Theme One

Last updated

"Theme One"
Song by George Martin and his Orchestra
from the album Produced by George Martin
Released29 September 1967 (45 rpm single), CD album release 17 July 2001
Genre Classical, orchestral
Length2:30
Label United Artists Records
Composer(s) George Martin
Producer(s) George Martin

Theme One is a 1967 instrumental piece by George Martin used from 1967 to the mid 1970s as the opening and closing theme tune for BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2. Theme One was first played on Radio 2, immediately before Radio 1 began broadcasting independently, on the launch day of both stations, 30 September 1967 [1] (The Move's "Flowers in the Rain" was the first record played in full on Radio 1). [2]

Contents

Composition

George Martin recalled in his autobiography All You Need is Ears that Robin Scott, the BBC controller planning the new Radio 1 and Radio 2, approached Northern Songs publisher Dick James to ask if Paul McCartney was interested in composing a theme for the new station. [3] McCartney turned the commission down, but James suggested George Martin, who had produced The Beatles' studio recordings at Abbey Road Studios. The classically trained Martin had been responsible for the majority of the orchestrations and unusual instrumentation on The Beatles' albums, including the double string quartet on "Eleanor Rigby" and the piccolo trumpet solo on "Penny Lane", which led him to be considered a candidate as "the Fifth Beatle". [4] [5] [6]

Robin Scott's specification requested an opening theme that was "very English, very contemporary, with classical overtones, and strikingly unusual." [3] The finished recording is a crossover which blends a classical orchestra (including a Baroque-style trumpet fanfare) with contemporary rock instruments - electric guitar and bass, drum kit and featuring heavy electronic phasing. The work opens with a pipe organ solo, played by Martin himself at Central Hall, Westminster and cut into the studio recording. [3]

On hearing the work, Anna Instone, the head of the BBC Record Library, is reputed to have said "Good God, it sounds like William Walton gone mad!" [3] Martin recalled that Robin Scott was very satisfied with the piece and it was the first piece of music heard at the launch of BBC Radios 1 and 2 on 30 September 1967. [2] Scott introduced the work simultaneously on BBC Radios 1 and 2 and played the work in full to listeners on launch day:

Like a new pair of shoes, we shall be breaking the networks in until they fit properly and we must crave your indulgence if the shoes squeak a bit, though we hope they won't. Very far from a squeak is the exciting sound of George Martin's "Theme One" for Radio 1, part of which will herald the start of Radio 1's and Radio 2's day from now on and close the combined networks at 2 o'clock in the evening. [2]

Recordings

The original recording was released as a 45-rpm single the day before the Radio 1 launch, 29 September 1967, with the B-side another instrumental by Martin called "Elephants and Castles". [7] It was also released as a 12 inch "Special Collectors Single" with the flip side "Over The Top" [8] It was track six of side one on the LP album British Maid (UK release title) and London by George (U.S. title) in 1968. [9] It was reissued on CD in the retrospective album Produced by George Martin released in 2001. [10] Martin also re-recorded the work in 1974 for his orchestral album Beatles to Bond and Bach. [11]

Theme One was covered by the British progressive rock group Van der Graaf Generator. [12] Originally played on stage at the band's concerts, it was later recorded and released as a single (which achieved Number One in Italy [13] ) and appeared on US pressings of the album Pawn Hearts . [14] The rock drummer Cozy Powell released a version on his album Over the Top in 1979. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Martin</span> English record producer (1926–2016)

Sir George Henry Martin was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and musician. He was commonly referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" because of his extensive involvement in each of the Beatles' original albums. Martin's formal musical expertise and interest in novel recording practices facilitated the group's rudimentary musical education and desire for new musical sounds to record. Most of their orchestral arrangements and instrumentation were written or performed by Martin, and he played piano or keyboards on a number of their records. Their collaborations resulted in popular, highly acclaimed records with innovative sounds, such as the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band—the first rock album to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Emerick</span> English recording engineer (1945–2018)

Geoffrey Ernest Emerick was an English sound engineer and record producer who worked with the Beatles on their albums Revolver (1966), Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) and Abbey Road (1969). Beatles producer George Martin credited him with bringing "a new kind of mind to the recordings, always suggesting sonic ideas, different kinds of reverb, what we could do with the voices".

