by MALCOLM O'NEILL
|
INTRODUCTION This series of web pages documents most of the LP records used by the ITA and IBA for trade test transmissions from their introduction in 1957. The origin of ITA trade test music was the 1956 ITV "Standby Music for Breakdowns in Transmissions or Cancelled Programmes". This list of records was virtually identical to the first trade test schedule compiled in 1957 - except that the following were excluded from the latter: MUSIC FOR SWEETHEARTS (Peter York). BRUNSWICK LAT 8130 VIENNA HOLIDAY (Michel Legrand). PHILIPS BBL 7075 LOVE MUSIC FROM HOLLYWOOD (Paul Weston). PHILIPS BBL 7096 The first trade test schedule commenced on Monday 17th June 1957, and, unlike the BBC, it was always the practice to use commercially available discs. Initially all broadcasts originated from the Croydon transmitter and were relayed to the four other stations in operation at the time: Lichfield, Winter Hill, Emley Moor and Black Hill, but as more stations opened in the late 1950s, this operation was transferred locally to some of the main regional ITA transmitters. Until the arrival of tapes in the late 1960s, each station had its own turntable to operate trade tests, and prior to around mid April 1960 the schedules operated over a two-week cycle, with one set of LPs for week 1 and another set for week 2. Every fortnight the cycle repeated, and 14 LPs were allocated (7 each week), usually being retained for at least six months. Also in these very early days, music was transmitted for a period of 14 minutes in every half an hour, with tone radiated at 400 Hz for another 15 minutes, followed by one minute's silence. It was in the first half of 1960 that the two-week cycle was replaced, and the new policy adopted of playing the "whole" of one side of an LP (usually side 1), and part of the other in order to make up 24 minutes of music, with a five minute break for tone (at 400 Hz) and one minute's silence in every half-hour period. Except where otherwise indicated in the schedules that follow, it may be assumed that the whole of Side 1 of the LP was played, followed by Side 2 from band 1 onwards until the allocated 24 minutes was completed. This new timing format lasted well into the 1970s. An exception to this timing format occurred in the second schedule of 1960, where approximately 12 minutes of each side were played, varying from region to region. Fortunately it has been possible to collate the full and accurate details for almost all the schedules, but those for 1958 and late 1959 shown below are very sketchy, as many of the "official" play lists over this early period are unavailable. Any information has, in these cases, been based upon the personal memories of a number of people, and may be unreliable. All items shown in red come into this category. Any help to identify missing records would be most welcome.
SELECT START DATE: |
|
COMMENCING: 17th June 1957 (WEEK 1) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Waltztime in Vienna |
Vienna Volksoper Orchestra conducted by Max Schonherr and Karl Hofman |
COLUMBIA |
33SX 1049 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Midnight Rhapsody |
Joe Bushkin, his Piano and Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6113 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Dinner at 8.30 |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4160 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Band of the Irish Guards |
Band of the Irish Guards conducted by Captain C.S. Jaeger |
HMV |
CLP 1076 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Lullaby of Broadway |
Woolf Phillips and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4137 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Holiday in Rome |
Michel Legrand and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7048 |
This LP was never on the Standby Music playlist |
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Gypsy Love |
Bela Babai and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7055 |
Side 2 only |
|
COMMENCING: 24th June 1957 (WEEK 2) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
The Music of George Gershwin |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4113 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
I Love Paris |
Michel Legrand and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7026 |
Side 1 Band 1 omitted |
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
The Night was made for Love |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4130 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Smooth, Sweet or Dry |
Emil Stern, his Piano and Smooth Music |
FELSTED |
PDL 85004 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Let's Get Away from it All |
Andre Previn |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8093 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Cheek to Cheek |
Johnny Douglas and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4132 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Song Hits from Theatreland |
Mantovani and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4112 |
Side 1 only |
|
Mid January - Early July 1958 (WEEK 1) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
David Rose Plays Music from Gigi |
David Rose and his Orchestra |
MGM |
C775 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
All Time Great Trumpet Hits |
Charlie Margulis |
LONDON |
HA/L 2541 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
If I Had a Talking Picture of You |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4135 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
La Danza |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P8314 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Rio at Midnight |
Dante Varela and his Orchestra |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8192 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Bewitching Hour |
Bill Snyder and his Orchestra |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8238 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
A Handful of Stars |
Johnny Douglas and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4211 |
|
|
Late January - Mid July 1958 (WEEK 2) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Levant Plays Gershwin |
Oscar Levant |
COLUMBIA |
CL 700 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
After Dinner Music |
Victor Young |
DECCA |
DL 8350 |
US number - original UK number unknown, but reissued in UK on Ace of Hearts AH9 |
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Carnival in the Sun |
Stanley Black |
DECCA |
LK 4108 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Music for Lovers Only |
Jackie Gleason |
CAPITOL |
T628 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Together |
Robert Farnon and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4158 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Around the World in 80 days |
Victor Young |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8185 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Russkaya! |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P8384 |
Side 1 only |
|
Mid July 1958 - Early January 1959 (WEEK 1) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Songs from the Fabulous Thirties (Vol 2) |
David Rose and his Orchestra |
LONDON |
HA/R 2085 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Viennese Night at the Proms |
Halle Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli |
PYE |
CCL 30130 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
The Seasons of Love |
Malcolm Lockyer and his Orchestra |
PYE / MERCURY |
MPL 6538 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Swingin' Shepherd |
Bill Shepherd and his Orchestra with the Beryl Scott Choir |
