Sep 18, 2022
Some comedy on budget record labels. Last chance plays for some, as they are a little ropey. We start with a right cheery number from comedian Bobby Comber- La-di-da-di-da. A popular entertainer through the 20s and 30s. I can find little about his history online. Plenty of history about Sandy Powell. Here he gives us Sandy the Doctor. Next Harry Leader and his Orchestra- Little man you've had a busy day(1934). Leader was a prolific band leader who operated under many different names and had a long career. He was particularly associated with the programme Workers Playtime. Vocals are by Dawn Davis. She sang with a few British bands in the 1930s and 40s, as well as a solo and in a duo. She notably dueted with Al Bowlly. She moved to Australia in the late 40s but returned to England in 1955. Unfortunately she was unavailable to get back into the entertainment business. She died in 1993, aged 83. Madame Nina Rae- Anne Laurie(1921) Other than being born in 1878 in Glasgow I could find nothing about her. Billy Williams, we've played before. Here he sings I'll lend you my best girl. Australian born he had a highly successful career in British Music hall. He died in 1915. Tommy Handley was another very successful comedian. Especially during WW2 in his radio programme ITMA- Its that man again. He gives us 'How many pips are there in a pomegranate'(1929). Charlie Higgins- Down in the field where the buttercups grow. Another popular comedian from the 1930s. He played the London Palladium three times. He billed himself as 'A fool if only he knew it.' Ernest Butcher- I sing as I limp along(1935). A character actor from 1930s to 1950s. Nothing really online that talks about his singing. We have two of his records in the F.S collection. This track is self penned. Savoy Havana band- Dear love, my love. They were the resident band at the Savoy Hotel in London, 1921 to 27. Started by Bert Railton, they did the British Premier of Gerswin's Rhapsody in Blue. We get all modern to end the show. Troubled Welsh diva with Dorothy Squires- I walk behind you(1953). Composed by her partner of the time Billy Reid. She was successful throughout the fifties and into the 60s but her faded away and she died in 1998. We finish with John Kirby- Undecided and the spacey Dawn on the desert-1938 and 1939. Kirby started on the trombone, switched to tuba and ended up on the double bass. He played in many band and started his own well thought of jazz ensemble and orchestra. He sadly died young in 1952.