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Description
This 4CD set presents a selection of British humour of, broadly speaking, the 1930s and '40s. The qualification for an item to be included is simply that it is funny. You will find sophisticates like Noel Coward and Ronald Frankau alongside inspired plebeians like Billy Russell and Billy Bennett, Oliver Wakefield's elliptical avoidance of social censure contrasting with the utter defiance of the incomparable Max Miller. The now-forgotten John Tilley shows that nothing endures like official gobbledegook, whilst Gillie Potter sinks impeccably-mannered teeth into the hand that feeds him, namely the BBC.
A further theme in this collection is the use of live recordings, where available.
The inevitable technical compromises are more than compensated for by the opportunity to hear masters of the live theatre working their audiences. They really don't make 'em like this any more! Variety theatre formed the shape of most of these performer's acts, but radio gave them their mass. Acts who might be seen once in a while - if at all - were now available at the flick of a switch.
Noel Coward was an exception. He came from 'straight' and revue theatre. However, as the leading showbiz all-rounder between the wars, who but Noel Coward could open this collection? Other featured artists not already mentioned include Flotsam And Jetsam, Frank Randall, Norman Long, Harry Tate, The Western Brothers, Elsie & Doris Waters, Douglas Byng, Stanley Holloway, Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch, Tommy Handley, Tommy Trinder, Will Hay and many more. -
Tracklisting
- 1. Mrs Worthington - Noel Coward
- 2. Heard At Hogsnorton-The Truth About The BBC - Gillie Potter
- 3. King Canute - Flotsam And Jetsam
- 4. The Old Hiker - Frank Randall
- 5. The Green Tie On The Little Yellow Dog - Billy Bennett
- 6. Maudie The Racehorse - John Tilley
- 7. Ten Pahnds Dahn - Norman Long
- 8. Fishing - Harry Tate And Company
- 9. Everything Is Fresh Today - Jack Hodges
- 10. The Old School Tie - The Western Brothers
- 11. Recumbent Posture - Stanley Holloway
- 12. Trains - Reginald Gardner
- 13. On The Day That Chelsea When And Won The Cup - Norman Long
- 14. On Behalf Of The Working Classes - Billy Russell
- 1. At The Court Of Good Queen Bess - Elsie And Doris Waters
- 2. London Transport Board - John Tilley
- 3. Mad Dogs And Englishmen - Noel Coward
- 4. I'm The Pest Of Budapest - Douglas Byng
- 5. One
- 6. Two
- 7. Three
- 8. Four
- 9. Five
- 10. Six
- 11. Seven - Ronald Frankau
- 12. Percy The Prawn - A.J. Alan
- 13. Peaceful Street - Ernest Butcher
- 14. Clothes - Murgatroyd And Winterbottom
- 15. Keeping A Stiff Upper - Oliver Wakefield
- 16. Nell - Billy Bennett
- 1. My Little Austin Seven - Norman Long
- 2. The Stately Homes Of England - Noel Coward
- 3. Band Wagon - Arthur Askey
- 4. When You've Fellows Like Me In The Force - Ronald Frankau
- 5. She Was Poor
- 6. But She Was Honest - Billy Bennett
- 7. Upp'ards - Stanley Holloway
- 8. We Can't Let You Broadcast That - Norman Long
- 9. Pets - Murgatroyd And Winterbottom
- 10. Play Up And Pay The Dame - Oliver Wakefield
- 11. Max Miller In The Theatre - Max Miller
- 12. Bad Show
- 13. Chaps - The Western Brothers
- 14. The Deepest Shelter In Town - Florence Desmond
- 15. The Rain Came Pitter-Patter Down - Happidrome
- 16. When Moaning Minnnie Moans No More - Happidrome
- 17. The Baby In The Flat Up Above - Happidrome
- 1. Let Me Tell You - Happidrome
- 2. Let's Have Another One - Happidrome
- 3. Out Up-To-Date Farm - Happidrome
- 4. Out In Indiah - Happidrome
- 5. Napoleaon's Retreat - Happidrome
- 6. The Biggest Aspidistra In The World - Gracie Fields
- 7. Who Is That Man (Who Looks Like Charlie Chaplin?) - Tommy Handley
- 8. Lord Haw Haw Of Zeesen - The Wester Brothers
- 9. Is 'E An Aussie
- 10. Lizzie
- 11. Is 'E? - Flotsam And Jetsam . The Proposal - Arthur Askey And Richard Murdoch
Disc 1
Side 1
Disc 2
Disc 3
Disc 4
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Live, Collaborations & Rarities
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