Peter Warlock was the pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine (1894-1930) best known for his songs and other vocal pieces. This album, “Merry-Go-Down” (with the subtitle “a gallery of gorgeous drunkards through the ages in literature from Genesis to Joyce”), is an anthology of his work as composer, transcriber, editor, and champion of neglected music. It was originally released as an LP in 1971 by Unicorn.

The lighthearted program includes texts from a wide range of sources. Songs by Warlock and his arrangements of pieces by Dowland, Ravenscroft, and others are interspersed with readings and piano pieces. In several pieces for vocal ensemble they are joined by Jennifer Partridge, Mark Brown, Michael Clarke, Bob Hunter, James Lewington, and Richard Hazell.

What fun they all seem to be having! The album gives little warning of surprises in store for the listener, like the witty piano duet ‘Beethoven’s Binge’. The piece that brought forth my loudest guffaw was Warlock’s ‘The Old Codger’, a syncopated piano duet based on themes from Franck’s Symphony in D minor. Peter Gay’s over-the-top recitation of ‘Drunken Song in the Saurian Mode’ is hilarious.

The recorded sound is perfectly clear but boxy. Sleeve notes of the 1971 release are included. No texts, but the words are clearly sung or spoken.