“I’ve Gotta Get Up And Go To Work”
Jack Payne And His Band;
Trio of Billy Scott-Coomber & 2 others, vocal; Jack Payne intro speaking
(Imperial 2918-A mx 6490-2) October 13, 1933
“Ah But Is It Love?”
Jack Payne And His Band; Jack Payne, vocal
(Imperial 2918-B mx 6491-3) October 13, 1933
Here are two recordings by Jack Payne And His Band, one of the more prominent 1930s British dance bands.
Both of these songs came from the 1933 American musical film Moonlight And Pretzels which was released in the UK under the title of Moonlight And Melody. The film included a couple of Great Depression themed songs, “I’ve Gotta Get Up And Go To Work” featured here, as well as “Are You Making Any Money?”
The Imperial label was founded in 1920 and purchased by the Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Co. Ltd in 1925. Crystalate owned several low-priced British labels. In addition to its domestically made recordings, Imperial records often featured pressings of imported American masters originally issued on the Banner label, the parent company of which, Regal Records, Crystalate eventually acquired an ownership interest in.
Crystalate discontinued the Imperial label in early 1934 in favor of its newly introduced Rex label. Crystalate sold all of its record and phonograph related business to Decca in 1937.
Jack Payne was one of the Imperial label’s top-selling artists which, no doubt, was the reason for the creation of a special picture label for his recordings.