The Al Bowlly Chronological Discography, 1926-41
This discography is derived almost entirely from the discography by Brian Rust and Clifford Harvey published in the book "Al Bowlly" by Sid Colin and Tony Staveacre (London: Elm Tree Books, 1979). Additions from the Ray Pallett alphabetical discography, published in his "Goodnight Sweetheart: Life and times of Al Bowlly" (Tunbridge Wells: Spellmount, 1986) are prefixed [RP:], my comments appear in square brackets, information supplied by John A.B. Wright and Mike Hart is prefixed [JW:] and [MH:] respectively. Sessions/takes where Al Bowlly plays a musical instrument, but is not heard vocally, are contained in {curly brackets}.
When Al Bowlly is heard as the incidental vocalist with a dance band or instrumental group, the paragraph listing such records is headed "with such-and-such" (if his name is shown on the label, the record number is followed by an asterisk *) ; when he is the principal artist, the supporting group is shown in the heading as `Acc. by so-and-so'.
The following abbreviations of record labels are used (makes not included in this list are given in full in the Discography):
BB-Bluebird (American)
Bcst-Broadcast (2500 series `Broadcast Twelve Dance' (Orange label); 3000 series `Broadcast Super Twelve' (Red label) ; 600 series 8-inch red label with white insert and black lettering.
Br-Brunswick
Cel-Celebrity
Col-Columbia
Dec-Decca (no-prefix-American; F-, K-, M- -British)
Dmn Dominion
EBR-Edison Bell Radio (8-inch)
EBW-Edison Bell Winner
El-Electrola (German)
Film-Filmophone
Gr-Deutsche Grammophon (German)
HMV-His Master's Voice (all British except EA (Australian), N (Indian) and no prefix (Canadian).
Hom-Homochord (German)
Imp-Imperial
May-Mayfair
Met-Metropole
Oct-Octocros
Pana-Panachord
Par-Parlophone
Pic-Piccadilly
Pol-Polydor (German; export label for Deutsche Grammophon); W series Australian
Re-Regal (all British except Gzoooo series (Australian)
Vic Victor (American)
All the above labels are of British manufacture unless otherwise stated.