Frankie Laine & Toni Arden -" I Think Your Wonderful"

[momodroid]

i meet toni every wensday and thursday i work with her at a nursing home i cnt believe i meet her this means alot to me

[waynebrasler]

Toni was relegated by both Columbia and Decca to the category of artists whose main function was to do quick cover records of new hits by other artists. They seldom got first-rate new material themselves. To break out of that category proved nearly impossible and it had little to do with talent. Toni Arden is a great singer by every imaginable criterion but, like so many other vocalists, was used as a utility singer. I can think of only one who broke out of the pen: June Christy on Capitol.

[markalson1938]

Singers like Toni should never have signed with the big Recording Companies till they have made a name for themselves. Columbia, Decca, Capitol all had bug named stars that would get the best songs. There was another "Cover Girl" who made it big in the only way she could. In the late forties Kay Starr was doing covers for Capitol Till one of her covers became a bigger hit than the original. That cover was the song "Wheel Of Fortune" This elevated her to one of Capitol's Star recording artist. .

[waynebrasler]

She actually had many hits before "Wheel of Fortune," enough for a 10-inch L.P. of them. I grew up in the 1940s with all those records, way back to "The Lonesomest Gal in Town" which she also sang in the fabulous D movie "Make Believe Ballroom." She was hauled into the Capitols studios in the middle of the night to cover Sunny Gale's "Wheel of Fortune" on Derby, learned the song on the spot, did it and it was on radio in 24 hours.

[markalson1938]

Yes Kay did have some hit in the late forties but Capitol still thought of her as a secound tier recording artest behind their starrs Peggy Lee and Jo Stafford and Margaret Whiting. Most of the hits she had outside of "Bonaparte"s Retreat" were covers of others hits. I have a video of Kay's "The Lonesomest Gal In Town" from "Make Believe Ball Room" on YT. Plus several others.

[niny44]

Francesco LoVecchio and Antonietta Ardizone were great singers, but the song is 'I May Be Wrong'.

Another great version of this song is by Doris Day in 'The Man With The Horn' featuring Kirk Douglas. Lauren Becall and Harry James.

[markalson1938]

I knew that, I don't know why I listed it the way I did. "I May Be Wrong" was also the first song that Frankie recorded for Mercury Records way back in 1946.

[Juliaflo]

Copy cat, LOLOL.

While you are on a roll, what are the real names of Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, and Lauren Bacall?

(Incidentally, the name of the movie is 'Young Man with a Horn').

[lessaiao]

Don´t know how I missed this one.

[Fegen]

I saw Frankie Laine on the Steel Pier in

Atlantic City with my parents when I was

a teenager. He was a wonderful performer.

Two thumbs up for the duet between Frankie

and Toni Arden GREAT! Thanks for posting.

[markalson1938]

With most of the girl singers, Frankie had to sing down to them but not with Toni. I don't know why Mitch Miller never teamed the two together on a record as Toni recorded for Columbia also.