Description
The White Cliffs Of Dover Featuring Vera Lynn, Gracie Fields, Andrews Sisters, George Formby, Flanagan & Allen & many more / Musicworld Audio CD 1999 / MW374520402
UPC 7619929361524
Product Details:
Tracklist:
| 1 | –Vera Lynn | The White Cliffs Of Dover | |
| 2 | –Irving Berlin | This Is The Army Mr. Jones | |
| 3 | –Flanagan & Allen | (We're Gonna Hang Out) The Washing On The Siegfried Line) | |
| 4 | –The Four Vagabonds | Comin' In On A Winger & A Prayer | |
| 5 | –Deanna Durbin | Beneath The Lights Of Home | |
| 6 | –George Formby | Mr. Wu's An Air Raid Warden Now | |
| 7 | –Lou Preager & His Orchestra | Coming Home
Vocals – Paul Rich |
|
| 8 | –Ambrose & His Orchestra | Ma, I Miss Your Apple Pie
Vocals – Sam Browne |
|
| 9 | –Joe Loss & His Band | I'll Never Smile Again
Vocals – Sam Browne |
|
| 10 | –Gracie Fields | Sing As We Go | |
| 11 |
–Ivy Benson & Her Girls Band | The Home-Coming Waltz
Vocals – Kay Yorsten* |
|
| 12 | –Nat Gonella & His New Georgians |
It's A Pair Of Wings For Me | |
| 13 | –Geraldo & His Orchestra | Long Ago And Far Away
Vocals – Archie Lewis |
|
| 14 | –Vera Lynn | All Alone In Vienna | |
| 15 | –Leslie "Hutch" Hutchinson (2) | The Nearness Of You | |
| 16 | –The Andrews Sisters | Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy | |
| 17 | –Tony Pastor & His Orchestra | Obey Your Air Raid Warden | |
| 18 | –Glenn Miller & His Orchestra | She'll Always Remember
Vocals – Ray Eberle, The Modernaires |
About:
I tend to rate compilations according to how "useful" they are. That is, how much of the material is readily available elsewhere? How well does it fit together? How well are the selections chosen.
This one passes with (almost) flying colours.
It is supposed to reflect the music popular in the UK during World War II, and it does that very well. Not all the music is British, and neither should it be since many American artists were very popular at the time.
There are only two cuts here, out of 18, that I would call "too obvious" and one of those is the title track. Granted that it's such a perfect title and THE iconic song of the period, I feel I have to excuse it. The other is the Andrews Sisters' "Bugle Boy" which I love but have in at least 10 other forms. There were so many Andrews Sisters hits in those years that are less anthologised, yet familiar and appropriate that one should have been easy to find.
But only to have two half-hearted complaints out of 18 tracks is something of a record for me. The other 16 are perfectly chosen. There are familiar names like Glenn Miller and Flanagan & Allen, but NOT doing the obvious "In the Mood" and "Run Rabbit Run". Better than half the songs are directly related to war-time; air raids and the wardens; being away from home or worrying about someone who is; patriotic optimism and down-right bravado.
I bring this down from a "5" for the two obvious tracks and the poor - no, absent - proof-reading that went into the sleeve. Typos, mis-spellings and garbled titles abound. Still, we buy to listen, and this is great stuff.
