream of this musical coffee.
First, listen to Frank Sinatra's "A Singing
Affafr," on Capitol, then try "Steady Date"
featuring Tommy Sands on the same label.
"Bergen Sings Morgan" is Columbia's con
tribution, with talented Polly Bergen sing
ing songs of the great Helen Morgan. Final
ly, spin Nilla Pizzi's RCA package, "Love
Me If You Want To," a dreamy treat.
MUSIC FOR FAMILY LISTENING: Let's
kick, off the family hi-fi gathering with
Buddy Bregman and his orchestra playing
selections from the motion picture "Funny
Face," on Verve. Then, maintaining the in
strumental motif, follow with "Golden
Trombone," a Mercury winner featuring
Buddy Morrow and his fine band. Mom and
Pop will dream to "Swing and Sway," the
Sammy Kaye etching on RCA-Camden, and
the finale will leave everyone happy if you
play "Isn't It Romantic?" a Vik LP featur
ing Rolf Blomquist's orchestra.
The entire family will enjoy "The Gold
Record," a Capitol release featuring Nat
Cole, Peggy Lee, Ernie Ford, and Sonny
James singing their biggest hits. Now, while
the folks watch, the kids can bounce to Ray
Conniffs "Dance the Bop." Columbia has
included instructions with this biscuit. Back
to the soft lights and "Drifting and Dream
ing," a Camden winner with Raymond Le
grand and the Lemania Orchestra, then
wind up with "Two Tickets to Paris," a
Richard Hayman masterpiece on Mercury.
THE SPOKEN WORD: It isn't often that
special mention can be made of a non
musical record, but Decca's great new
Parnassus Series must fall in this category.
Six LPs in this group, truly a "Treasury of
the Spoken Word," feature top literary
works recited by some of today's most ex
citing voices. It will be well worth your
time to investigate this series.
COVERING THE CLASSICS: One of the
most controversial pieces of music to be
presented in recent years is Gian Carlo
Menotti's madrigal fable, "The Unicorn, the
Gorgon, and the Manticore." Sometimes
bizarre, this Angel recording, conducted by
the most capable Thomas Schippers, is
never dull. In fact, we predict it will join
your collection once you've heard it.
Nathan Milstein, Russian-born violin vir
tuoso, is featured by Capitol on three LPs,
"Bach Partitas and Sonatas," and lovers of
the violin will most certainly want this set
Also on Capitol is "Young Person's Guide
to the Orchestra" and "Variations on a
Nursery Tune," played by the Concert Arts
Symphony Orchestra. This is a fine intro
duction to the classics for youngsters.
JAZZOMANIA: Jazz buffs are already eu
logizing the late Clifford Brown, and Mer
cury's new release, "Clifford Brown All
Stars," recorded in 1954 but not pressed
until now, will certainly prove an eloquent
argument for Brown boosters.
Like your jazz on the trombone side?
Well, with the slider enjoying great popu
larity now, Vik has released some of the
stars on this instrument in a package called
"Trombone Scene." We think you'll like it
Another real ear-pleaser is "Fair and
Warmer," June Christy's latest Capitol ef
fort. Also on the distaff side, Barbara Car
roll, the swinging 88er, appears on two
labels this week, first playing selections
from "Funny Face," on Verve, then "It's a
Wonderful World," on RCA. Both are tops.
CALYPSO CARNIVAL: In some quarters
the word is out that calypso is capsizing,
but the records continue to roll out and sell.
Among those now available, spin "Calypso
Holiday" starring the Norman Luboff Choir
and "Calypso Carnival" with a variety of
artists, on Columbia. For kicks, try actor
Robert Mitchum's "Calypso Is Like So."
gives you a
12
Family Weekly, July 1, 1957