British dance bands and Ballroom Orchestras typically played melodic, good-time music that had jazz and a strong sense of rhythm and style from the tradition of British theatrical entertainment popular between 1850 and 1920 involving a mixture of popular songs and comedy. An amazing fact was the location where these orchestras were hired: cafés, clubs, hotels and restaurants in London such as the Savoy Hotel, Embassy Club in Old Street, The Astoria Ballroom at Soho and the Dorchester and Mayfair Hotels. This late 1930’s through the wartime until the late 1940s was renowned as the Golden era of British dance band music.
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1 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – Chattanooga Choo Choo
2 . Ivy Benson and Her All Girl Orchestra – The Home Coming Waltz
3 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – Move it Over
4 . Joe Loss and His Orchestra – You Made Me Care
5 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – The Pennsylvania Polka
6 . Nat Gonella and His Big Band – Sentimental Interlude
7 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – Every Night About This Time
8 . Eric Winstone and His Orchestra – Chloe
9 . Nat Gonella and His Big Band – I Can’t Get Indiana Off My Mind
10 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – Baby Please Stop! And Think About Me
11 . Harry Leader and His Band – Does She Love Me
12 . Joe Loss and His Orchestra – Jenny
13 . Ivy Benson and Her All Girl Orchestra – I’m Sending My Blessing
14 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – The Smiths and the Jones
15 . Eric Winstone and His Orchestra – Time on My Hands
16 . Joe Loss and His Orchestra – Shoo Shoo Baby
17 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – Anywhere on Earth Is Heaven
18 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – White Christmas
19 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – I Don’t Want To Set the World On Fire
20 . Nat Gonella and His Big Band – We Three
21 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – The Five O’Clock Whistle
22 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – Johnny Zero
23 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – Sunday, Monday or Always
24 . Geraldo and his Orchestra – In My Arms
25 . Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – That Lovely Weekend
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Harry Roy and His Mayfair Hotel Orchestra – “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (press play to hear preview)
