CD-Charts Position 1
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Lah-Di-Dah

by: Jake Thackray

Release Date July 15, 1991
this is musical and literary art. there is no other way to describe it. each track is a tiny masterpiece and Jake Thackray's performances are genuinely remarkable on each.

and that's the whole review. you've either heard this man and appreciated his brilliant talent or you haven't. there is no way to do justice to him in 1000 words so 66 will have to do.

CD-Charts Position 2
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Tom Lehrer In Concert

by: Tom Lehrer

Release Date October 10, 1994
Tom Lehrer is completely brilliant, and these songs that kept my parents laughing in the 1950s are just as relevant and entertaining today. The man is a wonderful musician and the musical jokes are as clever as the verbal ones. This CD is also excellent value with 23 of his finest songs for just £6.97. There's not a single duffer amongst them, which works out at a miniscule 30p per track. Unmatchable for laughs and value.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Live Performance

by: Jake Thackray

Release Date April 17, 2006
What a performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London this must have been! The original LP release of this gig on November 1st 1970 has been boosted to double the tracks available and is presented on two CDs.

Jake was at his best accompanying himself. There is no overforced orchestral arrangements in this performance, distracting you from the songs, just his own beautiful classical guitar playing, and his deadpan singing.

For those having trouble working out if you've already got this recording, like me, the LP contained only:
Side 1. Family Tree, The Hole, Isobel, Miss World, Pass Milord the Rooster Juice, Remember Bethlehem (according to the fan site, but not according to the CD track listing), Ladies Basic Freedoms Polka. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Transport of Delight: the Best of Flanders & Swann

by: Flanders & Swann

Release Date August 15, 1994
A reasonably-priced compilation featuring all their best; I purchased it for:
Madeira M'dear
The Gnu
The gas man cometh
The Hippopotamus
Patriotic Prejudice
There are some other gems on there, but the interspersed bits of stand-up are quickly tiring, and the subject matter of much of the satire has become obscure.

CD-Charts Position 5
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Jake in a Box: the EMI Recordings 1967-1976

by: Jake Thackray

Release Date April 17, 2006
Wow, I was quite shocked at the polarisation of the reviews of Jake's EMI releases (you just need to add the full recording of his live performance (Live Performance) to have pretty much the full works). Ah, but there is an explanation for the disappointment. Jake Thackray was a fantastic solo performer with a beautiful classical guitar style. Now helpful producers don't always recognise art, they like to domesticate it. The first CD starts with the over orchestrated LP "The Last Will and Testament of Jake Thackray" - yes they manage to musically imitate the pony's harness jingling in "The Little Black Foal". It's a bit of a teeth clencher when you know Jake well and just detracts from his dour West Riding accent and deadpan song writing. (I'm just getting thoughts of the Sing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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That's Proper Folk

by: Various Artists

Release Date April 07, 2008
Who cares whether it's proper folk; it's proper good and at an indecently low price

CD-Charts Position 7
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The Very Best of Peter Skellern

by: Peter Skellern

Release Date June 24, 1996
A real bargain this - I got it as I only have recordings on vinyl. A nice mix this, many tracks with full brass band arrangements. A great musician and proper song writer - Mr Skellers personality shines through.

Didn't include the track "No more Sunday papers" otherwise a spot on collection.

Alistair

CD-Charts Position 8
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Phonetically Speaking - and Don't Forget the Piano

by: Victor Borge

Release Date October 22, 2001
Victor Borge was a unique performer, combining the skills of a concert pianist with the timing and insights of a great comedian. Always impeccable, the complete gentleman, Borge's was a sophisticated, intelligent humour, humane and humanistic, though not without teeth - acerbic, witty, fast, but delivered with a voice which is as warm and silky as a glass of Drambuie. A Dane, he escaped ahead of the Nazi invasion and settled in the USA, rapidly becoming an adopted son ... and quickly establishing a role as an international treasure. He made regular appearances on British television in the 1950's, 60's, and 70's, and his comic routines were regularly played on the radio. Borge was part of my childhood, and I'm sure his memory is cherished by many of my generation.

His ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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The Very Best of Bernard Cribbins

by: Bernard Cribbins

Release Date May 17, 2004
I got this CD as a present to myself, but I've hardly seen it! Everyone has wanted to borrow it! Get yer own!!

The best song by far is the one about digging the 'ole in the ground. But all of his songs have you chuckling to yourself and singing them all day long...

What a talent!

CD-Charts Position 10
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Something Like This

by: Bob Newhart

Release Date April 23, 2001
My husband is a driving instructor so I felt this CD was a "must have" gift for him.

We are both were familiar with Bob Newhart's brilliantly funny sketches from years back - once hard - never forgotten. It's not only what he puts into his sketches that are so funny, as what he leaves out, with well timed pauses skillfully setting the scene in the listener's imagination.

The Driving Instructor is a pure classic - I defy anyone not to laugh have until they have tears rolling down their cheeks. The Grace L Ferguson Airline (and Storm Door co) is brilliantly funny also, as is the Retirement Party and the Bus Drivers' School.

This is wonderfully funny humour which still works today and very cleverly constructed leaving so much to the imagination. If ... Read More: