Swingtime! (27) The Lambeth Walk ! - Billy Cotton & his band (1938)

Please activate the HD function(720p) before watching the video or watch it with a larger type player (in 480p) by clicking on the title in order to avoid serious sound distortion (as YT has reduced sound quality and does not activate HD or HQ playback automatically).
Billy Cotton's band is one of my favourite English orchestras. Billy Cotton (1899-1969) was a succesful band leader as well as a race car driver who - from the 1950s onwards - also hosted his own shows on both BBC radio and television...
Famous musicians in his band include Nat Gonella....
For more info on Billy Cotton and his band :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Cotton
"The Lambeth Walk" featured in the stage musical "Me and my girl" (1937) needs no introduction. It became an instant classic and the dance an international hype. In French it was usually called "Le Lambeth Walk" and in Germany "Lambert's Nachtlokal" (Lambert's Nightclub, where it became extremely popular - much to the dismay of censors. The 1939 movie "Frau am Steuer" with Lilian Harvey features a dance reminiscent of the Lambeth Walk.
In Billy Cotton's version -though sung with a cockney accent - the famous "oi" is absent.
This record - a release on the Belgian version of the Imperial label - reflects some record history....
Initially Imperial records were produced by the English Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Company. In Germany Kristall/Imperial records were produced by a German subsidiary called Deutsche Crystalate GmbH. (In France the records were called "Cristal").The name of "Deutsche Crystalate GmbH" was changed to "Kristall Schallplatten GmbH" in 1933.
The Imperial records were intially a cheap record label and production was halted in both England and Germany in 1934.
In 1936 the restyled Imperial label reappeared on the German market. In England the "Rex" label was created.
In 1937 Decca took over the English branch of the "Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Co". The German "Kristall Schallplatten" was taken over by the Lindström Company (of Odeon, Parlophon, Gloria fame - itself taken over by English Graphophone Columbia in 1926 and part of EMI since 1931). So from that moment on both companies went their separate ways...
The Imperial label was alos active in Belgium - however I am not sure when they started producing for the Belgian market. Catalogue numbers usually start with 30...(in Germany 17...). Imperial not only issued records from its German catalogue but also used Rex (as with this Billy Cotton recording) and Decca masters since Imperial also issued records of Belgian singers who usually recorded for Decca. Production continued throughout the war which of course excluded English recordings.
It is a shame so little history is documented...
The video features sequences from 1930s London....
About the record:
Imperial 30516 / mx.R.2582 (Rex matrix)
London,
1938
Record in excellent condition...
This record was trasferred using the Ortofon Om78 cartridge and stylus. It was re-equalized to undo the RIAA equalization and get an acceptable 78rpm equalization

[@brucemarsico6]

Long ago we had an old LP with this song on it. My mum used to get all excited about hearing it. Reminded her of britain before the war...1939. It's a wonderful little nostalgic bit when the world was just a little different than now (2021).

[@PHANTOMGRAPHMAN]

My parents' first date was watching "Me and my girl" featuring the Lambeth Walk. When I was a kid they used to rush to each other and kiss whenever the song came on the radio. Lovely romantic memories!

[@Verderer]

Take yourself down to South London, just to the south of the Archbishop of Canterbury's residence at Lambeth Palace on the south bank of the River Thames and you will be able to see a short little alleyway leading from one main road to another.......and the sign post will tell you that you have found yourself in Lambeth Walk....where the grass ain't green and the sky ain't blue but "they don't worry very much"......down in Lambeth Walk, London, SE1, England, UK.

[@andersliljevall2946]

I miss London!

[@freemanv4056]

South London is the real London.

[@orchardist1965]

Part of London history. Amazing sound recording. Thank you.

[@liberte5847]

One of the greatest song ever! BRAVO and MERCI BEAUCOUP from Paris France

[@TheVote2010]

Gawd blimey that brings some memories back!

[@williamdonnamazure4334]

Patrick Martin

[@OzJohn666]

been there and done that in 2010 . . . will be there again in May this year!

[@MrSwingtime]

Noch ein Highlight. Vielen Dank auch für die ausführlichen Hintergrundinformationen zu den Bands. Für mich auch gleich ein Sprachtraining. Danke für diese großartigen Präsentationen!!!

