78 RPM - Comments / Reviews by borninthe50s

78 RPM - Comments / Reviews by borninthe50s

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Member	Item		Review/Comment
borninthe50s 9th Sep 2018		78 RPM Arthur Godfrey - C'n I Canoe You Up The River / A Marshmallow World (1950)	Review The A side of this 78, "C'n I Canoe You Up The River ?", is a quasi-novelty up-tempo number, on which Arthur Godfrey's distinctive vocal is augmented to good effect by male backing singers, to a sparkling arrangement. The flip side, "A Marshmallow World," is a fairly well-known Christmas song, on which Godfrey is joined by the Chordettes and the Cherry Sisters. Very melodic and mellow, but neither side of the record charted in the U.S. Bing Crosby had a minor American hit (no. 24) in 1951 with "A Marshmellow World" (slightly altering the spelling of "Marshmallow"), but the song is probably best-known for the 1963 updated and rousing version by the Phil Spector protege Darlene Love. Finally, the acclaimed American radio and television broadcaster Arthur Godfrey was born in Manhattan, New York, on 31 August 1903. He died from emphysema in Manhattan on 16 March 1983, aged 79. 30 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 1st Sep 2018		78 RPM Geraldo - Take Me To Your Heart Again (La Vie En Rose) / So Tired (1948)	Review The much-acclaimed bandleader / conductor / composer Geraldo was born Gerald Walcan Bright in London on 10 August 1904 , and he died from a heart attack while on holiday in Switzerland on 4 May 1974 , aged 69. This 78 , released in October 1948 , comprises two familiar songs : " Take Me To Your Heart Again " and " So Rare ". The former is the English version of " La Vie En Rose " , most notably recorded by Edith Piaf. In fact , in 1950 seven versions of " La Vie En Rose " reached the American Top 30 , with Tony Martin doing best at no.9 while Piaf trailed behind at no. 23. Geraldo was known for his " sweet music " style , also known later as " elevator music " , and he performs " Take Me to Your Heart Again " as a slow fox-trot. I find it very bland , lacking any spark , and he really brings nothing new to it. However , it is redeemed by the impressive contralto of vocalist Doreen Lundy. Finally , the popular band singer Doreen Lundy ( born in Ireland on 4 November 1925 ; disappeared off the radar , late 1950s ) released a single entitled " Falling Star " on the U.K. Oriole label in 1955. This charming lilting song and also its up-tempo jazzy flip side " A Man " provide her with a good opportunity to display her vocal prowess. Unfortunately , however , neither track is on either this website or YouTube. 9 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 31st Aug 2018		78 RPM Marti Stevens - Three Coins In The Fountain / Why Didn't You Tell Me (1954)	The American actress / singer Marti Stevens has an impressive contralto voice , and she uses it to good effect on the outstanding ballad " Three Coins In The Fountain " from the 1954 film with the same title. The appealing orchestration on the track is by Don Pippen , and , in my opinion , this is one of the best versions of the much-recorded song. Unfortunately , however , the single stiffed in America , where the Four Aces scored a no. 1 hit , followed by Frank Sinatra at no. 4 , while Julius La Rosa stalled just outside the Top 20 at no.21 with my favorite version.
