Bill Haley--Beniamino Gigli--Guy Mitchell--Albert Sammons--Dinah Shore--Vaughan Monroe

A musical mixture of styles from rock to 40's band !

1. Se You Later Alligater.......Bill Haley & His Comets

2. The Paper Boy......Bill Haley & His Comets

3. AveMaria......Beniamino Gigli

4. Agnus Dei......Beniamino Gigli

5. Finders Keepers......Guy Mitchell

6. I'd Like To Say A Few Words About Texas......Guy Mitchell

7. Intermezzo......Albert Sammons

8. Serenade......Albert Sammons

9. Too Late Now......Dinah Shore

10. Down In Nashville Tennessee......Dinah Shore

 11. The Very Thought Of You......Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra

12. There I've Said it Again......Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra

Albert Edward Sammons CBE (23 February 1886 – 24 August 1957) was an English violinist, composer and later violin teacher. Almost self-taught on the violin, he had a wide repertoire as both chamber musician and soloist, although his reputation rests mainly on his association with British composers, especially Elgar. He made a number of recordings over 40 years.

Albert Sammons made his first recording in October 1908; his last was made on 16 April 1946 (Edmund Rubbra's 2nd sonata with Gerald Moore). 

Frank Luther--De Groot Trio--Danny Kaye--The Johnson Brothers--The Keynotes--Jack Gordon--Steve Conway

Coconuts a Swan some Roses and a Classic Painting For Your Perusal!!

1. The Bum Song......Frank Luther

2. Hallelujah I'm A Bum......Frank Luther

3. Londonderry Air......De Groot Trio

4. Le Cygne......De Groot Trio

5. I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts......Danny Kaye

6. The Peony Bush......Danny Kaye

7. The Bandit......The Johnson Brothers

8. A Dime And A Dollar......The Keynotes

9. You Are My Hearts Delight......Jack Gordon

10. Good Night Sweetheart......Jack Gordon

11. Mona Lisa......Steve Conway

12. Ashes Of Roses......Steve Conway

Frank Luther (born Francis Luther Crow, August 4, 1899 – November 16, 1980) was an American country music singer, dance band vocalist, playwright, songwriter and pianist.

The Keynotes, close harmony singers with the British radio comedy 'Take It From Here' or 'TIFH'

Jack Gordon was a British vocalist and drummer from the Dance Band era of the 1930s. He was part of Jack Payne And His Band and Jay Whidden And His New Midnight Follies Band .

 He recorded several songs with Imperial Records, including “Molly”, “There’ll Never Be Another Mary”, “Falling In Love Again”, “Dark Red Roses”, “Good-night, Sweetheart”, “You Are My Heart’s Delight”..

          7. The Bandit

Mantovani & His Orch--The Deep River Boys--Johnny Dankworth & His Orch--The International Oldtime Dance Orch--Charlie Kunz--Sid Phillips & His Orch

So with a Rumba a Rock a Tango and a Quickstep lets hope the mice had a good night sleep and didn't get gobbled up by the Fox

1. Swedish Rhapsody......Mantovani & His Orchestra

2. Jamaican Rumba......Mantovani & His Orchestra

3. Rock Around The Clock......The Deep River Boys

4. Adam Never Had No Mammy......The Deep River Boys

5. Experiments With Mice......Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra

6. Applecake.....Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra

7. The Olympia Glide......The International Old Time Dance Orchestra

8. Lorraine Tango......The International Old Time Dance Orchestra

9. Piano Medley No 114. Side 1......Charlie Kunz

10. Piano Medley No 114.Side 2......Charlie Kunz

11. Honky Tonk Rag......Sid Phillips & His Band

12. You Turned The Tables On Me......Sid Phillips And His Band

The Deep River Boys were an American gospel music group active from the mid-1930s and into the 1980s. The group performed spirituals, gospel, and R&B.

They began recording as a gospel act in the late '40s and later switched over and became an R&B act and were more popular in Europe for periods of time before coming home to the States for triumphant return engagements.They spent the early '50s shuttling back and forth, working in America with the Count Basie Band during 1951 and Erskine Hawkins, but also signed on for a record-breaking ten-week engagement at the London Palladium....(Edited Info From Wikipedia)

Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he was a music educator and also her music director.

