Ray Noble

Ray Noble

Source: Internet Archive

Born on 17 December 1903 in Brighton, England, British bandleader and composer, Ray Noble, studied at the Royal Academy of Music in 1926. For some reason DAHR has Noble directing the Ben Selvin Orchestra as early as 13 May 1925 in New York City per 'Steppin' in Society' issued on Vocalion 15038. But that isn't correct. There is no record of Noble traveling to New York City as early as 1925, there is no mention of him participating in Vocalion 15038 anywhere but DAHR and there is no mention anywhere of his having ever worked at any time with Ben Selvin, an American bandleader. This dubious session. Vocalion 15038 at Discogs. Incidentally, though Noble had nothing to do with it, Selvin recorded 'Steppin' in Society' in NYC again on 26 May 1925 with his Knickerbockers toward Columbia 391. Selvin's was a well-known operation nevertheless missing from the VF History (hardly the only absent big name: shame on you so-called "author" of that mess who should be anonymous to yourself in addition to all the cosmos!).

Lord's discography traces Noble to no earlier than 22 October 1928 as an arranger with Jack Payne and his BBC Dance Orchestra for 'Out of the Dawn' and 'Sweet Sue, Just You' (Columbia 5074), which seems the more likely year of Noble's debut participation on a commercial record release. However, every other reference including Crawford / Magee and MusikTitelDB has that session on 2 October. Noble arranged more titles for Payne, also directing 'Am I Blue?' (HMV B3174) for Anona Winn in September. The next month Noble began playing cello with Carroll Gibbon's New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, a studio band for HMV Records. A session with Noble in that capacity was recorded at Small Queen's Hall on October 7, yielding 'Teardrops' with a couple of medleys. Noble was made leader of that orchestra, meanwhile continuing to work with Payne.

'Sweet Sue'   Jack Payne and the BBC Dance Orchestra

Recorded 2 October 1928 in London     Columbia 5074

Cornet: Frank Wilson   Trumpet: Harry Mills   Trombone / bass sax: Jesse Fuller

Clarinet / sax: Dave Roberts / Bob Easson / Bill Taylor

Piano: Bob Busby   Banjo: George Rives   Bass brass: Julius Nussbaum

Drums: Bob Manning   Arrangement: Ray Noble (this his first known session)

Vocals: Jack Payne / Bob Busby / Bob Manning

Music: Victor Young   Lyrics: Will J. Harris   1928

'Happy Days Are Here Again'   Jack Payne and the B.B.C. Dance Orchestra

Recorded 1 March 1930 in London     Columbia CB9

Trumpet: Frank Wilson / Tommy Smith / Harry Mills   Trombone: Jesse Fuller

Clarinet / sax: Dave Roberts / Wlliam Taylor / Bob Easson / Frank Johnson

Violin: Bill Clark / Bert Powell / Les Thomas

Piano: Bob Busby   Banjo: George Rives   Bass brass: Julius Nussbaum

String bass: Charlie Asplin   Drums: Bob Manning   Arrangement: Ray Noble

Vocal: Jack Payne / Bob Busby

Music: Milton Ager    Lyrics: Jack Yellen    For the film 'Chasing Rainbows' 1929

'Happy Days Are Here Again'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Harry Shalson

Recorded 14 April 1930 in London     HMV B3427

Music: Milton Ager    Lyrics: Jack Yellen    For the film 'Chasing Rainbows' 1929

'Harmony Heaven'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing W. Vernon

Recorded 28 April 1930 in London     HMV B5827

Composition: Eddie Brandt / Eddie Pola / Ray Vincent

'Song of the West Medley'   Ray Noble Orchestra

Recorded 4 June 1930 in Hayes     HMV C-1944

Compositions by Hammerstein and Youmans

'The Prisoner's Song' sung in Afrikaans   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 14 July 1930 in Hayes     HMV FJ-133

Composition: Guy Massey 1924

'Time on My Hands'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 19 Feb 1931    Matrix 0B368

Gramophone B-5983 / Victor 25016 / Victor 27861 / RCA Victor 947-0044 (vinyl)

