Thursday, 5 December 2024

Dick James & Pearl Carr--Victor Silvester--Walter Miller--Ronnie Hilton--Billy Cotton--Malcolm Vaughan

A selection from 40's & 50's and more than likely the Edison Bell Radio's 20/30's

1. You Know You Belong To Someone Else......Dick James & Pearl Carr
2. Blue For A Boy......Dick James And Pearl Carr
3. Blue Danube......Victor Silvester's Strings For Dancing
4. The Count Of Luxembourgh......Victor Silvester's Strings For Dancing
5. Just A Little Fond Affection......Walter Miller
6. In Old Vienna......Walter Miller
7. Stars Shine In Your Eyes......Ronnie Hilton
8. We'll Go A Long Way Together......Ronnie Hilton
9. Lawd You made The Night Too Long......Billy Cotton & His Band
10. Can't We Talk It Over......Billy Cotton & His Band
11. St Therese Of The Roses......Malcolm Vaughan

          5. Just A Little Fond Affection

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

Victor Silvester--Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth--Harry Bidgood--Thos Mills & Chas. A. Prince--A Morgan & A. W. Ketelby--Guido Diero

Victor Silvester at Xmas Time Chimes and Organ,a few tears and even a visit to a Show, ending with  the Opera Accordian wise !!

1. Puppy Love......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
2. You Are My First Love......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
3. We'll Gather Lilacs......Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth
4. Love Steals Your Heart.......Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth
5. It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry..Harry Bidgood & His Broadcasters
6. If Tears Could Bring You Back To Me...Harry Bidgood & His Broadcasters
7. O Come All Ye Faithful.....Thos Mills & Chas A Prince
8. Good King Wenceslas.....A Morgan & A W Ketelby
9. Selection From Chu Chin Chow  Part 1.....Chorus & Orchestra
10. Selection From Chu Chin Chow  Part 2.....Chorus & Orchestra
11. Cavalleria Rusticana Selection......Guido Diero
12. Tancredi Overture......Guido Diero
Henry Bidgood (29 August 1898 – 15 November 1957), was an English composer, dance band leader and musical director for films.
Bidgood released dance band music under various names, mostly notably Primo Scala and his Accordion Band, who issued over 200 sides on 78rpm.Over the course of 20 years, he would frequently broadcast on the BBC.

Guido Deiro (1886-1950) was a famous vaudeville star, international recording artist, composer, and teacher. He was the first piano-accordionist to appear on big-time vaudeville, records, radio, and the screen. He usually performed under the stage name "Deiro".

          5. It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry

Monday, 2 December 2024

The Ink Spots--Robert Wilson--Jerry Colonna--Jack Hylton--Victor Silvester--Florida Club Dance Band

Here's the first of the missing Volume !
Waltz's & Foxtrots  a visit to the Scottish Isles via the Whispering Sands !

1. Who Would'nt Love You......The Ink Spots
2. This Is Worth Fighting For.....The Ink Spots
3. The Road To the Isles......Robert Wilson
4. Bonnie Mary Of Argyle......Robert Wilson
5. The Shifting Whispering Sands......Jerry Colonna
6. Waltz Me Around......Jerry Colonna
7. I'm So Terribly In Love With You......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
8. Memory's Melody.......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
9. Charmaine......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
10. Mistakes......Victor Silvester & His Ball Room Orchestra
11. I'm Saving All My Loving......Florida Club Dance Band
12. Sleepy Valley.....Florida Club Dance Band

Robert Wilson (2 January 1907 – 25 September 1964) was a Scottish tenor. After beginning his career with the Rothesay Entertainers in Scotland, Wilson joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, with whom he performed from 1931 to 1937. He then began a long solo career in concerts, radio, variety and recording, becoming known especially for his performances of Scottish songs.
Wilson became a solo artist, heading his own concert party singing Scottish ballads for several years on tour throughout Britain. He also continued in demand as a recording artist, signing with HMV in 1943. His recordings of such Scottish songs as "A Gordon for Me" and "Down in the Glen" were big sellers. He became a well-known variety performer and in the 1950s he was an early presenter of the White Heather Club and recorded with them.

