Indiscretion of an American Wife

A while back I posted a Paul Weston LP that collected theme music from Jennifer Jones films, including two excerpts from 1953's "Indiscretion of an American Wife." At that time, I promised to present the soundtrack album from that movie - and here it is.

Cicognini

The music is by Alessandro Cicognini, whose long career spanned 106 films and included a particularly close association with Vittorio de Sica, who directed this effort. I haven't seen "Indiscretion," but I imagine you can figure out the story from the title, the cover, and the cues listed on the cover. The music is suitably passionate and memorable.

My copy of this LP was not in ideal condition, but the sound is reasonably good. Leading the orchestra is Franco Ferrara, a legendary conducting teacher who made very few classical records, although I think he can be heard on a number of soundtrack records beside this one.

Alfred Drake in Songs from Brigadoon

Alfred Drake is surely among the most famous personalities ever to appear in Broadway musicals. He never recorded the score of Brigadoon, however, except for this obscure two-record set of 78s from 1947. (I haven't found another recording, anyway.)

Drake was already one of the leading stars on Broadway when these  sides were cut. His performance as Curly in Oklahoma four years earlier had made him famous.

When Brigadoon opened in March 1947, Drake was appearing in the Duke Ellington-John Latouche version of The Beggars' Opera, which was called Beggars' Holiday. Later in 1947, the baritone joined a revival of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock.

Rainbow Records was new when it signed Drake for this set, contracting him for The Heather on the Hill, From This Day On, and Almost Like Being in Love. Joining him for the first two songs is the obscure Roberta Roberts. Another unknown, Bill Venturo, handles Come to Me, Bend to Me (and quite well, too). It's possible that Venturo is actually Bill Ventura, who later turned up as one of Mitch Miller's Sing-Along Gang. Rainbow doesn't bother acknowledging anyone but Drake on the cover.

As you can see, the cover itself is garish and cheap looking, but the production is surprisingly good. Rainbow brought in Brigadoon orchestrator Ted Royal to lead the orchestra, and provided fairly good sound. The pressings are grainy, however, and my copy is certainly not mint.

I probably don't need to add that Drake is excellent. This is most enjoyable.

Alexander Young Sings Roger Quilter

This blog has presented Alexander Young's recital of songs by Vaughan Williams and Peter Warlock; now it's time for his take on another English composer - the less celebrated, but nonetheless worthwhile Roger Quilter.

Roger Quilter

Five years younger than Vaughan Williams, Quilter had died at age 75 only a year or so before this program was transcribed in 1954. His output was almost entirely confined to songs, although his Children's Overture is sometimes heard.

I continue to be puzzled by the slight regard for tenor Alexander Young's artistry. The download includes a review of this LP by the estimable Andrew Porter, who complains that Young does not measure up to Gervase Elwes (who introduced some of these songs) or to John McCormick. For good measure Porter snorts that some of Quilter's work is insipid.

Alexander Young

Well, now. What Porter thinks is bland, I think is sensitive. Similarly, I enjoy the understated approach of Young, which Porter finds to be too much of too little.

I will say that if you have enjoyed the previous Alexander Young recitals, you may discover that this edition is to your taste as well. The sound is good, and as before, the sympathetic accompanist is Gordon Watson. This was transferred from the American Westminister edition of an English Argo original.

Music for Jennifer

One of the most gorgeous of all so-called "easy listening" records was devoted to music from films that starred Jennifer Jones. This Paul Weston 10-inch LP from 1954 has everything - fine sound, lovely arrangements, excellent themes and a beautiful cover.

Paul Weston

Weston's liner notes claim that he got the idea for the album from Jones herself. Call me cynical, but I suspect he more likely got it from Jones' publicist. Whatever, it makes for a delightful program, later incorporated into a more generic "music from Hollywood" 12-inch LP.

Here are the films and composers represented:

Indiscretion of an American Wife - Alessandro Cicognini
Portrait of Jennie - Bernard Herrmann
Duel in the Sun - Dmitri Tiomkin
Since You Went Away - Max Steiner
Ruby Gentry - Heinz Roemheld
Song of Bernadette - Alfred Newman
Love Letters - Victor Young

I am very fond of the music from Indiscretion of an American Wife, and am preparing a transfer of the soundtrack LP for the blog.

Frank D'Rone

Frank D'Rone, who died recently, can't be considered a well-known singer, although he is a well-regarded artist by his peers and by vocal aficionados. He is someone worth remembering for his considerable skill and taste as both vocalist and guitarist.

