Heaven - A British Dance Band Selection 1933-1938

HEAVEN – A BRITISH DANCE BAND Selection
1933-1938

1. THE BBC DANCE ORCHESTRA directed by HENRY HALL
HORSES CARRY TAILS – Vocal chorus by Trio including Les Allen & Burton Gillis
Arranged by Tony Lowry
Recorded in London on Tuesday 3rd January 1933

2. GERALDO AND HIS SWEET MUSIC
DON’T YOU CRY WHEN WE SAY GOODBYE – Vocal chorus by Cyril Grantham
Recorded in London on Thursday 20th September 1934

3. ROY FOX AND HIS BAND
COTTON – Vocal chorus by Denny Dennis
Recorded in London on Thursday 17th October 1935

4. MRS JACK HYLTON AND HER BAND
HEAVEN – Vocal chorus by Jimmy Miller
Recorded in London on Wednesday 8th January 1936

5. BILLY BISSETT AND HIS CANADIANS at the May Fair Hotel, London
THERE’S A LULL IN MY LIFE – Vocal chorus by Alice Mann
Recorded in London on Monday 14th June 1937

6. BRAM MARTIN AND HIS BAND from the Holborn Restaurant, London
TRUSTING MY LUCK – Vocal chorus by Gene Crowley
Recorded in London on Friday 11th February 1938

A comedy quickstep by the popular radio dance orchestra directed by Henry Hall starts our selection of six recordings from the Golden Age of British Dance Bands. This is a lively number with a very well arranged and executed vocal as well as some neat solo work. Henry was in his first year at the helm of the BBC Dance Orchestra, and already a big favourite with listeners. Next we have the opportunity of listening to one of the resident bands at London’s Savoy Hotel. Geraldo had built his fame with his Gaucho Tango Orchestra, but in 1934 decided to form a more mainstream dance band, but with the emphasis on sweet melody. It proved popular, although he still continued with his Gaucho Tango band which was so well established. Roy Fox’s superb band follows with a slow foxtrot which is a showcase for the voice of Denny Dennis. Roy had left the security of a London residency over a year earlier and was an established stage attraction, touring the variety theatres across the country. Another touring band was that of Mrs Jack Hylton, who had the backing of her famous husband’s organisation behind her. It was no wonder therefore that her band was very good, and had a recording contract for the budget Crown label, sold in Woolworths. Billy Bissett led a highly musical outfit at the May Fair Hotel in London which is reminiscent, in this arrangement, of some of the American sweet bands of the mid 1930s. Billy’s wife-to-be, Alice Mann, is heard here on her only solo vocal with Billy’s “British” band; the musicians, like its leader, were Canadians. The selection comes to a conclusion with the last recording Bram Martin’s Holborn Restaurant Dance Orchestra made, and their final record for Regal Zonophone. It is an excellent version of a popular tune of the time which was written for the Jessie Matthews film “Gangway”.

Recorded between 1933 and 1938 for the Columbia, Decca, Crown, HMV and Regal Zonophone labels, these recordings are long out-of-copyright. These sides have been remastered from original 78rpm discs by this user and are unique transfers. These cannot be copied or sold without the permission of Peter Wallace.