         3. The Road To The Isles

Sunday, 1 December 2024

Louis Levy--Peggy Lee--Isobel Baille--Charles Jolly--Anne Shelton--Arthur Franklin

A couple of laughs and Two Alexander's that one should have been a Question of what it could be ?

1. The Wizard Of Oz--Film Selection......Louis Levy & His Orchestra
2. The Great Victor Herbert-- Selection......Louis Levy & His Orchestra
3. Belle Notte......Peggy Lee
4. La la Lu......Peggy Lee
5. I Know My Redeemer Liveth ( The Messiah).Part 1......Isobel Baille
6. I Know My Redeemer Liveth ( The Messiah).Part 2......Isobel Baille
7. The Laughing Policeman......Charles Jolly
8. You've Got To Laugh......Charles Jolly
9. Lili Marlene......Anne Shelton
10. Tonight I Kissed You......Anne Shelton
11. Alexander's Rag Time Band......Arthur Franklin
12. Everybody's Doing It Now......Arthur Franklin
 

Dame Isobel Baillie, DBE (9 March 1895 – 24 September 1983), née Isabella Douglas Baillie, was a Scottish soprano. She made a local success in Manchester, where she was brought up, and in 1923 made a successful London debut. Her career, encouraged by the conductor Sir Hamilton Harty, quickly developed, with breaks in the first years for vocal study in Milan. Baillie's career was almost wholly as a concert singer: she only once acted in an opera production on stage. She was associated above all with oratorio, becoming well known for her many performances in Handel's Messiah, Haydn's The Creation, Mendelssohn's Elijah and the choral works of Elgar.
During a long career, Baillie sang in complete recordings of Messiah,in the 1940s she formed a friendship with the contralto Kathleen Ferrier, with whom she appeared frequently in concert and made several recordings of duets. 

Charles Penrose (born Charles Penrose Dunbar Cawse; 11 November 1873 – 17 November 1952) was an English music hall and theatre performer, and later radio comedian, who is best known for his unusual comic song "The Laughing Policeman". He was born in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. 
"The Laughing Policeman" is a music hall song recorded by British artist Charles Penrose, initially published under the pseudonym Charles Jolly in 1922. It is an adaptation of "The Laughing Song" first recorded in 1890 by American singer George W. Johnson with the same tune and form, but the subject matter was changed from a "dandy darky" to a policeman. Both "The Laughing Policeman" and "The Laughing Song" were highly popular songs in their times, and "The Laughing Policeman" remained popular in later decades as a children song.

          7. The Laughing Policeman

Monday, 18 November 2024

Elsie Francis Fisher--Kitty Kallen--Hutch--The Cecillian Quartette--Corona Dance Orch--Mariano Stabile

For this selection we are defiantly in the Grandparents territory and maybe Great Grandparents !!....There's defiantly a difference in the style of the first record compared to the second record of the 50's....ending with a dip into the opera !!

1. Loves Old Sweet Song......Elsie Francis Fisher
2. The Rosary........Elsie Francis Fisher
3. Little Things Mean A Lot......Kitty Kallen
4. I Don't Think You Love Me Anymore......Kitty Kallen
5. Begin The Beguine......Hutch
6. I've Got My eyes On You......Hutch
7. Little Brown Jug......The Cecilian Quartette
8. Who Killed Cock Robin......The Cecillian Quartette
9. Rose Marie......Corona Dance Orchestra
10. Bouquet......Corona Dance Orchestra
11. Marriage Of Figaro (Se Vuoi Ballare Signor Contino)....Mariano Stabile
12. Marriage Of Figaro (Non Piu Andrai Farfalone Amcroso..Mariano Stabile

