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Who Was Edwin Astley?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:34:18 +0100

Well, he was the master craftsman of the action-adventure television soundtrack.

Throughout the 1960’s and 70’s if you switched on the Box the likelihood is that you would hear a composition from this man. He was the musician of choice for the producers of the most popular action-adventure series of that era. He just had the knack; he could take the programme concept and come up with a theme to match.

Take the familiar nine-note trumpet fanfare that introduced ‘The Adventures of Robin Hood’ (ITV, 1955-59) and the graceful seven-note melodic phrase over the introduction to ’The Saint’ (ITV, 1962-69).

A forgotten hero, with a track record that surpasses most of his piers

Probably he will be best remembered for penning the score for ‘The Saint’(ITV, 1962-69). This series was based the popular adventure novels written by Leslie Charteris.

It was one of the most successful ITV/ITC action-adventure series of the 1960s, embraced by audiences in both Britain and the USA. He wrote two arrangements, a slow version used in the black and white episodes (ITV, 1962-65) and a more up-tempo arrangement of the same theme for the colour episodes (ITV 1966-69).

His seven-note phrase, rumoured to have been originally performed by Library Music Legend Barbara Moore, would be played over the introduction to 'The Saint 'character, visually accompanied by an animated halo, more often than not, clumsily positioned above Roger Moore's head, this would herald the opening title sequence.

For more about this forgotten hero please visit his Mini Biography page.

TTFN Gary

3 Years Of Broadcasting

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:15:08 +0100

Radio Sounds Familiar has now been broadcasting for 3 years, time fly’s when you’re having fun!

The online library is bigger than ever. The stream is now available on many online web radio platforms, recently joining the ‘Pure’ Lounge. Over 500 listeners from around the world have added this station to their pre-sets on the LIVE 365 platform.

New to the website is the "TV Times archive".

Here you can browse through 3 decades of TV listings and nostalgia, it really make fascinating reading, and has brought back many personal memories. I will be adding more to the archive over the coming weeks. If you have a particular issue you'd like to see, please get in touch and I'll have a search around.

So why not browse through an issue while listening to Radio Sounds Familiar.

Immerse yourself in the complete nostalgia experience.

TTFN Gary

The Great 208 Radio Luxembourg

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:09:05 +0100

It started broadcasting in 1933, arguably the earliest commercial Radio station broadcasting in the English language, aimed at the entertainment starved listeners of the United Kingdom, who up until that point relied on Auntie Beeb for their radio listening.

Often mistakenly referred to as a ‘Pirate Radio Station’, Radio Luxembourg offered and English speaking commercial service for more than 60 years from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in central Europe, it shaped the radio landscape for future of commercial broadcasting in the UK

I have Happy Memories of listening to the fading signal(Known as the Luxembourg fade) of the great 208 during the 1970’s.

With its distinctive jingle package, Radio Luxembourg had a unique sound, and is a much missed part of the broadcasting landscape.

Listen out for some echoes of Radio Luxembourg on Radio Sounds Familiar

Can I wish you a Belated Happy New Year

Best Wishes Gary

Radio Sounds Familiar goes a little bit Sounds Festive

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:45:59 +0100

Radio Sounds Familiar goes a little bit Sounds Festive for a few weeks during the holiday period.
Mixed in with the usual Sounds Familiar fayre, will be a selection of retro, nostalgic and quirky festive treats.

‘The Mike Sammes Singers’ with their rendition of ‘Ring Christmas Bells’,
'Dora Bryan' singing 'All I want for Christmas is a Beatle'
'Morecambe & Wise' with 'The Happiest Christmas Of All'
and the 'The Go Go’s' performing ‘I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek’ and loads more besides.

In addition I’m playing tracks from the iconic 1962 album ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ by 'Ray Conniff and the Ray Conniff singers' as well as 'Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra', with his 1967 release ‘Christmas Wonderland’

So please join me from Monday 12th December for a Concatenation of Camp Christmas Kitsch.

Have a great Christmas.

Gary

A power house of the ITV network

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:09:08 +0100

A power house of the ITV network, ATV was one of the big five that provided
content for Independent television from 1955.
Responsible for great shows like, ‘The Golden Shot, Celebrity Squares, Tiswas, Spitting Image, Bullseye and of course the much lamented Soap ‘Crossroads’.
This 2 Disc set chronicles the inception and operation of ‘the most advanced colour TV studio of its time’ the ATV centre in Broad Street Birmingham.
Told by the people who worked there.
Candid contributions from Producer/ Director Peter Harris, very amusing anecdotes from comedian Jim Bowen and a fascinating insight into the day to day operation of the news and presentation departments from Bob Warman. If you’re a Tiswas fan, you will want to hear the reminiscences of Chris Tarrant. Equally fans of Crossroads will enjoy Jane Rossington’s tales from the set of that famous motel. This is a complete history of Associated Television, also cataloguing the wealth of local and minority programmes produced for the midlands region.

The story is told in five parts entitled, ‘An Exciting new facility’, ‘The Dawn of Colour’
‘The Colour Heyday’ ‘A New Era’ and ‘The End of an Era’ ( Total Running Time 245 Minutes)
We are taken back to the beginnings of the company in Aston when they shared facilities with ABC Television under the banner of Alpha Television, then the migration to the new prestigious broadcasting complex, the end of ATV and finally the start of Central television and beyond.
This is a comprehensive story of a treasured era in British Television. Narrated and produced by Lee Bannister. Without a doubt this has been a labour of love, well crafted, rich in facts and archive content, this is a must have for any TV buff or aficionado.

Distributed by the Media Archive of Central England (MACE) and available from

Ronnie Hazelhurst: The Master of the TV theme

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:49:20 +0100

Ronnie Hazlehurst started to make a living as a trumpet player, and after some session work for the BBC in London, in 1961 he joined the corporation, later he was made the BBC’s Light entertainment music director.

Responsible for themes for sitcoms such as, 'Some Mothers Do Have ’Em', ‘Are you being Served’,
‘Sorry’, ‘To the Manor Born’, ‘Yes Minister’, ‘Last of the summer wine’, and ‘The Two Ronnies’.
He also penned the music to Game shows , 'Odd One Out', 'Blankety Blank', and Bruce Forsyth’s 'Generation game'.
His style was often to keep a hint of the programme in the theme, the chimes of Big Ben in ‘Yes Minister, the ring of the cash till in ‘Are you being served?’ More cryptically incorporating morse code in ‘Some Mothers Do Have ’Em', which spells out the programmes title.

He had a long association with the Eurovision Song Contest and was the musical director when it was hosted by the UK in 1974, 1977 and 1982; he conducted the British entry on several other occasions, in particular Michael Ball's "One Step Out of Time" in 1992.
In 1999 Ronnie received a gold badge award from the British Academy of Composer and Songwriters.

Ronnie died on 1st October 2007 the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, St Martin, Guernsey.

Arguably, the greatest British Television Composer of all time.
Enjoy some of his work now on Radio Sounds Familiar.

Standby for Barry Gray

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:20:22 +0100

Famous for composing the unforgettable themes for Supercar, Thunderbirds , Captain Scarlett and the like, Barry Gray also penned dozens of jingles, themes and mood music, for radio, television and cinema from the late 1950’s through to the end of the 1960’s. Some of this work has now been released on the album, ‘Standby for Adverts’. It is unashamedly, Kitsch, Camp and extremely British, but completely undiluted nostalgia. From the catchy jingle to Quaker’s Banana Mellows and the familiar Sunsilk Shampoo promotion and then longer form work for larger company’s, such as a 2 minute sountrack for a BOAC, British Overseas Airways Corporation film and for Hoover, with the soundtrack to their 35 minute film on their revolutionary Keymatic Washing Machine, which featured unique ways of programming the machine by using a selection of 'key-cards' to select the wash programme, you couldn’t make it up!

