Most people these days don’t realize that during The Depression, jazz orchestras were divided into “Sweet” and “Hot” bands. The latter were lead by the likes of Benny Goodman, Chick Webb and Count Basie, while the former featured Guy Lombardo, Kay Kyser and Glenn Miller. Ray Noble (2903-78) was an Englishman who made his name with music on both sides of The Atlantic, later finishing up his career on radio and TV with the likes of ventriloquist Edgar Bergen as well as the comedy team Burns and Allen. This two disc set features his dance band, highlighted by his longtime associated vocalist Al Bowlly.
Noble shows that he knew h ow to swing hard, as on a fun “Tiger Rag” and frantic “Chinatown, MY Chinatown” as well as on his 1935 “Let’s Swing It” that made #1 on the US charts. Bowlly croons with bel canto form on “Isle Of Capri” and “Paris In The Spring” and is featured on Noble’s most famous composition “ he Very Thought Of You,” a piece that surely paid his bills for a number of years, being covered by just about every band and singer.
His “Love Is the Sweetest Thing” has aged well, while Bowlly tends to sound a bit dated, unlike the more modern Buddy Clark who wounds comfortable on ”Linda” and Tony Martin, who has aged well on pieces like “I Hadn’t Anyone But You,” also a chart topper. Uptown, upscale and up your alley.