LET THERE BE MUSIC

His still glorious voice soared through the 1920s and 1930s - and although he was sadly killed in the WW2 Blitz - these many years later Al Bowlly has become immortal - just as important now as then.

A massive, beautifully engineered CD Box Set, Al Bowlly - The Very Thought of You - The Ultimate Collection comes from Sanctuary Records. Carefully lined up alongside the still great music of Lew Stone, Geraldo, Roy Fox and Ray Noble.

An ultimate combination for that very much ultimate voice, which one never tires of, and among 80 sides the occasional   forgotten,    wonderful, discovery.

For the most part though my bet is, like me, you'll be singing along with infectious-sounding Al, on likeables such as What a Little Moonlight Cad Do, Harry Woods' 1934 favourite; then again with Lew Stone, and the still intoxicating Riptide, another 1934 Walter Donaldson creation. Al was the only British artist to record same.

Syncopation reigns with the Roy Fox set with Al doing a great job on Harry Warren's  persuasive  You're  My Everything (1931) and making the most of Irving Berlin's music and lyrics on Reaching For the Moon (1931), smooth and sensual Geraldo in 1938 recalling Hollywood songsters Deanna Durbin and Militza Korjus in That Certain Age and The Great Waltz respectively.   Al gives male honours to both My Own, and the Johann Strauss-Oscar Hammerstein 11 success, One Day When We Were Young.

Then there's the Hoagy Carmichal - Frank Loesser-Bing Crosby catchy Small Fry (1938), yes there'll be plenty singing along!  Save the best, most prestigious, most prodigious until last with a selection of British Ray Noble songs which have won world wide acclaim!

This   marvelous melodic  line-up includes - get ready to sing again - The Very Thought of You (1934), By the Fireside (1932), Love is the Sweetest Thing (1931) and most effective.   Goodnight,   Sweetheart (1931).

Did I mention world beaters? You bet they are and will be wherever they play standards - and The Ultimate Al Bowlly.

This clip is poor quality video - BUT

Neil Stevens