Evening star., 1952-12-21
TurntobIe Talk
Christmas Potpourri:
From Bach to Godfrey
By james 6. Deone

". Oeone
no longer going to dispute the
contention that they come best
from Vienna. Clemens Krauss
and the Vienna Philharmonic
do waltzes, polkas and ''Perpetu-
UNI Mobile" on a new London
LIP in a way to beggar all argu-
ment. The nine include none
Of the war horses. and they
have a suavity that Ormandy's
Philadelphians on a new do
mestic disc simply can't match.
And the Vienna Symphony, for
Vox. enlists a singer named
Elisabeth Room whose floating
coloratura lends emphatic con-
f1rmation to this Judgment.
Voices Of Spring." thus, is be-
guiling indeed (not to speak of
the further repertoire).
What Vienna would do with
Sigmund Romberg's American
born Student Prince" I don't
know. But Columbia has man
aged a very creditable revival,
with Dorothy Kristen and Rob
ert Rounseville heading things
up vocally and Lehman Engel
conducting. The recording is
nne. and the full score is on a
single LIP.
OkIohomo Is Redone
"Oklahoma!'' has been re-
done by Columbia. too Vir-
ginia Haskins. Kaye Ballard
and Wilton Clary are among
those involved with surreys
Pore Jud's death and the other
musical goings-on. and all is in
deed lusty and gusty. even that
unbelievable cowpoke, Nelson
tCurly) Eddy. The orchestra
sounds wonderful; the vocal
sound is a bit shrill at times
An impressive reminder of a
real Oklahoman has been 'put
together by Columbia. This is
a 12-inch LIP Of sayings by
VIII Rogers. Some of his home
spun comments sound dated
out the warmth behind them
isn't. This is document any
body in the same generation
should cherish.
A much briefer sample of the
Rogers wit is contained on a
Victor disc labeled is this
respectfully "Old Curiosity
Shop" The other curiosities.
all resurrected from victor's
archives, range from Nora
Bayes and Jack Norworth
u9lD to the boop-boop-a-
doop girl, Helen Kane 1929.
Dietrich, Helen Morgan, Sophie
tucker and Chevalier also are
aboard and Caruso sings a
popular song. But De Wolf
Hopper surely will overwhelm
the new generation most. with
Casey at the Bat" Others
nave done it. but none thus!
Others besides Basil Rath.
bone and Eleanor Roosevelt
nave narrated Peter and the
Wolf" But none like Arthur
Godfrey. Unfortunately. there
is no way of proving this state
ment except hearing the re-
cordlng. Suffice it to say that
Mr.. Godfrey is inimitable-and
strictly Godfrey. Andre Kos
telanetz also participates. II
you've got, kids. try the proof
on Christmas morning.
Who Is Anna Russell?
Godfrey is only indescribable.
Anna Russell leaves a critic
limp. Who is Anna Russelis
one had best quote the record
Jacket: An artistic of truly be-
wildering gifts. Vocallv
Miss Russell stops at nothing"
1ts true. And with a repertoire
OF titles like "Schlumph."
"Schreechenrauf" (for Wagner.
ian soprano) and "Da Nyet.
Da Nyet" "a Russian folk
song. she leaves not only
crltlcs, but her whole audience
helpless. Go ahead, get Anna
Russell Sings?" But it's Co.
lumbia's responsibility. not ours.
AS a serious matter, two new
major Columbia releases should
not be overlooked in supplying
the Christmas taste Of any Jazz
addict. The first, Benny Good
mans two-LP Jazz Concert No.
2, makes available 81 hot-off-
the-griddle renditions by the
Goodman orchestra, trio and
quartet recorded from 1878
broadcasts. Fifteen of the tunes
never have been on records be-
fore, and five others are heard
in different forms. Harry
James. Gene Krupa, Ziggy Ell
man. Teddy Wilson and Lionel
Hampton are among the par
ticipating luminaries, and it's all
thoroughly unprecedented. to
say the least.
The other release is a single
12-inch LIP containing the last,
monumental recordings Of the
celebrated New Orleans trum-
peter, Bunk johnson. The re-
cording was done in 1947, not
many months before Johnson's
death. His playing is mellow
indeed.
-=Aa