Carrie from Camden Town

“She goes to all the theatres. And of course secures a box. The ladies say how vulgar. But they copy all her frocks. Which by the way come rather high. Although they’re rather low. In fact she’s just the kind of girl you want to know ...” Part of the appeal of visiting the Camden area, it seems, is to hang out in ‘orrible public houses just because that’s the thing to do. To see and be seen. Celebs slumming and all that. But there’s nothing new under the sun. In 1906 music hall star Florrie Forde was singing about Carrie From Camden Town, a young lady who when it comes to ligging could test the young wannabes a trick or two. Florrie herself, while a London favourite, was born in Australia, and can be heard here singing the WW1 number Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty, a song that may have a certain resonance for fans of The Smiths. This clip falls into the category of “Gor blimey, now that’s what I call a record player ...”