Australian bass-baritone Peter Dawson (1882-1961) is numbered among the most illustrious of all recording artists. He was one of the most prolific of all time, selling, it is estimated, more than 25 million 78 records, both under his own name and under at least 20 aliases. The possessor of a magnificent, flexible voice and perfect diction – tailor-made for recording – he was able to sing anything from parlour ballads to grand opera. His recording career spanned over half a century, from his first in 1904 to his last in 1958.

Sharing the title of Dawson’s most famous title, The Floral Dance is Retrospective’s selection of the cream of his finest work, a marvellous cross-section of 49 classics. All the great favourites are here, such as Old Father Thames, the Australian ‘national anthem’ Waltzing Matilda, and his own Kipling song Boots. Then there are wide ranging examples from each category of his huge repertoire. From the ‘classical’ artist we hear the Toreador’s Song from Carmen and Elgar’s Speak, Music. Military and sea songs include When The Sergeant-Major’s On Parade and Drake’s Drum. He also had a winning way in sentimental songs such as Roses Of Picardy and I’ll Walk Beside You, and from the vogue for romanticised oriental subjects there are On The Road To Mandalay and Pale Hands I Love, and the much-loved Cobber’s Song. Operetta is featured in such popular numbers as The Yeomen Of England and A Bachelor Gay. And then of course there are those irresistible Irish songs: Kerry Dance and Phil The Fluter’s Ball.

This album truly expresses the warm-hearted vocal genius of the phenomenal Peter Dawson.

Tracklisting:

CD 1: 1925-1931
1 The Floral Dance
2 Simon The Cellarer
3 The Vagabond
4 Jerusalem
5 The Pride Of Tipperary
6 The Kerry Dance
7 The Gay Highway
8 The Toreador’s Song (Sirs! A Toast)
9 The Banjo Song
10 The Song Of The Flea
11 The Yeomen Of England
12 The Man Who Brings The Sunshine
13 Boots
14 Glorious Devon
15 The Fishermen Of England
16 The Drum Major
17 A Bachelor Gay
18 The Miner’s Dream Of Home
19 Auld Lang Syne
20 Rocked In The Cradle Of The Deep
21 The Mountains Of Mourne
22 Jhelum Boat Song
23 The Cobbler’s Song
24 Friend O’ Mine
25 Shipmates O’ Mine

CD 2: 1932-1939
1 I Travel The Road, Who Cares?
2 El Abanico (We’d Be Far Better Off In A Home)
3 In A Persian Market
4 Kashmiri Song (Pale Hand I Loved)
5 Drake’s Drum
6 Old Father Thames Keeps Rolling Along
7 In A Monastery Garden
8 When The Sergeant-Major’s On Parade
9 Sons Of The Sea
10 Watchman, What Of The Night?
11 We Saw The Sea
12 A Song For You And Me
13 Phil The Fluter’s Ball
14 I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’
15 Snowbird
16 Waiata Poi (Tiny Ball On End Of String)
17 Waltzing Matilda
18 Speak, Music
19 Bless This House
20 Parted
21 Roses Of Picardy
22 Somewhere A Voice Is Calling
23 On The Road To Mandalay
24 I’ll Walk Beside You