Search - Henry Hall :: Music Goes Round & Round: 1932-36

Great 1930's Popular Music

Peter Wallace | Brazil | 02/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The famous BBC Dance Orchestra directed by Henry Hall is revived in 26 sparkling recordings from 1933 to 1936. Benny Carter's arrangement of "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket" is included along with many radio favourites. I particularly enjoyed the terrific performance of "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" and the slower foxtrot "Moon Over Miami" which is a lovely record. The only fault I have is with the inclusion of "The Teddy Bear's Picnic". It may be Henry's most popular recording but do we need it yet again? I think the sound quality on this CD is exceptional. It's a real treat."

The music goes round indeed!

JJA Kiefte | Tegelen, Nederland | 01/29/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Virtually every musical style is tackled by Henry Hall and his BBC Dance Orchestra, from children's songs to latin americana, from silly pop songs of the day to adaptations of the classics. Personally I'm not always enamoured of these excursions beyond straight dance music, but somehow Hall manages to captivate me with his musical offerings, rendering even the take-off on Bach palatable.

Volume two ("Underneath the Arches") is even better; when may we finally welcome volume three?"

FIVE-FIFTEEN AND TIME FOR HENRY HALL

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 11/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Vocalion's first release devoted to Henry Hall, who in early 1932 was invited at short notice to form a new BBC Dance Orchestra to take the place of that led by Jack Payne, when that worthy unexpectedly handed in his resignation. The story is well told in Bob Francis' liner note, which details the different approach Henry adopted during his own tenure. This is a well-chosen selection, which includes that perennial favourite "The Teddy Bears' Picnic", and Henry's opening and closing themes, "Five-Fifteen" and "Here's To The Next Time" respectively. We hear mainly the vocal talents of Dan Donovan, but Kitty Masters, Les Allen, George Elrick, Hildegarde, and Val Rosing get a hearing also. If you want be reminded of a time when radio was king then this is for you."