Dankworth formed his big band in 1953. Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra had a top 10 novelty hit song in 1956 in the UK, "Experiments with Mice" based on "Three Blind Mice", which parodied a number of jazz bands and artists, including Billy May, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Sauter-Finegan, and others. 

          5. Experiments With Mice

Ted HeathBand--Lita Roza--Dennis Lotis--Billie Worth & Jeff Warren--Peggy Cochrane--Will Starr--Jimmy Durante--The Banjo Kings

Lots of colourful  labels in this selection plus a ride on a train and a visit to a Blacksmith ! and a dance around the highlands !

1. Blacksmith Blues.....Ted Heath Band vocal by Lita Roza

2. Grand Central Station......Ted Heath Band Vocal By Dennis Lotis

3. Something To Dance About......Billie Worth

4. Your Just In Love......Jeff  Warren & Billie Worth

5. Plain And Fancy. Part One.......Peggy Cochrane

6. Plain And Fancy. Part Two......Peggy Cochrane

7. Savoy Scottish Medley......Will Starr

8. Eightsome Reel......Will Starr

9. I'm Durante The Patron Of The Arts......Jimmy Durante

10. Start Off Each Day With a Song......Jimmy Durante

11. That Banjo Rag......The Banjo Kings

12. Stephan Foster Medley......The Banjo Kings

Margaret Tennant Cochrane (12 January 1902 – 9 August 1988) was an English musician, singer and composer. She played both violin and piano, and broadcast and performed successfully from the 1920s to the 1950s.She made her first broadcasts on BBC radio in 1924, in violin recitals.

In 1933, she gave her first performances on television, and the following year started a regular radio slot, "A Tune A Minute", in which she would play 15 tunes in 15 minutes.

She appeared in the films Radio Parade of 1935 (1934) and Rhythm in the Air (1936).In 1937, she began working regularly with bandleader Jack Payne, appearing together at the 1938 Royal Variety Performance. 

Cochrane continued to perform, broadcast and record through the 1950s, releasing the EP Cocktails with Cochrane in 1958 and writing music for films and television. In 1959, she appeared as the guest on Desert Island Discs. (Revised info from Wikipedia )

Will Starr (27 April 1922 – 6 March 1976) was a Scottish solo accordionist.

At the age of thirteen, while making a solo guest appearance at a County Dinner in the Grand Hotel in Glasgow, Will was introduced by Sir Ian Colquhoun to Jock Kilpatrick, the manager of the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow. Jock invited him to join the cast as a solo performer, and after being granted permission to take time off school, Will began his initially part-time professional stage career.

Will recorded his first 78 record for Parlophone at the age of 18. The music was of his own composition and was named "Jacqueline" (which is almost always referred to erroneously as "The Jacqueline Waltz") after his then girlfriend. (Revised Info Courtesy Of Wikipedia)

Will Starr was a virtuoso accordionist and consummate showman, regarded as “the king” by the likes of the great Jimmy Shand. A button-row player whose prowess is still venerated among today’s accordion fraternity, Starr took the sound of Scotland to international audiences while remaining firmly rooted in his native mining village of Croy, Lanarkshire. (Full Bio at..... https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/will-starr/)

The Banjo Kings were one of the very few (if only) groups recorded by the Good Time Jazz label in the 1950s that could be considered a bit corny.

Formed by banjoists Dick Roberts and Red Roundtree in 1951, the band had either Joe Heimlich, Ernie Anderson or Vito Mumolo on third banjo, plus a three-piece rhythm section that usually included pianist Stan Wrightsman.

          1. Blacksmith Blues

The Universal International Orchestra--Ursula Van Diemen--Allan Jones--Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra--Kenny Baker--The Andrews Sisters

It seems that Brunswick is playing bookends with the HMV Dog !!

1. In The Mood......The Universal International Orchestra

2. Pennsylvania 6-5000......The Universal International Orchestra

3. An Die Musik (To Music)......Ursula Van Diemen

4. Wanderers Nachtlied......Ursula Van Diemen

5. Make Believe......Allan Jones

6. Why Do I Love You......Allan Jones

7. Opus No 1......Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra

8. Swing High......Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra

9. A Wandering Minstrel......Kenny Baker

10. The Moon And I......Kenny Baker

11. Lullaby Of Broadway......The Andrews Sisters

12. We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye......The Andrews Sisters

Ursula van Diemen, née Ursula Stürzel, was a German singer and actress.

