Petrillo Perplexed

Cracks were opening this week in A.F. of M. Boss Petrillo's dam against phonograph recording (TIME, June 22, 1942). Decca records tried a new wrinkle. Decca's idea was to have vocal soloists accompanied, not by the usual dance band, but by an all-vocal (hence nonunion) ensemble. Decca issued two trial records by Vocalist Dick Haymes with singing support: It Can't Be Wrong and In My Arms; You'll Never Know and Wait For Me Mary. Columbia, working on a similar plan, was about to release two orchestra-less Sinatra recordings: You'll Never Know and Close to You.

Meanwhile one U.S. record manufacturer happily continued making records as though Boss Petrillo and his ban did not exist. Eli Oberstein, proprietor of Classic Records Co., has no truck with vocal ersatz. Many of his records are made in Mexico and shipped to him in plastic pressings via air mail. Even well-known musicians, anxious to pick up some change, have brought him records they have made themselves.

Canny, suave Eli Oberstein asks no embarrassing questions. His recordings bear such names as Johnny Jones, Willie Kelly. Oberstein's Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer and You'll Never Know, have rolled up sales of 200,000 discs. Irritated Boss Petrillo has been unable to find anything amiss. "It's very simple," remarks Eli Oberstein, "I pick up any tune I like, and the records just come in."

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