Various Artists - Phonofossils 1st selection

In the last issue of Shreds and Patches, I reviewed Phonofossils 2nd selection. Since then, I met Adrian Tuddenham and he kindly gave me selections 1, 3, 4 and 5. I understand that the drawn-out process of clearing copyright permissions has enabled selections 6, 7 and 8 to be released. For a reviewer, the problem is that the content of these excellent CDs is so dense and eclectic as to prevent concise description. So I have decided to review each selection separately.

Selection 1, as with all of them is a collection of items unlikely ever to be released again by the descendants of the parent recording companies. What are you likely to find here that you recognise? Very little, I suspect: I've heard Under the Bed before, but never the original by Nellie Wallace, and I know Tell Me Pretty Maiden from Florodora, and the tune to The Wedding of the Gigolo (but not the astonishingly naughty words) and Flapperette.

As with selection 1, I amused myself by imagining which tracks might be learned and used. I could picture Rob Murch picking up on Lancashire Clogs (by Emile Grimshaw - that's right, the founder of the guitar maker firm - and played here by Olly Oakley, hero to many a banjo player). I might have a go at Poppies - a Japanese Romance (by Neil Moret [Charles N. Daniels, 1878 - 1943], played by the International Novelty Orchestra) or Tommy Handley's version of The Polar Bear's Come Back (by J Wright & C Bourne), or the King Charles Gavotte (written and played by Billy Whitlock, the xylophone virtuoso). I bet some concertina genius will have a try at Catch Me If You Can, played superbly here by Alexander Prince.

There are also comic novelty drama items on the album, such as Mrs Buggins Makes the Christmas Pudding (with Mabel Constanduros and Michael Hogan of the wireless series "The Buggins Family") and John Henry's Ghost (by J Henry and Gladys Horridge). A fascinating different genre is also represented - the Descriptive Record, which attempted to bring into people's homes the sort of reality now served up by television news coverage. The instance we are treated to is titled The Wreck of a Troopship, starring Peter Dawson.

As with the rest of this series, the packaging and notes are exemplary. There's not much Adrian doesn't know about early recording techniques, studios, personnel and materials.

Fascinating.
Flos Headford
Poppy Records, 88 Mount Road, Southdown, Bath BA2 1LH. www.poppyrecords.co.uk