Ursula Van Diemen (1897 -1988) was born in Schwerin in northern Germany, her father was Dutch and her mother German. She studied singing under Selma Nicklass-Kempner, Lola Beeth and Louis Bachner in Berlin.

Kenneth Laurence Baker (September 30, 1912 – August 10, 1985) was an American singer and actor who first gained notice as the featured singer on radio's The Jack Benny Program during the 1930s.

At the height of his radio fame, and after leaving the Benny show in 1939 (succeeded by Dennis Day, whose tenor voice was very similar to Baker's), he appeared in 17 film musicals. He also starred in the 1939 movie version of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. He later co-starred with Mary Martin in the original Broadway production of Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash's One Touch of Venus (1943).

          7. Opus No 1

Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra--Mario Lanza & Elizabeth Doubleday--Geraldo & His Orchestra--Jussi Bjorling--Allan Jones--June Christy

 2,4,2,2,2...work that one out !!!

1. Tannhauser.(Overture). Part One.......Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

2. Tannhauser.(Overture). Part Two.......Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra

3. Deep In My Heart Dear......Mario Lanza & Elizabeth Doubleday

4. Golden Days......Mario Lanza

5. I Do I Do I Do..Geraldo & His Orch.with Doreen Lundy & Denny Vaughan

6. The Echo Told Me A Lie......Geraldo & His Orchestra..with Denny Vaughan

7. La Donna E Mobile......Jussi Bjorling

8. Recondita Armonia.......Jussi Bjorling

9. The Donkey Serenade......Allan Jones

10. Giannina Mia.......Allan Jones

11. The First Thing You Know You're In Love......June Christy

12. Magazines.......June Christy

Gerald Walcan Bright (10 August 1904 – 4 May 1974), better known as Geraldo, was an English bandleader. He adopted the name "Geraldo" in 1930, and became one of the most popular British dance band leaders of the 1930s with his "sweet music" and his "Gaucho Tango Orchestra". During the 1940s, he modernised his style and continued to enjoy great success.Many well-known figures in British post-war jazz "served" in Geraldo's musical navy, such as John Dankworth, Benny Green, Bill Le Sage, Ronnie Scott, and Stan Tracey.

Johan Jonatan "Jussi" Björling  Swedish: 5 February 1911[1] – 9 September 1960) was a Swedish tenor. One of the leading operatic singers of the 20th century, Björling appeared for many years at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and less frequently at the major European opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London and La Scala in Milan. He sang the Italian, French and Russian opera repertory with taste.

June Christy (born Shirley Luster; November 20, 1925 – June 21, 1990) was an American singer, known for her work in the cool jazz genre and for her silky smooth vocals. Her success as a singer began with The Stan Kenton Orchestra. She pursued a solo career from 1954 and is best known for her debut album Something Cool. After her death, she was hailed as "one of the finest and most neglected singers of her time."

          11. The First Thing You Know You're In Love

Peter Dawson & Ernest Pike--Victor Silvester--Richard Tauber--Billy May--William Norman--Pat Boone

 Left hand side male vocals from the 30's ?....Right hand side definitely 50's music !!

1. The Lost Chord......Peter Dawson & Ernest Pike

2. Watchman What Of The Night......Ernest Pike & Peter Dawson

3. Only Fools.....Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

4. Time Alone Will Tell......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

5. Liebestraum (Dream Of Love)......Richard Tauber

6. Elegy......Richard Tauber

7. Main Title From The Man With The Golden Arm..Billy May & His Orch

8. Suzette......Billy May & His Orchestra

9. When The Ebb Tide Flows......William Norman

10. Asleep In The Deep......William Norman

11. A Wonderful Time Up There.......Pat Boone

12. It's To Soon To Know.......Pat Boone

Edward William May Jr. (November 10, 1916 – January 22, 2004) was an American composer, arranger and trumpeter. He composed film and television music 

May wrote arrangements for many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Yma Sumac, Nat King Cole, Anita O'Day, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone, Bobby Darin, Johnny Mercer, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Jack Jones, Bing Crosby, Sandler and Young, Nancy Wilson, Rosemary Clooney, The Andrews Sisters and Ella Mae Morse. May's charts often featured brisk tempos and intricate brass parts. One distinctive feature is his frequent use of trumpet mute devices. Another was a saxophone glissando, widely known as his "slurping saxes"

          8. Suzette

Johnnie Ray--Richard Tauber--Al Martino--Jack Payne--Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra--Reginald Gardiner

 Musical variations  galore !...plus a train journey !

