Early Ambrose and his orchestra."l'm riding to glory" 1928

Sylvester Ahola had joined the band only 2 months previous.The first picture show the actual band from this recording session.Unlike Hylton or Jack Payne Ambrose was virtually unknown to the general public even in 1928.He was fabulously wealthy from his various bands.During the 2 stints at the Embassy Club in the 1920s he was not allowed to broadcast via the BBC.
In the US he also did not have a record contract.No broadcasts usually meant no record contract as sales would be minimal.
Once he moved to the Mayfair Hotel in mid 1927 he started to make some more frequent records.Upset at not being given a full contract by HMV earlier,he rejected their offer and signed a one year deal with the brand new Decca label in March 1929.Not a good move as Decca was beset with technical difficulties.The company had no studio of their own.A lot of Ambrose's initial records were rejected.Not until mid 1929 did he start to record with the same frequency as Hylton (who started recording way back in1921 and Payne in 1925 and the Savoy Bands in 1921.So apart from some sides in 1923,Ambrose made about 20 records until mid 1929.(Hylton sold 3 million on his own in 1929)
His father is often referred to as a wool merchant.In reality he was a rag and bone man from Shepherds Bush West London,who specialised in collecting discarded and used wool and cloth products vis horse and cart.
Ambrose,who was a huge gambler and womaniser,did not let his humble hidden origins get in the way of being condescending to the wealthy hotel clientel.A great story l once read which epitomises Ambrose sardonic manner,was when a wealthy millionairess approached Ambrose on the bandstand, whilst asking for a record request slipped a £5 note into his breast pocket as an incentive (£5 was about 2 weeks average wages then) Ambrose smiled and said "certainly madam" as he slipped a £10 note back into her hand.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ambrose/1920s
• music/british
• dance
• bands/nostalgia/

[tavriadriver]

Fabulous - and what sound quality you've got from this!

[davidglow3]

@tavriadriver Really pleased you enjoyed it. The arrangement is quite intricate also.A gem from the mists of time

[chasamb]

Was Arthur Lally an arranger.?I seem to remember lots of stock arramgements with his name on when I was starting in the sixties.

[davidglow3]

@chasamb Lally did not arrange this song,could be Lew Stone.However he made many arrangements for the Bert Firman Bands.These were not from scratch,instead he adjusted stock arrangements to suit hotter playing with solos,as time was short.A very gifted man who suffered depression and committed suicide in 1939

[davidglow3]

l often think the early Ambrose records need to be played several times before one can fully appreciate just how good the playing and arranging really is.Thanks for your comments

[DanRislor]

The arrangement is not listed in Lew Stone, A Career In Music, which lists all Stone's arrangements for Ambrose to 1931 (supplied from Stone's own files). In fact, I think it may actually be an Arthur Lally arrangement - it has that baritone/bass-sax-driven sax section he favoured, heard on several Lally-arranged Rhythmic Eights, such as Shout Hallelujah 'Cause I'm Home and Don't Be Like That. Of course, Lally was in the Ambrose Orch at the time of this recording.

[soundsofthe30s]

@soundsofthe30s ...or do I mean Whiteman??!

[soundsofthe30s]

You know, I detect touches of Jack Hylton wannabe in this...

[soundsofthe30s]

Is this from a 78, or has it been re-released?

[FreestyleEdFreestyle]

Ambrose oozes class.

Grahame.

[JCJasion]

This music is of incredibly high order!