Sunday 31 March 2024

Ariel Dance Orchestra--Jimmy Young--Victor Sylvester--Bert & Bob--Lou Preager--Anne Shelton

Now who remembers dancing with multiple partners, a circle of males and females doing the "Paul Jones" !...ah the days when you danced together ! and the world was at a slower pace !

1. Paul Jones (Part One)......Ariel Dance Orchestra
2. Paul Jones (Part Two)......Ariel Dance Orchestra
3. Cry......Jimmy Young
4. Time Alone Will Tell......Jimmy Young
5. The Wedding Waltz......Victor Sylvester & His Ballroom Orchestra
6. Dream.....Victor Sylvester & His Ball Room Orchestra
7. Down The Lane To Home Sweet Home.....Bert And Bob
8. Songs I Heard At Mothers Knee......Bert And Bob
9. The Little Old Mill.....Lou Preager & His Orchestra
10. Good Night......Lou Preager & His Orchestra
11. It Always Rains Before The Rainbow......Anne Shelton
12. St Mary's In The Twilight......Anne Shelton

"Pseudonym on Ariel for almost all dance records in the OKeh and Zonophone repertoire.... Orchestras with recordings released under this pseudonym include Ted Wallace and his Orchestra, Sam Lanin's Famous Players, Dorsey Brothers' Orchestra, and Fred Rich and his Orchestra.

Jack Plant, Jack Hodges, (alias ‘Bert and Bob’), vocal duet with pianoforte accompaniment

          3. Cry

Richard Tauber--Victor Sylvester--Bobby Mcleod--The Four Lads & Jill Corey--Cavan O'Conner--Glenn Miller

Some old some blue a dance or two, with a Scottish whirl in Ireland a whisper of Egypt ending in a swing in space !

1. My Hero.....Richard Tauber
2. Serenade From Frasquita......Richard Tauber
3. Twilight In Rio......Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings
4. Cuban Siesta......Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings
5. Bonnie Anne / McDonald Of Sleat......Bobby McLeod
6. Bonnie Kate Of Aberdeen......Bobby McLeod
7. Cleo And Meo......The Four Lads & Jill Corey
8. Sweet Harmony Brown......The Four Lads
9. My Irish Song Of Songs......Cavan O'Conner
10. At The End Of An Irish Lane......Cavan O'Conner
11. In The Mood......Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
12. Out Of Space.....Glenn Miller & His Orchestra

The Four Lads were a Canadian male singing quartet that earned many gold singles and albums in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Their million-selling signature tunes include "Moments to Remember" "Standing on the Corner" "No, Not Much" "Who Needs You?" and "Istanbul".
Jill Corey (born Norma Jean Speranza; September 30, 1935 – April 3, 2021) was an American popular standards singer. She was discovered and signed on one day when she was 17. She went on to have her own radio shows and to star in a feature film.

          7. Cleo And Meo

All Star Hit Parade--The Deauville Dance Orchestra--Vincent Richards Orch--Kay Starr--Bobby McLeod--Alvin Dawson--Charlie Kunz

Music from England Scotland America ending with another Charlie Kunz Piano Medley!

1. All Star Hit Parade 1...Dickie Valentine--Joan Regan--Winifred Atwell
2. All Star Hit Parade 2...Dave King--Lita Roza--David Whitfield
3. Broadway Melody.....The Deauville Dance Orchestra
4. You Were Meant For Me.....Vincent Richards & His Orchestra
5. Rock And Roll Waltz......Kay Starr
6. I've Changed My Mind A Thousand Times......Kay Starr
7. Bluebell Polka......Bobby McLeod & His Band
8. The Linton Ploughman......Bobby McLeod
9. Bing Crosby Medley (Part One)......Alvin Dawson
10. Bing Crosby Medley (Part Two)......Alvin Dawson
11. Charlie Kunz Piano Medley No D.19 (Intro)......Charlie Kunz
12. Charlie Kunz Piano Medley No D.19 (Contd.)......Charlie Kunz

The Deauville Dance Band was a musical ensemble that left its mark during the early 20th century.  While the Deauville Dance Band may not be as widely recognized today, their contributions to dance music during that era were significant. They were part of the ever-changing dance music

Bobby MacLeod was a Scottish musician who ran his own Scottish Dance Band and took his musicians all over the British Isles.
He was one of Scottish dance music’s most innovative and inspirational figures, a melodeon player and composer of conspicuous talent and a band leader who really understood what it meant to play for dancing.....In 1948 he and three friends formed a quartet, in between lively dance-music sessions at the Highlanders' Institute in Glasgow.