1. Just Walking In The Rain......Johnnie Ray

2. In The Candlelight.......Johnnie Ray

3. Jealousy.......Richard Tauber

4. Love's Last Word Is Spoken......Richard Tauber

5. All I Want Is A Chance.......Al Martino

6. You Can't Go On Forever Breaking My Heart......Al Martino

7. When The Poppies Bloom Again......Jack Payne And His Band

8. Everybody Dance......Jack Payne And His Band

9. Show Boat Selection......Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra

10. The Vagabond King Selection......Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra

11. Trains.. Part One......Reginald Gardiner

12. Trains.. Part Two......Reginald Gardiner

The Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra was a musical ensemble that performed at the Coventry Theatre, formerly known as the New Hippodrome, in Coventry, England. The orchestra was conducted by William Pethers, who also composed some of the music for the theatre shows. The orchestra featured various instruments, such as violins, cellos, trumpets, trombones, percussion, and piano. Some of the orchestra members were also singers and actors who participated in the musicals and comedies that were staged at the theatre. The Coventry New Hippodrome Orchestra played a variety of genres, such as classical, jazz, swing, and pop. 

William Reginald Gardiner (27 February 1903 – 7 July 1980) was an English actor on the stage, in films and on television.He was also well known to radio listeners, and was known on the air for his amusing train and car noises.

Gardiner recorded a curious and eccentric classic called "Trains", which was regularly played on the 1950s British radio programme Children's Favourites. This record consisted of a tipsy-sounding Gardiner reciting a monologue, which he first introduced in the 1935 Broadway revue At Home Abroad, about steam railway engines (which he claimed were 'livid beasts') and impersonating both the engines themselves and the sound of trains running on the track. This latter he famously characterised as 'diddly-dee, diddly-dum' to mimic the sound pattern as the four pairs of bogie wheels ran over joins between the lengths of track – a sound no longer heard since welded rail joins were introduced. "Trains" was released as a 78 and a 45 by English Decca Records (F 5278) which remained on catalogue into the 1970s. At the end of the record Gardiner signs off with "Well folks, that's all: back to the asylum." He was summoned to Buckingham Palace to give a performance in person.

          5. All I Want Is A Chance

Harry Belafonte--Jack Pleasants--Tom Foy--Jimmy Lloyd--Massed Bands Of Aldershot--Joan Regan--Winifred Atwell

Some colourful labels on this selection and the massed bands are making another appearance ending in a Boogie !

1. Mary's Boy Child.......Harry Belafonte

2. Eden Was Just Like This......Harry Belafonte

3. I'm Shy Mary Ellen I'm Shy......Jack Pleasants

4. I'm I Throuble Agean......Tom Foy

5. The Prince Of Players......Jimmy Lloyd

6. Ever Since I Met Lucy.......Jimmy Lloyd

7. Blaze Away......Massed Bands Of The Aldershot Command--1932

8. Marching Through Georgia...Massed Bands Aldershot Command--1932

9. Someone Else's Roses......Joan Regan

10. The Love I Have For You.....Joan Regan

11. The Poor People of Paris......Winifred Atwell

12. Piano Tuner's Boogie......Winifred Atwell

Jack Pleasants (1876-1924) was a music hall singer and comedian especially popular in the north of England. He played the part of a bashful lover, typified by his popular songs "I'm Shy, Mary Ellen, I'm Shy" (his biggest hit 1911), "I'm Twenty-one Today" and "I Just Got Married Today". His status as one of the top Northern dialect comedians grew. Billed as “The Bashful Limit”, he typically played the part of a "bashful fool",  He wore make-up, a black frock coat, trousers, and a bowler hat, and sported a large marguerite flower.

Thomas Foy (1866 – 7 August 1917) was an English music hall performer and comedian.

