George Formby - Fanlight Fanny

[@scottscott232]

Featuring the beautiful and very talented Esma Cannon.

[@txvoltaire]

It's amazing how he can make 1 instrument sound like a complete orchestra!

[@Felony503Flats]

Hahahahahahaha

[@alisterbaker-lowe]

There probably is a whole orchestra off screen - it comes in near the start.

[@paulhewitt471]

I Want to be

[@paulhewitt471]

A

[@Alienreggaereggaeradio]

La bumba

[@jillfoley6389]

Just logged in to see the lovely George Formby and what a treat to see Esma Cannon - such a superb actress. Such a terrible day today with Boris in intensive care - my prayers are with him - so I put this on - the only thing that can take my mind off the awful news. Just love George Formby - would have loved to seen him live!

[@YvonneBlain-q5y]

There are George Forby relaions in New Zealand on his Mother side.. I was Yvonne Hoy before I married...I am 81yrs now.. My father play the Banjo his sister the Mouth Organ his brother the Qutiar...I never met my father he died of Meningitis when my mum was 7mths pregnant with me...A big Sad Lose to Me..

[@lightlycrazed]

This is just so funny i can't stop listening to this. The only thing funny in music today are those who think they can entertain, and fail.

[@andymann7762]

The skill, the imagination, the soul and the sheer gift that goes into a great George Formby song is the same as, say, that that goes into a great Sia song today. Great music is great music no matter when it was created.

[@thegardener4395]

Cannot help smiling at this, the lyrics are funny and the sound of the uke and backing music is great.

[@sunra59]

Lovely stuff - the maid was played by the wonderful Esme Cannon - and George is playing a banjolele!

[@Shade.85]

Cheers for that!

[@lindamanas6735]

I remember Esme Cannon was the rather eccentric lady in’ Carry on Cruising’: she played tennis with Anton Rodgers or Kenneth Williams I think.

[@sheilagreen2241]

Esma Cannon…. great character actress… Yes, a banjolele!!!!

[@althejazz]

The other lady in the scene is Elsie Wagstaff. George Formby played an alto banjo - it is pitched the same as the ukelele and is often referred to as a banjolele or banjo-ukelele. There is a very rare soprano banjo which is even smaller that the instrument that george played. The most common of all is the tenor banjo but they came in various sizes down to a bass version which is quite large and cumbersome to play. All but the alto and tenor versions are very rare today.

[@JIMuser-vh3Zxx]

The cheeky chap was a genius versatile entertainer

[@BOT101st]

Such an excellent song, great playing, people can play the Uke today, but there will only be one George... noone can out do him!

[@russellmaxwell4677]

He was absolutely brilliant. I wish they would put all his films on tv.

[@fred01235]

Brilliant!! I can't get enough of this music with a uke. Here in NZ the uke is the standard instruement to introduce primary school children to music instead of the recorder. Thanks for the posting

[@russellmaxwell4677]

He’s the best. Need more brits like our George

[@monkeytennis7477]

First of all, he's adorable. Second, the little blonde maid has teeth like his, is that his sister? Third, she better watch out for that knife or she's about to lose a finger! I'm enjoying your video collection, if you're still around, thanks for posting them. George Formby is champion all the way.

[@azillliasmith2734]

No they are unrelated...... in those days people had their natural teeth they didn't go to Turkey and get a large bunch of neon piano keys put in their mouths......they were happy to be themselves....

[@nicolaherbert291]

Nice to see lovely Esme Cannon too

[@Siouxindian7]

If Someone could Play 🪕 George Formby Could. He is Amazing 🪕

[@reneecarter6702]

He was absolutely adorable and seemed so genuinely humble and sweet ♥️

[@nathansaunders2576]

A humble personality but absolutely minted from birth.

