Now that Strictly Come Dancing has everybody interested in strict-tempo ballroom dancing, here is a well-balanced, enjoyable programme by the genre’s ‘godfather’, its undisputed master, Victor Silvester (1900-1978). Victor was, for more than 30 years, the doyen of strict-tempo ballroom dancing. He was a World Ballroom Dancing champion as long ago as 1922, the year he first opened a dance academy. His books of dancing instructions were, and still are, definitive guides. In 1935 he formed his Ballroom Orchestra, recording literally hundreds of sides, and giving more than 6,500 radio and, later, television broadcasts on the BBC. At his death it is estimated he had sold 75 million records.

Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow was Victor Silvester’s famous opening quickstep instruction, with which he would open his programmes along with his theme tune You’re Dancing On My Heart. Retrospective’s CD presents a full range of the various Modern, Old Time and Latin-American strict-tempo dances, including the ice-breaking Paul Jones, letting the dancer try his steps with different partners. There are quicksteps, foxtrots, waltzes, tangos, cha cha cha, plus three popular Old Time dances and even the Charleston. In addition, three tracks feature Victor Silvester’s fine wartime Jive Band, which included such top jazzmen as George Chisholm and Tommy McQuator (Stompin’ At The Savoy). Please take your partners!

Contents:
1. You’re Dancing On My Heart – Quickstep
2. The “Paul Jones”: Time On My Hands (Slow Foxtrot) – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (Waltz) – ’Way Down Yonder In New Orleans (Quickstep) – Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries (Slow Foxtrot) – Charmaine (Waltz) – Dancing Time (Quickstep)
3. Enamorada – Rumba
4. Hear My Song, Violetta – Tango
5. The Veleta
6. The St. Bernard’s Waltz
7. Maria, My Own – Rumba
8. Deep Purple – Slow Foxtrot
9. Where Or When – Quickstep
10. By The Sleepy Lagoon – Waltz
11. Stompin’ At The Savoy – Jive
12. Pardon Me, Pretty Baby – Jive
13. Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider – Jive
14. You Turned The Tables On Me – Slow Foxtrot
15. Kiss Me (Bésame Mucho) – Rumba
16. Destiny – Viennese Waltz
17. Pablo The Dreamer (Adiós, Muchachos) – Tango
18. C’est Si Bon – Quickstep
19. Love Me – Slow Foxtrot
20. I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight – Charleston
21. Waltz Of My Heart
22. The Golden Tango
23. Patricia – Cha Cha Cha
24. Sway – Cha Cha Cha
25. I’ll See You Again – Waltz
26. Don’t Say “Goodbye” – Quickstep