BBC Radiophonic Workshop – 21 Years (CD review).
‘BBC Radiophonic Workshop – 21 Years’ is a re-released of BBC Records REC 354 from 1979. Silva Records offer a choice of CD, which I’m reviewing, or on vinyl which is out in June. Here you will find 45 tracks by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. If anything, it’s their diversity that will have you paying attention. After all, they did more than the ‘Doctor Who’ theme which is included here along with the TARDIS effect for taking off and ‘Minds Of Evil’. There’s even a track from ‘Blake’s 7’ called ‘Mysterioso’ just to give a little atmosphere but even further back is the first track for ‘Quatermass And The Pit’.
What is more amazing is that the first 28 tracks are pre-synthesiser showing, as notes writer Brian Hodgson points out, if something could make a noise, then they would use it. Don’t forget that Hodgson created the TARDIS sounds that are still used today. Picking out favourites is tough but I love the various time beats and some of them are getting addictive with my second listen.
Looking through the credits, it’s hardly surprising that Delia Derbyshire has the most tracks but Dick Mills, Peter Howell and Roger Limb aren’t far off neither. You get a wonderful blast from the past with all these tracks and you’ll be hard pushed to know when sound effects end and melodies begin.
GF Willmetts
April 2016
(pub: Silva Records. 45 tracks 42 minutes 1 CD with a 12 page booklet. Price: £ 8.99 (UK). ASIN: SILCD1503. On vinyl in June: £16.99 (UK))
check out websites: www.silvascreenmusic.com and https://silvascreenmusic.greedbag.com/buy/bbc-radiophonic-workshop-0/