[@absue]

I learned this one on board a ship. When the weather was rough, some of the steps were pretty fancy!

[@mrbigarms]

That was great, loved the old footage, I really felt like I was back in the 1930's.

[@GEOFF0906]

Billy Cotton's house in Poole, Dorset was called "Lambeth Walk"

[@maureen1938]

SUPER....Billy Cotton and his Band were wonderful. THANK you for posting this.

[@mr.newvegas4193]

1938 - 2018 .... i can't foget this happy time before the war ...

[@RogersRamblings]

Very nicely done, good music and excellent film montage.

[@janettmay4908]

ScramaVadoosh bb

[@daveybernard1056]

Very charming.

[@enriquegarces7940]

¡Gente fantástica!

[@ifix4328]

Billy Cotton Band Show marvellous entertainment

[@RandallBay]

Lovely Jubbly!!!

[@kjelllarsson8673]

What a wonderfoul musik lambert wak

[@olelady40]

Thanks! Really enjoy all your presentations.

[@AvaT42]

78 rpm collection, my goodness I remember the 78's lol

[@wolfstock6030]

Wonderful !!! As time goes by,.

[@Deutschlandsender]

Sehr schön swingende Version, vielen Dank.

[@matthewbrunswick]

Fantastic - and thank you geeks for all the background!

[@Gunnercv]

Great footage of central London

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

Great stuff !, briliant audio quality.

[@Corrie121]

Great post !! Thank you so much for sharing it.

[@cooleslaw]

Nice.

[@harrylangdon491]

Great professional job! I wish the one step or two step or whatever the couples' dance is was still around. Note: these old clips do not lead me to conclude people were happier or unhappier back in the day. Not enough information, especially when much of the clips are of the upper classes.

[@LarsCarlsen-or6ky]

Upper class did not do The Lambeth Walk or even go there...

[@grey8biker]

This brings back memories of Sunday lunch listening to the ‘Billy Cotton Band Show’ on the BBC Light Programme on the wireless. The ‘London’ scenes were interesting but transport enthusiasts may be curious about the three Glasgow trams at 1:41.

[@lizcole3975]

Billy Cotton band show I loved it when growing up don't have shows like this anymore best era of my life.

[@lizcole3975]

Also liked jimmie Clitheroe on radio on Sunday nights oh how things change

[@lizcole3975]

RDio is rubbish on Sunday nights getting like TV.

[@lizcole3975]

Paying licence fees for bloody rubbish who are these people who are charging us for repeats over and over and over again we're is money going we payb75£ so how much mo ey do yous at BBC bloody need cos programmes are bloody rubbish sake as Xmas and new year bloidy reapets non stop want moneys worth TV licence payer or else be not paying anymore

[@lizcole3975]

All you fat cats get your fingers out and start getting programmes we want to watch not what you want us start asking us what we want for a change

[@anthonyfrew1571]

The London of Noel Coward, big bands, Max Miller and Al Bowlly

[@wordsmith52]

Great swing version of this number and v interesting film of london thanks . (The piccadilly line "streamlined" tube train shown was more a prototype and was not seem much.)

[@philipinchina]

Wakey wakey.

[@lindalunken194]

can we have this back

[@herbivorethecarnivore8447]

You've got it now. You're listening to it.

[@TheSister58]

but my parents can't hear it. again...

[@doodleplop800]

@@TheSister58 Play it louder.

[@Corrie121]

@metrosul Well spotted. I would never have noticed had you not pointed it out. Junctions of Buchanan St and St Enoch Sq.

[@Arthur_McGowan]

The audio on KZbin is exactly the same, regardless of the resolution that is chosen for the video.

[@GEOFF0906]

Vocalist; Alan Breeze

[@shailevin8046]

I came here following the book "The Jewish Brigade." Anyone else?

[@bbcisrubbish]

I believe that the original words, although identical to this version, included "oi" after each "doing the Lambeth walk, oi".

[@hebneh]

Except he left out the most recognizable part of the song by not shouting “Oi!” where it was required.

