[78-L] Music Survey Recording

[David Lennick]

Michael Biel wrote:
> From: david.diehl at hensteeth.com
>> There's a review in Billboard Jun 15, 1946 page 33. Apparently
>> there was a survey sent to DJ's along with the disc.  DJD
> 
> Since Bill McClurg actually has the record, perhaps he can tell us
> whether it is a good record!  Was it a worthy example to do a survey on?
>  The Billboard review only says that "That's My Home" is
> "sympathetically sung" and that "Monkey Monkey "is a dilly ditty that
> may catch".  
> 
> Actually the review on this page that did catch my eye is the one right
> next to it for Bob Crosby record on the short-lived ARA label, 137,
> Cement Mixer/Where Did You Learn To Love?  Considering the question
> Julian asked yesterday about whether critics commented on bad sound
> quality of records, here is a great example!  "Coupling Gordon Polk's
> vocal fling as Slim Gaillard's nutty novelty, 'Cement Mixer,' with the
> maestro's lullabying on the flipover, disk may have much merit.  It's
> hard telling, tho, because faulty reproduction hides it from the needle.
>  If you can't hear it, better pass it up."
> 
> How's THAT for a lousy review of sound quality!!!!  There's another one
> later in the column about Raymond Scott's Sonora 3008, "Mr. Basie Goes
> to Washington".  "However, one fault noted is failure of mike to bring
> in Johnny Guarnieri's piano filigree properly.  More attention from the
> sound engineer would have made this side great."  Pickey pickey pickey.
> 
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com  
> 
> 
Reviewers did indeed comment on poor recordings and poor pressings..I was 
reading the December 1946 Metronome this week and George Simon and Leonard 
Feather don't spare anyone..

MARIE BRYANT: I AIN'T GONNA BE NO TOPSY/PIGFOOT PETE (HUB 3025)
Complete waste of time. The talented Miss Bryant is drowned in a sea of bad 
balance, recording and surface, despite the help of Al Casey's Trio. Choice of 
material is poor, too, the point of the first being lost in the mechanical mess 
anyway.

dl