Love Moods - Mel Tromé

 

The Blues

Where Or When

Love Moods

Mel Tormé and Ray Eberly

TOPS LP1595

1957

From the back cover: This record album has been designed for the smart shopper – the bargain hunter who keenly appreciates the value of two of the best for the price of one.

Rarely has single album combined the separate talents of two equally celebrated top liners in popular music. Fortunately for us, TOPS has captured in high fidelity recording the performances of two of the nation's most well known and highly regarded balladeers – Mel Tomé and Ray Eberly.

Towheaded, perennially youthful Mel Tormé was born in Chicago, September 13, 1925. His rich singing talent, so early evident, got is first airing with the old Coon-Sanders orchestra then working at the Blackhawk. For six months child entertainer Mel was featured vocalist with the band on Monday nights, through so small he could hardly reach the mike.

After singing around his hometown with such varied bands as Louis Panico's, Buddy Rodgers' and Frank Masters', Mel began the study of drums while in elementary school. A year later he was launched in a career as dramatic actor in radio soap operas, a calling he followed to the age of 15. Meantime, however, he had begun to teach himself piano and found new dynamic expression in songwriting. His first tune, written at 15, was Lament To Love. Mel got Harry James to look at the song... The trumpeter liked it so much, he recorded the number with Dick Haymes vocalizing.

School days were over for Mel in August 1942 when he went to join Chico Marx' new band as vocal arranger and singer. When the band hit Hollywood, Mel landed a role in the RKO movie, Higher And Higher, which just happened to be a film first for another rising young singer – a lean swoon-provoker from Hoboken, Frank Sinatra.

When the Marx aggregation disbanded, Mel formed a local group called the Mel-tones. Although the Mel-tones recorded some sides with the Artie Shaw band and were even featured in a film (Universal's Pardon My Rhythm), lasting commercial success eluded this fine group. After about three and a half years, the Mel-tones went their separate ways.

Following discharge from the Army in 1946, Mel wrote some more songs, including the hits, Country Fair, Born To Be Blue and The Christmas song. Then, after a highly successful engagement at Hollywood's Bocage, the young vocalist nabbed a role in MGM's Good News.

The Tormé career, which had its up 'n' downs, has continued to rise in recent years. In the Fifties, the public rediscovered Mel – as a long play album artist. It is in this context – beautifully showcased, incidentally, in this TOPS collection – that The Velvet Fog is perhaps most celebrated today.

Ray Eberle of the smooth, romantic voice, was born in Hoosick Falls, New York.

Although he worked with various bands while in his mid-teens, Ray's really lucky break didn't come until he was 18. At that time the late, famed Glenn Miller was organizing the orchestra that was to make popular music history. He chose the young Eberle to fill the featured vocalist chair with the band.

Ray's distinctive vocal style helped boost the Miller band to top spot in public favor during prewar years. He sang on such million-selling records as Serenade In Blue, Elmer's Tune, Moonlight Cocktail and At  Last. It is tribute indeed to bandleader and singer that these records are still like box favorites, almost 20 years after they were first recorded.

In this high-riding days with the Miller band, Ray was heard on the coast-to-coast Chesterfield Radio show twice weekly. He appeared with Miller in two motion pictures, Orchestra Wives and Sun Valley Serenade, produced by 20th Century-Fox. To millions of fans, Ray was for years the top band singer in the country, consistently won all the popular music polls tinthat category.

After six years with Glenn Miller, Ray went out as a single just before World War II. He was a  prime favorite at New York's Paramount Theater; at Chicago's Oriental and Chicago Theatres; the Statler Hotel in New York; the Hollywood Palladium – in fact, all the choice booking locations for vocalists.

As his prewar career progressed, Ray made eight feature films and six short subjects for Universal. He was star of his own radio show emanating from Hollywood. When the Army intervened, Ray's career came in second. He continued singing while in service, however, entertaining groups wherever and whenever opportunity presented itself.

With the war over, Ray picked up where he had left off. For over two year since, he has remained one of America's favorite singing personalities.

Gone With The Wind

When It's Sleepy Time Down South

The Blue

Cottage For Sale

Easy To Remember

All The Things You Are

Time On My Hands 

Black Magic

I'm Through With Love

Where Or When

Easy To Love