Ambrose band
45 records in the collection· mostly on Decca, Brunswick, His Master's Voice
The Ambrose band was the orchestra of Bert Ambrose, one of Britain’s foremost dance-band leaders from the late 1920s through the 1930s and 40s. Associated particularly with London’s May Fair Hotel and Embassy Club, it combined polished dance arrangements with some of the finest British and American dance-band musicians and vocalists working in Britain.
This introduction was written by AI from what is known of the artist. Ask us if you want to know more about a particular record.
Records by Ambrose band
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- AAt eventide
- BAfter tonight we say goodbye
Ambrose and his orchestra, a leading British dance band, performing two sentimental novelties on HMV. This is a standard commercial recording from Ambrose's extensive and prolific Mayfair Hotel period.AI summary
His Master's Voice B6229 Dance
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- ABoots and saddles
- BKing's navee
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of the finest British dance bands of the 1930s, recorded these two fox-trots for Decca, with the comical naval song 'King's Navee' on the B-side.AI summary
Decca F5794 Dance
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- AButterflies in the rain
- BChansonette
Ambrose and his orchestra were among the most sophisticated and commercially successful British dance bands of the 1930s and 1940s, based at the Mayfair Hotel; this Decca recording from the mid-1930s showcases his refined style on 'Butterflies in the Rain'.AI summary
Decca F6144 Dance
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- ABy candlelight
- BWhite cliffs of Dover
Ambrose and his orchestra on Decca, performing 'By Candlelight' and 'White Cliffs of Dover' from the early 1940s. Ambrose was one of Britain's finest dance-band leaders, and this is a notable wartime side.AI summary
Decca F8102 Dance
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- ACopenhagen
- BLimehouse blues
Ambrose was a celebrated British dance-band leader of the 1920s–1930s; this Decca side pairs two jazz standards in his sophisticated style.AI summary
Decca F5696 Dance
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- AEverything is hunky dooly
- BI've got a note
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of the most sophisticated dance bands of 1930s London, recorded these two sides for Decca in the early catalogue; Ambrose's Mayfair Hotel broadcasts made him famous in the UK.AI summary
Decca 517 Dance
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- AFalling leaves
- BLittle steeple pointing to a star
The Ambrose band, one of Britain's most celebrated dance orchestras, recorded 'Falling Leaves' and 'Little Steeple Pointing to a Star' for Decca F7848. Ambrose led some of the most sought-after British swing recordings of the 1930s-1940s.AI summary
Decca F7848 Dance
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- AFools rush in
- BArm in arm
Ambrose and his orchestra, the prestigious Mayfair Hotel band, recorded two sophisticated ballroom selections on Decca in the late 1930s-1940s.AI summary
Decca F7600 Dance
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- AFree
- BTake my heart
Ambrose and his orchestra, a leading British dance band of the 1930s–40s, performing two popular songs on Decca. Ambrose's Mayfair Hotel residency and records made him one of the most commercially successful bandleaders in the UK.AI summary
Decca F6053 Dance
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- AGoodnight children everywhere
- B18th century drawing room
Ambrose and his orchestra for Decca, in two contrasting pieces—a wartime novelty and a classical salon item. Ambrose was one of Britain's most sophisticated and collected bandleaders.AI summary
Decca F7344 Dance
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- AHors d'oeuvres
- BEmbassy stomp
Ambrose and his band, one of the leading British dance orchestras of the 1930s, recorded "Hors d'Oeuvres" and "Embassy Stomp" for Decca. Ambrose was celebrated for sophisticated hot-dance arrangements and led the house band at the Mayfair Hotel, London.AI summary
Decca F5375 Dance
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- AI only have eyes for you
- BDames
The Ambrose Orchestra was one of Britain's premier dance orchestras of the 1930s-40s, known for sophisticated and well-arranged dance music. This Decca pressing of 'I Only Have Eyes for You' and 'Dames' represents the hit songs and standards that made Ambrose a top bandleader. Decca pressings of Ambrose's most popular sides were widely distributed and copies remain common.AI summary
Decca F5302 Dance
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- AIf I had a million dollars
- Bif I love again
Ambrose band, a leading British dance orchestra of the 1930s–40s, performing 'If I had a million dollars' and 'If I love again' on Decca F5363. Ambrose was one of the most recorded and popular bandleaders in Britain.AI summary
Decca F5363 Dance
