Finding a wartime song beginning with “X” was always going to be a challenge … so in true cheeky music-hall style, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine have bent the rules and chosen the comic classic Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major.
First recorded in 1939 by Ambrose and his Orchestra, this lighthearted tune quickly became a wartime favourite, poking fun at army life while giving troops and civilians alike something to laugh (and sing) about.
In this episode, Lili and Tom explore the careers of bandleader Ambrose, vocalist and trombonist Les Carew, and the pseudonymous songwriters behind the number. They dig into different recordings - from Ambrose to Arthur Askey to Billy Cotton - and uncover the wider world of British dance bands, Tin Pan Alley pseudonyms, and even novelty piano pieces.
Expect drunken choruses, music hall gossip, and plenty of wartime humour in this fun-packed episode.
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
You can listen to ALL of the songs that Tom and Lili talk about in the episode on their Spotify playlister here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN?si=b777dc33a703408a
REFERENCES
Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (Cough Syrup)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Herbal-Formula-Cough-Syrup-300ml/dp/B001FAQXD2
Blakely Street, Stepney (where Ambrose lived)
https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=120008&WINID=1758879380875
George Tavern, Stepney
https://thegeorgetavern.london/
Ciro’s Club, Orange Street, London
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciro%27s_(London)
https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/64656/
https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw220678/Ciros-Nightclub-group-of-jazz-musicians-possibly-including-Jack-Newman-Syd-Lawrence-and-Ray-Noble https://www.jazzageclub.com/the-classy-ciros-restaurant-chain/370/
When Day Is Done - Ambrose’s Signature Tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa5TBTKFfdg
When Her Mother Come Two - Ivor Novello (sung by Fenton Grey)
https://youtu.be/VWhm4nS0eDA
Dance Band Encyclopedia - Michael Thomas
http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/dancebands/musicians/musicianpages/ambrose.htm
Little Tich’s Big Boots Dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFB4oHajwGw
Titch’s Big Boots - Water Rats Museum
https://www.gowr.co.uk/museum/
Tichbourne Complainant
https://bigginhill.co.uk/littletich.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tichborne_case
Les Carew - trombonist and singer
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-les-carew-1367973.html
Jack Hylton and Igor Stravinsky
https://www.jackhylton.com/hylton-stravinsky
Patricia Hammond
https://patriciahammond.com/
I’m Gonna Get Lit Up - Richard Suart
https://youtu.be/HyMwe0YHSfQ?si=VZZWxVdXerwrDLO0
Show Me The Way to Go Home - as it appears in Jaws
https://youtu.be/6XK3fLCSUAM?si=7ybSOf1RwW7R7eIU
Goodnight Sweetheart - Sitcom (1992-2016)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106014/
Steve Boyce - Costumier / Panto Dame
https://www.instagram.com/stevesteveboyce/
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:48 Catch Up
02:20 X = Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major
03:39 Bert Ambrose
05:33 Differences Between the American and British Sound
10:15 Bert Ambrose's Success
14:19 Les Carew: The Voice Behind the Song
20:32 How Did We First Discover the Song?
21:00 Discussing the Sheet Music
24:16 Discussing the Lyrics
25:51 Discussing the Music
27:11 Discussing Versions: Ambrose
28:44 Arthur Askey
31:58 Billy Cotton
32:57 Which Version Is Our Favourite?
33:27 If You Liked That You'll Like This
38:44 Mentioned in Dispatches
39:42 Teaser for Next Week
40:30 Outro
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod
Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil
Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine
CONTACT THE PODCAST
If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at warsongspod@gmail.com to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".
LISTENING LINKS
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318
If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
