Dame Vera Lynn’s Rare Audition Records to Be Released 90 Years Later

The first-ever audition records of the late Dame Vera Lynn are set to be released, 90 years after they were originally recorded. These rare records were discovered when her daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones, donated her mother’s collection to the British Library’s Sound Archive. The collection includes three hand-labeled silver aluminium audition records and Dame Vera’s first-ever record, ‘It’s Home,’ recorded in 1935 with bandleader Howard Baker. This particular record is one of only 100 pressed copies. Virginia Lewis-Jones expressed her excitement at hearing her mother’s early voice and noted that the audition tapes would add valuable insight into her mother’s early career. These newly released audition discs will be published by Decca. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, ‘What A Difference A Day Makes’ will be released as a single on Friday. A full album titled ‘Hidden Treasures,’ featuring previously unheard tracks, will follow on November 7. Dame Vera Lynn became a beloved figure during World War II, earning the title ‘Forces’ Sweetheart’ with songs like ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘The White Cliffs of Dover.’ She passed away in June 2020 at the age of 103, after becoming the oldest artist to have a UK top 40 album earlier that year.