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Episode 1

Episode 1 of 5

Brian Matthew celebrates the golden age of British Dance Bands. In this episode, he profiles band leader Bert Ambrose.

Brian Matthew celebrates the golden age of British dance bands, when some of the biggest and most glamorous stars on the pop scene were bandleaders. Four of the best - Bert Ambrose, Roy Fox, Jack Hylton and Lew Stone - were dubbed "the bands that mattered" and over the next five weeks Brian tells their stories.

He begins with Bert Ambrose, who held sway at The Embassy Club and The Mayfair Hotel, was the favourite of royalty and employed, among others, Ted Heath, Anne Shelton, Stanley Black and Vera Lynn. With the help of many interviews from the 麻豆约拍 archives and historic recordings of his various bands, Brian reveals how Benjamin Baruch, the son of a Jewish wool merchant, became Ambrose - leader of the West End's foremost dance orchestra and one of the most glamorous figures of his day.

Writer Tony Staveacre has scoured the 麻豆约拍's sound archive and interviewed many musicians and friends to assemble this vivid portrait of an era Robert Graves called "The Long Garden Party". The series includes contributions from Ambrose and Roy Fox; band members; experts like Russell Davies, as well as Brian Matthew himself, who personally knew many of the figures in this remarkable story.

We also hear the music created by these men and the "bands that mattered". Music to which a whole generation danced in the great houses and palaces, prestigious hotels, swanky night-clubs, ballrooms and - by listening live nightly on the 麻豆约拍 - in private homes.

30 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Nov 2009 19:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Bert Ambrose

    "We're Tops On Saturday Night"

    • 鈥淗appy Days Are Here Again鈥�.
    • Pegasus (PGNCD 843).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "When Day Is Done"

    • 鈥淭he Continental; featuring The Embassy Club recordings.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6002).

  • Emil Coleman & His Montmartre Orchestra

    "Tomorrow (I'll Be In My Dixie 麻豆约拍 Again)"

  • Sherbo鈥檚 Orchestra

    "Bells"

  • Bert Ambrose

    "China Boy, Go To Sleep"

    Artist: Ambrose & His Embassy Club Orchestra

    • Columbia (3285).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "Dance, Little Lady"

    • 鈥淎mbrose & His Orchestra Vol. 7 鈥淕oodnight But Not Goodbye鈥�.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6107).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "Painting The Clouds With Sunshine"

    • 鈥淎mbrose & His Orchestra: The Hottest Of The Decca 鈥楳鈥� Series鈥�.
    • Retrieval (RTR 9057).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "All Of Me"

    • 鈥淎mbrose Volume 4: 鈥淛ust One More Chance鈥�.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6031).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "Top Hat, White Tie & Tails"

    • Ambrose & His Orchestra: 鈥淚 Only Have Eyes For You鈥�.
    • Sounds Of Yesteryear (DSOY 721).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "The Love-Bug Will Bite You"

    • Ambrose & His Orchestra Vol 9: 鈥淭hree Little Fishes鈥�.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6135).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "Cotton-Pickers' Congregation"

    • 鈥淭he Essential Collection: Ambrose & His Orchestra鈥�.
    • AVID (AVC 992).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "We Three"

    • Ambrose & His Orchestra Vol 6: 鈥淎s Time Goes By鈥�.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6096).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "Blue September"

    • Ambrose & His Orchestra: Latin America After Dark/Starlit Hour.
    • Vocalion (CDNJT 5202).

  • Kathy Kirby

    "Secret love"

    • 鈥淗its, Rarities And Lipgloss!鈥�.
    • Vocalion (CDLK 4215).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "The Show Is Over"

    • The Essential Collection: Ambrose & His Orchestra.
    • AVID (AVC 992).

  • Bert Ambrose

    "When Day Is Done"

    • 鈥淭he Continental; featuring The Embassy Club recordings.
    • Vocalion (CDEA 6002).

Broadcast

  • Fri 20 Nov 2009 19:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 2