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- AIt's the talk of the town
- Blast roundup
Ambrose, one of Britain's most sophisticated bandleaders, recorded 'It's the Talk of the Town' and 'Last Roundup' for Brunswick. The 01000 series catalogue number places this in the early 1930s.AI summary
Brunswick 01607 Dance
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- AJoseph
- BGoodbye to summer
Ambrose Band on Decca, a leading British dance orchestra, with 'Joseph' and 'Goodbye to Summer'—sentimental dance sides from the late 1940s.AI summary
Decca F6856 Dance
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- AKeep me in your dreams
- BWho made little boy blue
The Ambrose band recorded 'Keep Me in Your Dreams' and 'Who Made Little Boy Blue' for Decca F5284. A mid-1930s dance recording from one of Britain's most popular orchestras of the swing era.AI summary
Decca F5284 Dance
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- ALearn to croon
- BDown the old ox road
Ambrose and his orchestra on Brunswick, performing 'Learn to Croon' and 'Down the Old Ox Road' from the early 1930s. Ambrose was one of the finest British dance-band leaders of the era, and his early Brunswick sides are collected.AI summary
Brunswick 01572 Dance
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- ALife begins when you're in love
- BWoe is me
Ambrose's orchestra was one of Britain's most successful dance bands from the late 1920s through the 1950s. This later Decca F-series side couples 'Life begins when you're in love' and 'Woe is me', representing late-1930s ballad material.AI summary
Decca F5933 Dance
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- ALord and lady Whoozis
- BGangway
Ambrose was a celebrated British bandleader and arranger active from the 1920s through the 1950s, known for sophisticated orchestral dance arrangements; this Decca side features two of his light dance recordings.AI summary
Decca 1406 Dance
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- AMemories of Mayfair
Ambrose was a legendary British dance-band leader who led the Mayfair Hotel orchestra from 1927 onwards, defining the sophistication of 1920s–30s British hot dance. This Brunswick 78 of 'Memories of Mayfair' is a key recording from his era.AI summary
Brunswick 01605 Dance
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- AMy old flame
- BSmoke gets in your eyes
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of the most celebrated British dance bands of the 1930s, recorded 'My Old Flame' and 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes' for Decca; Ambrose was a pianist and bandleader based at the Mayfair Hotel.AI summary
Decca F5293 Dance
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- ANightingale
- BMy serenade
Ambrose band, a leading British dance orchestra of the 1930s–40s, performing 'Nightingale' and 'My serenade' on Decca F8242. Ambrose led one of the UK's most recorded dance bands.AI summary
Decca F8242 Dance
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- ANightingale sang in Berkeley Square
- BNo mamma no
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of Britain's most celebrated dance bands, perform 'Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' and 'No Mamma No' for Decca. Ambrose was a leading British bandleader and held a prestigious residency at London's Mayfair Hotel.AI summary
Decca F7539 Dance
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- ANobody's darling but mine
- BIn the chapel in the moolight
Ambrose was a distinguished British dance bandleader of the 1920s–40s, noted for sophisticated arrangements; this Decca disc from the late 1930s carries two ballads.AI summary
Decca F6241 Dance
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- ANocturne of the oasis
- BLife is nothing without music
Ambrose and his orchestra, a leading British dance band of the 1930s–40s, on Decca with 'Nocturne of the Oasis' and 'Life Is Nothing Without Music'.AI summary
Decca F8592 Dance
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- AObject of my affection
- BHow can you face me
Ambrose was one of Britain's most successful dance bandleaders from the late 1920s through the 1950s, leading the Mayfair Hotel orchestra. This Decca F-series side pairs 'Object of my affection' and 'How can you face me', standard light-ballad fare from his peak commercial period.AI summary
Decca F5389 Dance
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- AOh what a beautiful mornin
- BPeople will say we're in love
The Ambrose Orchestra performs two Rodgers and Hammerstein songs from 'Oklahoma!'—'Oh What a Beautiful Mornin' and 'People Will Say We're in Love'—on Decca, one of the most successful British dance bands of the 1940s.AI summary
Decca F8766 Orchestra
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- AOn the isle of Kitchy mi boko
- BI'm all in
Ambrose and his orchestra recorded these two fox-trots for Decca's early catalogue, likely in the late 1920s or very early 1930s; 'On the Isle of Kitchy Mi Boko' is a novelty piece.AI summary
Decca 1264 Dance
