I am just about to turn 22 and this genre of music has been my absolute favorite for years. I can't even explain how it makes me feel and how closely I relate to these eras- 20s, 30s, 40s. These songs transcend time.
Al Bowlly is a wonderful singer with three octave vocal range! I love this song too. I remember watching the BBC drama, The Cazalets with this music as a theme song in the film!
A near-perfect song: it has Al Bowlly's matchless voice, the superlative English dance band orchestra of Ray Noble, and beautiful love song lyrics - the yardstick by which all other love songs are measured.
I agree ioo percent with you on Bill Harty's wonderful drumming on this and many other Noble's. Listen to the way he ends "Midnight The Stars And You" Just a light touch and it hits as hard as a thunder clap.
this is exceptional, and indeed i am the proud holder of a copy of original sheet music for this song, and it took me many years to find it.....long before the days of the internet!!!
What a title, what lyrics, what music. The lead into the second stanza "The Mere Idea of You" The great piano playing by the composer , more musical perfection. Forever gone.
Thank you. Hopefully viewers know better than to think this was from the same time period as the song lol By 1934 we had Barbara Stanwyk, Bette Davis, Cary Grant...
Surely this is one of the best songs ever recorded! It has everything that's worthwhile - you know, beautiful music, wonderful lyrics and the amazing voice of Al Bowlly. It can get much better!
The beautiful title, the 2 finger piano playing by Ray , the soft brushing beat of the drum, the rythmic sound of the baritone sax and the soothing romantic voice of Al Bowlly 126 years ago , it just doesn't get any better than this.
I'm just 41 myself, and a self taught musician, and always just loved music like this. This is so musical, so sophisticated and subtle. Sometimes I wish I just could be in that days and hear that music for myself. Thank you for sharing this one.
Oh wow. Gotta love Al Bowlly. (: To everyone saying "I don't care how old you are, bla bla bla", I'm really glad to see posts like that. It shows that other people around my age are into the same things I am.
As I listen to one great oldie after another and discover they were all composed by one Ray Noble, I realize how much he has contributed to my musical enjoyment. Not only was he a songwriter of unforgettable melodies, he was also a skilled bandleader. A truly amazing talent.
Completely different genre: Neil Young's "Harvest Moon". Simply magical. (Canadian BTW) This Ray Noble & Al Bowlly classic is, in any case. non-pareil.
This is such a smooth version of this song and so 1930's with the voice and horns. I am an avid collector of original 78 rpm's. I have never come across this version in 20 years so thanks for posting this!!!
One of my favorite songs and it's a toss up for me between Al Bowly and Nat Cole.both beautifully done.. The lyrics.. you'll never know...how slow..the moments go 'till I'm near to you.. Gets me every time..sigh...
Those wishing to hear more of this sort of thing should search out the soundtrack to the 1978 BBC serial "Pennies from Heaven" - a few second hand CD copies are still available. They are much sought-after, for good reason. Ray Noble is featured quite a bit along with many others.
OMG, knew what I was in for with the opening scene. LOVED your video addition! I was raised by older parents and listened to early 1900's music growing up, when all my friends were Elvis fans. So glad to have lots of memories from that era brought back to life here. Thanks for a great post.
@pethayoo1 Wait until they get older. I listened to crap radio "rock" music when I was in High School, and now I listen to all kinds of music at age 30. It's the love of music that keeps one searching for new experiences. People that never discover music off the beaten path must not like music very much anyways.
I so love this song. I close my eyes, and I can imagine myself in a London pub during WWII, listening to this with a beautiful young lady. I was born into the wrong generation.
@pethayoo1 Its not the music,. its society. It is loud aggressive music that has kept me from lashing out. The aggressive music is a reflection of how the modern generations feel about society
Thanks for this, yes, it's one of the best songs ever recorded. I always seem to be able to listen to 30s songs over and over again without tiring of them. I wonder if they were deliberately written like that, as people had fewer records in those days, and would just listen to them again and again?
@pethayoo1 I'm only 15, and I agree with you. I love this type of music, and though the agressive rock is fun, classical music and music such as this never fails to intrigue me.
@brothodontist Very insightful thought! Random acts of violence have always existed... Look at the movie "The Changeling" for example... That event happened in the 20's... My dad was born in 1906 and he told me so many stories of violence that occured (just in the L.A. area) it would give you the chills! There has always been disfunction in families and society, however the entertainment industry did not focus on it. It actually tried to transport people into a more innocent world!
Thanks, I'll be looking up Abradsma. I've thought the piano and the violin were the sexiest parts of this Ray Noble recording, so it behooves us to check them out. But my garage is such a mess!
