John Coates (tenor), accompanied by Gerald Moore : It was a lover and his lass (Morley), Diaphenia (Whitaker) and 0, mistress mine (Cripps). 4985 (10in., 3s.)

General Rejoicings ! Scenes of Wild Enthusiasm ! Really, it takes a Late Night Final to announce adequately the return of John Coates to the lists, especially when he leads off with Morley's It was a lover and his lass, putting into it even more John Coates than the best of us could anticipate. Sometimes one thinks he's going to carry the rest of the song lightly on his voice without another breath. Then, of course, that this is Diaphenia's most piquant setting no-one could possibly overlook while John Coates is singing it. The 0, mistress mine has, very broadly speaking, the Quitter outlook, or, perhaps still more, Lisztian ; though not so fully-flavoured, very pleasant. Anyhow, it lets us hear some of John Coates's stronger singing ; and all through Columbia are to be very highly congratulated indeed on recording practically untouched and unclouded John Coates's quality, which is itself almost as captivating as his singing. And all at one of the cheapest 10in. prices. By the bye, Mr. Coates -uses one of the modern editions of the Morley, in which is " corrected " a small but subtle and delicious typical touch of rhythm typical of the several hundred supremely fine English songs of Morley and his contemporaries.