He trained as an acrobat and in his spare time, he joined a circus as a clown and scene designer, and made his first music hall performance in Manchester as a lightning cartoonist. He developed a song and dance act, and also joined a Wild West show, before becoming a comedian with a stage Irish persona. He appeared in pantomimes in the north of England before heading to London and finding fame as a comedian and pantomime performer.He was billed as "The famous Little Comedian". As a pantomime performer he specialised in "Idle Jack" and pantomime dames.

Jimmy Lloyd was a singer from Trinidad who came to England in 1956 and made his first appearance on the Six-Five Special on November 30th 1957. He also appeared on other British TV shows such as Oh Boy! and Drumbeat, and recorded several songs for the Philips label. He was known for his energetic and lively style of singing, influenced by rock and roll and calypso music. 

Joan Regan (born Joan Bethel or Siobhan Bethel; 19 January 1928 – 12 September 2013) was an English traditional pop music singer, popular during the 1950s and early 1960s.Her successful singing career began in 1953, when she made a demo record of "Too Young" and "I'll Walk Alone". The demo came to the attention of Bernard Delfont, and that helped her sign a recording contract with Decca Records.

She had a number of Top 40 hits for the label, many of them were cover versions of American hits. Among them were Teresa Brewer's "Ricochet", "Till I Waltz Again with You", and "Jilted", Doris Day's "If I Give My Heart to You" and Jill Corey's "Cleo and Me-O" and "Love Me to Pieces".

          3. I'm Shy Mary Ellen I'm Shy

           12. Piano Tuners Boogie

Cedric Sharpe--The Ray Ellington Quartet--Billy Eckstine--Massed Bands Of The Southern Command--Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra--Jack Daley

 We start this collection with a couple of smooth cello's  then off behind that door galloping away to some marches ending in the desert in Ireland !!??

1. Londonderry Air......Cedric Sharpe

2. Largo......Cedric Sharpe

3. The Green Door......The Ray Ellington Quartet

4. Giddy Up A Ding Dong......The Ray Ellington Quartet

5. The Bitter With The Sweet.......Billy Eckstine

6. Grapevine......Billy Eckstine

7. Tidworth Tattoo--1933 (Marches)......Massed Bands Of The Southern Command

8. Tidworth Tattoo--1933 (Medley).......Massed Bands Of The Southern Command

9. Maybe You'll Be There......Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra vocalist Charles La Vere

10. On The Painted Desert......Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra vocalist Bob Stevens

11. The Mountains Of Mourne......Jack Daly

12. Rose Of Tralee......Jack Daley

Cedric Sharpe, ARCM, Hon RAM (13 April 1891 – 1978) was a British cellist, composer and music professor of the early to mid-20th century. He studied cello at the Royal College of Music.

He recorded for HMV and was broadcast by the BBC. He composed a number of original pieces mostly for solo cello with piano accompaniment.

Henry Pitts Brown (17 March 1916 – 27 February 1985), known professionally as Ray Ellington, was an English singer, drummer and bandleader. He is best known for his appearances on The Goon Show from 1951 to 1960. The Ray Ellington Quartet had a regular musical segment on the show.

The Ray Ellington Quartet was formed in 1947.The other members of Ellington's quartet were Dick Katz (piano) and Coleridge Goode (bass) and Lauderic Caton (Guitar).. When guitarist Caton moved on he was succeeded in turn by Laurie Deniz, Australian Don Fraser and Judd Proctor, who was a member of the quartet for six years from July 1955.Ellington specialised in jazz but experimented with many other genres and his musical style was heavily influenced by the comedic jump blues of Louis Jordan.

They were also reputedly the first jazz band in the UK to use an amplified guitar, which was produced and introduced by their guitar player, Lauderic Caton. 

          11. The Mountains Of Mourne

Mantovani--Ted Heath--Glen Mason--Russ Morgan--Paul Rich--Sydney Thompson

 Big front names and relatively unknown names doing the vocals on this selection...I wonder if there is any info on the singers....will have lookee and seeeeee !

