The Heaviest of Swells

Champagne Charlie

Published: C. Sheard - April 1867

Music: Alfred Lee

Lyrics: George Leybourne

Champagne Charlie – Leybourne’s iconic champagne song was slow to take off. He first sang it at Glasgow’s Britannia Music Hall in January 1866, but it wasn’t until November 1866, in London, that it attracted any attention, and then with a rather muted review: ‘…Champagne Charley [sic] appeared to be vastly enjoyed…’

More details are given in The Heaviest of Swells Vol I.