Desmo Sings Desmond

 

The Walking Song

Desmo Sings Desmond

Cover Photo by Burt Owen

Coral Records CRL 57073

1957

From the back cover: Coral Records' artist and repertoire chief Bob Thiele is a man who obviously knows his Freud. In an industry that has more than its share of unhappy performers, Coral artist are a remarkable sunny, well-adjusted crew. Thiele keeps them that way by following on simple buy highly effective rule of a. & r. therapy. If an artist does more than one thing – and does it well – Thiele believes in letting him express that suppressed ability on wax.

NBC-TV comedian Steven Allen, for example, has recorded for Coral as a pianist, orchestra leader, singer, composer, dramatic narrator, and monologist during the past year. Still another example of Thiele's "fulfillment formula" is Coral's new composer-album series, which allows prominent songwriter to warble their own material. 

All of which brings us to the star of this package, Johnny Desmond, presented here in the new roel of songwriter – an interesting switch on the composer-makes-like-crooner gimmick mentioned above. Desmond, the composer, has written 12 ne songs for this album; while Desmo, the best-selling record star, singe each tune in the way best calculated to bring out is individual charm and special melodic flavor.

Since composer Desmond knows exactly the kind of material Desmo sings best, the end result is a wonderfully listenable album package. Selection include "Ever Since You Said Goodbye," a wistful ballad sung with tenderness and moving sincerity; "Hello Honey," a bright up tempo rhythm item, which Desmond handles with breezy casualness; and "She's A Good Woman," a swingy blues sold with tasteful phrasing and a true jazz feeling.

In addition to his obvious ability as singer and composer, Johnny Desmond is an accomplished dancer, comedian, dramatic actor, emcee and musician. However, being a multi-talent man didn't come easy. Although still in his early thirties, John has been a professional entertainer for more than 25 years.

While other kids in Detroit were out playing, eight-year-old Desmo was deliver gin paper and working his his father's grocery store to earn money for voice and music lessons. By the time he was 11, the boy soprano – billed rather incongruously as "The Italian John McCormack" – was the star of his own radio program and frequently emoted in small-fry roles on the network "Lone Ranger" series. Two years later his voice changed, and Johnny, at 13, was one of the youngest "Has Been's" in show business.

Johnny today credits his success to five men and one corporation. His human mentors include vocal coach Carl Mann, Detroit radio producer Jimmy Jewel, bandleaders Bob Crosby and the late Glenn Miller; and Don McNeill, veteran host of ABC's "Breakfast Club" show.

Mann guided Johnny thru those frightening years of voice-change and ultimately taught him "everything I know about handling a voice." Jewel drilled him in the basics of showmanship and dramatic acting. Crosby gave him his first big time adult job back in 1938 when he hired Desmond's vocal group to sing with his band and re-named the quartet the Bobolinks.

Miller picked Desmond to sing with the Official Army Air Forces Band during World War II, a stint which made Desmo internationally famous while he was still a $72-a-month G.I. It was Miller also who insisted that Johnny stop imitating Sinatra and develop his own style. In 1949 McNeil made Desmond a regular member of "The Breakfast Club" and during his five year stay with the show, he taught Johnny the secret of stabling a warm rapport with audiences. The "secret" was "Enjoy your work. If you don't it shows!"

Johnny enjoys his current work "the most," and the corporation he has to thank for it is Philco, which signed him as deejay-emcee of "Phonorama Time" on the Mutual network in 1955. It was Philco also that was responsible for Johnny being cast in his first straight dramatic role last year on NBC-TV's "Philco Television Playhouse," one of video's finest dramatic shows. The play, base on the breakup of a famous comedy team, was titled "Hearts And Flowers," and Johnny's performance was such a revelation that critics wrote rave reviews about his moving and totally unexpected ability as a dramatic actor and his expected, but none-the-less impressive delivery as a song-and-dance man.

Best of all, the show brought Johnny a smash hit record. His Coral waxing of the title-tune "Play Me Hearts And Flowers" (co-written by Desmond) as an immediate best-seller and Johnny moved into his present spot as one of the record industry's most important multi-talent stars. – Notes by June Bundy

From Billboard - February 2, 1957: Maybe you didn't know that Johnny Desmond is an accomplished cleffer. He offers an imposing program of his original tunes, only three of which were available previously ("Oh My Darlin'," "How Much Will I Miss You?" and "Please Don't Forget Me, Dear"). Some of his tunes are pretty hip, coming close to jazz stylings, as for example, "She's A Good Woman." But most are solid ballads of the kind with which he is usually identified. The LP offers variety of material and interpretation, and is a set that can be recommended to the average pop customer.

Hello Honey - Johnny Desmond

She's A Good Woman - Johnny Desmond & Freddy Guerra

Ever Since You Said Goodbye - Johnny Desmond

How Much Will I Miss You - Johnny Desmond

You're The One (featuring Urbie Green on Trumpet) - Johnny Desmond & Freddy Guerra

I Won't Resist (If You Insist)

Miss Lis Is - Johnny Desmond

Oh! My Darlin' - Johnny Desmond

Please Don't Forget Me, Dear (from the "Robert Montgomery Presents" TV Production)

Softly - David Broekman & Johnny Desmond

Yours In Song - Johnny Desmond & Artie Melvin

The Walking Song - Johnny Desmond