To mark the centenary of the Great War, Retrospective presents a fascinating musical portrait of the recordings people enjoyed while they “kept the home fires burning” and of the songs written during that cataclysmic period.

There was plenty of jingoism (Over There!), but even more escapism (If You Were The Only Girl In The World), and perhaps the strongest thread was one of pure nostalgia for simple love (Roses Of Picardy).

The programme is split into two halves with the first 13 tracks consisting of original recordings made at the time by such as John McCormack (The Sunshine Of Your Smile), Billy Murray (K-K-K-Katy) and Al Jolson (You Made Me Love You), in which the sentiments still shine through the primitive pre-electrical sound.

The second half features a baker’s dozen of the most popular songs of 1914-1918 as interpreted by later artists – Paul Robeson (A Perfect Day), Bing Crosby (Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral) and so on – the revivals often being inspired by World War II.

Contents:
13 GREAT RECORDS OF 1914-1918 (PRE ELECTRICAL RECORDINGS)
1. Keep The Home Fires Burning – John McCormack
2. It’s A Long Way To Tipperary – The American Quartet
3. You Made Me Love You – Al Jolson
4. After You’ve Gone – Marion Harris
5. When You Wore A Tulip – The American Quartet
6. A Little Of What You Fancy Does You Good – Marie Lloyd
7. Chinatown, My Chinatown – The American Quartet
8. The Sunshine Of Your Smile – John Mccormack
9. K-K-K-Katy – Billy Murray
10. Tiger Rag – The Original Dixieland Jazz Band
11. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling – John McCormack
12. Over There – Enrico Caruso
13. I Didn’t Raise My Boy To Be A Soldier – The Peerless Quartet

13 GREAT SONGS OF 1914-1918 (LATER, ELECTRICAL RECORDINGS)
14. The Cobbler’s Song – Peter Dawson
15. Roses Of Picardy – Richard Tauber
16. Home, Sweet Home – Deanna Durbin
17. Jerusalem – Paul Robeson
18. If You Were The Only Girl In The World – Webster Booth & Anne Ziegler
19. Oh, Johnny, Oh, Johnny, Oh! – The Andrews Sisters
20. For Me And My Gal – Judy Garland & Gene Kelly
21. Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral – Bing Crosby
22. Pretty Baby – Doris Day
23. Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody – Al Jolson
24. They Didn’t Believe Me – Kathryn Grayson
25. Play A Simple Melody – Bing & Gary Crosby
26. A Perfect Day – Paul Robeson