Swingtime ! (28) Vera Lynn & the Ambrose Orchestra - If I didn't care ! (1939)

Please activate the HD function(720p) before watching the video or watch it with a larger type player in 480p! This in order to avoid serious sound distortion (as YT has reduced sound quality and does not activate HD or HQ playback automatically).

Vera Lynn , Englands "Sweetheart of the Forces", recorded many sides with the Bert Ambrose orchestra. This is one of my favourites : "If I didn't care" from 1939.

The song exists in many versions wich can all be found on YouTube.

The (Bert) Ambrose orchestra was one of the UK's best loved bands. Born in the east of London in 1896, Ambrose started his career in the USA before returning to London in 1922 when he was asked to play at the Embassy Club... His band soon became known for its elegant sound and superb arrangements. Vocalists with the band included Sam Browne, Kitty Carlisle, Evelyn Dall and most famously Vera Lynn.... He played not only at the Embassy Club but also at the Mayfair Hotel (and seemed to alternate between these two venues) and recorded many sides for Brunswick, HMV and Decca... He retired from performing in 1940 but continued to make recordings.... Later on he decided to perform again but this later career suffered considerably from the demise of the big band era. He died in 1971.

Information on Vera Lynn can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vera_Lynn

The video shows images from 1939 England as the country is preparing for war and food rationing has started...

About the record:

Decca 7106 / mx. DR. 3679

London,
1939

Record in very good condition (but it has quite a "sharp" sound to it)...

This record was trasferred using the Ortofon Om78 cartridge and stylus. It was re-equalized to undo the RIAA equalization and get an acceptable 78rpm equalization

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Vera
• Lynn
• We'll
• meet
• again
• If
• didn't
• care
• Ambrose
• Orchestra
• Music from the Blitz
• Songs from the Blitz
• Big
• Band
• Decca
• 78rpm
• London
• 1939
• Blitz
• WWII Songs
• Schellackplatte
• Second
• World
• War
• Zweiter
• Weltkrieg
• Swing Music

[veronica3755]

Magnifique musique !!! C'est si mélodieux !!!

[Leotaurus1975]

@veronica3755 Merci Danielle!

[camille885]

Quelle chance d'avoir un enregistrement original de Vera Lynn de cette période!

[Leotaurus1975]

@camille885 Merci Camille, on les trouve régulièrement en Belgique. Le plus ancien enregistrement que j'ai de Vera Lynn est "Alone" avec l'orchestre de Primo Scala. C'est une chanson du fim "A night at the opera" (1935) avec les Marx Brothers.

[oxyharmonic]

Any way of finding out who the horn players were on this recording? I want to find out if that;s my grandpa on the sax (harry smith)

[maynardcat]

Great tune and video. I noticed the sound is a lot smoother in 720p.

[Vogler9]

I have heard many recordings of this tune. I think this must be amongst the very best.

[Corrie121]

The scenes in this video are are all too familiar of my childhood - Ration books and ration portions etc.

Lovely rendition of this great song. Could the dance venue be the Hammersmith Palais ?

Thanks for sharing.

[SwingBandHeaven]

Love this great Ambrose and Lynn tune. Very evocative of the early war period.

[MrSwingtime]

Grandios! Ich liebe Bert Ambrose. Eine Spitzenband from U.K. Großartige Musik, die einem die Gänsehaut vermittelt mit diesem Super-Title und eine phantastische Sängerin. Vielen Dank!