Kitty Kallen (born Katie Kallen; May 25, 1921 – January 7, 2016) was an American singer whose career spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s, to include the Swing era of the Big Band years, the post-World War II pop scene and the early years of rock 'n roll. Kallen performed with popular big band leaders of the 1940s, including Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James, before establishing a solo career.
She is widely known for her 1954 solo recording '"Little Things Mean a Lot", a song that stayed at the U.S. Billboard number one spot for nine consecutive weeks and took top honor as 1954's #1 song of the year, charted in the U.S. for almost seven months, hit No. 1 on the UK singles chart, and sold more than two million copies.....Kallen lost her voice at the London Palladium in 1955 at the top of her career and stopped singing before an audience for four years. After testing her voice under a pseudonym in small town venues, she ultimately returned and went on to achieve 13 top-ten career hits.

Mariano Stabile (12 May 1888 in Palermo, Italy – 11 January 1968 in Milan, Italy) was an Italian baritone, particularly associated with the Italian repertory, especially the role of Falstaff......Stabile appeared regularly at the Royal Opera House in London, from 1926 to 1931. He also sang at the Festivals of Glyndebourne and Salzburg between 1931 and 1939, and in Mozart roles such as Figaro, Don Giovanni, Don Alfonso, at the Cambridge Theatre in London from 1946 to 1949.

          7. Little Brown Jug

Tuesday, 5 November 2024

Morton Downey--Jimmy Dorsey--Yana--Norman Wisdom--Anne Shelton--Don Cornell

Mainly the 50's 60's with this selection..

1. Stormy Weather......Morton Downey
2. In The Valley Of The moon......Morton Downey
3. A Man And His Drum......Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
4. Major And Minor Stomp......Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
5. Small Talk......Yana
6. Something Happened To My Heart......Yana
7. Heart Of A Clown......Norman Wisdom
8. Beware......Norman Wisdom
9. You've Changed.......Anne Shelton
10. Galway Bay......Anne Shelton
11. Hold My Hand......Don Cornell
12. I'm Blessed......Don Cornell

John Morton Downey (November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985), also known as Morton Downey, was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Downey was nicknamed "The Irish Nightingale".
Downey's signature sound was a very creamy and very high-timbred Irish tenor, which an uninformed listener can easily mistake for a female voice. 

Yana (born Pamela Guard; 16 February 1931 – 21 November 1989) was a British singer. Achieving significant fame in Britain in the late-1950s, by the time of her 1989 death, she was generally forgotten. Her singing career started when Bertie Green, the owner of the plush Astor Club in London, heard her (aged 19) singing at a private party in the club, her friends having dared her to get up and sing; Green booked her as a cabaret artiste. She also sang, from 1954, at the expensive Pigalle restaurant in Piccadilly. Yana's biggest hit as a singer was Climb Up the Wall, which is regarded as one of the top 30 British popular songs of the 1950s; despite that and her other recordings (Columbia Records and HMV, mostly), it has been said that Yana's actual earnings from records totalled only about £100 in the money of the time, by reason of the contractual arrangements typically in place for UK recording artists of that era.

          1. Stormy Weather

Monday, 4 November 2024

Bing Crosby--Cavan O'Connor--Dave King--Elvis Presley--The Ink Spots--Morlais Morgan

The 1930's 40's 50's 60's singers are now on the stage !

1. Mother Darlin'......Bing Crosby
2. I Love My Baby......Bing Crosby
3. Little Town In The Ould County Down......Cavan O'Connor
4. Goodnight......Cavan O'Connor
5. Memories Are Made Of This......Dave King
6. I've Changed My Mind A Thousand Times.....Dave King
7. Love Me Tender......Elvis Presley
8. Any Way You Want Me.......Elvis Presley
9. White Christmas.......The Ink Spots
10. Always......The Ink Spots
11. The Desert Song......Morlais  Morgan
12. The Riff Song.....Morlais Morgan

          2. I Love My Baby

Sunday, 3 November 2024

Harry Roy--Dimitri Tiomkin--Edmundo Ros--Teddy Powell--Victor Silvester--Jack Doyle & Movita

All Orchestra's to the front with an occasional vocal and a whistler !

