Curio Corner
Collection: EDDIE CANTOR
Makin' Whoopee with "Banjo Eyes"
ASV CD AJA 5357 [72:05]
Eddie Cantor will always be remembered as the irrepressible, naughty boggle-eyed
clown and saucy singer. What charm he had! His film career began in the latter
years of the silent era in 1926. Many of his early screen appearances were
associated with filmed versions of the Ziegfield Follies. He is best probably
best remembered for Whoopee; The Kid from Spain; Roman Scandals, Kid Millions
and Thank Your Lucky Stars.
This lively 26 number collection includes songs dating back as far as 1919
all excellently refurbished with all lyrics perfectly in focus - very much
due to Cantor's impeccable diction. His slow, coy, sly, style of singing
with that inimitable accentuation and vocal 'scooping' heightened not only
the clarity of his delivery but also the effect of his many naughty innuendos.
His 1919 number 'You'd Be Surprised' sets the tone with the sort of lyric
"..Everybody wants to know how she could pick such a (shy) beau, With a twinkle
in her eye, she made this reply:- 'He is not so good in a crowd but when
you get him alone - you'd be surprised! He doesn't look much like a lover
but you can't judge a book by its cover!" And each punch line is wickedly
punctuated by a saucy sliding tuba figure.
Eddie is accompanied by a variety of bands but mostly the Decca Studio Orchestra
conducted on the last five tracks, dating from 1944, by Victor Young. There
are also numbers recorded in London. The first of these is the delightful
'That's the kind of baby for me' with Jay Wilbur and his orchestra made in
1934. It finishes with Cantor naughtily saying, "I'm all done on this side;
you may turn me over, thank you!"
Another joy is his duet with June Clyde who tried to tell him 'We're Having
a Baby' in the usual euphemistic language which Cantor consistently
misunderstands. "We're going to have someone just like you" "Oh you're going
to buy a cocker spaniel" "Something will be coming-- a little bundle" "A
little bundle? - Oh darling, a little bundle at last my laundry is back!"
Occasionally Eddie is in more serious mood and we hear him in a sentimental
ballad like 'When My Ship Comes In'
All the old Eddie Cantor favourites are here including: 'Makin' Whoopee',
'If You Knew Susie'; Yes, Sir That's My Baby'; 'Oh Gee, Oh Gosh, Oh Golly,
I'm in Love'; Ma! (He's Making Eyes at Me'; 'Now's the Time to Fall in Love';
'Margie'; 'They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me'; 'Dinah'; 'Alabamy Bound';
and 'Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider.'
Another very enjoyable nostalgic wallow from ASV one that will really raise
a smile
Ian Lace
