Customer Reviews:
 Dated, but that's part of the fun October 2, 2008
Maclennane (Horsham, Sussex)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A reasonably-priced compilation featuring all their best; I purchased it for:
Madeira M'dear
The Gnu
The gas man cometh
The Hippopotamus
Patriotic Prejudice
There are some other gems on there, but the interspersed bits of stand-up are quickly tiring, and the subject matter of much of the satire has become obscure.
A transport of delight, let down by some strange editing February 6, 2008
The man in the white coat (Hull, England)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The material on this CD is superb - Flanders and Swann were wonderful performers and superb comic song writers. Not only that, but they're clearly thoroughly enjoying performing - you can clearly hear Swann laughing away during Flander's monologues, even though he must have heard it all hundreds of times before. The material has a gentle, dry humour about it, which sems to be missing from modern comedy. Much of the fun comes from poking a little fun at day to day life, along with some very witty word play. Perfect listening for a wet sunday afternoon at home.
Though the material and performances are top notch - I have rarely enjoyed a CD more - I have to knock a star off for the rather strange editing by EMI. Each song has a short monologue from Flanders to introduce it, but instead of having the intro and song on the same track, the intros are all tacked onto the end of the previous song. THis means you have to listen to all the tracks in order to get the intros and tracks in the right order, and can't just listen to the odd track in isolation, or the whole thing won't make much sense.
So all in all, classic material which anyone will enjoy, let down by the CD editing.
Nostalgia at its best December 15, 2004
S. Bailey (UK)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful
I only bought this album for a couple of tracks, but, having played it all I love it all!!!The quality of some of the tracks hints at the age of the recordings, but what can you expect? A brilliant album!
 Most delightful entertainment. March 6, 2000
21 out of 25 found this review helpful
I remember being introduced to "At the Drop of a Hat" while in college in the mid 60's. The songs where original and humorous with a touch of social satire. To this day I still remember words to many of them. Being a horn player I loved their rendition of the Rondo from Mozart's Horn Concert #4 that they entitled "Ill Wind." Actually I believe this tune was on their album "At the Drop of Another Hat." When I learned it had been re-released, I knew I had to get the CD. I know I'll be entertained just as I was over 30 years ago with songs and wit that is timeless.
Delightful indeed. January 14, 2000
51 out of 51 found this review helpful
This recording comprises 19 selections (plus two intros) taken from the three CDs available as a boxed set. Nine of Hat's 17 selections, nine of Another Hat's 17, and only one of Bestiary's 25. (Several of the omitted items from the two Hat albums include spoken pieces by Flanders, and pieces played and sung by Swann alone.) Purchasing this album will get you the most good F&S for your money, particularly if you have a special interest in just one of the selections -- every hornist aware of its existence wants his/her own copy of "Ill Wind." But if you want a gem like "Los Olivados" you must still buy the set. Many of the omitted selections are quite good, and EMI would have done better to have simply offered Another Hat for sale separately. EMI has also failed us on a second count. As with the three complete albums, the tracks on this CD are separated so that Michael's prefatory remarks for a song appear at the end of the prior track, rather than at the beginning of the track to which they pertain, so one is unable to program a meaningful selection of tracks to be played, or to simply call up "Ill Wind" or "Song of Patriotic Prejudice" and hear the entire "bit" without pressing the fast-reverse button.
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