New Pop Records

Ay-round the Corner (Jo Stafford; Columbia). A high-spirited South African folk song about a girl of the veld and her wayward boy friend. A solid hit for Songstress Stafford.

Rhapsody In Blue (George Gershwin with Paul Whiteman and his Concert Orchestra; RCA Victor Collector's Issue, 2 sides, 45 r.p.m.). Composer-Pianist Gershwin recorded this in 1927, playing it with a zest and clarity no pianist has since been able to beat.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Guy Mitchell; Columbia). A bouncy little number about a fellow who pawns everything but his tonsils, but still can't raise enough to keep his girl in the style she demands. Why this should happen particularly in Pittsburgh, Pa. is never made clear.

A Guy Is a Guy (Doris Day; Columbia). Oscar Brand, who deals in folk songs old & new, polished up a bawdy old 19th century American ballad about "a good girl" and the man in her life. Doris Day's vocal is as bright and clean as the new version itself.

Pastime (Lennie Tristano; Jazz) Pianist Tristano, the most advanced of "contemporary" jazzmen (TIME, Aug. 27), now records on his own label. Pastime is a pretty good example of his style, a combination of intricate jazz counterpoint and complicated rhythm.

Girl Crazy (Mary Martin; Columbia, 2 sides LP). The Gershwin hit of 1930 which introduced such perennials as Embraceable You, Bidin' My Time, I Got Rhythm. Mary Martin's voice is a bit too sweet for the fast tunes, but just right in the ballads.

Pal Joey (Capitol; 8 sides, 45 r.p.m.). A topflight recording of the Rodgers-Hart musical, featuring Jane Froman and Dick Beavers in place of the current Broadway leads, Vivienne Segal and Harold Lang, who recorded it for Columbia last year.

Hambone (Red Saunders; Okeh). Saunders is responsible for the spurt of this nonsense song (now also recorded by Jo Stafford and Frankie Laine for Colunbia). Apart from the periodic crowing of verses, the record consists of happy hand clapping, thigh slapping and raucous shouts of "Hambone!" Fine fare for husking bees.

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