Florrie Forde (real name Florence May Augusta Flanagan) was the queen of the 'everybody sing along' type of music-hall act. She was born in Australia in 1876, appearing for the first time in London in 1897. Her most famous songs were 'Down At The Old Bull And Bush', 'Hold Your Hand Out, Naughty Boy', and the First World War favourites 'Goodbye-ee' (based on Harry Tate's catchphrase), 'Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit bag' and 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary'. (Incidentally, the capitalization of all the initial letters in the song titles is in accordance with music hall tradition - though the record labels often don't follow it.) She was a famous Principal Boy in pantomime, and was immensely popular in Music Hall and in her regular summer season on the Isle of Man.
She had tremendous stage presence. About thirty years ago I was at a show of music hall films at London's National Film Theatre: one of the clips was a sequence of songs by Florrie Forde. She not only got the audience singing along, but also stopped them easily when she wanted to change numbers - not bad for someone on film who had been dead for forty years (she died in 1940).
She made more than 500 cylinders and record sides between 1903 and 1936; a few typical ones are presented here. Given their popularity it's not surprising that most have had a busy life and are fairly worn in the first few seconds (while the needle was being ground down to fit the groove), though they mostly settle down after that. (Mouse over the list for notes).
She had tremendous stage presence. About thirty years ago I was at a show of music hall films at London's National Film Theatre: one of the clips was a sequence of songs by Florrie Forde. She not only got the audience singing along, but also stopped them easily when she wanted to change numbers - not bad for someone on film who had been dead for forty years (she died in 1940).
She made more than 500 cylinders and record sides between 1903 and 1936; a few typical ones are presented here. Given their popularity it's not surprising that most have had a busy life and are fairly worn in the first few seconds (while the needle was being ground down to fit the groove), though they mostly settle down after that. (Mouse over the list for notes).
YIP, I ADEE, I AYE
(Flynn & Cobb)
TWIN 174 recorded 17 July 1909
(Flynn & Cobb)
TWIN 174 recorded 17 July 1909
HOLD YOUR HAND OUT, NAUGHTY BOY
(Murphy & David)
ZONOPHONE 1083 recorded 25 April 1913
(Murphy & David)
ZONOPHONE 1083 recorded 25 April 1913
CA-BAGES, CA-BEANS, CAR-ROTS
(Stanley & Allen)
ZONOPHONE 1949 recorded 28 May 1919
(Stanley & Allen)
ZONOPHONE 1949 recorded 28 May 1919
I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE
(Sheridan)
TWIN 223 recorded 29 November 1909
(Sheridan)
TWIN 223 recorded 29 November 1909
TAKE ME BACK TO DEAR OLD BLIGHTY
(Mills, Scott & Godfrey))
ZONOPHONE 1725 recorded 13 October 1916
(Mills, Scott & Godfrey))
ZONOPHONE 1725 recorded 13 October 1916
IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?
(not credited)
TWIN 55 recorded 12 or 13 July 1908
(not credited)
TWIN 55 recorded 12 or 13 July 1908
NO GROUSING
(Lee & Weston)
ZONOPHONE 1891 recorded 23 July 1918
(Lee & Weston)
ZONOPHONE 1891 recorded 23 July 1918
AND THEN - WE WON'T GO HOME!
(Castling & Kennedy)
IMPERIAL 2491 recorded May 1931
(Castling & Kennedy)
IMPERIAL 2491 recorded May 1931
