STEVE ALLEN'S TU RNTA BLE HERE I am in Hollywood, the land of Goo Song," and the idea for this one came in Italian, and there's also a friscalettu solo sunshine and movie stars, and I must say from those little Goo Goo dolls you may for good measure. That's Italian for piccolo, it's fun to be "home" again, back where have seen on my TV show. We had a lot they tell me. On the backing the La Rosa I started. We're just beginning production of fun recording the thing, especially with baritone is heard on a pretty ballad, on "The Benny Goodman Story," but I the sound effects of the Goo Goo squeak, "Domani"—which means tomorrow —and brought my trusty turntable along. We've etc. Dick Jacobs conducted the orchestra it's all in English. Accompaniment is by got everything from bounce to ballad this and chorus. (Coral) Archie Bleyer's orchestra. (Cadence) month, so let's lend an ear. Billy Eckstine comes forward with two Sister teams have really come into their Gary Crosby's baritone seems to get bet- new ballads, and does a terrific job on own this past year, and now look—my wife ter with each new record he makes. He both. On the first, "Careless Lips," he gives and my sister-in-law have joined the pa- sings right out on his latest, "Ayuh, Ayuh," out with the sultry treatment in tango rade. Jayne and Audrey Meadows have a jump novelty which he introduced on tempo, with vocal assistance by The Pied cut their first record together, hooray, Ed Sullivan's Toast Of The Town TV Pipers. The second is "A Man Doesn't hooray. The gals sing out in gay style on show. Gary backs it up with the swingy Know," one of the loveliest songs from the a couple of new novelties, "Hot Potato "Mississippi Pecan Pie." Buddy Bregman's Broadway musical, "Damn Yankees." Lou Mambo" and "Japanese Rhumba," with orchestra and The Cheer Leaders vocal Bring's orchestra. (M-G-M) Hugo Winterhalter's orchestra on the Vic- group supply the backgrounds. (Decca) "The Best of Fred Astaire" is the title tor label. Now I won't be in trouble with Leave it to Jackie Gleason to do the un- of a new album by the famous song-and- the family for not mentioning their wax usual, especially with his recordings. Now dance man. The album has twelve sides, all debut! (All kidding aside, it's a cute rec- he has come up with an album called re-issues of the tunes and numbers asso- ord.) "Lonesome Echo," an instrumental set of ciated with Astaire during his long movie The Cowboy Church Sunday School sixteen great old tunes, such things as career. Included are such remembered has recorded two semi-religious songs, "There Must Be a Way," "Deep Purple," songs as "Cheek to Cheek," "A Fine Ro- "Go On By" and "The Little Black Sheep," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Speak mance," and "Dig It," and Fred tap-dances both written by Stuart Hamblen. The chil- Low," and "Dancing on the Ceiling." The on some of the sides. This album will be a dren's chorus, well-known in California, orchestrations are the most unusual, and must for Astaire fans. (Epic) uses only an organ accompaniment. Their feature cellos, guitars, marimbas, and Movie star Jeff Chandler made his debut first record of "Open up Your Heart" sold twenty—count 'em —twenty mandolins! It on records a few months ago, and now he almost a million copies, and this, their sec- all adds up to a terrific sound and a ter- has added songwriting to his accomplish- ond release, may do just as well. (Coral) rific album. Salvador Dali, the famous sur- ments. Jeff wrote a ballad, "Fox Fire"— The "X" Label has signed a new instru- realist artist, did the colorful cover, and which, incidentally, is the title of his new mental group, The Back Bay Boys, and an you'll have to admit that Dali and Glea- Universal-International picture—and he amusing group they are. For their first son are some combination! (Capitol) has chosen the tune, natch, for his latest two sides the lads play—and look out for Decca has waxed the whole score of the release. "Shanermaidel"— which means these titles—"Rondo Chi Wutsi" and "Yogi new Broadway musical, "Seventh Heaven," "beautiful girl" in Yiddish—also receives Amo." The end result is sort of a cross with the original cast, which co-stars the Chandler ballad delivery, with the help between barrelhouse and razz-a-ma-tazz. Gloria DeHaven and Ricardo Montal- of The Rhythmaires vocal group. Sonny Well, that about wraps it up for now, but ban, and they've also etched several single Burke conducts both sides. Nice goin', Jeff. I'll be coming at you from Hollywood records of the top tunes from the show. (Coral) again next month. See you then. Gloria has a platter of "If It's a Dream," Ray Anthony has a fine new instru- and "Where Is That Someone for Me?," mental record, "Mmrnm Mamie" and both pretty ballads. Kitty Kallen has also "Learnin' the Blues." "Mamie" is an An- done "If It's a Dream," coupled with an- thony composition, in honor of Ray's other ballad, not from the show, "Forgive movie starlet pal, Mamie Van Doren. There Me." "Blessings" is done by Marian Ca- are tip-top Anthony trumpet solos on both, ruso, Decca's young Philadelphia discov- especially on the "Blues" side. This record ery, and Sammy Davis, Jr. croons " A Man is good for dancing—or just plain listening, with a Dream." as you wish. (Capitol) Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence, the "Pete Kelly's Blues"—with a narrative vocal kids on my Tonight TV show, have by Jack Webb—is the name of a new al- done up a cute duet called "Knickerbocker bum put together by the Dragnet boy. It's a Mambo," inspired by our lager sponsor, collection of standards played by a small "Old Father Knickerbocker." It's a cute jazz band, done up in the style of the tune, with kind of a crazy, mixed-up lyric. Roaring Twenties. You'll hear such oldies On the backing, Eydie solos on a lovely as "Breezing Along with the Breeze," ballad, "Give a Fool a Chance." Dick "Somebody Loves Me," "Bye, Bye Black- Jacobs' orchestra on both. (Coral) bird," "Sugar," and "What Can I say, Dear, Davy Crockett is still with us, and a fine After I Say I'm Sorry?" and others. Webb lad he is. "Be Sure You're Right" (Davy's introduces the tunes, with some short pat- motto) has been recorded by Burl Ives, ter about each. "Pete Kelly's Blues," in- and the song lends itself well to Burl's fa- cidentally, is also the title of Jack's forth- miliar folk style. On the reverse Burl sings coming movie for Warner Brothers, and all about "Old Betsy" (Davy Crockett's many of the album tunes are also in the gun). The Ray Charles male chorus helps picture. (Victor) out with the lyrics. (Decca) Julius La Rosa has recorded a new Ital- V "Old Betsy" gets the Steve Allen treat- ian rhythm novelty, "Mama Rosa," which The Benny Goodman Story: The master ment, too. But we lost our mind on the could ring the bell for him the way "Eh other side with something called "The Goo Cumpari" did. Julie sings part of the side and myself "on a toot" for my film role. .