1. Softly Softly......Mantovani & His Orchestra. vocalist Kim Bennett

2. Longing......Mantovani & His Orchestra

3. Day By Day......Ted Heath & His Music. vocalist Paul Carpenter

4. To Bed Early......Ted Heath & His Music. vocalist Paul Carpenter

5. The Green Door......Glen Mason

6. Why Must You Go Go Go.....Glen Mason

7. So Tired......Russ Morgan & His Orchestra. vocalist Russ Morgan

8. The More We Are Together.....Russ Morgan & His Orchestra. vocalist Russ Morgan

9. All You Have To Do Is Dream......Paul Rich

10. Witch Doctor......Paul Rich

11. Laces And Graces......Sydney Thompson's Old Tyme Dance Orchestra

12. Waltz Medley.......Sydney Thompson's Olde Tyme Dance Orchestra

Paul Carpenter (8 December 1921 – 12 June 1964) was a Canadian actor and singer.

He moved to Britain and sang with Carroll Gibbons and Ted Heath in the 1940's and starred in the BBC Radio serial Riders of the Range (1949–1953) as the cowboy Jeff Arnold.He was also a  leading man in British 1950's second feature melodramas and potboilers. He was also a former war correspondent and ice hockey champion.

Glen Mason was born in Stirling, Scotland, UK, on 16 September 1930.

 Norman Newell, manager for the Philips recording company noticed Mason and after an audition recorded Mason's first two tracks, "The Whistling Kettle and the Dancing Cat" and "Dixieland Tango". Mason introduced him to producer George Martin, and Martin made the Scottish singer "sound American" in his versions of U.S. hits "Glendora" and "Green Door".

They were amply advertised ("Glendora" was described as a record that "really rocks" but, competing with the Perry Como and Jim Lowe originals, they failed to chart, with "Green Door" peaking at #24.

Sydney Thompson was a BBC bandleader of the 1950s. His "Old-Tyme Dance Orchestra" was one of the leading UK bands of the period.

          7. So Tired

The Johnson Brothers--Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford--The Band Of HM Coldstream Guards--Max Bygraves--Joe Loss & His Orchestra--Doris Day & Buddy Clark

 Vocals either side of a marching band with a couple of Hey's complete this selection !

1. Hey There.....The Johnston Brothers

2. Hernando's Hideaway.....The Johnston Brothers

3. Hey Good Lookin'......Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford

4. Gambella......Frankie Laine & Jo Stafford

5. There'll Always Be An England......The Band Of HM Coldstream Guards

6. Lords Of The Air......The Band Of HM Coldstream Guards

7. Meet Me On The Corner......Max Bygraves

8. The Little Laplander......Max Bygraves

9. Laughing On The Outside......Joe Loss & His Orchestra 

10. You Can Be Sure Of Me......Joe Loss & His Orchestra

11. I'll String Along With You......Doris Day & Buddy Clark

12. The Last Mile Home......Doris Day

The Johnston Brothers were a vocal group who had a No. 1 hit in the UK Singles Chart in 1955 with their cover version of "Hernando's Hideaway".The group was formed by Johnny Johnston (born John Harold Johnston, 10 July 1919 – 10 June 1998, London).

In 1949, Johnston formed an all-male singing trio, The Johnston Brothers, the other members being Alan Dean, Eddie Lester and Canadian singer Denny Vaughan . They won a recording contract with Decca Records, and had their first UK Top 10 hit in 1953 with "Oh Happy Day". In November 1955, their version of "Hernando's Hideaway", from the movie The Pajama Game, reached the number one spot for two weeks, beating off the American versions by both Johnnie Ray and Archie Bleyer. The Johnston Brothers had a number of smaller follow-up hits in the UK, including the medley "Join in And Sing Again" (1955) and "Heart" (1957), and also recorded with Joan Regan.They provided backing for the British vocalist, Suzi Miller, on their UK No. 14 joint hit, "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" in 1955.

Mitch Miller teamed Laine with many of Mercury and Columbia's biggest artists. He scored hits with Patti Page ("I Love You for That") at Mercury, Doris Day ("Sugarbush"), Jo Stafford ("Hey Good Lookin'", "Gambella (The Gambling Lady)", "Hambone", "Floatin' Down to Cotton Town", "Settin' the Woods on Fire", and many others), Jimmy Boyd ("Tell Me a Story", "The Little Boy and the Old Man"), the Four Lads ("Rain, Rain, Rain") and Johnnie Ray ("Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)").
Both in collaboration with Jo Stafford and as a solo artist, Laine was one of the earliest, and most frequent, Columbia artists to bring country numbers into the mainstream. 

