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For most of my life I've dreamed of a concert by this ground breaking outfit, originally existing as the BBC Radiophonic Wokshop and primarily an electronic sound fx and music facility for BBC radio and later tv. In 1963 they were involved in a little series called Doctor Who, with which their lasting fame was assured. Creating both the iconic sound effect for the Tardis, still in use today, and the original version of the coolest tv theme of all time, I was already a fan before the end of the 60s. It was during the William Hartnell years as a kid barely out of infant school that I was first treated to the original Decca single of Delia Derbyshire's amazing arrangement of Ron Grainer's composition.
By the early 80s I'd amassed a small collection of albums featuring the work of Delia, Malcome Clarke, Paddy Kingsland and Peter Howell, which coincided with the Workshop taking total control of the scoring for Doctor Who for the next five years. Some years ago they were decommissioned by the BBC, though their work is I believe looked after by composer Mark Ayres who seems to have put the tours together, and is now a member of the team.
Last Friday, May 1st, I achieved that lifelong ambition and saw them in the English town of Derby with a group of friends. It was excellent! As much as we were fans, I don't think we felt it was going to be a 'normal' concert, expecting it to have a half demonstrational aspect. Interesting and informative narturally, but we left the wives at home for fear of them thinking it would be a just a little nerdy, and consisting of as much of bleeps and squeaks, as well as a handful of actual musical pieces, and of course including Doctor Who. And I speak as someone who's wife loves the Murray Gold concerts.
Well, I can honestly say that while it was filled to the brim with interesting and fascinating sounds, it was also put together in an exceptionally entertaining way. The addition of a drummer helped to make sure that every piece had a rock vibe, and however obscure the original source for the music was (much of their work was for educational programmes and documentaries), anyone would have been entertained. I could honestly inform my other half that she would have been blown away as I was! The selection belted onto stage with Peter Howell's 'The Case for the Ancient Astronauts' (documentary for 'Horizon' investigating the Von Daniken claims)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79sU2p0YV3U ,
and blasted out in style with a great double mix (Derbyshire and Howell arrangements) of that famous Doctor Who theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rjNliYgB0w.
There wasn't a dull moment inbetween. Well done to all concerned.
If anyone in the UK gets the chance to see this lot in concert, they should do so. Anyone who likes electronic music alongside our more symphonic based favourites. Anyone who likes the work of Louis and Bebe Barron, Kraftwork, Jean Michelle Jarre as well as Williams, Goldsmith and the like, as I do. And they had a theremin!
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It was indeed a blast Thor. The reason why many on here will not be so familiar with their non-Doctor Who work, is because most of RW's output was for BBC radio, and some tv between the 1950s and 80s. The majority of work was for documentaries and educational programming. Doctor Who was a fairly rare example of tv drama.
As a kid I was entertained by electronic sounds, so at a time when there was very little Doctor Who music to buy, works by the RW were the nearest thing. It all sounded weird and wonderful, if sometimes a little avant garde. But they influenced many of the rock bands and artist throughout the decades right up to the present, including The Beatles.
Even nicer is because it was a small theatre, this amazing gig cost just £15!!! I'm seeing the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular later this month in Leeds at around £50! And honestly, the RW concert is every bit as good. To be fair to Murray Gold ( another fan, read his notes on The Next Doctor accompanying his Doctor Who The Specials set) and the organisers of the BBC Proms, they showcased the RW smack in the middle of the BBC Prom for Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary.
Too many links to Youtube etc might not be as helpful as they could be, because those original pieces were given such a boost and beefed up somewhat, that the originals might sound a little flat to those not already familiar with the RW.
Nice review here:
http://fckldn.com/music/the-radiophonic-workshop-derby-theatre/
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Thor, I got my dad to buy me Fourth Dimension on vinyl LP as 12 year old pretty much on release. I think it was advertised on the back cover of the picture bag for the BBC Records single release of the Doctor Who theme. Reg, which as you will now know is one of the tracks on Fourth Dimension, was the 'b' side.
I didn't know of Through A Glass Darkly until after the guys had started composing the scores for Who in 1980. As Peter Howell made a massive impact on me with his brilliant music for The Leisure Hive (the first serial of Tom Baker's last season) I knew I had to have it. As you say it's the better album. This is mainly because it was conceived as a proper album of the kind a rock artist would do. FD was a collection of decent tracks, but I think Paddy Kingsland rounded up stuff that was already recorded for test card transmissions etc (as if you know what they were! lol).
You'll notice too that among the bonus tracks are Peter Howell's music for the documentary series The Body in Question. Marvelous stuff. I got these two cds for Christmas together with two other (originally vinyl LPs) former LPs that I had in a box set.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Four-Albums-Rsd-Radiophonic-Workshop/dp/B08212FYSP/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1UD7DAMUZ9F7B&dchild=1&keywords=radiophonic+workshop+cd&qid=1615480177&sprefix=radiophonic+workshop%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-20
It also includes as extra discs the soundtracks for The Changes, a superior BBC sf kids serial from the 70s, and The Stone Tape. The latter is rather heavy going sound fx type stuff for the Nigel Kneale BBC tv sf play. The Changes however will be of interest to you as it's a proper melodic soundtrack with good themes and an occasional Indian influence.
However one album you should investigate is 'The Radiophonic Workshop' included in the same set. It's every bit as good as the two you have. The experimental tracks are highly amusing and the rest are as melodically good as the others you have. Kingsland is on there as well as Roger Limb and Malcome Clarke (two other Doctor Who composers). YT are good enough to have it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbTVjX2nd3M&list=OLAK5uy_mTKh6SwJacWFkpdroNyipwcwfw2j7oG0E
To be clear considering it's title is a little too similar to another album (BBC Radiophonic Music) it's the one with the junk pile on the cover, not the pink one. Not that there's anything wrong with the pink one, mind.
But you'll never get sweeter tracks from Roger Limb than the cute Kitten's Lullaby and the lovely Geraldine. Nothing catchier from Paddy Kingsland than The Panel Beaters.
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Thanks for the tips and info, Paul! I'll be sure to check out some of that stuff.
but I think Paddy Kingsland rounded up stuff that was already recorded for test card transmissions etc (as if you know what they were! lol).
Hey, I'm old enough to have experienced test cards up here too! But there was no music written for them - they were basically just sustained notes.
I would be very interested to know if any US residents even know what test cards (transmissions) are, considering they've had 24 hr tv for..... well a long time before we in the UK.
But just to keep it on topic.. we had these things with music attached. On tv. And some of the Radiophonic stuff was on there..
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