The A to Z of Wartime Song

Tom Carradine and Lili Redman
The A to Z of Wartime Song

🎵 Hosted by @tomcarradine & @lili_redman ✨ Exploring iconic songs from the frontlines to the home front 📜 History, harmony & heart from WWI to WWII

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Now Is The Hour - Gracie Fields and a New Zealand Lullaby Turned Global Goodbye

    In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the poignant and poetic “Now Is the Hour”, a wartime farewell song which started life in New Zealand. They trace the tune’s journey from the 1913 piano piece “Swiss Cradle Song” through its Maori adaptation as “Po Atarau”, to its powerful role in farewelling ANZAC soldiers and its eventual transformation into the global hit we know today. Alongside Gracie Fields’ famous rendition, the episode spotlights the many competing recordings that flooded the charts in 1948, including versions by Bing Crosby, Margaret Whiting and many more. Lili also shares her deep admiration for Gracie Fields, tracing her extraordinary life from Rochdale to Capri, including her tireless wartime service, a battle with serious illness and the controversies that followed her across the Atlantic. REFERENCES TankFest 2025 https://tankmuseum.org/ Capel Military Show https://www.capelmilitaryshow.com/ The People’s Mosquito https://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/ https://www.peoplesmosquito.org.uk/2025/06/24/ibccdedication/ Gracie Field’s http://graciefields.org/wordpress/ Sally in our Alley https://youtu.be/QdJxfECY4aM?si=3Ohm-SPp7r6UCE_n Gracie sings “Sally” on the Royal Variety Performance (1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoaHT3JMu4k Shipyard Sally https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZIOAlMZRSU Little Man in a Bowler Hat http://graciefields.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Strube.jpg La Canzone del Mare (Capri) https://www.lacanzonedelmare.com/ Now Is The Hour - History of the Various Versions https://www.folksong.org.nz/poatarau/ Red White and Navy Blue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMoykfXymaw&list=RDtMoykfXymaw&start_radio=1 Rolling wheels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aly2h-KXDyk&list=RDaly2h-KXDyk&start_radio=1 Maori Battalion March to Victory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXUrSnM5Q2I&list=RDkXUrSnM5Q2I&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvEAggml5co For We Are the Boys of the Southern Cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6odUsiIldzU&list=RD6odUsiIldzU&start_radio=1 Songs We Sang - Les Cleveland https://rnzaoc.com/2019/08/23/the-songs-we-sang/   Sons of Gallipoli https://youtu.be/N19p71z5iVI?si=A3tvI1eYH2XCrEid Glenn Miller Festival, Clarinda, Iowa https://www.glennmiller.org/festival Twinwood Festival https://twinwoodevents.com/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:50 Catch Up 03:03 N = Now Is The Hour 03:49 Gracie Fields 04:25 Gracie's Early Years 05:15 Gracie's Rise to Fame 06:34 Gracie's Marriage to Archie Pitt 07:38 "Sally in our Alley" 09:58 Gracie's Charity Work 11:25 Gracie's Health Struggles and Public Support 17:11 Gracie's Return to the Stage and Wartime Work 19:28 Marriage to Monty Banks 21:33 Gracie's Post-War Career 22:04 Marriage to Boris Alperovici 22:26 Gracie's "Miss Marple" 23:41 Life in Capri and Celebrity Connections 25:08 Gracie's Final Years 25:58 The Origins of "Now Is The Hour" 30:00 Gracie's Discovery of the Song 32:41 Other Post-War Recordings 33:25 Discussing the Sheet Music 35:28 Discussing the Lyrics 35:55 Lyrics and Their Cultural Significance 37:06 Discussing the Music 40:24 Discussing Recordings: Gracie Fields 42:18 Bing Crosby 44:11 Vera Lynn 45:06 Margaret Whiting 46:06 Buddy Clarke 47:28 Eddie Howard 48:43 Kate Smith 49:12 Our Favourite Recording? 50:19 Recommendations for Further Listening 52:50 Mentioned in Dispatches 55:14 Teaser for Next Episode 56:24 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    57 min