The Band of the Coldstream Guards is one of the oldest and best known bands in the British Army, having been officially formed on 16 May 1785 under the command of Major C F Eley.

                                           Doris Day & Buddy Clark

         9. Laughing On The Outside

Flanagan & Allen--Victor Silvester--Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth--Artie Shaw--Massed Bands--Mary Lou Williams

 All reds except 2 blacks....sounds like a Rugby Game but it ain't, just gentle songs !!

1. Home Town......Flanagan & Allan

2. Free Isn't It The Way It Ought To Be......Flanagan & Allan

3. Jealousy......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

4. Parana.....Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

5. I'll See You Again......Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth

6. Wanting You......Anne Ziegler & Webster Booth

7. Back Bay Shuffle......Artie Shaw & His Orchestra

8. Jungle Drums......Artie Shaw & His Orchestra

9. William Tell Overture--Finale......Massed Bands

10. Tannhauser--March......Massed Bands

11. Laughing Rag......Mary Lou Williams

12. Rag Of Rags.......Mary Lou Williams

Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act most active during the 1930s and 1940s. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 – 1968, born Chaim Weintrop) and Chesney Allen (1894–1982).They were first paired in a Florrie Forde revue, and were booked by Val Parnell to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1929.

As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of the Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.The recordings of Flanagan and Allen and the duo are still impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performances have sometimes featured people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd and Christopher Timothy, Bernie Winters and Leslie Crowther. 

Anne Ziegler (22 June 1910 – 13 October 2003) was an English singer, known for her light operatic duets with her husband Webster Booth. The pair were known as the "Sweethearts in Song" and were among the most famous and popular British musical acts of the 1940s.

Webster Booth (21 January 1902 – 21 June 1984) was an English tenor, best remembered as the duettist partner of Anne Ziegler. He was also one of the finest tenors of his generation and was a distinguished oratorio soloist.

Artie Shaw (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, bandleader, actor and author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Widely regarded as "one of jazz's finest clarinetists", Shaw led one of the United States' most popular big bands in the late 1930s through the early 1940s. Though he had numerous hit records, he was perhaps best known for his 1938 recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." 

          9. William Tell Overture

Denny Dennis--Guy Mitchell--Walter Glynne--Victor Silvester--Les Paul & Mary Ford--The Beverley Sisters

 A mixed little lot of vocals with a quickstep and a waltz in the middle...Is that Bing on the first track ??

1. Chi-Baba,Chi-Baba......Denny Dennis

2. Danger Ahead......Denny Dennis

3. Sparrow In The Tree Top......Guy Mitchell

4. Christopher Columbus......Guy Mitchell

5. I'll Walk Beside You......Walter Glynne

6. The Valley Where Wishes Come True......Walter Glynne

7. I Begged Her......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

8. Evensong.......Victor Silvester & His Ballroom Orchestra

9. Three Little Words......Les Paul & Mary Ford

10. Moon Of Manakoora.......Les Paul & Mary Ford

11. Hurry Home To Me......The Beverley Sisters

12. Yell For Your Mama......The Beverley Sisters

Denny Dennis (1 November 1913 in Derby – 2 November 1993 in Barrow-in-Furness) was a British romantic vocalist during the 1930s to the 1950s, when British dance bands were at the peak of their popularity. He was a band singer, a solo recording star and a broadcaster.In 1933, he became a featured singer in the Roy Fox band,He worked with Ambrose's orchestra for six months until June 1939 when he decided to go solo, recording for Decca's Rex label.

He made a number of recordings with Stanley Black and his orchestra and these drew him to the attention of Tommy Dorsey. In March 1948 Dennis left the UK to become the featured vocalist with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. He had a successful time with Dorsey with their recording of "Down by the Station" reaching the Billboard charts in 1949 and peaking in the #11 position. In April 1949 he decided to return to England.

In 1950, he sponsored a close harmony singing group, the Fraser Hayes Four, who had success on radio in the 1960s. As the dance band scene declined, he found work making covers of popular songs for the budget Embassy label.

