POPULAR

Record sales soared like a soprano saxophone cadenza during the month past. Decca twice and Columbia once postponed new popular releases, pleading a rush of orders. One reason for the boom: anticipation of the Federal 10% tax on discs which went into effect Oct. 1. With the announced aim of acquainting newcomers with the wonders of the Victor classical catalogue, Victor began hawking two $1 classical discs for the price of one. First pair of discs was a good buy at the price: the Faust Ballet Music by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston "Pops" Orchestra; Strauss's Emperor Waltz by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Hot Piano (Victor album). Four of the best--"Duke" Ellington, "Fats" Waller, Earl Hines, "Jelly Roll" Morton--display their celebrated styles, mostly in new versions of staples like Solitude and Dear Old Southland.

Louis and Earl (Columbia's album). More fine jazz reissues of Armstrong and Hines, and a previously unissued master discovered in Columbia's "archives"--the remarkable trumpet-piano duet Weather Bird.

Southern Exposure (Keynote album). The blues form gets too articulate for its own good in these songs by Joshua White, a talented, guitar-playing, politically sophisticated Negro whose titles give him away: Bad Housing Blues, Defense Factory Blues, etc.

Sam, You Made the Pants Too Long (Vaughn Monroe; Bluebird). Belly-laughable satire on torch songs in general, on Lord, You Made the Night Too Long in particular.

The Hour of Parting (Maxine Sullivan; Columbia). Plushy-voiced Singer Sullivan in a sweet one from pre-Hitler Germany, by Mischa Spoliansky.

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