The Beatles' bootleg recordings are recordings of performances by the Beatles that have attained some level of public circulation without being available as a legal release. The term most often refers to audio recordings, but also includes video performances. Starting with vinyl releases in the 1970s, through CD issues in the late 1980s, and continuing with digital downloads starting in the mid 1990s, the Beatles have been, and continue to be, among the most bootlegged artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Hammill</span> English musician and recording artist

Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English musician and recording artist. He was a founder member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Best known as a singer-songwriter, he also plays guitar and piano and produces his own recordings and occasionally those of other artists. In 2012, he was recognised with the Visionary award at the first Progressive Music Awards.

<i>Pawn Hearts</i> 1971 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

Pawn Hearts is the fourth album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released in October 1971 on Charisma Records. The original album features just three tracks, including the side-long suite "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers". The album was not commercially successful in the UK, but reached number one in Italy. It has since seen retrospective critical praise and was reissued on CD in 2005 with extra material.

<i>H to He, Who Am the Only One</i> 1970 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

H to He, Who Am the Only One is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970 on Charisma Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (song)</span> 1967 song by the Beatles

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is a song written by Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon–McCartney, released in 1967 on the album of the same name by the Beatles. The song appears twice on the album: as the opening track, and as "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)", the penultimate track. As the title song, the lyrics introduce the fictional band that performs on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P.S. I Love You (Beatles song)</span> 1962 single by The Beatles

"P.S. I Love You" is a song recorded by English rock band the Beatles in 1962. It was composed principally by Paul McCartney, and produced by Ron Richards. The song was released in the UK on 5 October 1962 as the B-side of their debut single "Love Me Do" and is also included on their debut album Please Please Me (1963). It was later included on the American release Introducing... The Beatles (1964), its reissue The Early Beatles (1965), and the Beatles compilation album Love Songs (1977).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trident Studios</span> British recording facility

Trident Studios was a British recording facility, located at 17 St Anne's Court in London's Soho district between 1968 and 1981. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield, drummer of the 1960s group the Hunters, and his brother Barry.

<i>The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other</i> 1970 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other is the second album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released in February 1970 on Charisma Records. It was the group's first album to be released in the UK and the only one to chart in the top 50 in that country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judge Smith</span> Musical artist

Christopher John Judge Smith, is an English songwriter, author, composer and performer, and a founder member of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Initially working under the name Chris Judge Smith, he has been known simply as Judge Smith since 1994. After Van der Graaf Generator, he has written songs, stage musicals and operas, and from the early 1990s on he has released a number of solo CDs, including three "Songstories".

<i>Vital</i> (Van der Graaf Generator album) 1978 live album by Van der Graaf

Vital: Van der Graaf Live is the first live album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was recorded 16 January 1978 at the Marquee Club in London and was released in July, one month after the band's 1978 break-up. The album was credited under the abbreviated name Van der Graaf, like the previous year's The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977), and featured the same line-up plus newcomer cellist/keyboardist Charles Dickie, who had officially joined the band in August 1977, and original saxophonist and flautist David Jackson, who re-joined the band for this recording.

<i>World Record</i> (Van der Graaf Generator album) 1976 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

World Record is the seventh studio album by the British progressive rock group Van der Graaf Generator, originally released in 1976 on Charisma Records. Bonus tracks were added for the 2005 rerelease.

<i>Fools Mate</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Peter Hammill

Fool's Mate is the debut solo album by Peter Hammill of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. The title is both a chess and tarot reference. It was produced by Trident Studios' in-house producer John Anthony. The album was recorded in 1971, in the midst of one of Van der Graaf Generator's most prolific periods. Hammill used the album to record a backlog of songs which were much shorter and simpler than his Van der Graaf Generator material, and declared on the original album sleeve: "This isn't intended to be any kind of statement of my present musical position, but at the same time, it is an album which involves a great deal of me, the person, basically a return to the roots."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van der Graaf Generator</span> English rock band formed in 1967

Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester by singer-songwriters Peter Hammill and Chris Judge Smith and the first act signed by Charisma Records. They did not experience much commercial success in the UK, but became popular in Italy during the 1970s. In 2005 the band reformed, and are still musically active with a line-up of Hammill, organist Hugh Banton and drummer Guy Evans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas Time (Is Here Again)</span> 1967 song by the Beatles

"Christmas Time (Is Here Again)" is a Christmas song by the English rock band the Beatles, originally recorded for their fifth fan club Christmas record, Christmas Time Is Here Again! (1967). One of the few Beatles songs credited to all four members of the band, it consists of a blues based backing track as well as double-tracked vocals sung by them, George Martin and Victor Spinetti. The lyrics are mostly made up of the song's title refrain, repeated across nine verses.