PYE |
NPL 18018 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
12 Easy Lessons in Love |
Carmen Cavallaro |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8269 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Hey Let Yourself Go |
Nelson Riddle |
CAPITOL |
T814 |
|
|
Late July 1958 - Mid January 1959 (WEEK 2) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Festival in Costa Rica |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4109 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Mediterranean Moonlight |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4168 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Orchestral record featuring choral vocals |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Record including Gershwin’s "American in Paris" and "Promenade" |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Record featuring a version of "I Love Paris in the Springtime" |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
Mid January - Early July 1959 (WEEK 1) |
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|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Holiday in Mexico |
Pepe Gonzalez and his Orchestra |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8128 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Mantovani Plays the World's Favourite Love Songs |
Mantovani and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4215 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
The Golden Instrumentals |
Billy Vaughn and his Orchestra |
LONDON |
HA/D 2025 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Sophisticat in Cuba |
Stanley Black and his Piano |
DECCA |
LK 4234 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
The Tender Touch |
Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
T 753 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Play, Gypsy! |
Toscano and his Tzigane Orchestra |
FELSTED |
PDL 85042 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Skylight Rhapsody |
Joe Bushkin, his Piano and Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6126 |
Side 1 only |
|
Late January - Mid July 1959 (WEEK 2) |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Holiday in Spain |
Jose Albeniz and his Orchestra |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8127 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Music for the Love Hours |
Jackie Gleason |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6131 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
C'Mon Get Happy |
Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
T 893 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
My Fair Lady |
Percy Faith and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7199 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Rome at Midnight |
Carmen Cavallaro |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8188 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Movie Moods |
George Cates, His Orchestra and Chorus |
VOGUE CORAL |
LVA 906512 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Place Pigalle |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4212 |
Side 1 only |
|
Mid July 1959 - Early January 1960 (WEEK 1) |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Symphonic Dances |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Felix Slatkin |
CAPITOL |
P 8369 |
Side 1 Band 1 omitted |
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Black Satin |
The George Shearing Quintet |
CAPITOL |
T 858 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Broadway Melody |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4151 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Till |
Roger Williams |
LONDON |
HA/R 2115 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Hi-Fi Dinner Music |
Frank Barber and his Salon Strings |
COLUMBIA |
33SX 1072 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Malaguena Music of Cuba |
Percy Faith |
COLUMBIA |
CL 1267 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Carmen Cavallaro Remembers Eddie Duchan |
Carmen Cavallaro |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8247 |
|
|
Late July 1959 - Mid January 1960 (WEEK 2) |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Echoes of Spain |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
T 8275 |
Side 1 played in the order bands 2,3,4, 1 |
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Red Velvet |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4170 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Million Dollar Melodies |
Ray Martin and his Orchestra |
COLUMBIA |
33SX 1093 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Night Winds |
Jackie Gleason |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6115 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Music for an Arabian Night |
Ron Goodwin and his Concert Orchestra |
PARLOPHONE |
PMC 1109 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Music from Kismet | Percy Faith and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7029 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
Songs by Vernon Duke |
Andre Previn |
CONTEMPORARY |
LAC 12200 |
|
|
COMMENCING: 21st January 1960 (WEEK 1) |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Fiesta! |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P 8335 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Carmen Cavallaro at the Embers |
Carmen Cavallaro |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8119 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
Mantovani Concert Encores |
Mantovani and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4241 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Dancing Cheek to Cheek |
Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson with the Bill Shepherd Orchestra |
PYE |
NPL 183031 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Love Letters in the Sand |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4244 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Rebound |
Jackie Gleason |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6172 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
The Waltzes of Strauss in Hi-Fi |
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valentino |
HMV |
CLP 1168 |
Side 1 (or 2?) only |
|
COMMENCING: 28th January 1960 (WEEK 2) |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.16 - 10.30 10.46 - 11.00 |
Gypsy! |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P 8342 |
|
|
11.16 - 11.30 11.46 - 12.00 |
Nightsounds |
Joe Bushkin, his Piano and Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
T 983 |
|
|
12.16 - 12.30 12.46 - 13.00 |
The Music of Lecuona |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4159 |
|
|
13.16 - 13.30 13.46 - 14.00 |
Latin Escapade |
The George Shearing Quintet |
CAPITOL |
T 737 |
|
|
14.16 - 14.30 14.46 - 15.00 |
Immortal Serenades |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4283 |
|
|
15.16 - 15.30 15.46 - 16.00 |
Around the World in 80 Days |
Victor Young |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8185 |
|
|
16.16 - 16.30 |
From the Highlands |
Robert Farnon and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4220 |
Side 1 only |
All the records shown in the two-week schedules above, with the exception of the Robert Farnon Orchestra LP "From the Highlands", were used in the revised schedule below. Here we see that the two-week cycle was replaced, and the new policy adopted of playing the "whole" of one side of an LP (usually side 1), and part of the other in order to make up 24 minutes of music, with a five minute break for tone (at 400 Hz) and one minute's silence. However, see the note relating to the late 1960 schedule below.
