Matt Monro Radio Broadcasts

[RichardM]

Hi all,

I presently doing a bit of work for Michele Monro (Daughter of Singer Matt)

I have some Radio Programmes he recorded in about 1961/2 with guests like Russ Conway & The Temparence Seven. On the tapes the musical director is Johnnie Spence.

The BBC deny all knowledge of these programmes - is there anyone out there that might have any ideas?

If anyone has any other Radio broadcasts that feature Matt in anyway do let me know - so little seems to exist now.

Thanks

Richard Moore

[Shadowfan]

Hi, Richard
If the BBC are denying all knowledge, they were probably from Luxembourg who were big on sponsored shows at the time.
Of course there have been occasions when the BBC has forgotten what they once broadcast...
It'd be nice to hear these shows, one day!
Stuart

[Richard M]

The copies I have are from FM Broadcasts - originally on Reel - Transfered in the 80's to cassette - The original reels have since disapeared!!

They were probably recorded by Matt Himself.

I know they are from FM broadcasts as on one song it tunes out momentarily and come back in again. (Not a Drop out - a very obvious tune out.

Surley if they were Luxemburg shows they would have been Medium or Long wave?

The Tapes have no Idents - no credits at beginning or end and no sponsors mentioned throughout. They are a real mystery!

Anyone out there with access to a complete run of Radio times!

Richard

[Dan]

There were no FM broadcasts in the UK in 1961/2. If the quality suggests something better than medium wave then they must be recorded from someone within the studio. Is there nothing at all that'd help identify them, an announcer for example who's voice someone might recognise?

[richard M]

Ah! That might mean that they could well be line soundtrack recordings from the lost "Meet Matt Monro" AR TV series from 1961

They've got to be froman off air source as at one point the sound is slightly lost due to what sounds like bad tuning - so they can't be from studio tapes (Very badly edited anyway!)

Richard

[Dan]

Ah yes, they could be from tv broadcasts. The lack of any idents and credits would support this. Assuming they're not from a BBC broadcast, listen out for the telltale clue of commercials having been edited out.

[Richard M]

Found Out What they are!

"Matt's Kind Of Music" BBC Radio 1961 - From FM Broadcast (BBC Started FM in 1955!) but slightly edited to remove all credits!

Thanks all

Richard

[Dan S]

Richard said:

BBC Started FM in 1955!

Even as late as the mid-60's the BBC were still doing stereo tests by broadcasting the left channel on the radio (3rd Programme) and the right channel on the TV. You had to tune both in and position yourself in the middle. I believe in the BBC archive they have a recording of the Rolling Stones done this way, although they only have one channel's audio.

Incidentally the first stereo broadcast in Europe was made by Danish pirate station Radio Mercur round about 1960/61 using 2 different frequencies, for which you needed 2 radios to listen.

EDIT: Ah! Are they mono recordings? The idea only just occurred to me, and I hadn't considered the obvious possibility that the bbc broadcast in mono on fm before using it for stereo. I shall have to look into it.

[Richard M]

Yes they are Mono! Sorry I thought because they are from 61 you'd have taken that as read.

I have found many sources that state that the BBC started FM broadcasts in 1955 and started experimenting with stereo in 1962 (see BBC's own website too!)

The Stereo Rolling Stones material from 63 or 4 (and the rest of the programme that they featured on) does still exist in Stereo complete in the BBC archive - I have heard extracts from the show many times.

Richard