Music: Vincent Youmans 1930   Lyrics: Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon

'Goodnight Sweetheart'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 19 Feb 1931    Matrix 0B371

Gramophone B-5984 / Victor 22905 / 25016 / 27864 / 20-2950

Composition: Jimmy Campbell / Reg Connelly / Ray Noble

'Goodnight Sweetheart'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing George Metaxa

Recorded sometime unknown 1931   Stacked here as comparison w Bowlly above

Gramophone B-5984 / Victor 22905 / 25016 / 27864 / 20-2950

Composition: Jimmy Campbell / Reg Connelly / Ray Noble

The combination of vocalist, Al Bowlly, supported by Noble's New Mayfair Orchestra in London brought each to shared acclaim in the early thirties. Noble backed Bowlly as early as 14 July 1930 in Hayes toward 'The Prisoner's Song' on HMV FJ-133. Lord has Noble backing Bowlly as early as 17 July of 1930 in Hayes, Middlesex, directing the Night Club Kings with Norman Payne at trumpet and Jock Fleming on trombone for unissued tracks: 'Allah's Holiday', 'Whispering' and 'Give Me Back My Heart'. Noble arranged and contributed cello. Bowlly saw backing by Noble's New Mayfair Orchestra at Small Queen's Hall in London on 19 February 1931 for 'Makin' Wicki-Wacki Down in Waikiki' (HMV B5989) and 'Shout for Happiness' (HMV B5984). They topped the charts in the United States in 1933 with 'Love Is the Sweetest Thing'. Come 'Isle of Capri' at #1 in December 1934. Noble backed Bowlly on five Top Ten releases, but that was a fraction of the time Noble spent on the charts in the United States. Of the 25 issues which reached the Top Ten most were instrumentals among seven which peaked at #1:

   1931   #6   Lady of Spain   vocal Al Bowlly
   1932   #5   Hold My Hand
   1932   #5   Lights of Paris
   1932   #5   Sailing on the Robert E. Lee
   1933   #1   Love Is the Sweetest Thing   vocal Al Bowlly
   1933   #7   We've Got the Moon and Sixpence
   1933 Oct   #1   The Old Spinning Wheel
   1934   #8   I'll Follow My Secret Heart
   1934   #1   The Very Thought of You
   1934   #6   Tiger Rag
   1934 Dec   #3   Blue Danube
   1934 Dec   #1   Isle of Capri   vocal Al Bowlly
   1935   #5   Clouds
   1935   #1   Let's Swing It
   1935   #1   Paris in the Spring
   1935   #4   Top Hat   vocal Al Bowlly
   1936   #7   Dinner for One, Please, James   vocal Al Bowlly
   1936   #3   I've Got You Under My Skin   vocal Al Bowlly
   1936 Dec   #7   Easy to Love   vocal Al Bowlly
   1937   #3   I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
   1938   #6   Alexander's Ragtime Band
   1938   #4   I Hadn't Anyone Till You
   1947 Feb   #1   Linda   vocal Buddy Clark
   1947 Mar   #6   How Are Things in Gloca Mora   vocal Buddy Clark
   1947 Dec   #3   I'll Dance at Your Wedding   vocal Buddy Clark

'Lady of Spain'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 26 March 1931 in London   Charts in US at #6 1931

Gramophone B-5999 / Electrola EG-2398 / Victor 22774 / 24499

Music: Tolchard Evans   Lyrics: Erell Reaves

'There's Something in Your Eyes'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 14 August 1931 in London   HMV B-6056 / HMV EA-958

Composition: Franz Grothe 1931

'Pagan Moon'   Ray Noble New Mayfair Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Recorded 20 July 1932 in London   HMV B-6219

Music: Joe Burke   Lyrics: Al Bryan / Al Dubin   For the film 'Safe in Hell' 1931

'Love Is the Sweetest Thing'   Al Bowlly w Ray Noble and His New Mayfair Orchestra