1. Swing With A Swing (Victory Roll Rag )......Harry Roy & His Band
2. Swing With A Swing (New Tiger Rag).......Harry Roy & His Band
3. The High And The Mighty......Dimitri Tiomkin & His Orchestra
4. Dial M For Murder......Dimitri Tiomkin & His Orchestra
5. Rum And Limonada......Edmundo Ros & His Cuban Orchestra
6. In Chi Chi Castenango......Edmundo Ros & His Cuban Orchestra
7. San Culottes......Teddy Powell & His Orchestra
8. In The Pine Tops Footsteps.....Teddy Powell & His Orchestra
9. Voodoo Rhythm...... Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings
10. Bolivia......Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings
11. South Of The Border......Jack Doyle & Movita
12. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling......Jack Doyle

Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin (May 10, 1894 – November 11, 1979) was a Russian and American film composer and conductor. Classically trained in Saint Petersburg before the Bolshevik Revolution, he moved to Berlin and then New York City after the Russian Revolution. In 1929, after the stock market crash, he moved to Hollywood, where he became best known for his scores for Western films, including Duel in the Sun, Red River, High Noon, The Big Sky, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Rio Bravo, and Last Train from Gun Hill.Tiomkin received 22 Academy Award nominations and won four Oscars, three for Best Original Score for High Noon, The High and the Mighty, and The Old Man and the Sea, and one for Best Original Song for "The Ballad of High Noon" from the film High Noon.

Teddy Powell (born Teodoro Paolella; March 1, 1905 – November 17, 1993) was an American jazz musician, band leader, composer, and arranger. Some of his compositions were written under the pseudonym Freddy James.
He formed the Teddy Powell Orchestra in 1939 and it performed through the 1940s. 
After the band folded, Powell wrote music and arrangements. He had hits with "Bewildered" and "If My Heart Could Only Talk". During the latter part of his career, he worked in music publishing.

Joseph "Jack" Doyle (31 August 1913 – 13 December 1978), known as "the Gorgeous Gael", was an Irish boxer, professional wrestler, actor, and a tenor. He was born Joseph Doyle but changed his name to Jack when starting his professional career.
In the early to mid-1930s he would attempt to launch both singing and acting careers, but was pulled back into the world of boxing only to be humiliated in a number of first-round knockouts.
Doyle's drawing power had been supplemented by his January 1939 marriage in Baja California, Mexico to actress Movita Castaneda, recent co-star to Clark Gable in Mutiny on the Bounty, which once-again fortified his persona as a playboy and international celebrity......Doyle and Movita renewed their vows in 1943 at Dublin's Westland Row Church. Soon the pair toured both sides of the Irish Sea, selling out music halls and opera houses singing. Amongst their setlist was their version of the recently released song "South of the Border".

          7. San Colottes

Harry Roy--Hardy & Hudson--William Thomas--Ron Aldridge--Gerry Mulligan--The Deep River Boys

Another Swing/ Jazz Band selection from the 30's... with an Opera stowaway !

1. Oh The Pity Of It All......Harry Roy & His Band (vocal Harry Roy)
2. Here You Are........Harry Roy & His band (vocal Marjorie Kingsley)
3. Underneath The Arches......Hardy & Hudson
4. Why Don't You Say You're Sorry......Hardy & Hudson
5. Woman Is Fickle......William Thomas
6. Questa O Quella......William Thomas
7. If You Were Only Mine.....Ron Aldridge & His Reno Boys
8. Night Shall Be Filled With Music......Ron Aldridge & His Reno Boys
9. Walkin' Shoes......The Gerry Mulligan Quartet
10. Lullaby Of The Leaves......The Gerry Mulligan Quartet
11. Bewitched......The Deep River Boys
12. Ashes of Roses......The Deep River Boys

Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz—Mulligan was also a significant arranger working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. His piano-less quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz ensembles. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions including "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers", have become standards.

