Track Listing

1. Newstime BBC
2. Tros Y Gareg
3. Tros Y Gareg (1)
4. 20th Century Focus
5. Vendetta The Ice Cream Man
6. Woman's Hour (Reading Your Letters)
7. Many A Slip
8. Look And Read
9. Building The Bomb
10. Au Printemps
11. Big Ben News Theme
12. Codename
13. Decimal Currency
14. Barnacle Bill
15. Dial M For Murder
16. Farm Management
17. Radio Sheffield
18. French Science And Technology
19. Good Morning Wales
20. Heavy Plant Crossing
21. COI Technology Pavilion
22. Interview
23. Radio Nottingham
24. Look North Newstime
25. Man Alive UFO
26. Computers In Business
27. Submarines
28. Oranges And Lemons
29. Orbit
30. Places For People
31. Sling Your Hook
32. Suivez La Piste
33. Scene (Never Never)
34. Diary Of A Madman
35. Two O'Clock Spot
36. Radio London
37. Caves Of Steel
38. Locusts
39. Square Two
40. Tape Recorder
41. Tom Tom
42. Tom Tom (1)
43. PM
44. Trial
45. Trial (1)
46. Vendetta The Sugar Man
47. Spin Off
48. Radiophonic FX C
49. Radiophonic FX A
50. Radiophonic FX B

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64434 in Music
• Released on: 2008-07-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Radiophonic Heaven
I would imagine that most people reading this review would already know who John Baker is, in which case I will simply say that this wonderful compilation is even better than I'd hoped and I recommend it without reservation. In addition to the CD, Richard Baker's fascinating biographical sketch of his brother's ultimately tragic life makes heartbreaking reading and answers a lot of questions.

If you don't know anything about John Baker, he was a very gifted musician who worked for the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the 60s and early 70s, producing theme tunes and incidental music for television and radio. Working without the aid of synthesizers or digital technology, Baker created 'radiophonic' music by recording everyday sounds on tape, then manipulating them electronically until they were virtually unrecognisable. Wine bottles were a particular favourite and Baker managed to create whole theme tunes around a few simple sounds.

What comes across in this compilation is how versatile John Baker was. He was a natural tunesmith, creating many jingles for local radio, but he was also equally at home composing avant garde electronica or contemporary jazz.

Baker was incapable of writing bad music. Even the most banal jingle had something about it that transcended the genre and some pieces like Baker's music for BBC Wales were, in their own way, masterpieces.

If you're over 45 and grew up in Britain, you'll have definitely heard John Baker's music and this compilation is not just a fitting tribute to a very talented man, but is also a wonderful evocation of a bygone age.

Lovely tribute to a man of melody
The first ever BBC Radiophonic Workshop LP ("BBC Radiophonic Music") featured three composers -- Delia Derbyshire, David Cain and John Baker. Over the last 10 years Delia's become almost famous what with plays on her life and all but the other two composers seem to have short shrift.

No longer, this lovely album features a slew of John Baker's compositions, some entirely electronic and some using the radiophonic bass he favoured as a basis for "traditional" indtruments. There's a fine sense of melody underpinning every track, you'll find many tunes to enjoy ("Suivez la Piste", "Au Printemps" etc). There's even odd vocal pieces.

A very mixed bag, enjoyable and tuneful -- while the exalted Delia can be a little unapproachable at first, this is all very accessible and personable. Good sleeve notes too!

Highly recommended, looking forward to Volume 2.