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 warsongspod@gmail.com 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.