8 Sep 1932 in London   HMV B-6245 / Victor 24333   Charts in the US at #1

Composition: Ray Noble

'Three Wishes'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

16 March 1933   Victor 24347

Composition: Simon Posford

'Good Night Sweetheart'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

Filmed 15 August 1933 in Holland

Composition: Jimmy Campbell / Reg Connelly / Ray Noble

'Midnight, the Stars and You'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

16 Feb 1934   Victor 24700

Composition: Jimmy Campbell / Brown Woods

'The Very Thought of You'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

21 April 1934 at Abbey Road Studios in London   Victor 24657   Charts in US at #1

Composition: Ray Noble

'I Love You Truly'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

31 May 1934 in London   Gramophone B-6492 / Victor 24806 / Victor 27862

Composition: Carrie Jacobs-Bond   1901

'It's All Forgotten Now'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Al Bowlly

11 July 1934 in London   Gramophone B-6509 / Victor 24724

Composition: Ray Noble

Noble moved to New York City in October of 1934, joined for a time by his drummer, Bill Harty, as well as Bowlly. In 1935 Noble recruited Glenn Miller to help find members for his new orchestra with Miller at trombone. His first issue in the United States per Lord was 'Down By the River' with Bowlly at vocals in early 1935. Come 'Top Hat' the same year followed by numerous Top Ten titles in 1936. As Bowlly was a major element in Noble's early renown, numerous compilations of their recordings together have been issued. Lord traces their last titles together to 7 December 1936 in New York City including 'Now' and 'I'll Forsake All Others'.

'Top Hat'   Al Bowlly w The Freshmen and The Ray Noble Orchestra

8 June 1935 in NYC   Charts in the US at #4

Victor 25094 / HMV BD-247 / HMV NE-239 / Electrola EG-3488

Composition: Irving Berlin for the film 'Top Hat'

'The Touch of Your Lips'   Al Bowlly w the Ray Noble Orchestra

19 March 1936 in NYC   Victor 25277

Composition: Ray Noble

'Harlem Nocturne'   Ray Noble Orchestra

8 Aug 1940 in Chicago   Columbia 35708

Composition: Earle Hagen

'A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Larry Stewart

11 Sep 1940 in Chicago   Columbia 35708

Music: Manning Sherwin   Lyrics: Eric Maschwitz   1939

Albeit Al Bowlly and Noble were a highly popular combination in the thirties, TsorT indicates that Noble's most successful title overall, after 'The Very Thought of You' in 1934, arrived with Buddy Clark at vocals on 'Linda' issued in 1946. 'Linda' was composed by Jack Lawrence in 1942 who drew its title from the one year-old daughter of his attorney, Lee Eastman, who was Linda McCartney, wife of Paul. Noble's continuing career included radio and television, recording to as late as 1950. 'Moonlight on the Ganges' went down on 1 November that year. Noble retired with his wife to home in Santa Barbara, CA, after his last performance for 'The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show' on 26 December 1954, a radio program on which he'd appeared regularly since 21 September 1941 [Old Time Radio].

'Linda'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Buddy Clark

16 Nov 1946   Columbia 37215   Charts in US at #1 Feb 1947

Composition: Jack Lawrence   1942

'I’ll Dance at Your Wedding'   Ray Noble Orchestra backing Buddy Clark w Anita Gordon

Recorded Oct 1947   Columbia 37967   Charts in US at #3 Dec 1947

Music: Ben Oakland   Lyrics: Herbert Magidson

'Save a Little Sunbeam'   Ray Noble Orchestra w Doris Day

Recorded Sep 1949 in Hollywood   Columbia 38676

Composition: Mack Gordon

'Moonlight on the Ganges'   Ray Noble Orchestra w The Mellomen

Recorded 1 Nov 1950   Columbia C1684

Music: Montague Ewing   Lyrics: Henry Tilsley   1926

Noble left the United States in the latter sixties to live his remaining years in Bailiwick of Jersey off the coast of Normandy. He died in London of cancer on 3 April 1978 [obit], later to be inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.

Geraldo Bright born England:

HMR Project   Wikipedia

Spike Hughes born England:

HMR Project   Wikipedia