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| Ted Heath and his Music... the 1940s |
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This is not a complete discography. It concentrates on the recording sessions from the 1940s that included jazz musicians of the period, some of course who continued to play for many more years. They include Kenny Baker, Jack Parnell, Ronnie Scott, Pete Chilver, Dave Goldberg, Norman Stenfalt, Tommy Whittle, Aubrey Frank and others. The Heath band were a swing band in the style of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. They also played a bit of dance music, a bit of jazz and other more popular music of the day featuring popular vocalists. Heath biography...At the time of writing (June 2007) virtually all of the recordings listed below are available on CD, many on more than one CD. Besides the CDs listed there have been earlier compilations that are no longer available. I have only detailed the Hep CD's because they have a number of titles from broadcasts not included on other collections. it should be noted that Hep CDs are not a set - they are sold individually. These CDs also include recordings under the names of Jack Parnell (Jack Parnell and his Quartet) and Kenny Baker (Kenny Baker Orchestra, The Brass Hats, Kenny Baker Swing Group, London Town Orchestra and Reg Owen) - track details appear on the Parnell and Baker pages. The musicians in all of these groups were current members of the Heath Orchestra... ASV - Listen to my music (27 original recordings 1944 - 1950) EMI Gold - The very best of Ted Heath Hep - Ted Heath and his music (Vol 1 1944/46), (Vol 2 1946/47), (Vol 3 1947/48), (Vol 4 1948/50) 
Horatio Nelson - The very best of Ted HeathJasmine (2 separate CDs) - Euphoria, You've gone to my head (1948/49) Magic - It's Swingtime Memoir - Nice one Ted (1948/51), Turn on the Heath (1947/48) Naxos Nostalgia - So easy (original recordings 1948/52) Proper 2CD set - Big Ben bounce (1944/48) By February 1944 Jack Parnell was working with the band that would make his name � Ted Heath and his Music. He remembers: Ted was lead trombone with Geraldo. He asked me and Kenny Baker to join his new band. It was a session band, all over the place. The funny thing was that he [Ted] wanted a sweet band, really, because he was a very good sweet trombone player. Kenny and I wouldn�t let him have that. A fine example of the band Parnell and Baker would let Heath have was Bakerloo Non-Stop, recorded for Decca in 1946. After a tenor saxophone solo from Johnny Gray, the piece becomes an exciting feature for both Baker and Parnell. Ted Heath and his Music - February 8th, 1944 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Max Goldberg, Arthur Mouncey, Cliff Haines (tp), Harry Roche, Jock Bain, Woolf Phillips, Les Carew (tb), Les Gilbert, Harry Smith (as), Aubrey Frank, Norman Impey (ts), Bill Lewington (bs), Ronnie Selby (p), Freddy Phillips (g), George Garnet (b), Jack Parnell (d). South Of The Border/Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair/Caravan/I've Got Sixpence. Opus 1 was the number that Heath regularly used to open concerts... December 18th, 1944 (Decca) Personnel as February 8th. Opus 1*/The Very Thought Of You*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") Ted Heath and his Music - February 12th, 1945 (Decca) Max Goldberg, Arthur Mouncey, Cliff Haines, Leslie Hutchinson (tp), Harry Roche, Woolf Phillips, Les Carew, Joe Cordell (tb), Les Gilbert, Harry Smith (as), Freddy Gardner, Frank Reidy (ts), Jimmy Goss (bs), Ronnie Selby (p), Charlie Short (b), Norman Burns (d). Cossack Patrol*/My Guy's Come Back*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") Ted Heath and his Music - October 22nd, 1945 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Letham, Alan Franks (tp), Harry Roche, Lad Busby, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Reg Owen, Cliff Townsend (as), Johnny Gray, Norman Impey (ts), Freddy Gardner (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Twilight Time*/First Jump*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") December 17th, 1945 (Decca) Personnel as October 22nd. East Of The Sun*/Not So Quiet, Please*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") Ted Heath and his Music - January 28th, 1946 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Letham, Alan Franks (tp), Harry Roche, Lad Busby, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Reg Owen, Les Gilbert (as), Johnny Gray, Frank Reidy (ts), Charles Granville (bs), Ralph Sharon (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Wotcher*/Bakerloo Non-stop*/I Fall In Love Too Easily. