Ray Noble - Hits Collection 1931-47 (2019)

Ray Noble was an English pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger (as well as being a radio comedian and actor), who enjoyed huge and sustained success leading his orchestra through the 1930s and 40s, during which time he provided a platform for the career of the popular crooner Al Bowlly. He was that rare phenomenon of a British artist who made the move to the USA and became as popular there as he was in his home country, racking up a such a lengthy string of hits credited with a Top 20 position that there were too many to be able to include them all on this excellent-value 46-track 2-CD set. Every recording in this collection is credited in Joel Whitburns Pop Memorios book as having reached a chart position of No. 18 or higher in the USA based on available data. Recording initially as a studio orchestra for HMV as The London Mayfair Dance Orchestra, he became the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra and then Ray Noble & His Orchestra, he had chart successes right through to the late 40s. As well as Al Bowlly, his records featured some noted vocalists, including Howard Philips, Tony Martin, Snooky Lanson, Larry Stewart and Buddy Clark. The wall-to-wall hits include the No. 1s Love Is The Sweetest Thing, The Very Thought Of You, Isle Of Capri, Let's Swing It, Paris In The Spring and Linda, and its a feast for nostalgia lovers.