This CD, originally issued as an LP over 50 years ago, gives a documentary history of show business in Great Britain from the perspective of the time. Cleverly mixing narration with excerpts from original recordings and additional music, it traces the development of the Music Hall through Variety up to the 1950s. It as is interesting for the choice of then current stars as for its historical selections. On this CD issue, the early recordings have been enhanced from the LP version, and where available better copies of the original 78s have been used.
Track Listing
Narrator: Introduction by George Elrick Excerpts from the following: Max Miller: At the Holborn Empire Heddle Nash: Come into the Garden, Maud Harry Champion: Boiled Beef and Carrots Ella Shields: Burlington Bertie from Bow Billy Williams: When Father papered the Parlour Marie Lloyd: A little of what you fancy Dan Leno: The Tower of London Gus Elen: It's a Great Big Shame Lily Morris: Don't have any more, Mrs Moore Albert Chevalier: My Old Dutch Light Opera Company: Goodbye Dolly Gray Arthur Reece: Sons of the Sea Violet Loraine & George Robey: If You were the Only Girl in the World Little Tich: The Territorial Gertie Gitana: Nellie Dean Harry Lauder: Roamin' in the Gloamin' Chas. Austin: P C Parker: The Police Station Harry Tate: Motoring Will Hay: The Fourth Form at St. Michael's Eugene Stratton: The Lily of Laguna Florrie Forde: The Bull and Bush Albert Whelan: The Jolly Brothers Charles Coburn: The Man who broke the Bank at Monte Carlo Jose Collins: Love will find a Way Jack Buchanan: And Her Mother came too Gertrude Lawrence: The Physician Evelyn Laye: I'll See You Again Bobby Howes: She's My Lovely Noel Coward: Mad Dogs and Englishmen Ambrose & Orch: When Day Is Done Jack Payne & Orch: Say It With Music Henry Hall & Orch: Here's To The Next Time Jack Hylton & Orch: Coal Black Mammy Grace Fields: Sally Flanagan & Allen: Underneath the Arches Tommy Handley: Navy Sketch Arthur Askey: The Bee Song Vera Lynn: Auf Weidersehn Sweetheart Max Bygraves: Tulips from Amsterdam Norman Wisdom: Don't laugh At Me Mantovani: Charmaine Frankie Vaughan: Garden of Eden Petula Clark: With all my Heart Lonnie Donegan: Cumberland Gap Anne Shelton: Lay down your Arms Russ Hamilton: We will make Love David Whitfield: Cara Mia Tommy Steele: Rock with the Caveman