This compilation of 20,000 popular song titles (1860-1920) provides answers to the questions which excite Music Hall and popular song enthusiasts: who wrote what, when and who sang it? The criteria for a song's inclusion are popularity, topicality and significance in the career of its singer.

Michael Kilgarriff--for thirty years a music hall chairman, producer, and musical director--has compiled a wealth of information on popular song in Britain during the 60 years from 1860 to 1920, comprehensively cross-indexed under performer, lyricist, composer, and year. This invaluable and long-awaited addition to the Music Hall literature is unrivalled in its magnitude and unique in its scope.

the general soundness and sobriety of his scholarship seem beyond dispute. He cites an impressive array of sources, and, even more importantly, he draws on a lifetime's experience.../ For the specialists and Old Time activists whom he sees as his primary audience, his book will be invaluable./ John Gross, TLS, 05/02/99.