         9. Walkin' Shoes

Victor Silvester--Billy Merrin--George Beverly Shea--Ken Mackintosh--

Nearly all Instrumentals with vocals, with a dash of Religion in this selection !

1. Life Could Not Better Be......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
2. Last Love.....Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
3. Everything's In Rhythm with My Heart......Billy Merrin And His Commanders
4. Maybe We'll Meet Again......Billy Merrin & His Commanders
5. Jesus Whispers Peace......George Beverly Shea
6. Under His Wings......George Beverly Shea
7. Tango Mambo......Ken Mackintosh & His Orchestra
8. Go Go Go......Ken Mackintosh & His Orchestra
9. That Lovely Week End......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
10. Do You Care......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
11. That's Because You're Here With Me......Billy Merrin & His Commanders
12. Old Ship O'mine......Billy Merrin & His Commanders

Billy Merrin (22February 1900 – 24 July 1980) was a British orchestra leader, composer and arranger.William Herbert Merrin was born at Nottingham.  In his early years he studied the banjo, mandolin, piano and much later alto saxophone. He started out as a clerk in a local warehouse. When the First World War came, he went into the Royal Naval Air Service, where his talent with the piano and the banjo and as a vocalist was much appreciated by his comrades.

George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as "America's beloved gospel singer" and was considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the large attendance at Graham's Crusades, it is estimated that Shea sang live before more people than anyone else in history.

          7. Tango Mambo

Ronnie Harris--Lew Stone--Alma Cogan--The Midnight Merrymakers--Mel Torme--Stanley Black

It's Midnight In The Rockies with a bit Of Greenery ! with the stars and moon !

1. Hold My Hand......Ronnie Harris
2. No One Can Change Destiny......Ronnie Harris
3. Tina......Lew Stone & His Band (with Vocal Trio)
4. Stars fell On Alabama......Lew Stone & His Band (vocal Alan Kane)
5. Ricochet......Alma Cogan
6. The Moon Is Blue.....Alma Cogan
7. When It's Springtime In The Rockies......The Midnight Merrymakers
8. I'm Singing My Way Around The World......The Midnight Merrymakers
9. Mountain Greenery......Mel Torme
10. Jeepers Creepers......Mel Torme
11. Le Grisbi......Stanley Black & His Orchestra
12. Carnet De Bal......Stanley Black & His Orchestra

Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "the Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") and co-wrote the lyrics with Bob Wells. Tormé won two Grammy Awards and was nominated a total of 14 times.

Stanley Black OBE (14 June 1913 – 27 November 2002) was an English bandleader, composer, conductor, arranger and pianist. He wrote and arranged many film scores, recording prolifically for the Decca label (including their subsidiaries London and Phase 4). Beginning with jazz collaborations with American musicians such as Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter during the 1930s, he moved into arranging and recording in the Latin American music style and also won awards for his classical conducting.

         7. When It's Springtime In The Rockies

Thursday, 31 October 2024

Woody Herman--Al Bowlly--Ken Mackintosh--Hardy & Hudson--Wally Bishop--Josef Locke

We begin with Swing ! then take a trip to Capri then Constantinople Ooops ! Istanbul
then a dip in Kentucky ending with the bells in a Soldiers Dream about Jimmy Brown 

1. Panacea......Woody Herman & His Orchestra
2. The Good Earth.....Woody Herman & His Orchestra
3. The Isle Of Capri......Al Bowlly
4. Judy......Al Bowlly
5. Istanbul......Ken Mackintosh & His Orchestra
6. Skin Deep......Ken Mackintosh & His Orchestra
7. Roll Along Kentucky Moon......Hardy & Hudson
8. Time Seems So Long When You're Waiting.......Hardy & Hudson
9. When Mother Nature Sing Her Lullaby......Wally Bishop & His Band
10. How Can I Thank You......Wally Bishop & His Band
11. While The Angelus Was Ringing......Josef Locke
12. The Soldier's Dream....Josef Locke

Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his death in 1987. His bands often played music that was cutting edge and experimental; their recordings received numerous Grammy nominations.
Herman's first band became known for its orchestrations of the blues, and was sometimes billed as "The Band That Plays the Blues". This band recorded for the Decca label, at first serving as a cover band, doing songs by other Decca artists. After two and a half years on the label, the band had its first hit, "Woodchopper's Ball" recorded in 1939. Herman remembered that "Woodchopper's Ball" started out slowly. "It was really a sleeper. But Decca kept re-releasing it, and over a period of three or four years it became a hit. Eventually it sold more than five million copies—the biggest hit I ever had." 

Albert Allick Bowlly (7 January 1899 – 17 April 1941) was a South African-British vocalist, crooner and dance band guitarist who was Britain's most popular singer for most of the 1930s. He recorded upwards of 1,000 songs that were listened to by millions.He moved to Britain, where in July 1928 he joined Fred Elizalde's band that played at the Savoy Hotel, London until 1929. He went on to play with various bands on a temporary basis, before gaining more regular employment in May 1931 with Roy Fox, singing in his live band for the Monseigneur Restaurant, a stylish restaurant on Piccadilly in London, and with bandleader Ray Noble in November 1930.

         11. While The Angelus Was Ringing

Jackie Brown Orch--Jack Daly--Chris Hall--The Kentucky Minstrels--Royal Air Force Dance Orch--Larry Williams

A mixture of music styles and labels...

1. Ballet Of The Bells......Jackie Brown & His Orchestra
2. Theme From The Glenn Miller Story......Jackie Brown & His Orchestra
3. Outside An Old Stage Door......Jack Daly
4. Somebody's Thinking Of You Tonight......Jack Daly
5. The Angelus Was Ringing.......Chris Hall
6. After My Laughter Came Tears.......Chris Hall
7. The Holy City (Part One)......The Kentucky Minstrels
8. The Holy City (Part Two)......The Kentucky Minstrels
9. Down Forget Me Not Lane.....The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra
10. Beneath The Lights Of Home......The Royal Air Force Dance Band
11. Short Fat Fanny......Larry Williams
12. High School Dance.......Larry Williams

                                                                Jackie Brown
Jackie was a regular Session Musician at Abbey Road Studios for a number of years and was most likely involved in the making of many successful recordings.
 In 1954, he found work as an arranger, a composer and a musician and made a number of records with an assortment of Bands, Orchestras and Groups. Many records where he was involved in not only there making, but also in their production found success.......Without question the most prestigious record that Jackie made was his 1954 recording of The Theme from the film, The Glenn Miller Story with music written by Henry Mancini. On the flip side was Ballet of the Bells, written by Ray Martin and released on the Columbia Record Label.

Lawrence Eugene Williams (May 10, 1935 – January 7, 1980) was an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer, songwriter, and pianist from New Orleans. He is best known for writing and recording some rock and roll classics from 1957 to 1959 for Specialty Records, including "Bony Moronie", "Short Fat Fannie", "Slow Down", "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (1958), "Bad Boy" and "She Said Yeah" (1959). John Lennon was a fan, and the Beatles and several other British Invasion groups recorded several of his songs.

The Squadronaires is a Royal Air Force band which began and performed in Britain during and after World War II. The official title of the band was 'The Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra', but it was always known by the more popular title "The Squadronaires".

          3. Outside An Old Stage Door

Friday, 4 October 2024

Billy Cotton--Max Miller--The Radio Serenaders--Arthur Lally--Dr Edmundo Bettencourt--Bing Crosby

I wonder if Sally dreams of that Island in DixieLand or Portugal at Christmas

1. My Little Dreamboat......Billy Cotton & His Band (V) The Bandits
2. Shake hands With The Luckiest Guy In The World.Billy Cotton & His Band
3. The Christmas Dinner......Max Miller
4. Just Another Sally......Max Miller
5. On Treasure Island......The Radio Serenaders
6. I'm Leaving All My Dreams to You......The Radio Serenaders
7. Dixie Land 1......Arthur Lally And The Millionairs
8. Dixie Land 2......Arthur Lally And The Millionairs
9. Balado Do Enchantamento......Dr Edmundo Bettencourt
10. Saudades De Coimbra......Dr Edmundo Bettencourt
11. I Love You Whoever You Are.......Bing Crosby
12. Never Be Afraid.......Bing Crosby

Thomas Henry Sargent (21 November 1894 – 7 May 1963), known professionally by his stage name Max Miller and billed as The Cheeky Chappie, was an English comedian often considered the greatest stand-up of his generation. He toured extensively, appearing in variety, revues and by the early 1930s reached the top of the bill in the large music halls including the London Palladium. He recorded many songs, some of which he wrote. He appeared frequently on radio and starred in fourteen feature films. He was known for his flamboyant suits, his wicked charm, and his risqué jokes often led to difficulties with the censors. He made his last recording in January 1963.

Edmundo Alberto de Bettencourt (7 August 1899 – 1 February 1973) was a Portuguese singer and poet best known for his performance of the Song of Coimbra and for his decisive role in introducing popular themes into this genre. He was noted for the musical composition "Saudades de Coimbra" which is still a reference in Portuguese university music

          5. On A Treasure Island

Thursday, 3 October 2024

Slim Whitman--Sheffield Orpheus Male Quartette--Stanley Kirby--The Street Singer--Harry Roy--Mr Peter Dawson

A mixture of music styles and era's....a real mish mash of sound from the distant past !

1. Indian Love Call......Slim Whitman
2. China Doll......Slim Whitman
3. On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At.....Sheffield Orpheus Male Quartette
4. Alexander.....Sheffield Orpheus Male Quartette
5. Dream Mother.....Stanley Kirby
6. Darling Old Mother O' Mine......Stanley Kirby
7. Ol' Man River......The Street Singer
8. The Song Of Songs......The Street Singer
9. Until You Fall In Love.......Harry Roy & His Band (V) Chick Henderson
10. I'm Stepping Out With A Memory Tonight......Harry Roy & His Band (V) Chick H
11. Three Batchelors......Mr Peter Dawson
12. A Chip Of The Old Block.......Mr Peter Dawson

Stanley Kirkby (born James Baker; 1878 – 30 October 1949) was an English baritone singer and variety artist of the early 20th century. He sang ballads and popular songs of the Edwardian era, the First World War and the inter-War period. He sang mostly in music halls and variety theatres and was a popular recording artist.
 Kirkby must be regarded as one of the most prolific of all recording artists in the United Kingdom, making many records under a variety of pseudonyms as well as his own name, for every record label, during the first three decades of the 20th century. 
Much of his recorded output from about 1912 was for Edison Bell (Winner, Velvet Face and Radio labels), and it is this label with which he became particularly, but not exclusively associated.

Arthur Tracy (born Abba Avrom Tracovutsky; June 25, 1899 – October 5, 1997)was an American vocalist and actor, billed as The Street Singer. His performances in theatre, films and radio, along with his recordings, brought him international fame in the 1930s. Tracy appeared at the London Palladium in July 1935 and he had an extended stay in UK. He toured the variety stages extensively over the next few years and appeared on radio. During the next four years, he made four films in the UK.

          1. Indian Love Call

Wednesday, 2 October 2024

Ann Stephens--Reginald Dixon--Bud & Joe Billings--The Grosvenor Light Opera Company--Gracie Fields--Josef Locke

What a wonderful colourful collection of labels...can you spot the mistake ??..I perhaps need some new glasses or a better span of concentration !

