Two Gilberts' Page
Almost nothing is known about this comedy duo, but it can be surmised from their recordings that the people making up the pairing varied with time. The odd thing is that the Two Gilberts appear at a time when comedy duettists had just about died out in terms of popularity. Harry Cove & Billy Thompson had dominated the recording studios (along with the likes on Will Brockton, Jack Charman, Stanley Kirkby, Lionel Rothery etc) with their duet records from before WWI. People with a good ear claim that Fred Douglas, a prolific maker of records in his own name, is always one of the pair. Recently it has been claimed that the most regular duo were Fred Douglas and Leslie Rome. Fred Douglas (1885 - 1955), who was a character actor as well as singer, of course had an extensive recording career of his own and worked with several well known bands including: Billy Cotton and Henry Hall and spent 12 years with Big Bill Campbell's Rocky Mountain Rhythm.
Interestingly, both Cove and Thompson were mainstays of The Two Gilberts at different times. Thompson seems to be Douglas's first partner before Cove took over in mid-1924. Recordings by Tom Gilbert exist, usually paired with recordings of the Two Gilberts, these records issued as being by Tom Gilbert are also by Fred Douglas; the Regal company presumably dreamt up the name as a tie-in with the duettists as well as issuing many records under Douglas's own name.
It seems that about these artists: Douglas, Thompson & Cove, very little is known as they spent pretty well the whole of their careers as recording artists, generally looked down upon by collectors and researchers as "of no historical importance or interest".
DO SHRIMPS MAKE GOOD MOTHERS?
I want my mammy Shufflin' along Keep on smiling Dapper Dan Caravan I'm getting better every day A sleepy little village Yes! We have no bananas Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean Down among the sleepy hills of Tennessee Carolina mammy When it's night-time in Italy it's Wednesday over here Felix kept on walking Maggie! Yes Ma! You've got to see mah ma every night Do shrimps make good mothers?
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