this page first published by John Wright, 22 Sept 1998
last update 31 May 2005vintage@jabw.demon.co.uk

from Melody Maker, June 1927

Current Issues

ZONOPHONE
(British Zonophone Co., Ltd)

THIS month this company easily retains its reputation for putting out a thoroughly good popular dance record. By popular I mean a record that will appeal particularly to the general public and thus is assured of a good sale. Although the names of two different English dance bands - Bert Firman's Dance Orchestra and Devonshire Restaurant Dance Band- appear on the labels, they are both so much in the same style that one can, for the purposes of criticism, class them together. In fact, Zonophone dance records have quite a style of their own. They are simple, straight forward, tuneful melody renderings. The orchestrations are absolutely ordinary, very much the sort of thing one expects to find in an everyday commercial arrangement, the rendering of the individual musicians is very orthodox, there is no attempt at anything in the nature of "hot" playing, except occasionally in a mild way by the first alto sax. (who, incidentally, always sounds exceptionally tuneful), and nothing surprisingly novel ever takes place.
Yet these renderings have behind them a full and well-pronounced, if straight, snappy rhythm and lilt, nice tone colour gives just the kind of interest the man in the street requires, and good, clean playing shows the musicians not only thoroughly appreciate what is required of them, but can give it. The recording is first rate, though the violin gets a bit near blasting point at tunes. I think it is more that he plays too loudly than that he is too near the mike.
The titles this month are:-
By Bert Firman's Dance Band : Song of the Vagabonds [60 at 78] and Only A Rose [55 at 78], from the musical comedy "The Vagabond King" are both on 2923.
I Love The Moonlight [57 at 78], a good sweet melody fox-trot, and the waltz from The Desert Song [55 at 78] are on 2921, while Where Do You Work-a-John ? [65 at 78] and Mulligatawny [66 at 78], two 6/8 one-steps, are both on 2922.
By the Devonshire Restaurant Dance Orchestra we have: Take Your Finger Out of Your Mouth [55 at 78], a good, lively melody fox-trot, and I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" [55 at 78], a good, sweet melody fox-trot - these two (both on 2919) probably comprise the best record in the list.
On 2917 are two good waltzes, You Can't Take Away My Dreams [53 at 78] and Ting-a-Ling [52 at 78]. The latter opens with two beautiful notes on the vibraphone, and this instrLunent is again heard in the lead-in to the last chorus.
High-High-High Up In The Hills [55 at 78] and Drifting And Dreaming [55 at 78], another melody number, are both on 2918.

Note: [XX at 78] refers to the number of bars per minute when the disc is played at 78rpm.

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