Click on the Dalek like appliance for advert:

Included also are cues for adverts for Horlicks, Flash, Gillette and Lyons maid. Some tracks there is Barry’s audio count in for the artists, and occasionally when you hear ‘Take 13’ you can detect a slight frustration.

Also featured are a selection of unreferenced tracks written for lost or forgotten projects and some superb jazz cues written for the shell oil company. Vocal contributors to this album include the likes of Eric Sykes and the Mike Sammes Singers as well as Barry himself.
On this selection of 81 track, which were recorded between 1959 and 65, you can hear more than a hint of what Barry had instore for us when he collaborated with Gerry Anderson and took off into the world of Supermarionation.

Following on from his album ‘Music for Biscuit’ featuring Mike Sammes and the Mike Sammes singers, Jonny Truck has released another sure winner.
All in all this anthology is fun and innocent, giving us a little insight into how products were sold to us 40 odd years ago
This assortment fits comfortably in the Radio Sounds Familiar Playlist and a number of tracks are currently playing, but if you can’t wait, the CD or MP3 download is available for purchase here.

Just off to get my whites whiter than white!
See You Next Time

Gary

The Avengers OST Howard Blake

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:20:44 +0100

Silver Screen records have released a double CD which is indispensable listening for any ardent Avengers fan.
This compilation contains an assortment of instantly recognisable music scores from the Tara King (Linda Thorson 1968) series, composed by Howard Blake, who later became famous for scoring the music for the award winning animation ‘The Snowman’
Together with Johnny Dankworth and Laurie Johnson, Howard Blake was the third, but equally important member of The Avengers TV series music team.
In the first three series (43 episodes) John Steed’s assistant was Cathy Gale, played by Honor Blackman, it ran between 1962-1964. Johnny Dankworth gave this a seductive jazzy mood theme.
Between 1965-1967 Steed’s assistant became Emma Peel, played by Diana Rigg, totaling 51 episodes, shot on 35mm film, and making the transition from monochrome to colour, half way through the run. Perhaps for that reason Laurie Johnson composed a more colourful and exciting up-tempo theme, in contrast to his predecessor.
In season seven the music of Howard Blake complements Laurie Johnson’s work perfectly, his scores totally encapsulates everything about the Avengers and reflects that period.

Each suite of tracks is a condensed mini version of an episode. Listening to the album you are magically transported into each story line with its unfolding drama, action and adventure that follow.
My particular favourites are the music from ‘All Done With Mirrors’ and the six tracks in the ‘Super Secret Cypher Snatch’ suite.
None the less all the track are brilliant.
Included is Laurie Johnson's main and closing themes, although I suspect most aficionados will already own theses.
The tracks in this collection are lifted from the original TV film soundtrack, so are consequently in mono, but to hear them in full length, and this quality, is a real treat.

This CD is available from all good online retailers as well as being downloadable from the Silver Screen website.

It has been nearly 4 years since the release of any Avengers Original Soundtrack music, lets hope we won’t have too wait as long for more of these mini masterpieces to be made available.

In the meantime a generous helping of tracks from this collection, as well a previous Avengers OST is now playing on Radio Sounds Familiar.

Until next time I’m of to pay my respects at Happy Meadows!