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46")  A few days later he called me up to his office in Albermarle Street and told me I had got the job. I thought that was really great because my idols in those days were the big bands like Tommy Dorsey's and Glenn Miller's and I thought Ted's was comparable. It was certainly the best big band in Europe at the time. He told me I would never earn less than £20 a week which was a fortune in those days. In the event we earned a lot more... Ted Heath and his Music - April 29th, 1946 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Letham, Alan Franks (tp), Harry Roche, Lad Busby, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Ronnie Scott (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d,vcl), Paul Carpenter (vcl). Any Old Iron*/I Fall In Love Too easily (vcl PC). (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") The following 1946 and 1947 broadcasts were never released on record but were issued many years later on Hep CD57. Other titles on this CD are by the Kenny Baker Swing Group and the Kenny Baker Brass Hats... May, 1946 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as April 29th. Listen To My Music*/Opus One*/Swing Low Sweet Charriot*/East Of The Sun*/Somebody Loves Me*/I Can't Give You Anything But Love*/Listen To My Music*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") June, 1946 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as April 29th. Love Will Find A Way*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") July, 1946 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as April 29th. C Jam Blues*/Exactly Like You*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") July 18th, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. Day By Day (vcl PC)/To Bed Early (vcl PC). July 27th, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. My Heart Goes Crazy (vcl JP)*/So Would I (vcl PC)/On Ilkla Moor Baht'At*/Donegal Cradle Song*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 1 1944/46") September 25th, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. You Keep Coming Back/Getting Nowhere (vcl PC). September 29th, 1946 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as April 29th. Time On My Hands*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") November 8th, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. Let It Be Soon (vcl PC)/Somewhere In The Night (vcl PC). November 25th, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. Mountain Greenery/Experiment. November, 1946 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as April 29th. Hey Ba Ba Rebop*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") November, 1946 (Decca) Personnel as April 29th. Experiment. Ronnie Scott was with the band for less than a year and only played on the few recording dates listed above. He had only four years playing experience and found the book increasingly difficult. Scott with typical candour says: I kind of struggled through but it was like being thrown in at the deep end.... I feel lucky to have played with the band but at that time I just wasn't good enough. The manner of Scott's departure suggests that Heath was a somewhat shy man: Yes that was rather strange.... he sent me a letter stating that my services were no longer required.... a bandleader usually comes up to you and tells you that but Ted would rather send a letter than tell you personally. He didn't do it because he was a big-time guy but rather because he was withdrawn and embarrassed by that kind of thing.... While he was with Heath Ronnnie Scott played in a "band within a band" with the Jack Parnell quartet comprising members of the band. They made a number of successful records detailed under the name of Jack Parnell... A twenty year old Tommy Whittle replaced Ronnie Scott and stayed with the band until 1953... Ted Heath and his Music - January 2nd, 1947 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Letham (tp), Dave Wilkins (tp,vcl), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d,vcl), Paul Carpenter (vcl). Ad Lib Frolic* (three takes)/Them Who Has Gets (vocal JP). (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") March, 1947 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as January 2nd. Knees Up Mother Brown*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") April 8th, 1947 (Decca) Personnel as January 2nd. Open The Door Richard (vocal DW and JP)/Route 66 (vocal JP)/People Will Say (vcl PC)/Out Of My Dreams. April 22nd, 1947 (Decca) Personnel as January 2nd. The Best Years Of Our Lives (vcl PC)/Try A Little Tenderness (vcl PC) September 16th, 1947 (Decca) Personnel as January 2nd. See Me Dance The Polka/Dickory Dock (vcl JP). September, 1947 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Personnel as January 2nd. Lonesome Road*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") Ted Heath and his Music - October 24th/25th/27th, 1947 