These days D'Rone is mostly known for four Mercury LPs and one on Cadet. These and some other recordings are readily available from his website, so I will concentrate on a few singles I had at hand.

D'Rone (shortened from Caldarone) began his career in New York in 1950. In 1953, he turned up on Motor City Records, and then went with the Herbie Fields band in 1954. By 1956 he was in Chicago clubs, and that city and Las Vegas were his bases of operations from then on.

It wasn't long before he was picked up by Mercury, a local label. His first effort was a cover of Bobby Helms' "My Special Angel" in 1957.

Our program today picks up with two singles from 1960. I want to first discuss "Joey, Joey, Joey." Although it is the only number in this group that appears on one of his albums, it is likely to be the one song here that is closest to his club repertoire. Although the backing here is credited to Fred Norman, it is largely D'Rone's guitar. his reading is persuasive, although to me some of his vocal mannerisms aren't suited to the song. The flip side is a folkish ballad called "The House and the Old Wisteria Tree," characteristic of the time. While not memorable, it also is not unattractive.

Also from 1960 is D'Rone's closest approach to a hit tune - "Strawberry Blonde," which rose to number 14 on the British hit parade. It's an "Old MacDonald"-style swingin' oldie, although here D'Rone sounds less like Sinatra and more like teen-set swinger Bobby Rydell crossed with Jack Scott. This was backed with "Time Hurries By," a pleasant ballad. Arrangements are by David Carroll.

D'Rone had moved on to Cameo records in 1963, and then, in 1965, to Columbia, where he made at least three singles. Representing this period today is a cover version of a big French hit by yé-yé girl France Gall, a children's tune called "Charlemagne." It's a peculiar song that blames the Father of Europe and lover of learning because modern-day children have to attend school. Although this may have made some sense to French kids of the day, I can't believe that anyone thought American youth would find it appealing (or even comprehensible). D'Rone is accompanied here by the six Quinto Sisters, best known for the original version of "A Holly Jolly Christmas," a song I cannot abide. (I now have added "Charlemagne" to that list.)

Fortunately, the other side of this is a very fine balled called "Nancy Knew," which makes a fitting end to this brief tribute to a talented artist. To learn more about him, see a three-part interview on the JazzWax blog.

Menotti and Honegger Led by Munch

This post is notable for Gian Carlo Menotti's neglected violin concerto. Not that I am shrugging off Arthur Honegger's second symphony, but this recording has been reissued repeatedly, unlike the Menotti work.

This was the first and for many years the only recording of the concerto, written in 1952 for Efrem Zimbalist. By the time this version was set down in November 1954, the work had also been taken up by Tossy Spivakovsky, who is heard here with Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony.

This is a beautiful concerto in a vibrant rendition. It is surprising that both the concerto and the recording are not better known.

Munch recorded the symphony at least three times. Honegger completed the work in 1942, and Munch took the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra into the studio that same year to begin work on a recording, which for some reason was not completed until 1944. This reading is from March 1953.

Honegger scored his symphony for strings with a prominent trumpet part in the final movement, presumably played here by Roger Voisin, longtime BSO principal.

While the symphony has become a well-known work, the Menotti concerto does not deserve its obscurity. The download includes a doctoral dissertation on the work by Laura Tomlin that gives historical details and a detailed analysis.

The Symphony Hall sound, as usual, is quite good. I will have a few other early Menotti recordings up on the blog relatively soon.

Torch Time with Herb Jeffries

One of the blog's commenters wrote to say that the great romantic crooner Herb Jeffries reached the age of 100 last month. To celebrate, here is a transfer of what may be the singer's best album, Time on My Hands, which came out in 1951.

Jeffries at a 1951 recording session

The LP is a collection of torch songs. That was probably not a novel theme even way back then. Still, I doubt any other example was carried out better than this unusually cohesive set. This session found Jeffries in relaxed and confident form, and complemented by a entirely sympathetic combo. The arranger was pianist Dick Hazard; also on the date were guitarists Bob Bain and Allen Reuss, bassist Phil Stephens and drummer Nick Fatool.

Coral released Time on My Hands both as a 10-inch LP and a box of four 45s; my copy is in the latter format. The sound is excellent.

I've featured Jeffries a couple of times before; you can learn more about him on the earlier posts, which can be found via this link.