[@alexeimoiseyev4619]

You gotta have the "Oi"s in!

[@Londonfogey]

I've heard this performed where the band stops for a beat, everybody claps, stamps their feet and shouts 'OY!' at the end of the bar. I wonder if that was original or it was something audiences came up with?

[@harrylangdon491]

I've seen in it a clip of a 1939 peformance of Me and My Girl.

[@highpath4776]

@@harrylangdon491 It was Lupino Lane's Idea apparently

[@kenhatchett7645]

Great stuff can you get this on prescription.

[@melanietapp9778]

yep, my nan always did a 'oi'.

[@circuit-breakermi3865]

Oi!

[@erinquinn215]

the only place they do the Lambeth walk to now is the Job Centre Plus

[@judekershaw6143]

where do you get the footage from please x

[@glynnevans1851]

Could someone please explain to me What the Lambeth Walk actually is and it's relevance to London..I have asked 4 of U Londoners this on u tube but No reply given .Do u actually know or are you all sleeping like New York..Glynn🤔🤔😥

[@christophercoyne841]

Glynn Evans Hi Glynn. I grew up in Lambeth Walk in the 1960’s so I know quite a lot about the place but maybe not so much about the origins of the song. I think during the 19th century Lambeth Walk and nearby Vauxhall Gardens (or Pleasure Gardens?) we’re popular haunts for visitors and gentlemen(?). Lambeth Walk in my time had a very busy street market which sadly no longer exists. There was an annual fair where the street was decorated with ribbons, banners, balloons etc ..to help promote the market I suppose. Also in the 1960’s Lambeth Walk had large council estates at either end. Kids and teenagers from the estates at either end would sometimes meet to fight..quite fiercely I think it was said at the time. Also during the 60’s the whole area was surrounded by ‘bomb sites’ (a result of WW2) which for kids was heaven ie playing run outs, building dens and just for general rummaging. There’s a film called ‘Passport To Pimlico’ which although set a little earlier to the 1960’s I think would give you a good idea what the area was like around that time. I think I’m right in saying that that film was set closer to Lambeth Walk than to the area used for the title which was on the other side of the river. Ah yes there was also during most of my life a pub called ‘The Lambeth Walk’ at one end but sadly I think it’s gone. I visited the area recently and I’m afraid to say it’s a fairly anonymous place now with very little sign of it’s colourful past. If you live round that area you grow up with the sound of Big Ben...but you’re not a cockney! But you certainly are a saaarf Londoner

[@rayunseitig6367]

do you wind up the machine? and sharpen those wood needles?

[@alanhaywood01]

Wood needles are better than steel for 78s, less wear of the record

[@clivejohnstone8368]

British people everywhere

[@pagemike4192]

Who is singing ? sounds like Cyril Grantham any one know for sure? nice record and so clear !

[@flyhigh6088]

Wieder eine super Qualität: Ton, Info (!), Film, danke sehr! Mehr Infos zum heutigen Lambeth Walk hier: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5qvZJ2Bp7yUeqM

[@WrestleNiceGuy121]

If you check in imdb.com or Wikipedia and put in Dad's Army or "google" Dad's Army you will probably who sang the themesong. You have to check both at least as sometimes imdb.com doesn't have as much info as Wiki.

[@johnrobins4164]

Alan Breeze.

[@strawberryjam3670]

oi

[@Linhombre69]

Nah, ain't that a luvverly song! Sarf London's claim to fame?

[@user-ep8xv8kx3l]

所谓“商女不知亡国恨，隔江犹唱后庭花”

[@ConArtista]

Does Swing influence Ska????

[@valtojos]

Bud Flanagan sang the dads army theme, and this certainly is not Bud Flannagan

[@chrisrogers8374]

Slight lyric change on this one. make you way so there stay there. it should be make your way there go there stay there?

[@user-ih6vs3eg3o]

London will never look the same now that multicuturalism has taken over 😪

[@MrSwingtime]

Noch ein Highlight. Vielen Dank auch für die ausführlichen Hintergrundinformationen zu den Bands. Für mich auch gleich ein Sprachtraining. Danke für diese großartigen Präsentationen!!!