Shall We Dance - Ted Heath

Let's Face The Music

Shall We Dance
Ted Heath And His Music
London PS148
1959

From the back cover: Ted Heath entered the music world 45 years ago when his father taught him the tenor horn. At seven Ted was playing in band contests and at 12 he switched to the trombone. Returning from service in World War I, Ted had a couple of lean years till his luck changed and Jack Hylton gave him a job. After this Ted worked his way through most of Britain's top bands and held the trombone chair on many record sessions with top American stars.

In 1942 Ted became fired with the idea of having a band of his own. It all came about when he heard Glenn Miller's American Band of the AEF, then stationed in Britain. The forceful swing and full-bodied brass sound so fascinated him that he decided to form a band which would play this kind of music he believed in.

Ted Heath and his Music were heard for the first time on a BBC broadcast in 1942, but not until the war ended could Ted really think about building up a regular orchestra. In 1945 the American trumpet player and arranger, Toots Camarata came to Britain as musical director of the film "London Town." Camarata commissioned Heath to provide the music for the film and in this way the band achieved a degree of permanence. When the film was completed Ted Heath's orchestra began touring and broadcasting regularly.

A small but fanatical following quickly sprang up; the band started coming top in the polls run by British musical papers; yet the music was still too advanced for most of the general public. But Ted refused to compromise; he preferred to wait for the public to catch up with his ideas. That they have now done so is reflected in the present-day sales of Ted Heath's records and the crowds which flock to see the band wherever it appears. And Ted Heath's music is just as popular on the other side of the Atlantic as it is in Britain, as provided by the heavy demand for his records in the United States and the enormous success of his two American tours.

From Billboard - June 8, 1959: The well-known British orkster hews a pretty sedate line in this set of sides, designed mainly for dancing rather than swinging. Heath's band as usual, sounds crisp and interesting but here there is little resort to extended improvising or other appeals to the jazz buff. This is just good, solid, big band dance stuff nicely recorded in stereo. Some jock will find spinnable sides here.

Dancing In The Dark
I Could Have Danced All Night
Dancing With My Shadow
The Love Dance
Shall We Dance
Let's Face The Music
Dancing Time
Ten Cents A Dance
Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Dance Ballerina Dance
All You Want To Do Is Dance
I Won't Dance