CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

The Essential Collection

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Al Bowlly

Release Date March 19, 2007
This is a distillation of an earlier 3-CD set from Avid, about which I wrote a rave review at the time. It's a fascinating compilation, which makes up a chronological journey through Al's recording career. If you were lucky enough to buy the earlier set then there's nothing here that wasn't issued earlier, but if you missed out then grab this now. It's the ideal introduction to the supreme singer, and excellent value for money.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

The Al Bowlly Story 1928-1941

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Al Bowlly

Release Date July 07, 2003
This is the finest and most comprehensive collection of Al Bowlly recordings ever released on CD. This 3-Disc box of delights should be on the shelves of not only Al's many fans, but also of all British Dance Band enthusiasts. Recordings by the bands of Howard Godfrey, Harry Hudson and Arthur Lally are rarely reissued and there are some nice examples of their work here like "Got A Date With An Angel" (Howard Godfrey & his Waldorfians) and the hot "Hello Mike" (Lally). The only significant band missed out that Al recorded with is the Grosvenor House Dance Orchestra led by Sydney Lipton.

Al's all-too-short career as one of the leading popular singers of the 20th Century is covered here through 76 recordings which have been brilliantly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

The Clatter of the Clogs

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Gracie Fields

Release Date January 06, 2003
This is the finest and most comprehensive collection of Al Bowlly recordings ever released on CD. This 3-Disc box of delights should be on the shelves of not only Al's many fans, but also of all British Dance Band enthusiasts. Recordings by the bands of Howard Godfrey, Harry Hudson and Arthur Lally are rarely reissued and there are some nice examples of their work here like "Got A Date With An Angel" (Howard Godfrey & his Waldorfians) and the hot "Hello Mike" (Lally). The only significant band missed out that Al recorded with is the Grosvenor House Dance Orchestra led by Sydney Lipton.

Al's all-too-short career as one of the leading popular singers of the 20th Century is covered here through 76 recordings which have been brilliantly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

The Best of Gracie Fields [CASSETTE]

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Gracie Fields

Release Date February 01, 1997
This is the finest and most comprehensive collection of Al Bowlly recordings ever released on CD. This 3-Disc box of delights should be on the shelves of not only Al's many fans, but also of all British Dance Band enthusiasts. Recordings by the bands of Howard Godfrey, Harry Hudson and Arthur Lally are rarely reissued and there are some nice examples of their work here like "Got A Date With An Angel" (Howard Godfrey & his Waldorfians) and the hot "Hello Mike" (Lally). The only significant band missed out that Al recorded with is the Grosvenor House Dance Orchestra led by Sydney Lipton.

Al's all-too-short career as one of the leading popular singers of the 20th Century is covered here through 76 recordings which have been brilliantly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Al Bowlly and the Great British Bands

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Al Bowlly

Release Date August 26, 1997
Al Bowlly was arguably the finest crooner of the thirties, whose services were in demand by a variety of British dance bands, some of which are represented here.The compilation spans the years 1931 to 1940, and apart from the usual suspects, allows us to hear him with some lesser-known bands, including Jock McDermott and Reginald Williams. You may have some of these sides on other compilations, but you're unlikely to have all of them.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

World of Wurlitzer

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Reginald Dixon

Release Date March 19, 2001
Al Bowlly was arguably the finest crooner of the thirties, whose services were in demand by a variety of British dance bands, some of which are represented here.The compilation spans the years 1931 to 1940, and apart from the usual suspects, allows us to hear him with some lesser-known bands, including Jock McDermott and Reginald Williams. You may have some of these sides on other compilations, but you're unlikely to have all of them.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

The Best of Nostalgia [CASSETTE]

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: George Formby

Release Date November 22, 1999
Al Bowlly was arguably the finest crooner of the thirties, whose services were in demand by a variety of British dance bands, some of which are represented here.The compilation spans the years 1931 to 1940, and apart from the usual suspects, allows us to hear him with some lesser-known bands, including Jock McDermott and Reginald Williams. You may have some of these sides on other compilations, but you're unlikely to have all of them.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Ambrose

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Ambrose

Release Date July 07, 1995
This selection gives a good impression of popular music in the late thirties (all selections are from 1937 and 1938) by one of Britain's best (some say the best) dance orchestras of the day.
Alas, the remastering is really below the standards we have come to expect from ASV in later years or from Vocalion. There is no noise reduction to speak of, which wouldn't be all that bad, but the sound is nevertheless tampered with and very harsh (compare some of the Denny Dennis items on his ASV disc of a few years later, which sound much fuller and mellower). So if you're looking for Ambrose titles not elswhere available, this might be a welcome addition to your discography; for the beginning collector the Avid double cd would be preferable.

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

The Best of Nostalgia

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: George Formby

Release Date May 22, 1999
This selection gives a good impression of popular music in the late thirties (all selections are from 1937 and 1938) by one of Britain's best (some say the best) dance orchestras of the day.
Alas, the remastering is really below the standards we have come to expect from ASV in later years or from Vocalion. There is no noise reduction to speak of, which wouldn't be all that bad, but the sound is nevertheless tampered with and very harsh (compare some of the Denny Dennis items on his ASV disc of a few years later, which sound much fuller and mellower). So if you're looking for Ambrose titles not elswhere available, this might be a welcome addition to your discography; for the beginning collector the Avid double cd would be preferable.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

So Many Memories

Search: Smile When You Say Goodbye
by: Bram Martin

Release Date March 13, 2000
It's been some while since I listened to this compilation, and on playing it again I was impressed by the consistently high standard of musicianship by what was, when all's said and done, a restaurant band that played for dancing. I'm not enamoured of the idea that every dance band CD should be measured against Ambrose, or the Savoy Hotel Orpheans. You might as well say that every play should be judged against Shakespeare, say, or every suspense film against Hitchcock. What we get here deserves to be judged on its own merits, and they are considerable, not least that very few of these recordings have been reissued since their original 78 release, so duplication is minimal. Gene Crowley's vocals embellish most of the songs, Sam Costa takes the honours on two, ... Read More: