"20 “Hits” You Won't Know From Shows You've Never Even Heard Of"

There is a special attraction that some of us have for the obscure. Those things that might have been, or indeed were, but history intervened to curtail them prematurely. Again, those long forgotten items that flourished with great splendour, had a brief existence and then were almost instantly forgotten as their ephemeral nature demanded . This is no more true than with popular music.

A record collector, as a sort of vintage “sound detective” spends much of his time looking back and piecing together events in recorded history, often gaining insights into the prevailing social and political issues of the day. During many such searches, I have come to know and love many tunes that have been the province of dusty sheet music and stacks of unplayed records for all too long. This CD is an attempt to bring back to life some of these items, as organ transcriptions, played on my 1919 Aeolian residence organ here in Exeter, Devon.

“Live for today” from H. Fraser-Simpson's “Maid of the Mountains” sets the scene, in the first track. Possibly you will know this show, but what about “The Bubble” from “High Jinks”, or “The Constant Lover”, “Dear, Delightful Women”, “Hello 'Frisco, Hello” - the list is endless - but I have selected 20 of my favourites, in the sincere hope that at least some of them will become your favourites too.

Paul Morris Exeter '09