Details: Harry Secombe was many things. Starting his career as a comedian and in later years TV presenter, but from the start he always included singing in his act. Classically trained by the legendary Manlio di Veroli, he was initially signed to HMV for three releases and then to Philips records, where he remained for the best part of 25 years. His early releases are a greatly neglected part of his catalogue. Concentrating on his lighter recordings from the period, the majority of these original recordings have never been reissued, some never making it further than 78rpm discs, and others later re-recorded, leaving the originals overlooked. Also included is his recording of Vesti La Giubba, which reached no. 16 in the pop charts despite it's operatic origins, a feat only matched by Pavarotti some 35 years later.