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- APony express
- BStage coach
Ambrose and his band with Pony Express and Stage Coach on London 174.AI summary
London 174 Dance
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- APortrait of a lady
- BWay back home
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of Britain's most admired and collected dance bands, recorded extensively for Decca from the mid-1930s onwards. This mid-to-late 1930s pressing represents his sophisticated interpretations of popular material.AI summary
Decca F5609 Dance
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- ARancho pillow
- BRose O'Day
The Ambrose band recorded 'Rancho Pillow' and 'Rose O'Day' for Decca F8046. A late-1930s recording from one of Britain's most celebrated dance orchestras.AI summary
Decca F8046 Dance
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- ASerenade in the night
- BWhen the poppies bloom again
Ambrose and his orchestra recorded "Serenade in the Night" and "When the Poppies Bloom Again" for Decca F6097, a ballad-era dance side of the early 1940s.AI summary
Decca F6097 Dance
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- ASomewhere in France with you
- BHow beautiful you are
Ambrose and his orchestra recorded these two sides for Decca, likely in the early-to-mid 1940s.AI summary
Decca F7326 Dance
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- ASomewhere over the hill
- BSomeday cherie
Ambrose and his Orchestra on Decca, catalogue F8283. Ambrose was a leading British bandleader of the 1930s–40s, recording for Decca and the Mayfair Hotel, London. His orchestra was one of the most popular and recorded of the period.AI summary
Decca F8283 Dance
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- ATeo hearts on a tree
- BOne night of love
Ambrose band, a leading British dance orchestra of the 1930s–40s, performing 'Two hearts on a tree' and 'One night of love' on Decca F5223. Ambrose was one of the most successful British bandleaders.AI summary
Decca F5223 Dance
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- AThere's a small hotel
- BOn your toes
Ambrose and his orchestra, the prestigious British dance band of the Mayfair Hotel, recorded two songs from the Rodgers and Hart musical *On Your Toes* on Decca in the late 1930s.AI summary
Decca F6104 Dance
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- ATristesse
- BBlue Hawaii
Ambrose and his orchestra, a premier British dance band, on Decca F7400—performing 'Tristesse' and 'Blue Hawaii'—noted as a non-UK issue.AI summary
Decca F7400(nonUKissue0 Dance
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- ATurf Derby
- BMotorboat race
Ambrose's dance band performing 'Turf Derby' and 'Motorboat Race' on Gala 101.AI summary
Gala 101 Orchestra
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- AWhat a surprise for the du-ce
- BBest things in life are free
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of Britain's top dance bands of the 1930s–1940s, on Decca. Ambrose was celebrated for sophisticated, well-arranged swing-influenced dance music and remains highly collected.AI summary
Decca F7691 Dance
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- AWhat do we care
- BRussian rose
Ambrose Band on Decca, 'What Do We Care' and 'Russian Rose'—sentimental popular dance sides from the late 1940s or early 1950s.AI summary
Decca F7935 Dance
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- AWhere's my love
- BLady who didn't believe in love
Ambrose and his orchestra, one of Britain's most sophisticated and collected dance bands, recorded extensively for Decca; this late-1930s or early-1940s Decca F pressing represents his continued refinement of popular material.AI summary
Decca F8314 Dance
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- AWhite Christmas
- BBreathless
Ambrose and his orchestra on Decca, performing 'White Christmas' and 'Breathless' from around 1942. Ambrose was one of Britain's finest dance-band leaders.AI summary
Decca F8193 Dance
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- AYou are my sunshine
- BShrine of Saint Cecilia
Ambrose and his orchestra on Decca, pairing a popular song with a classical miniature. Ambrose was one of Britain's most sophisticated and collected dance-band leaders.AI summary
Decca F8105 Dance
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- AYou rascal you
- BI'll whistle under your window
Ambrose was one of Britain's most distinguished dance bandleaders; this His Master's Voice recording pairs 'You Rascal You' and 'I'll Whistle Under Your Window', from the early 1930s.AI summary
His Master's Voice B6145 Dance
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- AYou've got to blow your own trumpet
- BWhen my dream boat comes home
The Ambrose orchestra was one of the most prestigious British dance bands of the 1930s, led by Bert Ambrose and playing at the Mayfair Hotel in London. This Decca F-series side shows the high-quality swing style that made Ambrose a collector favourite. His recordings remain actively sought.AI summary
Decca F6199 Dance