HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Spike Hughes

Birth of Jazz: Spike Hughes

It's well known that jazz migrated across the Atlantic in 1919 when the Original Dixieland Jazz Band invaded London. Jazz and dance bands had ever since become as huge in British culture as in the United States. Born Patrick Cairns Hughes in London on 13 October 1908, double bassist and trumpeter, Spike Hughes, distinguished himself with a brief recording career of only about four years. He first recorded on double bass in London on 7 October 1929 with Ray Noble's New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, the first tune of that session being 'Teardrops' (HMV 5716).

'Teardrops' Ray Noble's New Mayfair Dance Orchestra

First known recording by Spike Hughes

Recorded 7 October 1929 at Small Queen's Hall in London

Matrix Bb-17268-6 HMV 5716

Piano: Harry Jacobson

Violin: Eric Siday / Reg Pursglove / Jean Pougnet Banjo: Bert Thomas

Cello: Ray Noble String bass: Spike Hughes Drums: Bill Harty

Composition: Syl Johnson

Hughes put his own band together in Great Britain in 1930, originally called the Decca-Dents, and recorded the same year, 'A Miss Is As Good As a Mile'/'Body and Soul' (Decca F-1703) among his first issued.

'It's Unanimous Now' Spike Hughes and His Decca-Dents

Recorded 12 March 1930 in London Matrix MB1055-1 Decca F1690

Trumpet: Sylvester Ahola Clarinet / violin: Stan Andrews

Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Eddie Carroll

Guitar: Leslie Smith String bass: Spike Hughes

Drums / vocal: Val Rosing

Composition: Sam Stept / Bud Green

'A Miss Is As Good As a Mile' Spike Hughes and His Decca-Dents

Recorded 12 March 1930 in London Matrix MB1057-2 Decca F1703

Trumpet: Sylvester Ahola Clarinet / violin: Stan Andrews

Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Eddie Carroll

Guitar: Leslie Smith String bass: Spike Hughes

Drums / vocal: Val Rosing

Composition: Philip Stuart Buchel

'The Man From the South' Spike Hughes and His Decca-Dents

Recorded 28 March 1930 in London Matrix MB1124-2 Decca F1709

Trumpet: Max Goldberg Clarinet / violin: Stan Andrews

Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Eddie Carroll

Guitar: Leslie Smith String bass: Spike Hughes

Drums / vocal: Val Rosing

Composition: Rube Bloom / Harry Woods

'Zonky' Spike Hughes and His Dance Orchestra

Recorded 2 April 1930 in London Matrix MB1150-2 Decca F1747

Trumpet: Max Goldberg Clarinet: Danny Polo

Clarinet / alto sax: Max Farley Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Eddie Carroll

Violin: Stan Andrews Guitar: Leslie Smith String bass: Spike Hughes

Drums: Val Rosing

Composition: Fats Waller / Andy Razaf

'The Mooche' Spike Hughes and His Dance Orchestra

Recorded 2 April 1930 in London Matrix MB1151-3 Decca F1787

Trumpet: Max Goldberg Clarinet: Danny Polo

Clarinet / alto sax: Max Farley Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Eddie Carroll

Violin: Stan Andrews Guitar: Leslie Smith String bass: Spike Hughes

Drums: Val Rosing

Composition: Duke Ellington / Irving Mills 1928

'Harlem Madness' Spike Hughes and His Dance Orchestra

Recorded 16 July 1930 in London Matrix MB1630-2 Decca F1861

Trumpet: Norman Payne / Bill Gaskin Trombone: Jock Fleming Clarinet: Phil Cardew

Clarinet / baritone sax: Harry Hines Alto sax: Philip Buchel Piano: Gerry Moore

Guitar: Alan Ferguson String bass: Spike Hughes Drums: Bill Harty

Music: Milton Ager Lyrics: Jack Yellen

'Just a Dancing Sweetheart' Spike Hughes backing Elsie Carlisle

Spike Hughes and His Dance Orchestra as Arthur Lally and the Million-Airs

Recorded 4 Sep 1931 in London Matrix GB-3182-1 Decca F2510

Trumpet: Jimmy McCaffer Trombone: Lew Davis Clarinet: Phil Cardew

Clarinet / alto sax: Billy Amstell / Arthur Lally (also baritone)

Tenor sax: Buddy Featherstonehaugh Piano: Claude Ivy

Violin: Boris Penker Guitar: Alan Ferguson String bass: Spike Hughes

Music: Peter De Rose Lyrics: Charles Tobias

'Hangin’ On To That Man' Spike Hughes backing Elsie Carlisle

Spike Hughes and His Dance Orchestra

Recorded 18 Nov 1931 in London Matrix GB2920 Decca F3038

Music: Joe Myrow (Josef Myerow) Lyrics: Frank Capano / Harry Filler

In April 1933 Hughes visited New York City and formed the Negro Orchestra, also known as his All American Orchestra, which would consist of such as Benny Carter, Luis Russell, Coleman Hawkins, Chu Berry, Henry Red Allen and Sid Catlett. Hughes composed or arranged most of the tunes which that band recorded in April and May, taking those tracks back to England for issue only there on Decca.

'Pastoral' Spike Hughes and His Negro Orchestra

Recorded 18 April 1933 in NYC Matrix 13259-A Decca F3606

Trumpet: Shad Collins / Leonard Davis / Bill Dillard

Trombone: Dicky Wells / Wilbur DeParis / George Washington

Clarinet / alto sax: Benny Carter / Wayman Carver / Howard Johnson

Clarinet / tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins Piano: Red Rodriguez

Guitar: Lawrence "Larry" Lucie String bass: Ernest Hall

Drums: Sidney Catlett Arrangement: Spike Hughes

Composition: Spike Hughes

'How Come You Do Me Like You Do?' Spike Hughes and His Negro Orchestra

Last known recording by Spike Hughes

Recorded 19 May 1933 in NYC Matrix 13363-A Decca F3972

Trumpet: Henry "Red" Allen / Howard Scott / Leonard Davis or Bill Dillard

Trombone: Dicky Wells / Wilbur DeParis / George Washington

Clarinet / alto sax: Benny Carter / Howard Johnson / Wayman Carver

Clarinet / tenor sax: Coleman Hawkins Tenor sax: Chu Berry

Flute: Wayman Carver Soprano sax: Chu Berry Piano: Red Rodriguez

Guitar: Lawrence "Larry" Lucie String bass: Ernest Hall

Drums: Sidney Catlett Arrangement: Spike Hughes Vocal: Henry "Red" Allen

Composition: Gene Austin

Hughes dropped away from performing music after the above recordings, upon which he became a writer, BBC announcer and music critic. He died in the United Kingdom on 2 February 1987 fifty-four years after his final recordings.

Sources & References for Patrick Cairns "Spike" Hughes:

Donald Clarke (Music Box)

Alexandros Kozák (Spike Hughes with Elsie Carlisle)

r2ok

VF History (notes)

Wikipedia

Scott Yanow (All Music)

Audio of Hughes: Internet Archive

Authorship (books published by Hughes):

Fandom Good Reads Open Library

Recordings by Hughes: Catalogs:

45 Worlds