          7. Bluebell Polka

Saturday 30 March 2024

Lonnie Donegan--Rudy Valee--Bing Crosby--Line' Renaud--Danny Kaye & The Andrew Sisters--Reginald Dixon

There is a slight difference in the musical styles of the 50's Lonnie and the 20's Rudy....Hmmmm !!
Then a warble (a melodious succession of low pleasing sounds) from Bing ! a rousing song from France's Line'...a woodpecker maybe in a box...ending with a big organ ending !

1. Don't you Rock me Daddy-O......Lonnie Donegan
2. I'm Alabammy Bound.......Lonnie Donegan
3. Beside An Open Fireplace......Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees
4. Mary I Love You...Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees
5. Whiffenpoof Song.......Bing Crosby
6. Kentucky Babe......Bing Crosby
7. Pam-Pou-De (Pam-Poo-Day)......Line' Renaud
8. If I Love......Line' Renaud
9. The Woody Woodpecker......Danny Kaye & The Andrew Sisters
10. Put Em In A Box Tie Em With A Ribbon......Danny Kaye & The Andrews
11. On With The Show--Selection.(Part One)......Reginald Dixon
12. On With The Show--Selection.(Part Two)......Reginald Dixon

Hubert Prior Vallée (July 28, 1901[1] – July 3, 1986), known professionally as Rudy Vallée, was an American singer, saxophonist, bandleader, actor, and entertainer. He was the first male singer to rise from local radio broadcasts in New York City to national popularity as a "crooner"...From 1924 to 1925, he played with the Savoy Havana Band at the Savoy Hotel in London, where band members discouraged his attempts to become a vocalist.
With his group the Connecticut Yankees, Vallée's best-known recordings include "The Stein Song" (a.k.a. University of Maine school song) in 1929 and "Vieni, Vieni" in the latter 1930s.

          9. The Woody Woodpecker

Friday 29 March 2024

Winifred Atwell--Gary Miller--David Whitfield--Charlie Kunz--Jimmy Young--Primo Scala


 Vocals, accordions, banjo's and lots of Piano !!

1. Spaceship Boogie......Winifred Atwell
2. Jane Street......Winifred Atwell
3. The Story Of My Life......Gary Miller
4. Put A Light In The Window.......Gary Miller
5. Beyond The Stars......David Whitfield
6. Open Your Heart......David Whitfield
7. Charlie Kunz Piano Medley No 113......(Side One)Charlie Kunz
8. Charlie Kunz Piano Medley No 113......(Side Two)Charlie Kunz
9. Too Young......Jimmy Young
10. How Can I leave You......Jimmy Young
11. Swinging Down The Lane......Primo Scala & His Banjo & Accordion Band
12. There's Nothing To Do In Sleepyville......Primo Scala Band

Gary Miller, born Neville Williams (3 May 1924 – 15 June 1968) was an English popular music singer and actor of the 1950s and 1960s. His career spanned only 15 years before he died of a heart attack in 1968. He released 24 singles and six EPs on the Pye label between 1955 and 1967. Pye released a further compilation EP after his death..... He had several Top 40 singles early in his career, his debut single in 1955, "The Yellow Rose of Texas" reaching No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The most successful was "Robin Hood" (the theme to The Adventures of Robin Hood) which spent 28 weeks in the chart, and peaked at No. 10, his only Top 10 hit.

          1. Spaceship Boogie

Dickie Valentine--David Whitfield--Sydney Baynes--John McCormack--Lord Rockingham XI--Russ Hamilton

No its not Xmas yet...seems like the reds from the 30's/40's have squeezed themselves into the middle of the Blue 50's !

1. Christmas Alphabet......Dickie Valentine
2. Where Are You Tonight......Dickie Valentine
3. Santo Natale......David Whitfield
4. Adeste Fideles.......David Whitfield
5. Twiggy Voo.......Sydney Baynes & His Orchestra
6. The Maxina......Sydney Baynes & His Orchestra
7. I'll Walk Beside You......John McCormack
8. The Star of The Country Down......John McCormack
9. Hoots Mon......Lord Rockingham XI
10. Blue Train.......Lord Rockingham XI
11. We Will Make Love......Russ Hamilton
12. Rainbow......Russ Hamilton

Sydney Baynes (2 January 1879 – 9 March 1938) was an English conductor, composer and leader of one of the United Kingdom's most popular radio bands. He gained his first employment as an organist in London and was later the piano accompanist for singers such as Edward Lloyd and Ben Davies. Through this work he became a respected conductor for London theatres including the Adelphi and Drury Lane. He worked for the BBC for many years and formed and conducted his own orchestra between 1928 and 1938 which broadcast and recorded regularly. His original compositions are largely in the light music genre. His most famous piece of work was the Destiny Waltz published in 1912, which sold over a million copies 

Lord Rockingham's XI was a group of British session musicians, led by Harry Robinson (1932–1996), who had a No. 1 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1958 with "Hoots Mon".
The group was created to perform as the resident band on the pop TV programme Oh Boy!, which was produced by Jack Good, and shown nationally on Britain's ITV network during 1958/59. They were fronted by Harry Robinson and also included jazz baritone saxophonist Benny Green, and organist Cherry Wainer.

