"Heute Nacht oder nie !" ... Barnabas von Géczy / Ambrose & His Orchestra (1932)

"Heute Nacht oder nie" (Lit. "Tonight or never") is one of Jan Kiepura's biggest successes from the schellac era. The popular Polish tenor sang the song in the 1932 comedy "Das Lied einer Nacht". As was customary in the early 1930s the movie was shot in three different versions : German, French ("La chanson d'une nuit") and English ("Tell me tonight") with Jan Kiepura and Magda Schneider playing the lead parts in all three versions.
Today's video features Kiepura’s hit song in two different versions : a German slow-fox by Barnabas von Géczy and his orchestra and a British foxtrot by Bert Ambrose and his orchestra. At the time the recordings were made both bands played at prestigious hotels : von Géczy at the Esplanade in Berlin and Ambrose at the May Fair in London. The Ambrose recording is in pretty used condition.
About the records :
"Heute Nacht oder nie"
Barnabas von Géczy mit seinem Orchester vom "Esplanade"
Parlophon
B. 48 210-I / mx. 133559
Berlin,
June 1932
*****************************************************
"Tell me tonight"
Ambrose and his Orchestra
At the May Fair Hotel, London
His Master's Voice
B. 6260 / mx. 30-9777
London,
1932