The Beverley Sisters were an English female close harmony pop vocal and light entertainment trio, consisting of three sisters from London. They were eldest sister Joy (born Joycelyn Victoria Chinery, 5 May 1924 – 31 August 2015), and twins Teddie (born Hazel P. Chinery, 5 May 1927) and Babs (born Babette Patricia Chinery, 5 May 1927 – 28 October 2018). The sisters were each appointed MBE in 2006.

The Beverley Sisters were most popular during the 1950s and 1960s, and became well-known through their radio and television appearances. Their style was loosely modelled on that of their American counterparts, The Andrews Sisters. 

The sisters are widely credited as having been the highest paid female entertainers in the UK for more than 20 years. In 1952, 1958 and 1978, they appeared at the Royal Variety Performance.

          1. Chi-Baba,Chi-Baba

Kneller Hall Band--Tony Bennett--Josephine Bradley--Bill Snyder--Sir Hubert Pimm & Ellen Sutton--The Sentimentalists--Tommy Steele

 This selection pays tribute to Tony Bennett (RIP ) with one of his very early hits !

1. Martial Moments Part One......Kneller Hall Band

2. Martial Moments Part Two......Kneller Hall Band

3. Stranger In Paradise......Tony Bennett

4. Take Me Back Again......Tony Bennett

5. Three O'clock In The Morning......Josephine Bradley & Her Ballroom Orchestra

6. Happy Go Lucky......Josephine Bradley & Her Ballroom Orchestra

7. The Chicago Blues......Bill Snyder & His Orchestra

8. I Wanna Say Hello......Sir Hubert Pimm  with Ellen Sutton

9. A Little Bird Told Me......The Sentimentalists

10. Sulva Bay......The Sentimentalists

11. Knee Deep In The Blues......Tommy Steele

12. Teenage Party......Tommy Steele

Anthony Dominick Benedetto (August 3, 1926 – July 21, 2023), known professionally as Tony Bennett, was an American jazz and traditional pop singer. He sold more than 50 million records worldwide and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 His first number-one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several popular tracks such as "Rags to Riches" followed in early 1953. He then refined his approach to encompass jazz singing......Sing To The Angels Tony !

Josephine Bradley MBE (24 March 1893 – 16 February 1985) was a ballroom dancer and dance teacher. Although born in Dublin, she was raised from an early age in London, the youngest of eight children. Bradley was among the first ballroom dance professionals of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) who standardised the basic techniques of foxtrot, tango, quickstep and waltz. These are the English ballroom dances of what is now the World Dance Council's International Dancesport category. For her activities she had earned herself an informal title "The First Lady of the Ballroom".

Bradley became one of the few women to lead a British band between 1920–1950; others included Ivy Benson and Mrs. Jack Hilton. Bradley set up her group in 1935, mainly as a recording band for Decca: Josephine Bradley and her Ballroom Orchestra. She had already, in 1930, directed the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra for HMV. Between March 1937 and October 1945 she recorded over 200 sides for Decca. Bradley's recordings sold well, and represent "the very best of ballroom music over half a century after they were made".

Sir Hubert Pimm was a British pianist and singer who recorded popular songs in the 1950s under the pseudonym of Sir Hubert Pimm. His real name was Jimmy MacDonald. Some of his songs include “A Broken Engagement”, “I Wanna Say Hello”, and “Cool Water Blues”. You can listen to some of his recordings on YouTube or Archive.org.

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.

The Sentimentalists was a British vocal group related to Billy Cotton

          3. Stranger In Paradise

Alma Cogan--Spike Jones--Charlie Barnet--Frankie Laine--Peter Dawson--Mantovani

 Continuing with the humble & breakable & heavy ! 78's

1. Mambo Italiano......Alma Cogan

2. The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane......Alma Cogan

3. Cocktails For Two......Spike Jones

4. Chloe......Spike Jones

5. Sky Liner......Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra

6. The Moose.....Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra

7. Hummingbird......Frankie Laine

8. My Little One......Frankie Laine

9. Old Father Thames......Peter Dawson

10. With A Song.....Peter Dawson

11. Around The World......Mantovani & His Orchestra

12. The Heart Of Budapest......Mantovani & His Orchestra

         5. Sky Liner