  2. 14 JUN

    Moonlight Serenade – A Signature Sound and a Vanished Star

    In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore one of the most iconic and romantic tunes of the wartime era - Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade.” They trace the song’s evolution from a jazzy instrumental to a timeless anthem of love and longing, and reflect on the life and legacy of bandleader Glenn Miller, from his early days milking cows to buy a trombone, to his meteoric rise with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and his mysterious disappearance over the English Channel in 1944. Along the way, they delve into the technical brilliance behind the “Miller Sound,” the influence of composer and teacher Joseph Schillinger, and the song’s haunting ability to evoke warm summer nights and faraway loves. Lili and Tom also discuss Miller’s wartime service, his ambitious efforts to modernise military music, and the immense morale-boosting power of his performances for Allied troops in Europe. The episode is filled with musical gems - from lesser-known early recordings and rival versions by Count Basie, Gene Krupa and Dick Todd, to behind-the-scenes stories of collaborations with the likes of Al Bowlly, the Nicholas Brothers, and Dorothy Dandridge. As always, Lili and Tom share personal memories, historical trivia, and their infectious passion for the music that helped people laugh, cry, and carry on. Don't miss this tender and toe-tapping tribute to a wartime classic and a bandleader whose music still serenades us under the moonlight. REFERENCES Royal Hospital Chelsea https://chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/ Siren Tickets https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lili-redman-siren Moonlight Serenade (in Sun Valley Serenade 1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmvsUo4XnQM Jumpin’ Jive - The Nicholas Brothers - Stormy Weather (1943) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yGGtVKrD8 Sun Valley Serenade (1941) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnfyeup29B0 Chattanooga Choo Choo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDgwsMqF-6k St Louis Blues (as a March) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFR3HMWOQ4A Twinwood Festival https://twinwoodevents.com/ RAF Twinwood Farm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Twinwood_Farm Moonlight Serenade (Sheet Music) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LMNH8TKzo4 Lyceum Theatre / Ballroom http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/LyceumTheatre.htm CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:52 Catch Up 02:25 An Announcement 03:06 M = Moonlight Serenade 04:12 Glenn Miller 10:28 The Nicholas Brothers 13:09 Miller Releases "Moonlight Serenade" 16:47 Miller's Military Service 22:45 Miller's Work in England 27:39 The Tragic Fate of Glenn Miller 30:39 Discussing the Sheet Music 32:24 Discussing the Lyrics and Music 38:21 The Creation of the Miller Sound 42:26 Chart Success and Reception 44:33 Discussing Recordings 45:09 Dick Todd and the Three Reasons 46:00 Jan Savitt: the "The Stokowski of Swing" 46:24 Count Basie (with Helen Humes) 48:00 Gene Krupa 48:15 Our Favourite Recordings? 50:40 Mentioned in Dispatches 51:49 Teaser for Next Episode 52:14 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    53 min

  3. 7 JUN

    Lili Marlene - From Berlin to El Alamein: The Song that Crossed the Front Line

    In this episode, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the rich history and emotional impact of wartime songs, focusing on the iconic “Lili Marlene”.  They discuss its origins, adaptations and the various artists who have performed it, including Marlene Dietrich and Lale Anderson. The conversation delves into the song's significance for soldiers during World War II and its lasting legacy in music history. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES Lauder @ Hoxton Hall https://hoxtonhall.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173660809 East Kirkby Airfield https://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/ Down at the Old Bull and Bush - History https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1NwbuVzoRg Bombs On England („Bomben auf Engelland“) - Norbert Schultz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH9sHgQSwQ4 Lale Anderson - Song of the Young Soldier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM1Wac7sd-c The Biggest Aspidistra in the World - Gracie Fields https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHN-ZQzkJJU With a Lamppost Attached to My Mac - Paul O’Grady (as Lily Savage) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjiWfVHB3Fo You Gotta Get a Gimmick - Cilla Black, Barbara Windsor and Lily Savage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LOIGfjcxZE Allo Allo - Lili Marlene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xOfPIckAtk Marlene Dietrich - Musical Saw (film) https://youtu.be/07esLvRHJPA?si=3mH-9u5ApEpaRBMa Marlene Dietrich - Music Saw (audio) https://youtu.be/zo97E2H2Ec8 We’ll Never Forget Our Boys https://digitalnz.org/records/32376509 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 04:48 L = Lili Marlene 07:13 The Impact of Lili Marlene on Soldiers 11:24 The Controversy Surrounding the Song 13:30 The Evolution of 'Lili Marlene' 15:22 Marlene Dietrich's Impact on Soldiers 18:10 Discussing the Sheet Music 19:07 Where Did We First Hear This Song? 20:18 Discussing the Lyrics 24:10 Parodies and Variations of the Song 28:45 Marlene Dietrich: Icon and Entertainer 32:07 Discussing the Music 33:23 The Freedom of Interpretation in Music 34:10 Discussing Recordings: Lale Anderson 34:42 The Global Popularity of 'Lili Marlene' 5:23 The Beauty of Language in Song 36:14 Diverse Versions of 'Lili Marlene' 37:57 Theatricality in Musical Interpretations 39:34 Unexpected Artists and Their Contributions 40:42 Hildegard's Unique Take on 'Lili Marlene' 43:29 Marlene Dietrich's Iconic Performance 45:07 Which Are Our Favourites? 46:36 Personal Favorites and Final Thoughts 47:59 Mentioned in Dispatches 49:15 Teaser for Next Week SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    50 min

  4. 31 MAY

    Keep the Home Fires Burning - Poetry and Pop Music

    In this episode of the A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine discuss Ivor Novello’s 1914 hit “Keep the Home Fires Burning”.  They explore Novello’s life and WW1 service, his collaboration with lyricist Lena Guilbert Ford and her tragic death in a Zepplin raid on London in 1918.  Alongside this their conversation covers the sad tale of WW1 poet and composer Ivor Gurney and Novello’s connection to another WW1 poet, Seigfied Sassoon. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES Mr Fogg’s Tavern Sing-a-long https://www.mr-foggs.com/event/tavern-cockney-sing-a-long/ Ivor Novello - Blue Plaque https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ivor-novello/ Ivor Novello - Biography / Locations https://britainunlimited.com/ivor-novello/ Ivor Gurney - Biography https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/world-war-i-articles/ivor-gurney-composer-poet-soldier/ Heytesbury House in Wiltshire (home to Sassoon and Gatty) https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198088 Pics of Ivor’s West End Flat https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/heritage-architect-creates-west-end-home-for-cameron-mackintosh/5097491.article Till the Boys Come Home - Roger Foss https://www.amazon.co.uk/Till-Boys-Come-Home-British/dp/0750960663 Heytesbury House in Wiltshire (Sassoon’s Home) https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1198088 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:50 Opening Chat 01:50 K = Keep the Home Fires Burning 02:57 The Life of Ivor Novello 10:07 The Tragic Story of Ivor Gurney 14:09 Novello in London 17:06 Lena Guilbert Ford's Contribution 19:20 The Premiere of 'Keep the Homefires Burning' 20:43 The Song's Impact and Reception 21:32 Siegfried Sassoon and Ivor Novello's Connection 22:06 Siegried Sassoon 25:49 Ivor Novello's Post-War Success 26:57 Novello's Military Service in WW1 29:48 Discussing the Sheet Music 31:31 Discussing the Lyrics 34:05 Discussing the Music 36:26 Discussing Recordings - Frederick Wheeler 37:37 Stanley Kirkby 40:19 John McCormack 42:11 Olive Gilbert 42:53 Our Favourite Recordings 44:20 If You Liked That You'll Like This ... 46:15 Mentioned in Dispatches 49:59 A Teaser for Next Week 50:24 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    51 min

