If you think we have problems today, we should perhaps take a lead from the dark days of the Great Depression when so many ‘cheer-up’ songs, while not of course curing all ills, at least helped to make life bearable. Happy Days Are Here Again! (the anthem used for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1933) offers 26 uplifting ‘audio anti-depressants’ from 1928 to 1941 that should bring cheer to even the most miserable. The selection is presented by the top contemporary stars from both sides of the Atlantic. The 14 from the States include such top artists as Bing Crosby (Pennies from Heaven), Fred Astaire (Things are Looking Up), Paul Whiteman (Great Day!) and Cliff Edwards (the original Singin’ in the Rain), plus the happiest of jazz from Fats Waller (Don’t Let it Bother You), Billie Holiday (When You’re Smiling) and Benny Goodman with Peggy Lee (On the Sunny Side of the Street) or Helen Ward (Singing a Happy Song).

The British dozen are equally potent in raising spirits. They include Al Bowlly (When You’ve Got a Little Springtime in Your Heart), Flanagan & Allen (Are You Having Any Fun?), Gracie Fields (Looking on the Bright Side) and Hutch (The Best Things in Life are Free). Here is a CD guaranteed to leave you smiling – and of course when you’re smiling....

Tracklisting:
1. Happy Days are Here Again (Ambrose)
2. Spread a Little Happiness (Binnie Hale)
3. Sunshine (Whispering Jack Smith)
4. Painting the Clouds with Sunshine (Nick Lucas)
5. Singin’ in the Rain (Cliff Edwards)
6. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Layton & Johnstone)
7. Sunny Side Up (Johnny Hamp)
8. Looking on the Bright Side of Life (Gracie Fields)
9. Great Day! (Paul Whiteman)
10. The Clouds will Soon Roll By (Elsie Carlisle)
11. Get Happy! (Nat Shilkret)
12. Letting in the Sunshine (Sam Browne)
13. Smile, Darn Ya, Smile! (Billy Cotton)
14. When You’ve Got a Little Springtime in Your Heart (Al Bowlly)
15. There’s a New Day Coming! (Harry Roy)
16. Pennies from Heaven (Frances Langford, Louis Armstrong & Bing Crosby)
17. Don’t Let it Bother You (Fats Waller)
18. Things are Looking Up (Fred Astaire)
19. Singing a Happy Song (Benny Goodman)
20. With a Smile and a Song (Teddy Wilson)
21. When You’re Smiling (Billie Holiday)
22. Are You Havin’ Any Fun? (Flanagan & Allen)
23. It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day (Dick Todd)
24. On the Sunny Side of the Street (Peggy Lee)
25. The Best Things in Life are Free (Hutch)
26. Look for the Silver Lining (Connee Boswell)