Ambrose and his Orchestra....The Peanut Vendor..1931

Nice version of the popular song by Ambrose.The Rumba was so new to Europe,that Ambrose could not find a set of Morracas to use for the recording.Instead they made do with bits of thin wood hitting each other to create the sound.
Considering the musicians did not have much to go on,the band make a good fist of recreating the sound of the Rumba.
The lovely alto sax is played by American Danny Polo who stayed with the Band for 8 years.The other American in the band,Sylvester Ahola, can also be heard to good effect with a trumpet solo.
Ambrose,the son of a rag and bone man,rose to become the £10,000 per year band leader at the May Fair Hotel in 1927.He died almost penniless.Gambling,womanising,and living the high life were traits belonging to Bert Ambrose.
He had a sardonic wit..An upper class woman made a record request personally to Ambrose at the hotel,whilst slipping a £5 note into his top pocket. He quickly replied.certainly madam, whilst slipping a £10 note back into her hand.Average weekly wage in 1927 was about £2.50p (for Americans there were $8 to a pound)
Sam Browne,Britain's most recorded singer, moved over to Ambrose's band from Hylton's show band as he had tired of 18 months of constantly being on the road.
It had long been considered that the two great singing rivals,Al Bowlly and Sam Browne, never met. However a few years ago an old film was discovered where Sam offers his hand to Al,and Al pretends to be reluctant to shake his hand.They sang on the same record in 1931 (but not together) Al Bowlly never recorded with Ambrose's band,but Ambrose did try to employ Bowlly in 1937 as resident vocalist.There is even a suspicion that he may have toured with Ambrose for a short time,but nothing concrete has come to light.Ambrose employed two formidable arrangers in the late 20s,Lew Stone 1928/29 and Fred Elizalde 1927.He broadcast on air Saturday nights 10,30pm to midnight when the band were allowed to play loud,disregarding the stuffy hotel diners for once.A great band at their finest with this marvellous Cuban song...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ambrose/1920s
• music/british
• dance
• bands/nostalgia/peanut
• vendor/sam
• browne

[davidglow3]

Glad you enjoyed this version,it does have a lot of charm and nostalgic appeal

[miltsar]

"50 million monkeys can't be wrong "

[miltsar]

puts a big smile on your face ...dont it ?

[Somewitharoof]

Impossible great version, so far this is my fav! Sway! Many thanks for 'ploading!

[syncopeter]

Sam showing that he could sing virtually everything, effortlessly switching from baritone to a high tenor. He made more sides than all other singers combined.

[fractuss]

My favorite version.

[seerider45]

One of my favorites from the band & also the first Ambrose recording I bought in a flea market as a teenager.......thank you for sharing this great number !