FLANAGAN & ALLEN 78 UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES / UMBRELLA MAN etc COLUMBIA FB2628 V+ This product data sheet is originally written in English.

AN EXCELLENT PLAYING COPY OF THIS 1941 ISSUE "BEST OF" 78 FROM THE MUCH LOVED CRAZY GANG DUO OF BUD FLANAGAN AND CHESNEY Allen

"SUCCESSES"  FEATURING:-

THE UMBRELLA MAN

HOME TOWN

NICE PEOPLE

MUSIC MAESTRO PLEASE

DREAMING

and of course

UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES

Flanagan and Allen were a British singing and comedy double act popular during World War II. Its members were Bud Flanagan (1896 - 1968) and Chesney Allen (1893 - 1982). They were first paired in a Florrie Forde revue, and were booked by Val Parnell to appear at the Holborn Empire in 1926.

As music hall comedians, they would often feature a mixture of comedy and music in their act; this led to a successful recording career as a duo and roles in film and television. Just prior to and throughout the Second World War they appeared in several films helmed by Marcel Varnel and John Baxter. Flanagan and Allen were both also members of The Crazy Gang and worked with that team for many years concurrently with their double-act career.

Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Gonna Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as"home town" and their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least a competent singer and sang the melody lines, Allen used an almost spoken delivery to provide the harmonies.

The recordings of Flanagan and Allen remain popular, and the duo are frequently impersonated by professionals and amateurs. Royal Variety Performances often feature people 'doing a Flanagan and Allen', notably Roy Hudd and Christopher Timothy, Bernie Winters and Leslie Crowther.

DISC DETAILS:

UK COLUMBIA FB 2628 10" 78rpm shellac 1941

CONDITION - E-/V+  

LIGHT SCUFFS AND MARKS BUT PLAYS GREAT

there is a sticker on one side of the label - see scan

 

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Flanagan and Allen's songs featured the same, usually gentle, humour for which the duo were known in their live performances, and during the Second World War they reflected the experiences of ordinary people during wartime. Songs like 'We're Gonna Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line' mocked the German defences (Siegfried Line), while others like 'Miss You' sang of missing one's sweetheart during enforced absences. Other songs, such as"home town" and their most famous, 'Underneath the Arches' (which Flanagan co-wrote with Reg Connelly), had universal themes such as friendship. The music was usually melodic, following a binary verse, verse chorus structure, with a small dance band or orchestra providing the accompaniment. The vocals were distinctive because while Flanagan was at least Record Label Columbia Language English Format Record Record Size 10" SHELLAC Material Shellac Country/Region of Manufacture United Kingdom Genre Comedy Artist FLANAGAN AND ALLEN Release Title UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES etc Speed 78 RPM