borninthe50s 28th Aug 2018		78 RPM Joyce Frazer - I Went To Your Wedding / Moon Above Malaya (1952)	Review Joyce Frazer, who sounds quite young, has a strong clear voice with perfect diction, and she delivers the romantic ballad "I Went To Your Wedding" with conviction, to a lush orchestration. This song, penned by Jessie Mae Robinson, was recorded by many artists, including Patti Page, Alma Cogan, Dawn Barraclough, Florence Wright, Sammy Kaye, Dick James, Steve Gibson and The Red Caps, Spike Jones, and Hank Snow. Patti Page scored a no. 1 hit with it in 1952, while Steve Gibson and The Red Caps' version stalled at no. 20 the same year, and then in 1953 Spike Jones' comedy take on it also reached no. 20. Joyce Frazer's version is at least as good as any of the others, but unfortunately as a new unknown singer she lost out. The flip side is a slow atmospheric ballad, in the style of the "Japanese Farewell Song," and here again Frazer displays her impressive vocal range. The track is enhanced by Ray Martin's intricate arrangement incorporating oriental sound effects. 35 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 20th Aug 2018		78 RPM Dick Jurgens - Do You Miss Your Sweetheart (Like Your Sweetheart Misses You?) / Ev'rything I've Got (1942)	Review The "A" side of this single, "Do You Miss Your Sweetheart?", is a sentimental ballad about separation. It is taken at a slow tempo, to a fox trot arrangement, and the band led by Jurgens is augmented to good effect by vocal input from Harry Cool. Rather surprisingly, this disc failed to chart in the U.S. for Jurgens, who was then (1942) at the zenith of his career. The flip side is quicker in pace, a spirited version of one of Rodgers' & Harts' lesser-known compositions "Ever'thing I've Got", which appeals to me more than the top side because it's got more spark. The song "Do You Miss Your Sweetheart?" was also recorded by a mixed-gender vocal group called The Marshalls, released on the Hit label in 1942 in competition with Jurgens' take on the song. Theirs is a smooth choral version, in the style of the Ray Charles Singers, with an appropriately restrained arrangement, and I prefer it to Jurgen's version because, in my opinion, the simplicity of the track enhances the appealing melody. The flip side of the Marshalls' disc, "Under A Strawberry Moon," is an attractive rhythmic number, also delivered in an unembellished fashion. Unfortunately this record bombed, and it is on neither this website nor YouTube. 17 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 25th Jul 2018		78 RPM Grace Moore - Ciribiribin / One Night Of Love (1934)	Review Firstly , I am not really a fan of opera , but I like both these tracks , particularly the " b " side , which I think should have been the top side. Both are from the 1934 American musical film " One Night Of Love " , which was set in the world of opera and in which Grace Moore appeared. " One Night Of Love " is a beautiful love song with a wonderful flowing melody. It is delivered with intensity by Grace Moore , whose soaring soprano is supported by the Metropolitan Opera Male Chorus , to a sumptuous orchestration by Wilfred Pelletier. The official " A " side , " Ciribiribin " , is a jaunty number in three-quarter time which dates back to the late 19th. century and has been recorded thru the years since then by many artists , including Gracie Fields and Jeannette McDonald. It is faster than the " b " side , quite catchy , but too over-elaborate and with too many musical frills for me. In 1934 , " One Night Of Love " was a no. 1 hit in America for four weeks while " Ciribiribin " reached no. 15. The operatic soprano / film and musical theater actress Grace Moore was born in Tennessee , U.S. , on December 5 1898. She quickly became a highly-acclaimed award-winning star , and during the 1930s and 1940s she performed in concerts across America and Europe , with a wide repertoire including not only operatic arias but also English , French , Italian , and Spanish songs. During the Second World War , she also entertained American troops abroad. Finally , Grace Moore sadly died in a 'plane crash near Copenhagen Airport on January 26 1947 , at the very young age of 47. Also killed in the crash was Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden. 28 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 24th Jul 2018		78 RPM Janie Marden - A Teenage Prayer (1955)	Review " A Teenage Prayer " is an attractive romantic ballad , on which English singer Janie Marden delivers a heartfelt vocal to an appropriately restrained arrangement. In America , three versions of this song made the Hot 100 in 1956. Gale Storm did best , at no. 6 . followed by Gloria Mann ( no. 19 ) , and much further down the chart Kitty White stalled at no. 68. In my opinion , there is little to choose among all four versions , and Janie Marden's take on it is at least as good as any of the others 'though her version bombed in the U.K. My copy of this " 78 " disc isn't a one-sided demo. The " A " side is Janie Marden's impressive cover of Joni James' " You Are My Love " , which was a no. 6 U.S. hit for James in !955. 29 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?
borninthe50s 26th Mar 2018		78 RPM Janet Eden - Come Go With Me / Walkin After Midnight (1957)	Review Firstly, there have been many record labels called "Bell" thru the years. This one, specifically called "Bell Record," was just one of several "budget" labels specializing in "copies" of current American hits, and it released well over 200 singles between 1954-'60. Four of these, all in 1957, featured Janet Eden, an outstanding vocalist with a strong clear voice. On the "A" side, ably supported by male vocal group the Michael Stewart Quartet, she delivers a potent version of the Dell-Vikings' 1957 no. 4 hit "Come Go With Me," which became a rock 'n' roll classic. There is a change of musical style on the flip side, where Eden tackles country singer Patsy Cline's no. 17 hit "Walkin' After Midnight " with impressive results. She manages to sound quite like Cline, and the arrangement replicates the original. 29 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?