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Hall, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Pete Chilver (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Taboo (two takes)/Turn On the Heath* (two takes)/Feudin' And Fighting* (vcl PC and JP)/Sequin*/Bahia/A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") This titles that appear on the Hep CD were recorded at the Locarno Ballroom, Streatham... Ted Heath and his Music - October, 1947 Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Cliff Haines, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as,cl), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whittle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p) Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). One Bass Hit*/Yesterdays*/Red Flush. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") Ted Heath and his Music - October, 1947 (Broadcast for British Forces overseas) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Cliff Haines, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as,cl), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whittle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Ralph Sharon (p) Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Night And Day*/Yearning*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 2 1946/47") Over the next three recording sessions Ted Heath recorded Fats' Waller's London suite. This was a sequence of six pieces based on districts of London which was written and recorded by the pianist during a visit to this country in 1938... Ted Heath and his Music - November 22nd, 1947 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Cliff Haines, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Pete Chilver (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). London Suite: Chelsea (two takes)/Whitechapel* (two takes). December 2nd, 1947 (Decca) Personnel as November 22nd. London Suite: Limehouse*/Bond Street*/Piccadilly*// Dickory Dock/Baia. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") December 23rd, 1947 (Decca) Personnel as November 22nd. London Suite: Soho (two takes). Late, 1947 (Broadcast) Personnel as November 22nd. Tale End Charlie*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 4 1948/50") Ted Heath and his Music - April 7th, 1948 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Hall, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as), Johnny Gray; Tommy Whittle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Pete Chilver (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Big Ben Bounce*/Sabre Dance Boogie (two takes). (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") April 19th, 1948? (London) Personnel probably as April 7th. Deep Forrest*/Pagan Love Song*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") Ted Heath and his Music - April 21st, 1948 (London/Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Hall, Dave Wilkins (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Pete Chilver (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Dark Eyes* (two takes)/You Go To My Head* (two takes). (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") April 22nd, 1948 (London/Decca) Personnel as April 21st, add Anne Shelton (vcl). Ring Round The Moon (vcl AS)/What Did I Do* (vcl AS). (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") Ted Heath and his Music - August/September, 1948 (First issued on Hep CD69) Morris (Mo) Miller, Stan Reynolds, Stan Roderick, Bobbie Pratt (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Maurice Pratt, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whittle (ts), Bob Burns (bs), David Simpson (p), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Sultry Serenade*/Air Conditioned Jungle*/St Louis Blues March*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 4 1948/50") Ted Heath and his Music - October 5th or 6th, 1948 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Reynolds, Stan Roderick, Dave Wilkins (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Maurice Pratt, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whittle (ts), Bob Burns (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Harlem Nocturne/The Touch Of your Lips/Love Is The Sweetest Thing/Listen To My Music. October 22nd, 1948 (Decca) Personnel probably as October 6th. Listen To My Music. October 26th, 1948 (Decca) Personnel probably as October 6th. Swanee River*/Song Of The Vagabonds*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") November 4th, 1948 (Decca) Personnel probably as October 6th. Two Guitars*/Hindustan*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") December 16th, 1948 (Decca) Personnel as October 6th add Reggie Goff (vcl). Narcissus (vocal RG)/You're Nearer*/London Fog. