Jeepers Creepers CD

What fun! Listen to the smooth and witty sounds of British and American dance bands from the 1930s. Benny Goodman's "Stompin' at the Savoy," Guy Lombardo's "Stars Fell on Alabama," Paul Whiteman's "It's Only a Paper Moon," and "Say It with Music" by Bert Ambrose and the BBC Dance Orchestra. Plus Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington and more. 20 great hits. 1 hour on 1 CD

Jeepers creepers! Smooth, witty and confident music from the golden years of the British and American dance band. Society favourites and broadcasting legends combine in an sophisticated programme featuring some of the great names of the day.

1 Stompin' at the Savoy Benny Goodman
2 Music, Maestro, Please Tommy Dorsey
3 Say it with Music Ambrose
4 Dancing in the Dark Artie Shaw
5 Caravan Duke Ellington
6 Stars Fell on Alabama Guy Lombardo
7 I'm Old Fashioned Geraldo
8 Say It Isn't So Ambrose
9 Jeepers Creepers PaulWhiteman/Jack Teagarden
10 Georgia on My Mind Nat Gonella
11 Happy Feet Jack Hylton
12 It's Only a Paper Moon Paul Whiteman
13 September in the Rain Jack Payne
14 The Music Goes 'Round and 'Round Henry Hall
15 Night Ride Ambrose
16 Oh! Mo'nah Billy Cotton
17 I'm Getting Sentimental Over You Tommy Dorsey
18 I Get a Kick Out of You Paul Whiteman
19 I Can't Give You Anything But Love Benny Goodman
20 Change Partners Caroll Gibbons

Jeepers Creepers
1930s Dance

These were the golden years for British bands. Each had its own personality and individual sound. There was the elegance of Ambrose, the taste and swing of Lew Stone, the sophistication of Henry Hall, the unique cockney high spirits of Billy Cotton, the piano subtleties of Carroll Gibbons, the infectious dance rhythms of Geraldo. Their American cousins offered an incredible variety and richness; from the sweet music of Guy Lombardo, to the spectacular Paul Whiteman, the swing and pep of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey 'The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing' and the essential thoroughbred sound of Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra.

Bert Ambrose was Society's favourite bandleader, a popular broadcaster and his band was for a time the resident one at the Mayfair Hotel where, in 1927, he was already earning £10,000 pounds a year - easily a high six-figure sum today. His was one of the greatest of all British dance bands. His broadcasts went out on Saturday nights from 10.30 to midnight. Night Ride, an exciting instrumental, was recorded in 1936. At the time the country was looking forward to the coronation of King Edward V111. In contrast, Irving Berlin's Say It Isn't So, featuring Sam Browne, was recorded in October 1932.

Even if he had not been one of the finest clarinetists of the twentieth century with classical as well as dance and jazz records to his credit, Benny Goodman would be recognized as a pioneer in organizing integrated jazz and swing groups. Stompin' at the Savoy, one of Goodman's most familiar numbers, dates from 1936 whilst I Can't Give You Anything But Love, with Martha Tilton supplying the vocal, was recorded in the autumn of the following year.

When the BBC Dance Orchestra was broadcast at 5.15 in the afternoon, many children found themselves unable to listen to Children's Hour, since, at the same hour, their parents opted for Henry Hall. But Henry did not forget the children, and always included songs especially for them.

Dance band music, at its best, cuts across all barriers of age, time and changing musical tastes