THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

759-Lou Preager and His Orchestra-with vocals by Paul Rich.-Cruising Down the River.

1946-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.23. In the olden days before Sunday trading laws were relaxed, this is how you would spend your Sunday afternoon.

In the 1930’s, and 1940’s, the real Pop stars were the bandleaders, and they would often hire vocalists, sometimes on long contracts, to work exclusively for them. In 1945 the ‘BBC’ launched a public songwriting competition, as part of the radio show hosted by Lou Preager, (1906-1978) the competition was known as ‘Write a Tune,’ with a winning prize of £1000, the format proved very popular, and was repeated again in 1947, and 1950. The winners in 1945 were two middle aged women called Elly Beadell, (1890-1971) and Nelly Tollerton, Beadell had written the lyrics back in the 1920’s, with the medley composed by the music hall performer Ena Dayne, (1900-1977) but as Dayne could not read music, it was transcribed by Tollerton. Although Dayne was not entitled to royalties as her name was left off the credits, it is said that both Beadell and Tollerton made sure that she was paid her entitlement.

‘Cruising Down the River’ proved a great success, with Lou Preager and His Orchestra, with vocals by Paul Rich, becoming one of the best selling songs in the UK in 1946, with it’s sales of records, and sheet music. In America the most successful versions were recorded by the American orchestra leader ‘Blue Barron,’ (1913-2005) who reached the ‘Billboard magazine Best Seller’ chart on January 21, 1949, and lasted 19 weeks on the chart, peaking at Number 1, and the recording by the American Big Band leader Russ Morgan, (1904-1969) which also reached Number 1, and spent 22 weeks on the chart. ‘Cruising Down the River’ also charted on a further three occasions in 1949 on the ‘Billboard magazine Best Seller’ chart, with Smilin’ Jack Smith, (1913-2006) reaching Number 14, ‘Primo Scala and the Keynotes’ which was the pseudonym of the English Dance Band leader Harry Bidgood, (1898-1957) making Number 27, and the recording by Frankie Carle, (1903-2001) reached Number 28. In 1953 in the American Musical film ‘Cruisin’ Down the River.,’ the song was performed by Dick Haymes (1918-1980) (see also best songs 842.)

Lou Preager was born Louis Jacob Preager, on January 12th, 1906, in Poplar, London, England, from the 1960’s Preager suffered from ill health, and retired from music in 1962, he died on November 14th, 1978, at the age of 72. Lou Preager is best remembered as a Dance Band leader, Disc Jockey, and pianist, with his recordings taking place in the 1930’s, 1940’s, and 1950’s, During the Second World War Preager joined the ‘Intelligence Corps’ in 1941, where his right arm was seriously injured in a motor accident, and he received hospital treatment for eight months, and was then invalided out of the army in 1942. He then formed a 14 piece orchestra to play at the ‘Hammersmith Palais’ in London, where he led the resident band there for 18 years. The band made frequent radio broadcasts, including, from 1942, 96 editions of ‘Music While You Work,’ the band later appeared on television. A number of vocalists sang with the band, including Paul Rich, (1921-2000) and Elisabeth Welch (1904-2003.) During the 1950’s, Lou Preager presented ‘Housewives’ Choice’ on the BBC, and also at that time he was a well-known Disc Jockey. In 1959, his orchestra moved to the Lyceum Ballroom, in London, where he was often seen in the TV programme ‘Come Dancing.’

The version of ‘Cruising Down the River’ I have chosen is the recording by Lou Preager, with the vocals of Paul Rich. Rich was born on August 20th, 1921, in London, England, and died in the year 2000 from a heart attack. In 1941 Rich became a singer and guitarist with the ‘Oscar Rabin Band,’ before joining Lou Preager the following year. Paul Rich remained with Preager through until 1955, when he left to pursue his business interests, which included a chain of retail shops. From 1957, through until 1965 he recorded for Woolworth’s ‘ Embassy Records’ label, and in the 1960’s he became involved in music publishing, becoming the general manager of ‘Carlin Music’ in 1967. Rich retired from music, and his other activities in 1996.

‘Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon, with one you love, the sun above waiting for the moon. The old accordion playing a sentimental tune, cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon.’