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 3 1947/48") Ted Heath and his Music - February 5th, 1949 (Decca) Maurice Miller, Stan Reynolds, Stan Roderick, Dave Wilkins (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Maurice Pratt, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen (as) Johnny Gray, Tommy Whittle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p) Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d,vcl). Old Mother Hubbard (vcl JP)/Tequila (vcl JP) Ladybird is an arrangement of Tadd Dameron's classic bop theme by pianist George Shearing. This is the Heath band's first step into the realms of bebop. Jackie Armstrong solos and Shearing's ensemble writing is impressive, catching a little of the spirit of Gillespie's "Things To Come" big band. Ted Heath and his Music - March 1st, 1949 (Decca) Stan Reynolds, Stan Roderick, Dave Wilkins, Maurice Miller (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Maurice Pratt, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d). Ladybyrd (two takes)/Oliver Twist (vcl JP and band). April 11th, 1949 (Decca) Personnel as March 1st. Stratford Water/Night Train To Scotland. Ted Heath and his Music - May 4th, 1949 (Decca) Kenny Baker, Stan Roderick, Harry Hall, Bobby Pratt (tp), Harry Roche, Jackie Armstrong, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Johnny Gray, Tommy Whitttle (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Norman Stenfalt (p), Dave Goldberg (g), Charlie Short (b), Jack Parnell (d,vcl), Dicky Valentine (vcl). Sophisticated Lady/That Lovely Weekend (vcl DV)/Dry Bones. May, 1949 (London) Personnel as May 4th. Get Out Of Town Before Sundown (vcl JP)/Dry Bones/Smoothly (vcl JP). Kenny Baker had been a stalwart with the band since it's inception and had acted as lead trumpet and featured soloist for most of the time but the recording date above was his last with the band. He recalled later: I had been with Ted for three years or so... I got fed up playing the same tunes.... we used to play "Trumpet Blues" until I was blue in the face.... we took it out of the library three times but put it back because it was so popular. What concerned me at the time was my reading which was getting very slack.... I used to sit on the library because I knew all the numbers and didn't need to get the parts out, except for one or two new charts. My reading was deteriorating so much that I decided to leave... So popular had bebop now become that Ted Heath felt obliged to record some more titles in the bebop style, (Lyonia, Euphoria, Move, So Easy). Tommy Whittle was in the band at the time and beside his tenor sax solos there were contributions from pianist Dave Simpson and trombonist Jackie Armstrong. Armstrong shows little empathy with the bop idiom but Tommy Whittle demonstrates that some of the Heath sidemen were aware of what was happening on 52nd Street! Johnny Dankworth did the arrangement for "Move", the others were by Tadd Dameron who worked as an arranger for Heath in the late 1940s. "Lyonia" is notable for superb saxophone passage, with flowing figures and phrases which are unmistakebly Dameron. These were almost certainly the first big band recordings of British bebop styled music. Ted Heath and his Music - September 2nd, 1949 (London/Decca) Bobby Pratt, Stan Roderick, Stan Reynolds, Ronnie Hughes (tp), Jackie Armstrong, Maurice Pratt, Jack Bentley, Jimmy Coombes (tb), Les Gilbert, Reg Owen, (as), Tommy Whitttle, Henry Mackenzie (ts), Dave Shand (bs), Dave Simpson (p), Jack Seymour (b), Jack Parnell (d,vcl), Dicky Valentine (vcl). Lyonia*/The Nearness Of You. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 4 1948/50") October 7th, 1949 (Decca) Personnel as September 2nd, except Sammy Stokes (b) replaced Jack Seymour. Father Knickerbopper*/Post Horn Gallop Boogie. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 4 1948/50") October 20th, 1949 (Decca) Personnel as October 7th. I'm in the mood for love/My silent love. October 27th, 1949 (Decca) Personnel as October 7th. Euphoria (two takes)/Move. November 3rd, 1949 (Decca) Personnel as October 7th. With A Song In My Heart/So Easy*. (*Hep CD - Ted Heath "Listen to my Music vol 4 1948/50") November, 1949 Personnel as October 7th. Sixty Seconds Got Together/The Girl In The Little Green Hat. Jack Parnell quit the band in 1951, Tommy Whittle in 1953. In 1955 Don Rendell had a spell with the band and between 1957 and 1959 trombonist Keith Christie and pianist and vibes player Stan Tracey were featured. Records from the 1950s... Records from the 1960s and '70s... My initial effort at a Ted Heath discography lacked many details that were included in Max Gray's superb discography covering the entire Ted Heath recording career. Anybody needing information from 1950 onwards could do no better than consult his work. I freely acknowledge the help I have received from it... Max Gray discography... |