[@BrendaDrumm]

I have a funny story my neighbour who is now 81 lived and breathed George around 5o yrs ago sang in clubs singing his songs even wore a wig had a ukulele no one liked him much in the street never married all ways had a chip on his shoulder anyway long story short he accused my son of breaking into his shed yrs ago he didn't one night thought not having this I went out put his front window in thought of the song when I'm cleaning thought he won't be cleaning that window again my son got arrested for theft of a rusty saw out of his shed he didn't do it and criminal damage the window lol fined 200 p0und I went to the police station said I broke the window said go home mum told my neighbour yrs after it was me he said oh you bugger up to date we are still friends lol 😂

[@mickwillis6981]

Mmm. His notorious double-entendres were clearly lost on you!

[@martinclarke3028]

the guy is a master of this instrument

[@2230greg]

Can't get enough of these songs, God Bless George, long may you keep going. greg2230

[@RoccoWOUTERS]

George always knows how to get a smile on my face^^

[@thomaswaldron5215]

Hey! I've heard that his fans included four lads from Liverpool. It's quite unfortunate that he didn't live long enough to see the rise of British rock and roll in the sixties. Many of the young artists were childhood fans of his.

[@Phaedrax2]

@Kezam11 Couldn't agree more. I have been buying George's CD & film box sets like they are going out of fashion! I listen to the CDs every day and if there is a glitch in my day - I sit down to watch one of his films. George Formby & the delightfully dotty Esma Cannon - what teaming! :-) The lyrics of George's songs are hilarious - just love 'Swimmin with the wimmin' and 'Kiss your Mansy Pansy' - never fail to make me laugh. :-)

[@althejazz]

If you watch George's left hand carefully you will see that whatever the song, he plays the chords exactly the same no matter what key it is in. Each banjo he used was tuned to the correct key for the song being played as he could only play in one key.

[@HarryFlashman.]

Interesting. Didn't know that.

[@MrQuadro83]

Is that Esma Cannon? Loved her in the Carry On films.

[@chiefchook]

Wow, amazing print quality; far better than my DVD, thanks for loading.

[@russellmaxwell4677]

I would have loved to have met him in person. He brings ca big smile to my face. Whenbib hear his voice

[@enforcer-e1s]

I live in Wigan. George lived just 50 yards from our house. A really nice bloke.

[@russellmaxwell4677]

@@enforcer-e1s wow brilliant u met him then

[@russellmaxwell4677]

@@enforcer-e1s so u had the pleasure of meeting him then

[@OddChap87]

This song is a classic and really is dark with it.

[@sproatielad]

sends shivers up my spine watching this ..the uke playing is in a class of its own ..(even if the film doesnt sync with the recording)..the style ..the speed ..the rythmn...and the look he gives when playing..one of my favourite Formby pieces ..steven

[@JJMCB26]

"Turned out nice again, hasn't it?" lol!!! XD

[@mkcwebmaster]

@thekroton - Yes the younger one is Esma Cannon, she also had a very minor part in another of Formby's films, "It's In The Air". I don't know who the other woman is.

[@tompchromedome]

Esma Cannon, was an Australian-born character actress and comedian

[@jamescarey9901]

The best Lancashire. Lav❤😂

[@dustinblake3115]

Great quality, I really enjoy this, thank you for uploading this. This bring a great smile to my face :)

[@bbutton]

Esma Cannon was a regular in the TV series, The Rag Trade.

[@Del-yv1qy]

A joy to watch.

[@michaeljayklein500]

Terrific, and such a beautiful print and great sound quality--thanks so very much!

[@bettyswunghole3310]

She said she'd always been a dancer...worked at 15 clubs a day...

[@HystereoDeathTV]

"I think he's beautiful!" Awe, so sweet. xx

[@leedsman54]

A real entertainer.

[@free..to..air..]

Turned out nice again

[@David-jv7ot]

She looks well in the lime, a queen of the time, you get your money's worth By day you'd say it's her second time on earth! ... Come On what a Lyrical genius

[@BrianFeral1]

First time I've seen Esme Cannon so young

[@animateangus]

Does anyone know what tuning he is playing in?

[@maryconvey3571]

What a lovely person George was he was often on the empire her in middlesbrough

[@azillliasmith2734]

Sunderland Empire too 😊

[@michaeljayklein500]

Incidentally, it seems to me that Googie Withers was in EVERY third motion picture made in Britain for a VERY long time!

