Where'd You Get Those Eyes + Cross Your Heart (1926) The Sylvians

WHERE’D YOU GET THOSE EYES ~ [ 0:00 ] CROSS YOUR HEART ~ [ 2:47 ] The Sylvians HMV B5154 (20 October 1926) The Sylvians was W J L F De Mornys’ third band for the Savoy Hotel company; and formed not long before this recording. Indeed, this was their first recording session. Carroll Gibbons was the first leader: hence the obligatory, yonderly, piano interludes. With the non-Savoy-specific name, the band also played at the Berkeley Hotel, Knightsbridge, which the Savoy Hotel company also operated. The recording venue is the Small Queen’s Hall, and is far from being a success. A rather distant microphone technique has caught a cavernous sound, robbed the sound of warmth, bass and immediacy, and has added a shrill edge. Nevertheless, the energy in WHERE’D YOU GET THOSE EYES is impressive. On 1 October 1926 newspapers carried the following press release: “The BBC announces that commencing on October 7th, listeners will hear a new band from the Savoy Hotel. This band is called the Savoy Sylvians, and they will take the place of the Savoy Havana Band. The band consists of two pianists, two saxophonists, one violinist, one banjo-player, one trumpeter and one string bass player. This is entirely a new composition, and no other band has ever been made up along these lines. The rhythm will be much more accentuated, and much lighter than that of present dance bands.” The instrumental line-up on this record is certainly not that listed above; and this press release is the only instance I know of them being called the Savoy Sylvians rather than The Sylvians. The phrase “will take the place of the Savoy Havana Band” is a puzzle. It must have referred to broadcasts; but archived listings are confused. The SHB continued to be listed regularly and often with the Orpheans. The BBC’s listings archive does not mention the Sylvians; but radio listings in newspaper archives do. The musicians in all three bands were contracted to De Mornys, who, in turn, had the contract to provide the Savoy Hotel with bands. He also held the broadcast-relay contract with the BBC, which had consequences for the Hotel and the BBC in January 1928 after the Savoy had severed dealings with him.