          9. Hoots Mon

Deanna Durbin--David Rose--Willie Kemp--Bill Haley--New Mayfair Novelty Orchestra--Victor Sylvester

A musical mix with a Bewitched Rocker Bill in the Middle doing the Samba !

1. Thank You America......Deanna Durbin
2. Beneath The Lights Of Home.....Deanna Durbin
3. Bewitched......David Rose & His Orchestra
4. When The Wind Is Green......David Rose & His Orchestra
5. Mormond Braes......Willie Kemp
6. Tipperty's Meg......Willie Kemp
7. Rip It Up......Bill Haley & His Comets
8. Teenagers Mother......Bill Haley & His Comets
9. Speak To Me Of Love......New Mayfair Novelty Orchestra
10. Somewhere A Voice Is Calling......New Mayfair Novelty Orchestra
11. Venga Venga......Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings
12. Sonrisa......Victor Silvester & His Silver Strings

Willie Kemp, King of the Cornkisters (born 1888 in Oldmeldrum – 1965) is best known as a singer and writer of Doric comic songs. His family owned a hotel in Oldmeldrum, formerly Kemp's hotel, now Morris's and at an early age Kemp started performing at the hotel.During the early 1920s, Kemp went to Art school in Aberdeen and while there, he joined a concert party. By 1923 he was invited to broadcast for the BBC in Aberdeen. An employee of the Beltona record label heard his broadcasts and he was invited to Beltona's London studios to make recordings. He continued to record with them throughout the 1930s.

          4. When The Wind Is Green

Thursday 28 March 2024

Harry Gordon--Charlie Kunz--Tommy Dorsey--Mario Lanza--The Melachrino Orchestra--Jimmy Shand


 30's And 40's represented here

1. Scotland Calling......Harry Gordon
2. Granny's Highland Name.......Harry Gordon
3. The Kunz Medley No 6....... (Part 1)..Charlie Kunz
4. The Kunz Medley No 6....... (Part 2)..Charlie Kunz
5. The Sunshine Of Your Smile......Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
6. Until......Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra
7. Serenade.......Mario Lanza
8. My Destiny......Mario Lanza
9. Dream Of Olwen......The Melachrino Orchestra
10. Way To The Stars......The Melachrino Orchestra
11. St Bernard Waltz.......Jimmy Shand & His Band
12. Machine Without Horses......Jimmy Shand & His Band

Sir James Shand MBE (28 January 1908 – 23 December 2000) was a Scottish musician who played traditional Scottish dance music on the accordion. On New Year's Day morning in 1945 he made his first broadcast with "Jimmy Shand and his Band". This was the first of many such BBC radio and television appearances. His signature tune was "The Bluebell Polka".

          11. St Bernard Waltz

The Stargazers--Tom Burke--Jack Hylton--Joe Fingers Carr--Peter Dawson--Max Bygraves


 Two more from Fingers!..Maybe he's ringing those temple bells in Istanbul !

1. Close The Door......The Stargazers
2. I've Got Four Brothers......The Stargazers
3. Her Name Is Mary......Tom Burke
4. Play Fiddle Play......Tom Burke
5. Clonk-Er-Ty-Clonk.......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
6. Himazas.......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
7. Istanbul......Joe Fingers Carr
8. Yes Yes Yes Yes......Joe Fingers Carr
9. Temple Bells.....Peter Dawson
10. Less Than The Dust......Peter Dawson
11. Heart Of My Heart...... Max Bygraves
12. Once She's Got You Up The Aisle.......Max Bygraves

Thomas Burke (2 March 1890 – 13 September 1969) was a British operatic tenor. He trained in Britain and Italy and sang at the Royal Opera House in 1919 and 1920. Burke appeared in several films and had a long recording career.
He had a significant recording career which included popular song, such as "The Minstrel Boy" as well as opera arias. His recording career began with Columbia Records in 1920 and continued with Dominion Records, Electric Imperial, American Columbias and other companies.

          3. Her Name Is Mary

Michael Holiday--Peter Dawson--The Stargazers--Walter Glynne--Suzi Miller--Tom Barrett


 We seem to have a left hand and right hand divide on this selection "Pop" Versus Bass Baritone / Tenor / Baritone !

