Ambrose and his Orchestra....Half Caste Women 1932

Beautifully smooth arrangement and playing by the Ambrose Band.Noel Coward is the composer
.A song about prostitution,which was rather risky for the conservative attitudes of the 1930s.Cole Porter wrote "Love for Sale" on the same theme and the lyrics were promptly banned.
However the greater subtlety of Cowards lyrics meant it got through the sensors.The lyrics of Cowards 1920s songs were often superb commentaries of society problems and quite different to the frivolous lyrics of his later works.
Times were changing at the Mayfair Hotel in the depression of the early 1930s.To Ambrose's fury the management had decided to allow "non hotel residents" into the ballroom.This meant that rich working class people could see the band in the flesh. Ambrose thought it would demean the atmosphere.
When Ambrose returned to the Mayfair in 1936,the hotel patrons had changed even more,and his residency could no longer fill the large ballroom,so the band was moved to the downstairs grill (smaller area) of the hotel.Ambrose by this time had come round to the idea of music for the masses.Touring the regions became the norm for the band.
Even with the end of the depression things were never to be as they were,and from end 1934,Ambrose no longer recorded quite as heavily as before.However the quality of the band's music was always maintained.Touring was profitable and meant he could employ a large band.When he took hotel residency work he had to downsize the band due to lower money offered to him and his band.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ambrose
• and
• his
• orchestra/british
• dance
• bands/1930s
• music/nostalgia/noel
• coward

[5tpxyyrk]

I heard this back in the 80s (that's the 19- , not the 18- 80s), promptly fell in love with it but soon lost the tape (that's "audio," not "scotch").

And so, for posting this, BLESS you, dahling !

But the reason your name's been submitted for sainthood ( Saint DavidGlow III ... memorable, if a smidge "New Age-y" ) is your thoughtful inclusion of information which will help viewers ( who can read ) to put the song in it's proper context.

Hmmph ... HOOORS !!!!! WHO KNEW ????

[davidglow3]

@5tpxyyrk Thank you for your kind words.l do get abusive messages from time to time when anything in the info section does not agree with them,so it is refreshing to get a compliment

[syncopeter]

Love for sale was promptly redlined by the BBC. Orchestras were allowed to play the tune as long as the lyrics were only hummed. There was no better way of getting attention than a radio ban. Still is by the way.

Porter in the U.S and Coward in the U.K were advocates of free speech, constantly seeking and passing the 'decency' margins in their lyrics.

[julianbonser]

The singer has to be Sam Browne.

[mojavevik1]

Anna May Wong probably sang this often? Somewhat sad---yet songs have a way of seeing the future---and remembering the past---tragic---Victor/Los Angeles

[OBAMAisHalfCaste]

Half-Caste woman.

[2reeler]

One of my favorites of his early 30s records! Thanks for the pleasure of hearing it again! Ambroses Band really captures a mood here! Been a big favorite of mine!! Great info too by the way. Noel Coward, such a wit! I have him doing a sketch on the Rudy Vallee show in 1933. Glad I discovered your channel. Wonderful nostalgia !

[roybo1930]

I`m very lucky to own this TREASURE! what a BEAUTIFUL song it is indeed! Ambrose NEVER dissapoints!