[@paulberry6016]

Totally love Fanlight Fanny, the singer on the Billy Cotton Band how did the Best version ,IMO.😉👍

[@matthewtomson7874]

Excellent ukelele solo at the end

[@mkcwebmaster]

@Chomuno I bought all my DVDs from Amazon. "Keep Fit", "Keep Your Seats Please","Trouble Brewing", "No Limit" and "Boots Boots" are available individually. Also you can buy a collection box set which consists of "No Limit", "Let George Do It", "Turned Out Nice Again", "I See Ice", "Spare A Copper", "It's In The Air" and "Come On George". Warning - don't buy from third party sellers (especially on eBay) because they are always poor quality copies. Spend more and buy new, it's worth it.

[@kateplasins6266]

7098765

[@maryconvey3571]

George appeared at our empire in middlesbrough he was great

[@operamichael]

Delightful !

[@bettyswunghole3310]

Esma Cannon was only 34 at the time of filming this!

[@Vertical-sandwiches]

They are silencing me!!!!! Help!!!!

[@avelingbarford]

Love his solos!

[@anthonycurr3161]

I thought Fanlight Fanny was a personal feature

[@neilomila]

When my older bro & I were kids in the 40s-50s our Dad had from his RAF WWII days -a big fat album-set of Formby on old Regal 78s. We would play 'em all on our old gramaphone especially when 'Skip' our scoutmaster would come by (often as he had a crush on our Mum, & he'd invite himself to tea) So while I pretended to grasp all of the 'double entendres', my bro & I wld both cackle on the carpet while 'Skip' would turn bright red in front of Mum at the naughtiest lyrics & she'd go all pink. My Dad later took me to see Formby perform on tour (marvelously) &-usually shy/quiet- Dad amazed me after one great uke-solo by leaping to his feet punching air & shouting "Good Ol' George" -just-as he & his mates cerainly did back in WWII.

[@patrikwright2658]

Very under rated ezeme cannon.

[@patphelan5824]

Brilliant ❤❤❤❤ it

[@MrReallyHard]

Very Cool Song.

[@Chomuno]

@mkcwebmaster Sorry, where can we find George Formby's films? I tried on the Internet and found nothing... :).

[@operamichael]

Great stuff.

[@benstevinson764]

❤️ GEORGE FORNBY

[@jamescypler4599]

Also recorded by clinton ford

[@iancook55]

A perfect description of wifes older sister````

[@johnmh1000]

Is the maid Esme Canon?

[@chemdah]

"Oh get on with your work!" ;-)

[@bensimps123]

how can george formby singing about fanny not be funny ?

[@greggi47]

I suppose "fanny" carried the same slang meaning as it does now. So how did it get past censors?

[@SomeInterestingName]

Because it's a name, dummy. He gets away with it for the same reason he would if the song was about someone called Dick.

[@freeway71]

His face during the solo!

[@johndaarteest]

That younger woman I am sure she's the one who used to be in the carry on films.

[@xxdressagedivaxx]

He makes me proud to be a Wigan-er

[@metafis2490]

2:09 I'm sure that women was in some of the 'Carry on' films of the sixties....

[@CrankCase08]

Carry On Cabby.

[@Irism7505]

i love this :)

[@pauloakes5718]

They used to do everything with a bread knife in those days!

[@animateangus]

The best musician I have ever seen! Was this uke tuned to GCEA because mine is and I can't get that high pitched sound that he is getting.

[@wayneandrews9298]

Well , it seems that in over 7 years nobody gives a shit about you musical taste , what radio station your tuned into or how low pitched your sound is ...

[@JamesBrotherDJ]

So good, The first time I heard this song was a cover version. Played by Steve Waller (RIP) of the band Manfred Mann at my 13th birthday party! His band at the time had been booked to play a party in the UK Surrey countryside which, on arrival turned out to be an acid house rave (beforre they were outlawed), they aborted and arrived in our garden. Here is a recording of him singing his cover version in Camberwell, South London a few years before (24mins in) kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXezhWanba6mbsk

[@spongebo13]

You can tell when he drops a sexual euphemism because he does that famous Formby giggle :P

[@johncalladine2151]

what did he play then??