1. Hot Diggity......Michael Holiday
2. The Man With The Yaller Shoes......Michael Holiday
3. I Travel The Road......Peter Dawson
4. My Sword And I......Peter Dawson
5. Celebration Rag......The Stargazers
6. I Love Love Love It......The Stargazers
7. I Dream Of A Garden Of Sunshine......Walter Glynne
8. Passing By......Walter Glynne
9. I Love My Baby......Suzi Miller
10. The Money Tree.......Suzi Miller
11. Will The Angels Play There Harp For Me......Tom Barratt
12. Old Pal......Tom Barrett

Singer Tom Barratt was present on a large number of recordings, especially dance band ones, from the mid-1920s to the early 1930s, mainly those directed by Nat Star and Harry Bidgood for Sterno & the Vocalion Group respectively. He was also vocalist on many Edison Bell sides and those directed by Debroy Somers and Stan Greening for Columbia & Regal. Almost nothing is known about him or his career outside of recordings, but it is thought his main work lay in the music halls or the theatre.

          9. I Love My Baby

Ted Heath--John Bonner--Joe Mr Piano Henderson--John McCormack--Charlie Kunz--Lee Lawrence


 A Great mix of styles...and a surprise for me...I didn't think that they had the technology in the 30's/40's for a singer to sing with their selves as on the Boy Soprano John Bonner and as a Bass Baritone !....Aled Jones Made an L/P  One Voice which he sang with his younger self in about 2016...

1. Lullaby Of Birdland......Ted Heath And His Music
2. Seven Eleven......Ted Heath And His Music
3. Angels Guard Thee......John Bonner Boy Soprano /Bass Baritone
4. Somewhere A Voice Is Calling......John Bonner Boy Soprano / Bass Baritone
5. Jangle Box Rag......Joe Mr Piano Henderson
6. Theme From Modern Times (Smile).......Joe Mr Piano Henderson
7. Mother Machree......John McCormack
8. I Hear You Calling Me......John McCormack
9. Charlie Kunz Medley No D 98 ( Part One).......Charlie Kunz
10. Charlie Kunz Medley No D 98 ( Part Two).......Charlie Kunz
11. Young And Foolish......Lee Lawrence
12. Don't Tell Me Not To Love You.......Lee Lawrence

John Bonner was a chorister at Manchester Cathedral during the late 20s and early 30s. He made several records as a boy soprano, and later as a baritone. He had his voice dubbed onto two of his earlier records, Somewhere a Voice is Calling and Angels Guard Thee.

          1. Lullaby Of Birdland

Wednesday 27 March 2024

Joe Fingers Carr--Gracie Fields--Tommy Steele--Ellen Sutton--Johnnie Ray

I think we are Stuck In The 50's with this selection. with a quick peek at the 40's !

1. Zag a Zig.......Joe Fingers Carr & The Joy Riders
2. Give Me A Band And My Baby.......Joe Fingers Carr & The Joy Riders
3. Sing As We Go......Gracie Fields
4. In My Little Bottom Drawer.......Gracie Fields
5. Singing the Blues......Tommy Steele
6. Rebel Rock......Tommy Steele
7. How 'Ya keep 'Em Down On The Farm......Ellen Sutton
8. You Can't Buffalo Me.....Ellen Sutton
9. Destiny......Johnnie Ray
10. Why Should I Be Sorry......Johnnie Ray
11. I'm A Little Echo......Joe Fingers Carr
12. La la Collette......Joe Fingers Carr

Ellen Sutton is a 1950s singer with a powerful, husky voice best remembered for the upbeat and rollicking "I Wanna Say Hello" (1952) featuring honky tonk piano accompaniment by Sir Hubert Pimm.

         3. Sing As We Go

Dean Martin & Line Renaud--Robert Earl--Ray Martin--Charles Williams--Jack Hylton--Eddie Fisher

Been a while since the last post....so here we go again with memories from the 40's 50's 60's and maybe earlier !

1. Relax Ay Voo.......Dean Martin & Line Renaud
2. Two Sleepy People......Dean Martin & Line Renaud
3. Believe In Me......Robert Earl
4. If  You Can Dream......Robert Earl
5. The Elephant Tango......Ray Martin & His Orchestra
6. Blue Mirage......Ray martin & His Orchestra
7. Devil's Galop......Charles Williams & His Orchestra
8. The Old Clockmaker......Charles Williams & His Orchestra
9. Pagan Love Song......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
10. This Is Heaven.......Jack Hylton & His Orchestra
11. With These Hands......Eddie Fisher
12. Many Times......Eddie Fisher

Charles Williams (8 May 1893 – 7 September 1978) was a British composer and conductor, contributing music to over 50 films. While his career ran from 1934 through 1968, much of his work came to the big screen as stock music and was therefore uncredited.
"Devil's Galop" was the theme tune to the radio serial Dick Barton.
"The Old Clockmaker" was chosen as the radio theme to Jennings at School

          7. Devil's Galop