Customer Reviews

Listen to the Banned: 20 Risque Songs From The 20s & 30s

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Listen To The Banned: 20 Risqué Songs Of The 20s and 30s offers quite a collection of shameless tunes from the 1920s and the 1930s. These songs were banned from being broadcast by the BBC; however in retrospect they are actually rather humorous. The playful and romantic nature of these songs also makes them timeless not simply because they are funny and amusing but also because romance and $exuality are universal human experiences.

The CD boasts many songs with great musical arrangements and strong performances. I especially like Sophie Tucker singing "He Hadn't Up Till Yesterday;" Cliff Edwards' "I'm A Bear In A Lady's Boudoir" and "I'm Going To Give It To Mary With Love" as well as Ross and Sargent performing "Nellie, The Nudi$t Queen." Excellent!

There are more daring songs on this CD that would rattle some people even today. The Durium Dance Band performs "Let's All Be Fairie$;" "I've Gone And Lost My Yo-Yo" by Billy Cotton and his band and Randolph Sutton chuckles all the way through "Or Anything Else I've Got!"

The sound reproduction from the 78s is rather good although of course there is some surface noise. Brian Rust contributes an essay in the liner notes about censorship in the 1920s and the 1930s. The cover art work design is by Phil Duffy at P. D. Graphics Ltd.

I enjoyed every minute of this CD! I recommend it for anyone who likes nostalgic pop vocals from the 1920s and the 1930s. These are not just silly songs by unknowns; in fact you will be especially pleased as Sophie Tucker, Gertrude Lawrence, Mae West and Cliff Edwards are all represented here. Get this CD and have fun listening over and over again!

If you like comedy, sex and jazz (and who doesn't?) this is a must-have album.

Gertrude Lawrence's rendition of "The Physician" is worth the cost of the disc, but "Nellie tne Nudist Queen" is also brilliant.

Songs from an almost-forgotten era of music. Lots of songs, better sound quality than I expected, and surprisingly "modern" lyrics. I'm really enjoying this CD.

SONGS you would NEVER expect to consider that racy, considering today's lyrics -- yet for the day, yes, racy and seductive, humorous and fun to listen to. Recommend you try it!

i have this on tape and some where yahweh or vishun willing all find it on my lp i got flawlessly for 2 bucks . hey hey and even my little cousin liked nellie the nudist queen even a little child could know what they meet and laugh. like the corn has eyes in instead of ears

Contemporary listeners would probably not understand why these songs were considered risque, given the lyrics of today's music (especially rap). The recording are surprisingly well preserved, considering they were recorded about eighty years ago. Unfortunately, musical styles have changed a lot and most of these artists are an acquired taste. One exception was Sophie Tucker.

Novelty songs are like fireworks, bright and nearly omnipresent for a moment, seemingly quite substantial, but quickly vanishing into an acrid vapor and dust. These 20 renditions of vaguely sexual material vary widely in quality and style, but something they share is that not one is a performance of a lasting song. A few are worthy of the repeated listen, but way, way too many wear out their welcome after one go-round. Double entendre is of limited interest to me, and so is the coy and roundabout sexual reference. Yeah yeah, I get the joke, I know what you're referring to when you say that, I just am not all that amused. Oh my, aren't you naughty!

I love the music of this era, and have many CDs that provide me with much pleasure. Helen Kane, Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw were excellent singers who, when provided with significant material, produced 78s that will last beyond whatever format of music reproduction comes next. But this is mostly negligible stuff, performed by minor talents. I like Sophie's song a lot, which is sung with gusto and panache. She could work a song, and on this, she does. And Gertrude Lawrence provides a momentary smile. Other well-done or clever bits appear here and there. However, like mediocre sketch comedy, most of this just goes on too long with nothing but the inherently pleasing aspect of its naughtiness sustain it. And that just ain't enough.

Oh, and the notes, while lengthy, are simultaneously ingratiatingly smug and content-free. Living Era has a number of delightful CDs on my shelves, but this one will get few spins. Should have trusted my gut instincts that were pained by that wretched pun of a title.