DESCRIPTION:
BRITISH HOT DANCE & SWING – a 1936 selection

1. HARRY ROY AND HIS TIGER RAGAMUFFINS
Sweet Georgia Brown – Vocal by Harry Roy
Recorded in London on Monday 6th July 1936

Personnel:
Harry Roy – clarinet
Stanley Black & Norman Yarlett – pianos
Arthur Calkin – string bass
Joe Daniels – drums

2. THE BALLYHOOLIGANS
Whispering
Recorded in London on Thursday 27th February 1936

Personnel:
Phil Green – leader, piano
Harry Smith – clarinet, alto sax
Ernest Wilson – piano
George Senior – string bass
Max Lewin – drums

3. TEDDY FOSTER AND HIS KINGS OF SWING
‘Tain’t No Use – Vocal by Teddy Foster
Recorded in London on Friday 20th November 1936

Personnel:
Teddy Foster – director, trumpet
Freddy Gardner – clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax
Bob Leach – piano, celeste
Sam Gelsley – guitar
Irving Leador – string bass
Jack Burrows – drums

I am fortunate to have the Australian issue of Harry Roy’s “Sweet Georgia Brown”, and its laminated surface and fine condition deliver a clarity which is a joy to listen to. It’s a great evergreen song, as is “Whispering”, which also predates 1936. Paul Whiteman recorded it back in 1920, and he sold upwards of two million discs. On this side of the Atlantic, American-born Roy Fox made it his signature tune and recorded three versions; the last of these in 1936. The Ballyhooligans were HMV’s answer to Harry Roy’s Tiger-Ragamuffins, and in our selection they follow their inspiration. They were not a carbon copy though. “’Tain’t No Use” perhaps doesn’t fit in the evergreen category, but it was a good choice of material for Teddy Foster in his early bandleading days, having recently left Ambrose’s brass section. Three recordings which could be described as dance music, jazz or swing – to varying degrees, and still sounding great after 80 years.

These recordings, originally made for the Parlophone and HMV labels in 1936 are long out-of-copyright and remastered by this user from the original 78 rpm records. These are unique transfers and may not be copied or offered for sale without the permission of Peter Wallace.