|
1960 (January to July) - Revised Schedule |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
Fiesta! |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P 8335 |
|
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
Carmen Cavallaro at the Embers |
Carmen Cavallaro |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8119 |
|
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
Mantovani Concert Encores |
Mantovani and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4241 |
|
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
Star Dancing |
Ray Anthony and his Orchestra with vocals by The Belvederes |
CAPITOL |
T831 |
Briefly replaced the Mantovani LP, which was later reinstated |
|
11.36 - 12.00 |
Dancing Cheek to Cheek |
Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson with the Bill Shepherd Orchestra |
PYE |
NPL 183031 |
Side 1 Band 6 omitted ? |
|
12.06 - 12.30 |
Love Letters in the Sand |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4244 |
|
|
12.36 - 13.00 |
Rebound |
Jackie Gleason |
CAPITOL |
LCT 6172 |
|
|
13.06 - 13.30 |
The Waltzes of Strauss in Hi-Fi |
Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valentino |
HMV |
CLP 1168 |
|
|
13.36 - 14.00 |
Gypsy! |
Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra conducted by Carmen Dragon |
CAPITOL |
P 8342 |
Side 1 Band 4 omitted |
|
14.06 - 14.30 |
Nightsounds |
Joe Bushkin, his Piano and Orchestra |
CAPITOL |
T 983 |
Side 2 first |
|
14.36 - 15.00 |
The Music of Lecuona |
Stanley Black and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4159 |
|
|
15.06 - 15.30 |
Latin Escapade |
The George Shearing Quintet |
CAPITOL |
T 737 |
|
|
15.36 - 16.00 |
Immortal Serenades |
Frank Chacksfield and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4283 |
|
|
16.06 - 16.30 |
Around the World in 80 Days |
Victor Young |
BRUNSWICK |
LAT 8185 |
|
For 18th July 1960 schedule only, 12 minutes of each LP side were played, varying from region to region, with the exception of the Dvorak symphony, where the whole of side 1 was played before the turnover to side 2.
|
COMMENCING: 18th July 1960 |
|||||
|
Time |
Title |
Artists |
Label |
Number |
Comments |
|
10.06 - 10.30 |
Mexican Magic |
Pepe Jaramillo and his Latin American Rhythm |
PARLOPHONE |
PMC 1100 |
|
|
10.36 - 11.00 |
Blue Chiffon |
The George Shearing Quintet |
CAPITOL |
T 1124 |
|
|
11.06 - 11.30 |
Erroll |
Erroll Garner |
MERCURY |
MMB 12010 |
|
|
11.36 - 12.00 |
Oscar Peterson plays Cole Porter |
Oscar Peterson Trio |
COLUMBIA |
33CX 10016 |
|
|
12.06 - 12.30 16.36 - 16.45 * |
Lollipops - Favourite Pieces of Sir Thomas Beecham |
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham |
HMV |
ALP 1533 |
Side 1 Band 3 with Beecham Choral Society |
|
12.36 - 13.00 |
Porgy and Bess |
Percy Faith and his Orchestra |
PHILIPS |
BBL 7312 |
|
|
13.06 - 13.30 |
Sir Thomas Conducts |
Columbia, Philadelphia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras & Chorus |
FONTANA |
CFL 1033 |
|
|
13.36 - 14.00 |
Continental Encores |
Mantovani and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4297 |
|
|
14.06 - 14.30 |
Two in a Gondola |
Dino Olivieri and his Venetian Strings |
COLUMBIA |
33SX 1142 |
|
|
14.36 - 15.00 |
From the Emerald Isle |
Robert Farnon and his Orchestra |
DECCA |
LK 4267 |
|
|
15.06 - 15.30 |
Soulville |
Ben Webster Quintet |
COLUMBIA |
33CX 10122 |
|
|
15.36 - 16.00 |
The Belgian National Radio Symphony Orchestra |
Belgian National Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Franz André |
TELEFUNKEN |
GMA 14 |
|
|
16.06 - 16.30 |
Viennese Dances |
Philharmonia Promenade Orchestra conducted by Henry Krips |
COLUMBIA |
33SX 1167 |
|
|
16.36 - 16.45 12.06 - 12.30 * |
Dvorak: Symphony No 8 in G major / Scherzo Capriccioso |
Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli |
PYE |
CCL 30122 |
|
|
* Two sets of timings are given for the LPs "Lollipops" and the Dvorak Symphony No 8. The first timing covers the period from 18th July 1960 until September 24th 1960, the second from 26th September 1960 until 18th February 1961. |
|||||
Revised: 29/01/21
