Harry Bedford (1873-1939)
Last updated: 05.07.25
According to the Internet source given below, Harry Bedford was a British music hall comedian and singer born in Pimlico, London,
His first stage appearance was when aged seven and he was an apprentice in a boat building business before becoming a professional entertainer in 1888. By 1895 he had become a leading music hall entertainer, appearing at the Middlesex Music Hall, London. His act was considered somewhat risqué for the time and was described as a "low comedian".
His best known songs include A Little Bit Off the Top by Murray & Leigh (given in 60 Old-Time Variety Songs) and The Cock of the North When I Get Some Money (1895) by Harry Castling.
He died in London.
His first stage appearance was when aged seven and he was an apprentice in a boat building business before becoming a professional entertainer in 1888. By 1895 he had become a leading music hall entertainer, appearing at the Middlesex Music Hall, London. His act was considered somewhat risqué for the time and was described as a "low comedian".
His best known songs include A Little Bit Off the Top by Murray & Leigh (given in 60 Old-Time Variety Songs) and The Cock of the North When I Get Some Money (1895) by Harry Castling.
He died in London.
| Websites: | |||
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Harry Bedford (music hall) | Biography by wikipedia.org. |
| Performer | CD Title | Supplier |
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| Folk Music CDs: | |||
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Various Performers | Cockney Kings of the Music Hall |        |
This list is derived from information provided by Monologues.co.uk which went down sometime in 2023.
The loss of this valuable resource is very sad and a mystery.
The loss of this valuable resource is very sad and a mystery.
| Title | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| I Wouldn't Grumble Any More | Harry Bedford (music) Harry Castling (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| In These Old Lavender Trousers | Robert P. Weston (music) Harry Bedford (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| I've Been Digging For the Gold | Bennett Scott (music) George Lester (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| Little Bit Off the Top, A | Fred W. Leigh (music) Fred Murray (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| My Midnight Watch | Albert Perry (music) Albert E Ellis (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| One of the Ruins That Cromwell Knocked About | Harry Bedford (music) Harry Bedford (words) Terry Sullivan (words) Marie Lloyd (perf.) |
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| One of the Shabby Genteel | Harry Castling (words & music) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| Sarah, Sarah | Harry Bedford (words & music) Kate Carney (perf.) |
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| Second-Hand Aristocrat, A | Robert P. Weston (music) E. J. Hillary (words) F. J. Barnes (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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| Tiddley Hi | Harry Bedford (music) Wallace (words) Lily Morris (perf.) |
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| When the Summer Comes Again | Harry Bedford (words & music) Kate Carney (perf.) |
The peformer is featured on 21 sheet music/recording covers. It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
ER
| Title | Composer | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
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Half-Day Holiday Boys (1905), The | Maxwell Barrett(w&m) | Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Who Got 'em (1896) | Harry Castling(w&m) | Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Flop 'em Out (1898) | Harry Castling | Harry Wincott (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Our New Slavey (1900) | Harry Castling | A J Mills (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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One of the Shabby Genteel (1902) | Harry Castling(w&m) | Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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That Cat (1902) | Harry Castling | Steve McCarthy (words)
George Bastow (perf.) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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We've All Got Honey on the Brain (1902) | Harry Castling | Edgar Bateman (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Cooking the Cock of the North (1911) | Harry Castling | Harry Wincott (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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⇑My Artificial Rose (1903) | Charles Collins | Frank W. Carter (words) R P Weston (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Abbey Ruin (1918), The | Charles Collins | Fred Murray (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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They're the Sort of Girls That I Like! (1899) | Walter P. Keen(w&m) | Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Little Bit Off the Top (1900), A | Fred W. Leigh | Fred Murray (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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What a Bearskin! (1915) | Dan Lipton(w&m) | Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Walk Round Eliza (1905) | Fred Murray | George Everard (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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My Midnight Watch (1899) | Albert Perry | Albert E. Ellis (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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I've Been Digging For the Gold (1897) | Bennett Scott | George Lester (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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We Always Have Our Little Bit at Home (1899) | Bennett Scott | C G Cotes (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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Second-Hand Aristocrat (1906), A | Robert P. Weston | E. J. Hillary (words) F. J. Barnes (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
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In These Old Lavender Trousers (1912) | Robert P. Weston | Harry Bedford (words)
Harry Bedford (perf.) |
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 16 works by Harry Bedford (1873-1939).
It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m)
| Title | Year | Attribution | Remarks |
|---|
| Bill's Mouth Organ | 1894 | John S Baker (words) Kate Carney (perf.) |
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| Janey Delaney (w&m) | 1895 | Kate Carney (perf.) | |
| Old Village Home in the East, The | 1895 | Alfred Lamont (words) Kate Carney (perf.) |
Pub. |
| When I Get Some Money | 1895 | Harry Castling (words) | |
| When the Summer Comes Again (w&m) | 1895 | Kate Carney (perf.) | Pub. |
| I Will Have a Flower in My Coat | 1898 | Harry Castling (words) | Pub. |
| If You Can't Do Any Good, Don't Do Any Harm (w&m) | 1902 | Kate Carney (perf.) | Pub. |
| I Wouldn't Grumble Any More (w&m) | 1904 | Harry Bedford (perf.) | Pub. |
| Second-Hand Aristocrat, A | 1906 | E J Hillary (words) Fred J Barnes (words) |
Pub. |
| How Do Yer Do-Di-Day? | 1908 | R P Weston (words) | |
| Salomé | 1908 | R P Weston (words) F. J. Barnes (words) |
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| ⇑ Germans Are Coming, So They Say, The | 1915 | R P Weston (words) Fred J Barnes (words) Harry Bedford (perf.) |
Pub. |
| It's a Bit of a Ruin That Cromwell Knocked About a Bit | 1920 | Terry Sullivan (words) Marie Lloyd (perf.) |
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| One of the Ruins That Cromwell Knocked About | ? | Harry Bedford (words) Terry Sullivan (words) Marie Lloyd (perf.) |
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| Sarah, Sarah (w&m) | ? | Kate Carney (perf.) | |
| Tiddley Hi | ? | Wallace (words) Lily Morris (perf.) |
| Composer | Title | Performer |
|---|
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H. Bedford | The Germans Are Coming, So They Say (2:58) | H. Bedford |
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H. Bedford | It's a Bit of a Ruin That Cromwell Knocked About a Bit (2:50) | Marie Lloyd |