Alfredo & His Band - My Love Parade, 1930

Ernst Lubitsch's The Love Parade remains one of the most sophisticated (both structurally and esthetically) and enjoyable of the 1929 film musicals. It was was Maurice Chevalier's second American film and secured him a near-permanent place in Hollywood for some years to come. (He made his first American film, Innocents of Paris earlier in 1929). He was, in fact, almost the only star to continue making musicals during the period when the public stayed away from them. Although he was forty years old, Chevalier overwhelmed the screen with youthful vitality and raw sex appeal.
All music is by Victor Schertzinger and lyrics by Clifford Grey and many tunes, almost immediately after the premiere, became hits: "My Love Parade, "Dream Lover" or "Paris, Stay the Same".
Alfredo (Alfred Gill) was the British bandleader and violinist, who worked both in Great Britain and in Canada. Early in his career (during the 'teens), he performed in various British dancehalls and other venues as "Alfredo - The Vagabond Violinist". In 1922-25 he was working in Jack Hylton's band. Near the end of 1925, he received an invitation to play at Toronto's (Canada) 'New Prince's Restaurant' and formed a band with a rhythm section of Laurie Day (piano) and Charles Harris (drums). Other members of the band included Arthur Wilson (trumpet) and Bert Bown on sax and vocals. Many of the bandsmen were replaced in the latter part of 1926, and the newer orchestra continued until Alfredo disbanded in 1930. In 1931 Alfredo completely changed his style. He organized a band that included mostly Gypsy musicians and was called Alfredo and his Orchestra (or Alfredo's Band). This orchestra was mostly active in Great Britain. The HMV and Edison Bell labels recorded the band on a few sides.

Recording:
Alfredo and His Band -- My Love Parade, voc. and piano Harry Jacobson, Edison Bell 1930

Category:

Music

Tags:

• London
• 1930s
• dance
• bands
• American
• musical
• Ernst
• Lubitsch
• Jeanette
• MacDonald
• Maurice
• Chevalier

[muscleco]

The rhymes are mainly French girls' names. Alfredo's Band is always a delight to hear.

[SG77com]

Great

[uslines]

Such a pleasure. Thank you. Where would we be if not for U-tube and contributors like you.

[Rollich]

The tune is so well played that it's a pity one can't understand the playful rhymes of the delightful lyric.

Thank you for posting.

[mic33george]

He is great,i have him on a cracked gem of a record singing "Excuse me lady",and also one with him singing "have a little faith in me".Would love to hear others or know a little more about him.

[egapnala65]

Like "Eclipse" a wonderful label. Have got Harry Jacobson singing some lovely solo songs as "the crooning pianist".

[dancebandfan]

A very good band not so well known on that great little Edison Bell Radio label.Someone told me he changed to the Gypsy style as he thought the dance band was going to be superseded by a new style of music in the early 30s.He was somewhat premature,though correct eventually.

[kspm01]

Such a lovely and fine tune!

[dzheger]

Lovely, cheery tune. Sweet, dreamy singing. Hearing this and reading the description, I'd like to see the movie.

[barbcard]

So the man who collaborated with the Vichy government in France once had "raw sex appeal?" OK, music transcends politics; I've even gotten to like Zarah Leander to some extent. Thanks anyway for posting this!