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37 of 37 found the following review helpful:
 Not quite the best, but pretty good... Jun 24, 2006
By T. Connor
Flanders and Swann were brilliant, witty songwriters who wrote acute but subtle satire (among other things). In spite of the title, this record is not a "Best Of" collection, but a repackaging of their two best-known albums, "At the Drop of a Hat" and "At the Drop of Another Hat." A lot of people don't realize that there were two recordings of "At the Drop of a Hat": the first, produced by George Martin for Parlophone, was recorded during its original run at the Fortune Theatre in London in the late '50s, and is much better than the Angel Records version recorded on Broadway. This reissue, unfortunately, uses the Broadway version, in which Flanders seems a little bored with the material (or perhaps unsure that the American audience will get some of the jokes) and tends to rush the punch lines. This collection also omits one of the best songs from "At the Drop of a Hat"(which certainly belongs on any CD with this title), the conscientious-objection allegory "The Reluctant Cannibal."
While this is well worth listening to, your money would be better spent on the original "Hats" in their complete form (with "Cannibal"), preferably the Martin-produced version, if it's still available.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Great English Comedy Duo Jun 21, 2009
By Dave_42
"Dave_42"
If you enjoy comedy, and you haven't had the pleasure of hearing Michael Flanders and Donald Swann's hilarious act before, then this is a good candidate for you. Although, I would say that you may want to pick up "The Complete Flanders & Swann" instead of just the best of, because you will miss out on some very funny stuff if you purchase this instead of the complete collection. Nevertheless, this is a good starting place and certainly a less expensive option than the other. Flanders and Swann were Michael Flanders (actor and singer), and Donald Swann (composer, pianist, and linguist) and together they wrote, and sometimes performed their marvelous songs.
Known best for a series of Animal songs, the most popular was probably "The Hippopotamus", they also wrote many songs commenting on popular culture, "Song of Reproduction", and the oddities of life, "The Gas Man Cometh", and even occasionally politics, "All Gall". All of them are delightful and funny, as is Michael Flanders commentary between each number. Sadly, neither Michael Flanders nor Donald Swann is with us any longer, but they will never be forgotten as long as their music and their humor stay with us.
This best of retrospective consists of 10 songs from their 1960 album "At the Drop of a Hat", and 10 songs from their 1964 album "At the Drop of another Hat". It closes with an encore of "The Wompom", which appeared on their album "The Bestiary of Flanders & Swann" from 1961. If you appreciate English humor at all you are going to love this CD, and if you are anything like me you will pick up on new things each time you hear it and grow to love it even more. Your only regret from buying this would be that you will likely realize that you should have bought "The Complete Flanders & Swann" box set, but you have been warned.
7 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Funny and very English songs Jun 05, 2003
By Rick Row
Michael Flanders and Donald Swan composed and sang their own amusing songs, accompanied by Donald Swan playing the piano. Flanders was a large man in a wheelchair and Swan a slight man. Good natured, somewhat dry, very English lyrics, and somewhat dated as they were popular in the 1950s and 1960s. They did wonderful stage shows in those simpler times.
2 of 3 found the following review helpful:
wonderful! Mar 15, 2006
By athena
"athena"
This live recording of some of the best loved Flanders and Swann songs is truly a transport of delight!
The Best of Flanders and Swan - A Transport of Delight Jan 31, 2012
By Back Out
We have been fans of Flanders and Swan since the 1960's. We had an LP of them years ago, but sold it when we sold our turntable/stereo unit. Very pleased that we could get this CD at last. Is great to sing along with it, and our grandsons loved it too. Highly recommend it to people of our generation. Have fun !!
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