With many well-known current artists going by a singular moniker, be they Adele, Madonna or Ke$ha, I get the impression that the subject of today’s post may well have felt right at home on today’s scene. Not with the sound, but with the artistic naming convention. For while he was born Benjamin Baruch Ambrose, his stage name was simply “Ambrose”. This track is a standout, as it not only features the backing talents of Mr. Ambrose’s Orchestra, but it also features the Hamilton Sisters on vocals. The sisters were Vaudeville and Broadway gold. The icing on the cake? One half of the composing team for this tune was Richard Rogers, of Rogers and Hammerstein fame. Though, here, his partner was Lorenz Hart. The song was written for a 1927 London show and then later used in an American production. This recording hails from the year of its creation, 1927.
With such a pedigree, what of the content of this little tune? The song proved to have staying power, and has been covered over the years by the likes of Rod Stewart and the Mamas and the Papas. The song focuses on the idea of love at first sight. The singer says they were just going to have one look, they swear. Yet, that’s when their heart stood still. Unlike others stricken with affection, the singer still had full use of their voice and legs. They describe the overall experience as a “thrill”. The sweetness of the lyric is made manifest by the angelic harmony of the Hamilton Sisters. Without their presence, the song would have still maintained a light, airy quality with its instrumentation. With the Hamilton Sisters, however? The song floats.
Music Through the Mists of Time 