1936 Vintage - British Dance Bands from the Golden Age

1936 Vintage – British Dance Bands of the Golden Age

1. JAY WILBUR AND HIS BAND
I Heard A Song In A Taxi – Vocal by Jack Cooper and Trio
Recorded in London c. 11th September 1936

2. THE CASANI CLUB ORCHESTRA directed by CHARLIE KUNZ
I Breathe On Windows – Vocal by George Barclay
Recorded in London late October 1936

3. THE BBC DANCE ORCHESTRA Directed by HENRY HALL
I Wanna Woo – Vocal by George Elrick
Arranged by Phil Cardew
Recorded in London on Saturday 18th July 1936

4. SYDNEY LIPTON AND HIS GROSVENOR HOUSE ORCHESTRA
Until Tomorrow – Vocal by Chips Chippendall
Arranged by Billy Munn
Recorded in London on Saturday 29th August 1936

5. HARRY ROY AND HIS BAND
Oh, My Goodness – Vocal by Harry Roy
Recorded in London on Tuesday 1st September 1936

6. MANTOVANI AND HIS TIPICA ORCHESTRA
The Dance Goes On – Vocal by George Barclay
Recorded in London on Thursday 24th September 1936

From the Golden Age of British Dance Bands comes a selection of six recordings from 1936. We start with the studio band directed by Jay Wilbur using a number of top musicians from the leading bands in London at that time. Then we head for Regent Street where the Casani Club Orchestra was resident under the direction of the American-born pianist Charlie Kunz. His regular male vocalist at the time was George Barclay, an Aberdonian whose services were also hired by Mantovani, witnessed by the last record. A stylish recording by the largest orchestra featured here, the BBC’s own dance band directed by the enormously popular Henry Hall, has a vocal by another Aberdeen-born singer (and drummer with the orchestra) George Elrick. Next stop is at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane where Sydney Lipton was the bandleader for so many years. Pianist Billy Munn, another Scot, arranged “Until Tomorrow” and his delightful playing contributes to the elegance of their rendition. Chips Chippendall steps out of the sax section to contribute the vocal refrain. Harry Roy, having recently left his highly successful residency at London’s May Fair Hotel, sings “Oh, My Goodness” in his own inimitable way, delighting his millions of loyal fans. Our selection ends with the brassless sound of Mantovani’s orchestra with a beautifully-played waltz.

Recorded in 1936 for the Rex, Columbia, Decca, and Parlophone 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.