Forces’ Sweethearts & Heart-Throbs of World War II

The definitive album of wartime nostalgia: 20 forces' sweethearts and 21 of their heart-throb male counterparts sing 50 great songs, mostly on the theme of parted lovers. For all the soldiers, sailors and airmen parted from their loved ones during World War II, solace was provided by the nostalgic yearnings typical of the wartime recordings made by the 20 forces' sweethearts featured on disc one of this unique collection. Here are 23 great songs, full of longing, performed by the leading songbirds of the day.

Disc two features the handsome heart-throbs whose crooning soothed the loneliness of women at home when their husbands or boyfriends had gone off to fight for democracy. Here are the 21 crooners that caused most hearts to flutter, in 25 great songs, full of yearning, all recorded during the War. The 'big four' of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dick Haymes and Perry Como have two apiece, the 'Eberly Brothers' - Bob Eberly and Ray Eberle - sing two of their many hits with Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller respectively, while other big names include Nat King Cole, Tony Martin and Vaughn Monroe.

British-based crooners are represented by Al Bowlly, Sam Browne, Denny Dennis, Chick Henderson, Donald Peers, Hutch and Turner Layton. And one Frenchman perhaps sums up the aching nostalgia best of all: Jean Sablon with J'attendrai. Just the titles of these marvellous songs evoke the heartache and longing: As Time Goes By, I'll Never Smile Again, Long Ago And Far Away, I'll Be Seeing You, Faithful Forever, Love Letters Straight From Your Heart . . .

Contents:
CD 1: THE FORCES’ SWEETHEARTS
1. Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow
2. Vera Lynn - We’ll Meet Again
3. Gracie Fields - Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye
4. Martha Raye - Melancholy Mood
5. Connee Boswell - On The Isle Of May
6. The Andrews Sisters - I’ll Be With You In Apple-Blossom Time
7. Ella Fitzgerald - Imagination
8. Helen Ward - I Cover The Waterfront
9. Elsie Carlisle - A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
10. Peggy Lee - Somebody Else Is Taking My Place
11. Helen Forrest - I Don’t Want To Walk Without You
12. The Andrews Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
13. Lena Horne - Stormy Weather
14. Maxine Sullivan - When Your Lover Has Gone
15. Dinah Shore - Skylark
16. Peggy Lee - The Way You Look Tonight
17. Vera Lynn - The White Cliffs Of Dover
18. Frances Langford - Serenade In Blue
19. Deanna Durbin - Say A Prayer For The Boys Over There
20. Anne Shelton - Lili Marlene
21. Jo Stafford - I Love You
22. Dinah Shore - I’ll Walk Alone
23. Doris Day - Sentimental Journey
24. Anne Shelton - I’ll Be Seeing You
25. Mary Martin - Goodnight, Wherever You Are

CD 2: THE HEART-THROBS
1. Frank Sinatra - This Love Of Mine
2. Chick Henderson - Begin The Beguine
3. Dick Todd - To You Sweetheart, Aloha
4. Jean Sablon - J’attendrai
5. Ray Eberle - Faithful Forever
6. Denny Dennis - Stardust
7. Frank Sinatra - I’ll Never Smile Again
8. Bing Crosby - Only Forever
9. Al Bowlly - Dreaming
10. Bob Eberly - Blue Champagne
11. Tony Martin - Where In The World?
12. Johnny Desmond - This Time The Dream’s On Me
13. Kenny Baker - Always In My Heart
14. Vaughn Monroe - When The Lights Go On Again
15. Fred Astaire - Dearly Beloved
16. Perry Como - Have I Stayed Away Too Long?
17. Turner Layton - As Time Goes By
18. Dick Haymes - You’ll Never Know
19. Hutch - You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
20. Nat King Cole - Embraceable You
21. Donald Peers - In A Shady Nook By A Babbling Brook
22. Sam Browne - I’m So All Alone
23. Perry Como - Long Ago And Far Away
24. Dick Haymes - Love Letters
25. Bing Crosby - It’s Been A Long, Long Time