New Town: Production Music of the 1950s

What is ‘Production Music’? In simple terms it is music provided by publishers for use by professionals mainly in the entertainment business. Most of it is especially composed for the purpose, and some pieces may last only a few seconds. But there are many examples of light music cameos which have become popular with the public through their familiarity as signature tunes and in similar situations where they have been regularly heard.

Guild GLCD5220 reviewed the mood music scene of the 1940s as peace returned following World War 2. By the end of the decade the production music scene (in those days more commonly called ‘mood music’ – in the USA it was often known as ‘stock music’) was well established in Britain, although there were still a relatively small number of publishers involved. This was to change in the 1950s with the arrival of new labels and the rapid expansion of the existing libraries. New composers appeared, injecting fresh vitality which reflected the growing optimism of the era.

Track Listing:
1. New Town (Industrie Dans La Ville): Roger Roger - Roger Roger and his Champs Elysees Orchestra
2. Dance Of The Hailstones: Kenneth Essex, real name Rufus Isaacs - Louis Voss and his Orchestra
3. Brave Prospect: Jack Beaver - Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon (‘Melodi Light Orchestra conducted by Ole Jensen’ on Disc Label)
4. Galavant: Frederic Curzon - New Concert Orchestra conducted by Frederic Curzon
5. A Promise Of Spring: Robert Farnon - Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon (‘Melodi Light Orchestra conducted by Ole Jensen’ on Disc Label)
6. Garden City: Peter Dennis, real name Dennis Berry - West End Celebrity Orchestra
7. Sophisticated Lady: Anthony Mawer - The Harmony Fifty conducted by Walter Warren (Real Name Meyer De Wolfe)
8. Flapjack: Peter Yorke: Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon (‘Melodi Light Orchestra conducted by Ole Jensen’ on Disc Label)
9. Trade Wind: Walter Stott, later known as Angela Morley - Telecast Orchestra conducted by Elliott Mayes
10. Sporting Occasion: Arnold Steck, real name Leslie Statham - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon
11. Mink For Milady: Ronald Hanmer - Bosworth's String Orchestra
12. Luna Park: Eric Siday - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Sidney Torch
13. Eldorado: Dolf van der Linden - Dolf Van Der Linden and his Metropole Orchestra
14. To The Brave: Charles Williams - Danish State Radio Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon (‘Melodi Light Orchestra conducted by Ole Jensen’ On Disc Label)
15. Midnight Melody: Edward White - New Concert Orchestra conducted by Dolf Van Der Linden
16. Afternoon Tea: Ken Warner - Stuttgart Radio Orchestra conducted by Kurt Rehfeld (‘Lansdowne Light Orchestra’ on Disc Label)
17. The Galleon: Heinz Herschmann - New Concert Orchestra conducted by Cedric Dumont
18. Once Upon A Dream: Bruce Campbell - Telecast Orchestra conducted by Elliott Mayes (Probably Danish State Radio Orchestra)
19. Chiming Strings: Clive Richardson - L’Orchestre Devereaux conducted by Georges Devereaux
20. Rainbow Caprice: Reginald King - Regent Classic Orchestra
21. Happy Town: Robert Mersey - The Grosvenor Studio Orchestra
22. Red Square Review: Sidney Torch - Queen's Hall Light Orchestra conducted by Robert Farnon
23. Carefree: Van Phillips - Stuttgart Radio Orchestra conducted by Kurt Rehfeld (‘Lansdowne Light Orchestra’ on Disc Label)
24. Pink Fizz: Albert Marland - Group-Forty Orchestra conducted by Eric Cook
25. The Voyagers: Trevor Duncan, real name Leonard Trebilco - New Concert Orchestra conducted by Cedric Dumont