  5. 24 MAY

    Jolly Good Luck to the Girl Who Loves a Soldier - Drag Kings and Things

    In this episode of the A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the rich history of wartime songs, focusing on Vesta Tilley’s 1907 hit “Jolly Good Luck to the Girl Who Loves a Soldier”.  Along the way they discuss the life of Vesta Tilley, the use of Music Hall in recruitment for Kitchener’s Army in WWI and highlight a number of the trailblazing male impersonators and their contributions to the Music Hall. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES Melton Mowbray 1940s Festival https://www.facebook.com/1940sMeltonMowbray/ Vesta Tilley https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp64790/vesta-tilley-matilda-alice-nee-powles-lady-de-frece Vesta’s Dandy Style https://www.magnetmanchester.org/dandy-style-vesta-tilley-patrick/2023/3/8/dandy-style-vesta-tilley-patrick Algy or the Piccadilly Johnny with the Little Glass Eye https://folksongandmusichall.com/index.php/algy-or-the-piccadilly-johnny-with-the-little-glass-eye/ Mark Sheridan Memorial https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25931453/mark-sheridan/photo Mark Sheridan Biography https://musichallalice.wordpress.com/2021/01/15/a-comedians-tragedy/ The Pals Battalions of WWI https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-pals-battalions-of-the-first-world-war The Jingo Song https://folksongandmusichall.com/index.php/macdermotts-war-song/ Ella Shields sings Adeline https://youtu.be/4jopFBMCouY?si=2EScTDLxuxSBYgwN Burlington Bertie from Bow - Anita Harris (1990) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGNutjop1g0   Ella Shields / Nellie Wallace Memorial Plaque https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6305183/ella-shields Hetty King Documentary - Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNx_n2uKiTk Hetty King Documentary - Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qlw6o8uf84 Hetty King Documentary - Part 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6CXCW1Nuss Maggie Smith sings “I’ll Make a Man of You” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1d2TWaw41k CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:51 Opening Chat 02:04 J = Jolly Good Luck to the Girl Who Loves a Soldier 03:12 Vesta Tilley: A Biography 10:20 Discussing the Song 12:34 Mark Sheridan 18:57 Fred W. Leigh and Kenneth Lyle 21:25 Music Hall and Recruitment in WWI 24:32 The Impact of Pals Battalions on Communities 27:09 The Sheet Music 28:19 How Did We Discover the Song 30:07 The Jingoistic Nature of War Songs 32:57 The Evolution of Performance Styles 34:39 If You Liked That You'll Like This 34:57 Ella Shields 39:56 Hetty King 46:08 Mentioned In Dispatches 47:06 A Clue for Next Week SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    48 min

  6. 17 MAY

    I'll Be Seeing You - Sentimentality and Separation

    In this episode, hosts Tom Carradine and Lili Redman delve into the emotional and historical significance of the wartime song 'I'll Be Seeing You.' They explore its origins, the songwriters behind it and its impact during World War II. Their conversation highlights various interpretations and recordings of the song, emphasizing its universal themes of love, loss and hope. Through their musical analysis and personal anecdotes, the hosts bring to life the enduring legacy of this classic ballad. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/ I’ll Be Seeing You - Film (1944) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCLBcHf71Rc Secret Love - Doris Day https://youtu.be/H8P_p7dB2dw?si=9DZr-7lvbV-NNXyn Mahler’s Third Symphony Last Movement (Listen at 1:04) https://youtu.be/M622tyRUYKg?si=N5zH3KL_CZkYVVsz&t=64 CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:50 Opening Catch Up 02:03 I = I'll Be Seeing You 07:22 Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal 13:21 The Sheet Music 14:46 Discovering the Song 17:04 Discussing the Lyrics 19:04 Universal Themes in Love Songs 23:35 Discussing the Music 29:15 Recordings - Dick Todd / Bing Crosby 34:36 Tommy Dorsey (with Frank Sinatra) 36:03 Billie Holiday 39:35 Joe Loss (with Harry Kaye) 41:17 Anne Shelton and Stanley Black 43:08 Ambrose 43:44 Our Favourites? 46:11 Other Listening Recommendations 49:19 Mentioned in Dispatches 50:44 A Clue for Next Week SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    52 min

  7. 10 MAY

    The Handsome Territorial - Novelty Dance Crazes of the 1940s

    In this episode, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the significance of wartime songs, focusing on “The Handsome Territorial”.  They delve into the life of the songwriters Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr, the evolution of the Hokey Cockey and the controversies surrounding it’s origins.  They look at the other popular dance crazes of the 1940s, analyze the music and lyrics of “The Handsome Territorial” and reflect on why it has faded from public memory. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES The Loyal Enemy - Short Film https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35706430/ https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/village-transformed-into-wartime-movie-set-5109722 https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/heritage/wartime-movie-to-be-filmed-at-historic-hall-near-melton-4994460 Jimmy Kennedy Biography https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Wrote-Teddy-Bears-Picnic/dp/1456778110 Nat Gonella Memorial https://outgress.com/portals/nat-gonella-memorial.1256224/ Tom’s Scone Video https://youtu.be/PowjfRG1eGE?si=ib9vV2DDUcXMLmIR CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro and Catch Up 04:36 H = The Handsome Territorial 07:38 The Life of Jimmy Kennedy 09:15 London's Tin Pan Alley 11:11 Lawrence Wright - Music Publisher 14:38 "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" and others 17:27 The Cokey Cokey 26:30 Jimmy Kennedy - Continued 27:24 Michael Carr 28:56 Discussing the Sheet Music Cover 30:01 C. L. Heimann and Novelty Dance Crazes 35:28 Music and Lyric Analysis 41:44 Discussing Recordings 48:57 If You Liked That You'll Like This ... 55:18 Mentioned in Dispatches 59:13 Teaser for Next Week 59:50 Outro SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    42 min