1. Teddy Bears Picnic......Ann Stephens
2. Dicky Bird Hop......Ann Stephens
3. Waltzing With Strauss (Part 1)......Reginald Dixon
4. Waltzing With Strauss (Part 2)......Reginald Dixon
5. When Your Hair Has Turned To Silver.....Bud & Joe Billings
6. I'm Alone Because I Love You......Bud & Joe Billings
7. Vocal Gems From Showboat. (Part 1).The Grosvenor Light Opera Company
8. Vocal Gems From Showboat. (Part 2).The Grosvenor Light Opera Company
9. It Began With A Tango......Gracie Fields
10. Serenade Of The Bells......Gracie Fields
11. Wonderful Copenhagen......Josef Locke
12. One Little Candle......Josef Locke

Ann Stephens (21 May 1931 – 15 July 1966 was a British child actress and singer, popular in the 1940s. She was born in London. In July 1941 she recorded several songs, including a popular version of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic", "Dicky Bird Hop" (with Franklin Engelmann) and a setting by Harold Fraser-Simson of one of A. A. Milne's verses about Christopher Robin, "Buckingham Palace," which was often featured on the BBC Light Programme's Children's Favourites. 


A series of 78 RPM recordings are available from the 1930s by 'The Grosvenor Light Opera Company' it is not clear how the company that recorded these works are related to the modern group.

Grosvenor Light Opera Company (GLOC) is a nonprofit community theatre organization in London, established in 1949 to study and perform the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. The company is the only (non-student) amateur Gilbert and Sullivan group both to rehearse and perform in central London and has been described by Ian Bradley as the "leading amateur G & S performing group in London".

        10.Serenade Of The Bells

Tuesday, 1 October 2024

Dora Labbette & Hubert Eisdell--Roy Leslie--Ronnie Hilton--Cyril Watson--Jenny Howard--Franklyn Baur--Lewis James

Seems that we are still in the 1920's /1930's...Plus one POP !

1. Until......Dora Labbette & Hubert Eisdell
2. Birdsong At Eventide......Dora Labbette & Hubert Eisdell
3. We're All Jolly Good Pals......Roy Leslie
4. Round The Marble Arch......Roy Leslie
5. Belle Notte......Ronnie Hilton
6. He......Ronnie Hilton
7. Hello Bluebird.......Cyril Watson
8. Way Down Home......Cyril Watson
9. Queen Of Hearts......Jenny Howard
10. I'm One Of The Little Orphans Of The Storm......Jenny Howard
11. Little Mother......Franklyn Baur
12. Silver Haired Sweetheart.......Lewis James
Dora Labbette (4 March 1898 – 3 September 1984) was an English soprano. Her career spanned the concert hall and the opera house. She conspired with Sir Thomas Beecham to appear at the Royal Opera House masquerading as an Italian singer by the name of Lisa Perli.
With that most sterling of English tenors, Hubert Eisdell, Dora also began a series of wonderful duet recordings in 1922 for Columbia. 
She performed regularly at Henry Wood’s promenade concerts. At Queen’s Hall and later at the Royal Albert Hall, she made a number of appearances, beginning on Thursday 30 August 1917. 
Hubert Mortimer Eisdell (1882-1948), an English tenor who settled in Canada in his later years, enjoyed considerable success on the concert stage in both England and Canada. While his musical training and earliest performances took place in England, Eisdell made several visits to Canada between 1907 and 1930. After taking up permanent residence in Ontario in 1933, he became involved in the Canadian music scene as a performer and teacher.
Daisy Evelyn Louise Blowes (
English born comedienne, vocalist & actress (b. Walthamstow, England 26 Nov.)
Cockney comedienne who gained experience in provincial variety in the 1920s performing in English seaside resorts. Joined a theatrical group called The Yachtsmen in 1924 which resulted in her taking the stage name Jenny Howard. Made many recordings in London during the 1930s.She worked on stage and film in Britain, South Africa & New Zealand as well as Australia. Continued to perform in revues and pantomimes into the 1970s.

         9. Queen Of Hearts