Ambrose with Sam Browne

Sam Browne leads and sings with the Ambrose orchestra at the Mayfair Hotel in the mid 30s

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 1930s
• Dance
• music
• Ambrose
• sam
• browne

[Cool2BCeltic]

A mushy song and this shows how in the 1930s the titled and moneyed classes were worshipped. Music like this would have been broadcast over the airwaves and ordinary people would have danced to it in their living rooms, feeling good that they were becoming part of the toffs' world.

[deejay830]

@Cool2BCeltic ANd what is different today where "ordinary" people go to even greater extent to ape the lifestyles of incredibly rich celebrities whilst listening to musicians who haven't got a fraction of the ability of the members of this band

[henry814]

Despite its length, still a lovely clip - the ballroom is gorgeous and the dancers are so elegant. That first couple that glides by looks thrilled - who wouldn't be?

[deejay830]

And although the Mayfair was dfinitely a venue for the "Haves" of society, ordinary people would also be dressing as smartly as they could and going their local dance halls to dance to their own local and similarly immaculately turned out dance band. Comapre them to the drink fueled revelry that constitutes a night out for many today.

[henry814]

Amazing! Must be incredibly rare - do you know where this footage came from? I've listened to Ambrose recordings from the 20's and 30's for years, but never thought I'd be able to see the band performing. Wish this was longer!

[deejay830]

Not originally I'm afraid. I got it from one of two old videos I used to have, either "Sam Browne Remembers" or "Don't Fuss Mr Ambrose" I can't recall which, The former was a never broadcast documentary with Laurie Holloway made in the 60s. The latter was a documentary about Billy Amstell

[GriffAtMoreton]

The brilliant Sam Browne.

Lucky we've got so many recordings of Sam with Hylton, Ambrose and others.

[Deb545]

Great to actually see Sam Browne singing with this great orchestra!! Thanks for sharing!

[Cool2BCeltic]

@deejay830 Yes, it has to be admiited that the musicians in this film had musical ability.

[rayhertford]

@iainr222 many thanks for your response. I hadn't heard the recording you referred to, so I searched for it. I must say (IMO), it's a far better song than this one. So thank you for pointing me in the right direction!

[iainr222]

@rayhertford Thank you Ray for your courtesy , yes Sam was more the orthodox crooner but nonetheless enjoyable ( I love his version of "I Want a Little Girl " with the Ambrose Orch ) whilst Al was quite the jazzman with Bing-like versatility .

[rayhertford]

@iainr222 Sorry, didn't mean to offend. It's just that compared to AB, Sam's voice seems to be more "wooden", if you like, AB seemed to have more "soul" within his voice. Just my opinion of course, it does make you wonder how AB's career would have developed if he hadn't been killed during the German bombing raids, doesn't it?

[iainr222]

@rayhertford That's an unnecessary comment ! Of course Al was the best but Sam Browne was also a class act and STILL popular today.

[rayhertford]

He weren't no Al Bowlly was he?

[paulkate72]

@1912cunard - Totally agree - how good were they in the 30s. It seems we'll never see their like again, sadly.

[davidglow3]

@Cool2BCeltic All the musicians came from rough working class backgrounds.Ambrose's father was a rag and bone man with horse and cart in Shepherds Bush..Sam Browne was from a large poor family..So poor people were given a chance,even then to earn a bob or two