(2-CD set) The more sedate cousin to American Swing, the Golden Age of British Dance Bands covered the period between 1927 and 1939. At that time most top hotels and restaurants would feature a dance band led by one of the era's great bandleaders. Avid's tribute to the U.K. Dance Band era, in their Essential Collection series, features all the legendary leaders of the day from Ambrose, Lew Stone, Ray Fox and Geraldo to the BBC's Jack Payne and Henry Hall. Many of these greats even had their own regular radio shows airing to millions of listeners each week. The start of the World War II put an end to this golden period but the music of course lives on in the grooves of this fine double CD from Avid!