<i>Real Time</i> (Van der Graaf Generator album) 2007 live album by Van der Graaf Generator

Real Time: Royal Festival Hall, London, 06.05.05 is a live album by Van der Graaf Generator, released in 2007 on Fie! Records. It contains the entire recording of the group's reunion concert at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England on 6 May 2005. The album includes at least one song from every album released between 1970-1976, plus their 2005 reunion album Present. Nothing is included from 1969's Aerosol Grey Machine and The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977 after Hugh Banton and David Jackson left the group. The album also contains "(In the) Black Room", a song performed live by Van der Graaf Generator in 1972 ; following the band's August 1972 breakup, it was released on Peter Hammill's 1973 solo album Chameleon in the Shadow of the Night, with Banton, Evans and Jackson all performing on the track.

<i>Maida Vale</i> (album) 1994 live album by Van der Graaf Generator

Maida Vale: The BBC Radio One Sessions is a compilation album by Van der Graaf Generator, containing eight songs from four different recording sessions at Maida Vale Studios for BBC Radio 1 in 1971, 1975 and 1976, three of which were Peel Sessions. It was released in June 1994 on Band of Joy Records.

<i>A Grounding in Numbers</i> 2011 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

A Grounding in Numbers is the eleventh studio album by the British rock group Van der Graaf Generator. It was released on 14 March 2011. This date, if written as 3,14, comprises the first three digits of the number π. The second track, "Mathematics", refers to Euler's identity, sometimes known as the mathematical poem. The album's release signals a continuation in the direction set by the current trio lineup, but it is released on a new label, Esoteric Recordings, a departure from previous releases on Virgin/Charisma. Hugh Padgham is the mixer of the album.

<i>Do Not Disturb</i> (Van der Graaf Generator album) 2016 studio album by Van der Graaf Generator

Do Not Disturb is the thirteenth studio album by British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released, on Esoteric Recordings, on 30 September 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Hendy, David. "Radio Reinvented: Launch". History of the BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Savage, Mark (30 September 2017). "50 facts about Radio 1 & 2 as they turn 50". BBC News.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Martin, George (1995). All You Need Is Ears. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN   978-0-312-11482-4.
  4. ↑ Miles, Barry (1997). Paul McCartney: Many Years from Now . New York: Henry Holt and Company. p.  205. ISBN   978-0-8050-5249-7.
  5. ↑ Lewisohn, Mark (1990). The Beatles: Recording Sessions. Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition. p. 93. ISBN   978-0-517-58182-7.
  6. ↑ "Entertainment Live: Sir George Martin tributes". BBC News. 9 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  7. ↑ "Theme One". Discogs . 29 September 1967.
  8. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/1670431-Cozy-Powell-Theme-One-Over-The-Top-Long-Version
  9. ↑ "British Maid". Discogs. 1968.
  10. ↑ "Produced by George Martin". AllMusic . 2001.
  11. ↑ "Beatles To Bond And Bach". Discogs. 1974.
  12. ↑ Steve Peacock (29 January 1972). "Van der Graaf singer Peter Hammill talks to Steve Peacock". Sounds . Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  13. ↑ Christopulos, Jim; Smart, Phil (2005). Van der Graaf Generator, The Book: A History of the Band Van der Graaf Generator 1967 to 1978. Phil and Jim Publishers. p. 137. ISBN   978-0-9551337-0-1.
  14. ↑ Dave Thompson. "Van der Graaf Generator – Theme One". AllMusic . Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "Cozy Powell, Over the Top, Ariola – ARL 5038". Discogs. 1979.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.