  8. 3 MAY

    Goodnight Children, Everywhere - Evacuation's Emotional Toll

    In this episode, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the significance of wartime songs, focusing on 'Good Night Children, Everywhere' and the legacy of Vera Lynn.  They discuss her early career, her contribution to entertaining the troops in WW2 and her rise to become the “forces sweetheart”.  Along the way their conversion delves into the experiences of child evacuees, an analysis of the song and the many recordings which are available and even the first polyphonic synthesiser, which featured on two of Lynn’s iconic recordings. To listen to all the songs mentioned in the episode please visit their Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1FQDrBphYqYLAuN6Jm01PN REFERENCES London Easter Parade 2025 Pics https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10160599002620855&type=3 London Easter Parade 2026 Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/996153819354742/ Sousaphone https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousaphone Howard Baker - “the gig king” http://www.mgthomas.co.uk/dancebands/Musicians/MusicianPages/Howard%20Baker.htm Lady Sarah Spencer Churchill’s Coming Out Party https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/145374512 New Hippodrome Coventry https://www.chestercinemas.co.uk/hippodrome-theatre-coventry/ Hammond Novachord http://www.novachord.co.uk/ “We’ll Meet Again” played on a Novachord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMEuibX4c04&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD Brick Lane Music Hall https://www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk/ Princess Elizabeth Recording https://youtu.be/VJI9LPFQth4 Chick Henderson's Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56531651/henderson-rowntree Gracie Field’s “Goonight Children, Everywhere” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnGkZJKpzk4 Gert and Daisy (Elsie and Doris Walters) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izt-8xg-f08 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Wartime Songs 01:11 Intro 02:07 Catch Up 03:52 G = Goodnight Children, Everywhere 06:13 The Life and Career of Vera Lynn 08:01 Howard Baker: The Gig King 13:44 Vera Lynn's Rise to Fame 14:05 Bert Ambrose and his Orchestra 18:17 The RAF Squadronaires 20:20 Vera Lynn's Contributions During WW2 22:06 Vera's Recording Career 23:01 The Hammond Novachord 24:26 The Legacy of "We'll Meet Again" and "White Cliffs of Dover" 27:02 Vera on the Wireless 29:07 Evacuation of Children During WWII 32:29 The Reality of Cleanliness During War 34:42 Mixed Experiences of Evacuation 36:35 Discussing the Sheet Music 39:21 Musical and Lyric Analysis 42:52 Discussing Recordings - Joe Loss 44:08 Chick Henderson 47:15 Gracie Fields 47:41 Elsie and Doris Waters 49:36 Ambrose 49:58 Vera Lynn 52:01 Which Is Our Favourite Version? 53:02 Other Listening Recommendations 56:35 Mentioned in Dispatches SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS You can follow the podcast on social media: http://instagram.com/warsongspod https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod Find more information about Lili Redman here: https://liliredman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/ https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil Or Tom Carradine here: https://www.tomcarradine.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine CONTACT THE PODCAST If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at [email protected]  to be "Mentioned in Dispatches". LISTENING LINKS Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318 If you’ve enjoyed this episode Lili and Tom would be grateful if you’d leave a review and make sure you’ve subscribed and turned on notifications so you’ll never miss an episode.
    50 min
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About

🎵 Hosted by @tomcarradine & @lili_redman ✨ Exploring iconic songs from the frontlines to the home front 📜 History, harmony & heart from WWI to WWII

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Carradine and Lili Redman
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    The A to Z of Wartime Song

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