"I had been contemplating a ‘Definitive’ Eric Coates collection for some time but it was the discovery of Michael Payne’s Ph.D. Thesis for Durham University “The Man Who Writes The Tunes” that encouraged me to start serious work on it. Michael has since turned this thesis into the definitive book on Coates, “The Life and Music of Eric Coates” published by Ashgate in 2012, and I was delighted when he agreed to write the booklet notes.

The track order: My original concept was to present the recordings in strict chronological order but it became apparent that, although this would be ideal for those wishing to analyse and study Coates’ work, some pieces would appear twice on the same CD which would be frustrating for the normal listener. The approach therefore has been to make each disc a varied and enjoyable selection of his work.

The acoustic recordings, which I imagine most people will not listen to very often, are grouped at the end of CD 6. Opinions differ widely on how restoration and remastering of acoustic recordings should be done. My aim is to reveal as much detail as possible, some of which would not have been heard when played on a contemporary gramophone. This probably will not satisfy the purists but is, I think, the best approach for a project such as this.

Although this collection claims to include every commercial recording Coates made, two are missing. One source says that Covent Garden and Westminster, from The London Suite, recorded in 1933 and issued on Columbia DX 470 (Matrix number CAX 6748-1) were re-recorded in May 1947 with a new matrix number (CAX 6748-2) and issued the following month, paired with the original pressing of Knightsbridge using the same catalogue number. Careful listening and comparison of the wave forms shows that they are virtually identical. It is very unlikely that such similarities could occur in recordings made 14 years apart and only the first is included in this collection.

My sincere thanks are due to collector friends in Australia, Britain, America and Canada without whose generous help this collection would not have been possible."
Alan Bunting

Contents:
CD 1: 1931-1937 [78.08]
1. The Merrymakers - Overture
2. From Meadow to Mayfair - Suite
3. Summer Afternoon - Idyll
4. Cinderella - Phantasy
5. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade
6. The Jester At The Wedding: No.1 The Princess Arrives - March
7. By The Tamarisk - Intermezzo
8. Saxo-Rhapsody
9. Summer Days - Suite
10. Springtime - Suite
11. For Your Delight - Serenade

CD 2: 1940-1948 [77.57]
1. Footlights - Concert Valse
2. Last Love - Romance
3. The Seven Seas - March
4. I Sing To You (A Souvenir)
5. Calling All Workers - March
6. Fanfare Number 1
7. Salute the Soldier - March
8. Fanfare Number 2
9. The Eighth Army March
10. The Four Centuries - Suite
11. The Three Elizabeths - Suite
12. Dancing Nights - Concert Valse
13. London Calling - March
14. London Bridge - March
15. London Suite - Knightsbridge March

CD 3: 1948-1955 [78.33]
1. A Song Of Loyalty
2. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade
3. Bird Songs At Eventide
4. Television March
5. Wood Nymphs - Valsette
6. London - Suite
7. London Again - Suite
8. The Three Men - Suite
9. The Jester At The Wedding: No.4 - Dance Of The Orange Blossoms
10. Music Everywhere - Rediffusion March
11. The Dam Busters - March
12. Sound And Vision: The A.T.V. Television March

CD 4: 1952-1957 [78.29]
1. High Flight - March
2. Impression of a Princess - Intermezzo
3. Wood Nymphs - Valsette
4. South Wales and West - Television March
5. London - Suite
6. London Again - Suite
7. The Three Elizabeths - Suite
8. The Four Centuries - Suite

CD 5: Early records [72.05]
1. Summer Days - Suite
2. Wood Nymphs - Valsette
3. With A Song In My Heart. Symphonic Rhapsody after Richard Rodgers
4. Bird Songs at Eventide
5. I Pitch My Lonely Caravan At Night
6. I Heard You Singing & Bird Songs At Eventide - Symphonic Rhapsody
7. London - Suite
8. London Bridge - March
9. The Jester At The Wedding: No.1 - The Princess Arrives - March
10. The Jester At The Wedding: No.4 The Dance Of The Orange Blossoms
11. The Three Men - Suite
12. Wood Nymphs - Valsette
13. Song Of Loyalty (The Prayer Within Our Hearts)

CD 6: Early and Acoustic records [70.25]
1. Meadow To Mayfair Suite: No.2
2. London Again - Suite
3. By The Sleepy Lagoon - Valse Serenade
4. The Three Bears - A Phantasy
5. London Suite - Knightsbridge March
6. Television March
7. Valse From The Phantasy “The Three Bears” 3:07
8. The Merrymakers - Overture
9. Moresque Dance - Interlude
10. Joyous Youth - Suite
11. Summer Days Suite : At The Dance
12. The Selfish Giant - A Phantasy (arr. Lucas)

Bonus CD 7: 1918-1955 [74.33]
Performances of works which Coates did not record himself alongside alternative and famous performances by other conductors. Including The Peerless Orchestra, Clarence Raybould, Charles Williams, Jack Hylton, Joseph Lewis, RAF Central Orchestra, Sidney Torch, Robert Farnon, and the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.