The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan: The Mikado (1962)

The Linden Singers with Orchestra
Directed by William Llewellyn

Album
Embassy WEP 1069

This recording appears to be from the "volume 1" whose existence is implied by the "volume 2" listed below. However, it is only a 45rpm record with just five selections from The Mikado:

Side 1
  • Behold the Lord High Executioner
  • A Wand'ring Minstrel I
Side 2
  • Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day
  • Tit Willow
  • For He's Gone and Married Yum-Yum

Judging from the contents of volume 2, one would assume that the full volume 1, of which this is presumably an excerpt, includes highlights from Mikado, Pirates, and perhaps one other opera, but we won't know for sure until someone finds it!

Issue History
DateLabelFormatNumber
1962? Embassy 45rpm WEP 1069

The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan, Volume 2 (1962)

The Linden Singers with Orchestra
Directed by William Llewellyn

Gem GEM 75
Gem GEM 75

This recording is not in my collection, but Chris Webster provided the following review:

As this is volume 2, I imagine that…yes you've guessed it, but where is it and what's on it? The Embassy label was a Woolworths own label that I am told specialised in recording their own cover versions. The sound quality is quite good and the singers are competent. The orchestra can be a little 'bandish' from time to time (especially the violins). Not a bad effort at all, but it annoyingly groups tracks by opera and then jumps songs positions about.

Note that the Linden Singers are probably the same outfit credited with the World Record Club recordings. On some discs, they are called "The Company of Savoyards." Selections from this disc are as follows:

Side 1Side 2
H.M.S. Pinafore
"We sail the ocean blue"
"A British tar"
"Never mind the why and wherefore"
"I am the captain"
"I am the monarch of the sea"
"I'm called Little Buttercup"
"When I was a lad"
Iolanthe
"Loudly let the trumpets bray"
"When you're lying awake"
"The law is the true embodiment"
Iolanthe
"With Strephon for your foe"
"When all night long"
Finale
The Yeomen of the Guard
"Hereupon we're both agreed"
"I have a song to sing, O" (Act II finale)
"A man who would woo a fair maid"
"When our gallant Norman foes"
"Strange adventure"
"Is life a boon?"
Embassy WEP 1083
Embassy WEP 1083
Issue History
DateLabelFormatNumberComments
1962 Embassy Mono LP WLP 6049  
1962? Gem Mono LP GEM 75 Australian Issue
1962? Embassy Mono 45rpm WEP 1083 Titled "The Best of Gilbert & Sullivan: The Yeomen of the Guard." Features all of the Yeomen tracks from the above album, except for "Is life a boon?"