Cinecord

Michael Thomas' Website

Records

Cinecord

Records

British Dance Bands

Cinecord records were made by British Homophone Ltd for The Cinecord Co. Ltd which was formed in August 1935, and based at 49, Whitfield Street, London W1. The company seems to have disappeared by November 1935.
The majority of the masters had already been issued on BH's Sterno label. The records were not intended for sale to the general public, but it is believed they were sold for 2/6 (based on a 3/4d copyright stamp seen on one issue). It is almost certain these records were produed for the Odeon Cinema chain.

With the exceptions of the first 8 issues, the performers are anonymous on Cinecords. The catalogue started at O2 and only lasted a few issues, with O21 the highest known. The first one was labelled OD1 (i.e. Odeon) and was a special recording by Billy Merrin & his Commanders called Round The Corner (at the Odeon). This was only available on Cinecord. Other bands heard on this label are directed by Syd Lipton, Charlie Kunz, Mantovani and Oscar Rabin.

There are also some organ solos recorded by land line from the Odeon Cinema, Haverstock Hill (despite some of the labels giving other cinema names) The organist on these 6 sides was Terence Casey. This information has been given to me by Wayne Ivany of The Cinema Organ Society Of Great Britain. The society has a website which can be found here.
There was a solitary 8" issue with no catalogue number (see bottom of page).

Below is a listing of all Cinecords I have traced so far. Any information about missing titles will be received gratefully! All dance band titles are Foxtrots unless noted otherwise.

Matrix numbers marked * were not issued in the domestic Sterno series (No O16 was issued on French Sterno).
My thanks to Steve Walker for this information. Thanks also to Bill Dean-Myatt for some of the information on this page.

Cat No.	Matrix	Title	Film (where shown)	Artist (* = as shown on label)	Original issue
OD1	S-4252* S-3086	Round The Corner Ranno De La Noche (Tango)		Billy Merrin & his Commanders* Mantovani and his Tipica Orchestra*	None Sterno 1215
O2	SR-2021* SR-2022*	Pop Goes Your Heart Happiness Ahead - selection	Happiness Ahead Happiness Ahead	Organ of the Odeon, Wealdstone* Organ of the Odeon, Haverstock Hill*	None None
O3	SR-2017* SR-2019	You, Me And Love Gay Divorce - selection	My Heart Is Calling The Day Givorce	Organ of the Odeon, Kingston-upon-Thames* Organ of the Odeon, Worthing*	None Sterno 1600
O4	SR-2018* SR-2020*	My Heart Is Always Calling The Continental	My Heart Is Calling The Day Givorce	Organ of the Odeon, Kingston-upon-Thames* Organ of the Odeon, Haverstock Hill*	None None
O5	S-4123 S-4151	With Every Breath I Take June In January	Here Is My Heart Here Is My Heart	Billy Merrin and his Commanders* Billy Merrin and his Commanders*	Sterno 1555 Sterno 1583
O6	S-2248 S-2249	At The Bal Musette The Valse Of The Gigolo		Zigano's Accordeon Band* Zigano's Accordeon Band*	Sterno 1014 Sterno 1014
O7	S-3843 S-4258	Speak Easy (cuban) Rhythm Of The Rumba (Rumba)		Walford Hyden and his Melodians* Billy Merrin and his Commanders*	Sterno 1449 Sterno 1611
O8	S-4248 S-4251	Let Me Sing You To Sleep With A Love Song (wz) Lookie Lookie Lookie Here Comes Cookie		Billy Merrin and his Commanders* Billy Merrin and his Commanders*	Sterno 1598 Sterno 1598
O9	S-4246 S-4249	The Words Are In My Heart (waltz) I'm Going Shopping With You	Gold Diggers of 1935 Gold Diggers of 1935	Billy Merrin and his Commanders Billy Merrin and his Commanders	Sterno 1599 Sterno 1599
O10	S-4247 S-4250	Mr and Mrs Is The Name Flirtation Walk	Flirtation Walk Flirtation Walk	Billy Merrin and his Commanders Billy Merrin and his Commanders	Sterno 1597 Sterno 1597
O11	S-4266 S-4270	I've Told Every Little Star We Belong Together	Music in the Air Music in the Air	Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1607 Sterno 1607
O12	S-4267 S-4268	Soon Down By The River	Mississippi Mississippi	Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1606 Sterno 1606
O13
O14	S-4063 S-4269	Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Lovely To Look At	Roberta Roberta	Charlie Kunz's Casani Club Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1528 Sterno 1608
O15	S-2528 S-2568	Black Eyes March Of The Russian Hussars		Jean Goulescu (violin solo) Jean Goulescu (violin solo)	Sterno 1056 Sterno 1056
O16	S-4264* S-4272	Don't Ever Leave Me Why Was I Born?	Sweet Adeline Sweet Adeline	Barbara Palmer (vocal with orch accmp) Oscar Rabin & his Romany Band	None Sterno 1608
O17	S-4206 S-4271	Your Head On My Shoulder All For A Shilling A Day	Kid Millions Me And Marlborough	Billy Merrin & his Commanders Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1588 Sterno 1609
O18	S-4280 S-4282	Love's Young Dream (Waltz) Jubilo	Little Colonel Little Colonel	Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1605 Sterno 1605
O19	S-4275 S-4277	Look Up And Laugh Love Is Everywhere	Look Up And Laugh Look Up And Laugh	Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1603 Sterno 1603
O20	S-4276 S-4279	Valparaiso (Rumba) Lovey Dovey	Dance Band Dance Band	Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band Syd Lipton's New Grosvenor House Band	Sterno 1604 Sterno 1604
O21	S-4255 S-4256	Fare Thee Well, Annabelle Sweet Music	Sweet Music Sweet Music	Billy Merrin & his Commanders Billy Merrin & his Commanders	Sterno 1610 Sterno 1610

There was also at least one 8" Cinecord which I have; it appears to have no catalogue number, but has normal Plaza matrix numbers.

Cat	Matrix	Title	Film	Artists	Original issue
	L-2065 L-2064	You, Me And Love My Heart Is Always Calling You	My Heart is Calling My Heart is Calling	Mantovani's Orch, with Cavan O'Connor, vocal	Plaza P-375 Plaza P-374