Jack Strachey

Jack Strachey (25 September 1894 – 27 May 1972) was an English composer and songwriter.

Born John Francis Strachey in London on 25 September 1894, he began writing songs in the 1920s for the theatre and the music hall, scoring his first success with songs he had written for Frith Shephard's long-running musical revue Lady Luck which opened at The Carlton Theatre in April 1927 where it ran for 324 performances.

In the 1930s, he began to collaborate with Eric Maschwitz and in 1936 Strachey, Maschwitz (using the pen name Holt Marvell), and Harry Link co-wrote "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)", which was to provide a top ten hit for five separate artists in 1936. Benny Goodman was among the five artists to record the song in 1936, and it has been widely covered since - by Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk and Bryan Ferry among others. Under the title "Ces Petites Choses", it was also a hit in France for Dorothy Dickson. Strachey scored another success in 1940 (this time with Eric Maschwitz and Manning Sherwin) with the song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".

In the 1940s, Strachey began to compose popular light music pieces for orchestra, and is best remembered in Britain as the composer of "Theatreland", "Pink Champagne", and especially "In Party Mood" (1944), which was the signature tune of Housewives' Choice, a popular radio show on the BBC Light Programme which ran until 1967.

Jack Strachey moved to Brighton in 1958 and died there on 27 May 1972.

Birth and Death Data: Born 1894, Died May 27, 1972

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, piano

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-101256 10-in. 5/27/1936 These foolish things remind me of you Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Helen Ward Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-102763 10-in. 6/21/1936 These foolish things remind me of you Bob Pope Orchestra ; Nolan Canova Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Victor BS-054667 10-in. 7/31/1940 These foolish things remind me of you Yvette Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BS-056114 10-in. 9/16/1940 Two dreams met Yvette Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BS-056115 10-in. 9/16/1940 I'm in the mood for love Yvette Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor BS-071783 10-in. 2/9/1942 These foolish things remind me of you Benny Carter ; Mark Warnow Orchestra ; Barry Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and saxophone solo composer  
Victor D5VB-1060 10-in. 6/8/1945 These foolish things remind me of you Artie Shaw Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D8VB-3450 10-in. 12/27/1948 No orchids for my lady Earle Hagen Orchestra ; Jud Conlon Singers ; Tony Martin Male vocal solo, with vocal group and instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick DB85 10-in. 10/8/1928 Cosmopolis : Suite de ballet Jack Strachey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DB86 10-in. 10/8/1928 Cosmopolis : Suite de ballet Jack Strachey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DB87 10-in. 10/8/1928 Cosmopolis : Suite de ballet Jack Strachey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick DB88 10-in. 10/8/1928 Pirouette Jack Strachey Piano solo composer, instrumentalist, piano  
Brunswick B19496 10-in. 6/30/1936 These foolish things Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo composer  
Gramophone 0EA2769 10-in. 4/9/1936 These foolish things remind me of you Roy Fox Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal composer  
Columbia (U.K.) CL5793 10-in. 6/19/1936 Ces petites choses Jean Sablon ; Alec Siniavine ; Wal-Berg ; Wal-Berg Orchestre Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Strachey, Jack," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/117007.

Strachey, Jack. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/117007.

"Strachey, Jack." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/117007

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