Various Artists - A Box Of British Humour

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.