Product Review
Essentially, the 'Golden Age Of British Dance Bands' was pre-war and this collection concentrates on the fabulous Thirties.
It was a time when well-drilled, competitive and hard working bands had the pick of the wealth of great songs which were being produced, it seemed almost daily, in America and to a lesser extent in the UK.
Track List: Track Listing
Sydney Kyte - This Is The Missus
Ray Noble - The Younger Generation
Jack Hylton - They All Fall In Love
Billy Cotton - Skirts
Debroy Somers Band - Look What Youve Done
The Blue Mountaineers - Sweet Sixteen And Never Been Kissed
Ambrose - It's The Talk Of The Town
Lew Stone - The Bouncing Ball
Roy Fox - I've Got An Invitation To A Dance
Jack Payne - Mr & Mrs Is The Name
Casani Club Orchestra - Red Sails In The Sunset
Mario Harp Lorenzi - Everything Stops For Tea
Harry Roy - Eeny Meeny Miney Mo
Ambrose - Hors d'oeuvres
Mrs Jack Hylton & Her Band - Please Believe Me
Orlando & His Orchestra - Love Is Good For Anything That Ails You
Billy Merrin & His Commanders - On The Beach At Bali Bali
Jack Hylton - One, Two, Button Your Shoe
Henry Hall - Eccentric
Jay Wilbur - You Can't Stop Me From Dreaming
Savoy Hotel Orpheans - Love Walked In
Jack Harris - I Double Dare You
Sydney Lipton - Reckless Night On Board An Ocean
Brian Lawrance - I Must See Annie Tonight
Geraldo - Two Sleepy People
Ronnie Munro - Sing A Song Of Sunbeams
- Sydney Kyte was already a musician/bandleader with several years experience behind him at the time of his impressive recording debut with This Is The Missus. Newly installed at the Piccadilly Hotel, Sydney remained in residence for nearly five years before embarking on a variety tour.
- Sydney Kyte was already a musician/bandleader with several years experience behind him at the time of his impressive recording debut with This Is The Missus. Newly installed at the Piccadilly Hotel, Sydney remained in residence for nearly five years before embarking on a variety tour.
- The most prolific and one of the best of the dance band singers was Sam Browne (who toppled Al Bowlly from first place in the Melody Maker Popularity Poll in 1937). Sam's first contribution is on the very lively Skirts with Billy Cotton & His Band.
- Dublin-born Debroy Somers was the first musical director of The Savoy Orpheans from 1923 to 1926. Upon leaving, he formed his own touring band and although some of his recordings can sound a little ponderous and dated, Look What You've Done from the Eddie Cantor film The Kid From Spain is an agreeable number enhanced by a vocal from Dan Donovan.
- Ambrose remains in the opinion of many the top British bandleader of the 1930s. It's The Talk Of The Town, a popular standard from 1933, features the perennial favourite Elsie Carlisle
- Raymond Scott (1908-1994) was the composer of quirky, descriptive pieces (both in content and title) which enjoyed a vogue in the late Thirties. These included 'War Dance For Wooden Indians', 'Dinner Music For A Pack Of Hungry Cannibals' and, the no less catchily titled, A Reckless Night On Board An Ocean Liner. Sydney Lipton's was, not altogether surprisingly, the only British dance band version of this opus and it remains one of his most popular recordings.
- The CD album includes an informative physical booklet with liner notes.