TTFN Gary

CD Track Listing

Disc: 1

1. The Avengers Theme (Laurie Johnson)
2. My Wildest Dream - Main Title
3. My Wildest Dream - Action Sequence
4. My Wildest Dream - Nightmare For Harp
5. My Wildest Dream - Finale
6. Whoever Shot Poor George Oblique Stroke XR40? - Main Title
7. All Done With Mirrors - Main Title
8. All Done With Mirrors - Action Sequence
9. All Done With Mirrors - Blues In Suspense
10. All Done With Mirrors - Over The Top
11. All Done With Mirrors - Optical Illusions
12. All Done With Mirrors - Fife & Drum
13. Super Secret Cypher Snatch - Main Title
14. Super Secret Cypher Snatch - Action Sequence
15. Super Secret Cypher Snatch - Action Sequence 2
16. Super Secret Cyphe Snatch - Cyber Crush
17. Super Secret Cypher Snatch Finale
18. Super Secret Cypher Snatch - Tag Scene
19. Game - Main Title
20. Game - Contrabassoon Plays Burlesque
21. Game - Circus Snakes & Ladders
22. Noon Doomsday - Main Title
23. Noon Doomsday - South Of The Border
24. Noon Doomsday - Lone Railroad
25. Noon Doomsday - Ticking Clock
26. Noon Doomsday - Death By Bullfight
27. Noon Doomsday - Insistent Heartbeat
28. Noon Doomsday - Marking Time 2
9. Noon Doomsday – Finale

Disc: 2

1. Wish You Were Here - Main Title
2. Wish You Were Here - Interlude For Bassoon
3. Wish You Were Here - Woodwind Games
4. Wish You Were Here - Cor Anglais
5. Wish You Were Here - Tag Scene
6. The Interrogators - Main Title
7. The Interrogators - Adagio Flute/Main Theme
8. The Interrogators - Harp To Flute/Brass Menace
9. The Interrogators - Tag Scene
10. Take Me To Your Leader - Main Title
11. Take Me To Your Leader - Wah-wah Blues March
12. Take Me To Your Leader - Wah-wah Blues March 2
13. Take Me To Your Leader - Light Suspense
14. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? - Main Title
15. Who The Man I Saw You With? - Winds & Oboe Solo
16. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? - Fender Rhodes leading back to theme
17. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? - Fender Rhodes Suspense
18. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? - Extended Title Music
19. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? - Quiet Winds
20. Who Was The Man I Saw You With? – Finale
21. The Avengers End Title Theme (Laurie Johnson)

Stephen Fry Tweets Sounds Familiar

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:14:41 +0100

Having heard that Stephen Fry was a big fan of TV themes I recently used Twitter to inform him about Radio Sounds Familiar.

He tweeted back!

@soundfamiliar Oh my, bout half my iPhone is taken up with Catweazel, Man in A Suitcase, Avengers, Owen MD and other TV theme classics. Gold!

I am a sucker for this kind of nostalgia. Just can't help but grin from ear to ear when i hear an old TV theme http://pushnote.net/c1n3

That day Radio Sounds Familiar had over 13,000 Hits.

That’s the power of Twitter …or is it the power of Fry?

Bye For Now Gary

And now we return you to the test card and some music

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 12:25:41 +0100

And now we return you to the test card and some music’ the words spoken by BBC Television continuity announcer John Ross-Barnard. This would usher in a few hours of guaranteed sweet library tracks.
During the sixties and seventies you could leave your television switched on and watch a static Carole Hersee, her toy and black board on Test card F and enjoy an eclectic mix of the familiar and strange, played by anonymous and highly skilled orchestras.

This music was never available commercially, and I’m sure I’m not the only child of the seventies to have put a microphone up to the television loud speaker pressed record on the reel to reel tape recorder in order that these melodies could be revisited at my leisure.
Sadly those recordings are long gone but thankfully much of this ‘Library’ or ’Mood’ music has become commercially available, and although, sadly, we’ve lost the test card we can still appreciate the magic of record libraries such as KPM, DeWolfe, Chapell and Bosworth.

Even though the halcyon days for this music was the 1960’s and 70’s, there is currently a growing interest , and thankfully many of these, up until now, unheard of artists are receiving the much overdue recognition for their work, and I hope 'sound familiar’ is playing a small part in this ongoing process.
Recently putting the case for the appreciation and understanding of this genre was the music archivist, and legend, Jonny Trunk, with his excellent documentary on BBC Radio 4 entitled 'Into the Music Library', which was a who’s who and what's what of the library music world, were all was explained.

Until next time Bye for Now

Gary