[@mkcwebmaster]

correct!

[@maryconvey3571]

Count john ❤️❤️🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@madmick7501]

fannytantastic

[@ryandeakin5878]

0:05 0:07 the famous words.

[@geraldorford]

She's sixty-six but she looks sixteen her friends don't know her now her face is clean that's fanlight fanny the thousand night club queen.

[@watdefuq9166]

I wonder if "her friends don't know her now her face is clean" meant that Fanny blacked-up (as a white woman pretending to be a genu-ine black 'queen of the blues').

[@nathansaunders2576]

@@watdefuq9166 I think it's because she wore so much makeup, she looked 16 with a ton of makeup on but without her friends wouldn't recognise her, a bit of an old dog.

[@anthonycurr3161]

"Frowsy" nightclub queen

[@matthewfarmer6830]

George Formby looks like he needs to see the Dentist lol😁

[@BrendaDrumm]

I have a neighbour who is 81 ive lived by him for over 5o yrs he lived and breathed george for yrs played at clubs singing his songs for yrs wore a wig anyway he could be a recluse and get nasty one day he accused my son of breaking into his shed he didnt so one night i thought im not having this i put a brick through his front window next day my son got arrested charged with criminal damage fined over 2oo pound i went to the policestation said id done it they said go home mum lol i thought of georges song when im cleaning windows thought yes he wont be cleaning the one i smashed im still best mates with my neighbour told him a few yrs ago it was me all he said was you littlle devil lol 😂

[@matthewfarmer6830]

@@BrendaDrumm thanks for sharing your story. 😊

[@MartinSmith-z6j]

but then he wouldnt be george formby

[@payneo218]

it's a Banjolele!

[@paysthepiper]

he played a banjolele and a ukulele

[@thecubanism]

I frequently pass George's old home in Poulton, Lancs, originally named Beryldene, though god knows why, a bitch who ran his life and career and ultimately destroyed him,.He, and I am working from memory here married a lass called Pat somebody, who got all his money, after a short liaison, I remember it well , reported in the Lancs Evening Post.

[@thecubanism]

He announced his engagement to Pat, [I cannot think of her surname, she was a teacher], seven weeks after Beryl's death, I think he died three weeks later, what interests you about him?

[@skipmole612]

Has this been speeded up? It sounds rushed.

[@uke1964]

@BOT101st yes u are spot on

[@paysthepiper]

george played a banjolele and a ukulele

[@ianpunchard2878]

Lived in st.annes

[@RaananVolesPianist]

Didn't this guy ever sing anything that WASN'T off color?

[@hanson666999]

:^D Lovely

[@andreedowns4561]

I can see jimmy Hendrix there😮

[@nezbit8989]

The film version of this song is far superior to the recorded album version, which I find is a little slow and the solo is nowhere near to this example of Formbys skill👌

[@Shade.85]

The OG diss track.🤭

[@uke1964]

@CLASSICMONSTERGUY95 hay u so right

[@David-jv7ot]

she's called a peach cos she's always canned PMSL

[@appleejack]

To much Fanny not enough Fanlight

[@jessn2925]

do you know the underworld!?

[@wayneandrews9298]

No , but I know the overworld ...

[@sarcasticbookworm271]

Hades usually just lets the dead in I'm so sorry, I've been reading too much Percy Jackson

[@ianholmes3761]

I rather have this than some of the 💩now😮

[@BrendaDrumm]

I have to laugh my neighbour of over 5o yrs lived and breathed him wore a wig played at clubs singing all the songs a recluse never married had a chip on his shoulder no one liked him rode a bike give everyone nasty lookd cut a long story short his shed got broken into he blamed my son who was about 16 then he didnt do it one night i thought im not having this i put his front window through with a brick my son got arrested next day fined 2oo pound told terry few yrs ago it was me all he said was you little bugger we are best of mates lol 😂

[@ianholmes3761]

So you could say it's turned out nice again 😁

[@BrendaDrumm]

@@ianholmes3761 yes lol x

[@tonywright8294]

Don’t forget the 😉 wink