Customer Reviews

Centenary Issue: 26 Original Mono Rec 1935-1947

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Being familiar with Ray Noble's English New Mayfair Orchestra, I was curious to hear his later American band. The arrangements and performers are all first rate and this album shows the orchestra's wide range from novelty to jazz to sweet to sophisticated. Those who love Al Bowlly will not be disappointed by his vocals on "The Touch of Your Lips" and "I've Got You Under My Skin", but be forewarned that he is only on 5 cuts of this CD and in two of those rather underused. Still, keep listening to enjoy two fabulous numbers demonstrating the range and styling skill of a young Tony Martin. The orchestra's rich, classy style is also well suited with two Fred Astaire vocals. Three of the novelty numbers allow Ray Noble personally to get in on the fun. Although some might find his upper class British twit persona irritating, his timing and wit on "Suspicion!" are superb. There are several orchestral pieces, including "Cherokee" and "Harlem Nocturne," which show the development of the later Ray Noble sound and should not be missed.
The liner notes accompanying the CD are satisfactory (small mistakes here and there but a good history)and every attempt seems to have been made to accurately list all recording labels, dates and band personnel. Like all Living Era products, this is a fine collection, well reproduced. A CD well worth sitting down and listening to without distraction over and over again.

Ray Noble's first American band was formed on his behalf by Glenn Miller, for whom many of the musicians concerned had worked before. So from the outset there was a cause for conflict between the forthright Mr. Miller (whose posthumous reputation gained enormouslty from James Stewart's sympathetic portrayal)and the mild Mr. Noble. Nonetheless, the recordings he made with that line-up, plus vocalist Al Bowlly and drummer Bill Harty, both of whom he'd been able to import from England, were best-sellers and it's easy to hear why.

Tony Martin and Fred Astaire both recorded with Noble at a later stage, and he himself wasn't above playing a Hooray Henry, as heard here in "Slumming On Park Avenue". His forte however was composing and arranging (three of his most romantic ballads are included), and his Indian Suite ranks high, both as his tribute to the native American people, and because "Cherokee" became one of the standards of the Swing Era.

All of these, and more, are present in this sparkling compilation. I'm particularly glad that it includes the beautiful ballad "Harlem Nocturne" which I used to own on 78.

I waited a long time for this, having been a long time Al Bowlley & Ray Noble fan. This is first-rate music by many stars of the 1930's who were appreciated by Noble.