The first CD set relates to some early British radio and television theme tunes. Everyone will know The Archers and Desert Island Discs. But there are plenty of other treasures documented below including my favourite, “Sailing By” – The Theme Tune of the Late Night Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4.
Click here to review the record at Amazon UK The Great British Experience . If you grew up in Britain during the 1940s & 50s, the music on this 2CD set will already be part of your being. Many of the pieces included were used by BBC & ITV producers as theme tunes to radio & TV classics (including Dick Barton, Music While You Work, PC49, Emergency – Ward 10, Dr Finlay’s Casebook and many others). The fact that EMI have given us digital re-masterings of the original recordings only adds to the nostaglic delight of the set.
Radio and Television Theme Tunes
| 1. (The) Devil’S Galop – Charles Williams
Dick Barton – Speical Agent |
26. Marching Strings – Ray Martin
Top of the Form |
| 2. Calling All Workers – Eric Coates
Music While You Work |
27. Coronation Scot – Vivian Ellis
Paul Temple |
| 3. (The) Westminster Waltz – Robert Farnon
* |
28. Jumping Bean – Robert Farnon
Send for Shiner |
| 4. Puffin’ Billy – Edward White
Children’s Favourites |
29. Sound And Vision – Eric Coates
ATV Opening Theme |
| 5. London Landmarks – Haydn Wood
Down Your Way |
30. (The) Young Ballerina – Charles Williams
The Potter’s Wheel |
| 6. In A Party Mood – Jack Strachey
Housewive’s Choice |
31. Parisian Mode – Woolf Phillips
What’s My Line |
| 7. By The Sleepy Lagoon – Eric Coates
Desert Island Discs |
32. Horse Feathers – Philip Green
Meet the Huggets |
| 8. Girls In Grey – Charles Williams
BBC Television Newsreel |
33. Portrait Of A Flirt – Robert Farnon
In Town Tonight |
| 9. Silks And Satins – Peter Yorke
Emergency Ward 10 |
34. Cavalcade Of Youth – Jack Beaver
The Barlows of Beddington |
| 10. Little Suite – Trevor Duncan
Dr Finlay’s Casebook |
35. Running Off The Rails – Clive Richardson
* |
| 11. My Native Heath – Arthur Wood
The Archers |
36. Sailing By – Ronald Binge
Late Night Shipping Forecast |
| 12. (The) Runaway Rocking Horse – Edward White
* |
37. Winter Sunshine – George Melachrino
* |
| 13. Girl From Corsica – Trevor Duncan
* |
38. Parakeets And Peacocks – Jack Coles
* |
| 14. Non Stop – John Malcolm
Independent Teleivision News |
39. Melody On The Move – Clive Richardson
* |
| 15. Skyscraper Fantasy – Donald Phillips
* |
40. High Heels – Trevor Duncan
* |
| 16. (The) Headless Horseman – Ron Goodwin
* |
41. (The) Haunted Ballroom – Geoffrey Toye
* |
| 17. On A Spring Note – Sidney Torch
* |
42. All Strings And Fancy Free – Sidney Torch
* |
| 18. Sea Songs – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School |
43. Sapphires And Sables – Peter Yorke |
| 19. Pc49 – Ronald Charles Douglas Hanmer
The Adventures of PC 49 |
44. Dance Of An Ostracised Imp – (Ernest) Frederic Curzon
* |
| 20. (A) Canadian In Mayfair – Angela Morley
* |
45. Smile Of A Latin – Trevor Duncan
* |
| 21. Dancer At The Fair – John Fortis
* |
46. Beachcomber – Clive Richardson
* |
| 22. Las Vegas – Laurie Johnson
Animal Magic |
47. Dreaming – Archibald Joyce
* |
| 23. Starlight Roof – George Melachrino
* |
48. Concert Jig – Ernest Tomlinson
* |
| 24. Evensong – H. Easthope Martin
* |
49. (A) Quiet Stroll – Charles Williams
Farming |
| 25. London Suite – Eric Coates
In Town Tonight |
50. Little Suite No. 1 – Malcolm (Henry) Arnold
* |
Wow, this brings back memories! 🎶
Does anyone remember “Sailing By” as fondly as I do? 😊
What a treasure trove of classic tunes! Thanks for sharing this.
Is it just me or does “The Devil’s Galop” sound like something out of a spy movie? 🕵️
Why is “Desert Island Discs” so iconic?
Such nostalgic vibes. They don’t make tunes like this anymore!
How can I get this set in the US? Amazon UK isn’t an option for me.
Who else grew up listening to these?
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! ❤️
Is there a Spotify playlist for these tunes? 🎧
Great collection! But why no mention of “The Goon Show”?