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Post by Richard Moore on Apr 13, 2007 18:34:14 GMT
Radio seems to have faired worse than TV when it comes to what was kept (if infax is anything to go by)but what happened to material from the transcription services?
Did it get added to the general BBC radio archives or does it still exist as a separate entity?
For instance there are a lot of transcription discs out there of things like "Top Of The Pops" which includes quite a lot of material I assume was recorded for Saturday Club etc. Did Transcription Services keep masters of all these issues or did they destroy them?
Alternatively, Does the BBC hold much more radio than is actually catalogued?
Richard
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Post by Gary Critcher on Apr 14, 2007 18:47:45 GMT
where do I start? I worked at the Transcription Service at Kensington House in Shepherd's Bush from 1976 to 1983. In the end I was in charge of the Tape Library. We always kept a 'library' copy of the disc, plus an 'archive' copy which was NEVER played. We stored those copies away from Kensington House. For the older TOTP (i.e.60's versions) all we had when I was there were the 'library' copies, which, by their very nature, had been played quite a bit! When I was there, we always also sent a copy of every issue of our discs to the British Library in Soho (I think). I can't remember much 60's stuff on tape, there was certainly a 1968 Who session, a 1967 Hendrix session, which included two warm-up instrumentals that had Stevie Wonder on drums!! There was also three different Led Zeppelin sessions plus their 'In Concerts' too. In fact, we had the original 1" 8-track tapes of their 1971 'In Concert' sitting on the shelves.
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Post by Gary Critcher on Apr 14, 2007 18:51:36 GMT
Oh, and there was also the two quarter inch master tapes of the pilot programme 'Top Of The Pops 0', from 1964, which featured 3 'live' tracks by The Beatles plus two interviews. At one point in about 1982 I was told to wipe them. I knew what was on them, and certainly WASN'T going to wipe the tapes!! These recordings were later used in the 'Beatles At The Beeb' double album. The tracks were (I think) 'Hard Day's Night', 'Things We Said Today' plus one other.
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Post by Richard Moore on Apr 15, 2007 17:16:15 GMT
What happened to this archive then, Was it merged with the main BBC archive, or kept seperately by someone like BBC worldwide?
Thanks
Richard
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Post by Gary Critcher on Apr 15, 2007 20:09:55 GMT
As far as I'm aware, the Transcription library and 'archive' was taken up to Bush House in the early 90's and plonked into a room in the basement. I'm STILL hoping that they actually know what they've got down there. I would happily go there and catalogue everything, so that they will know once and for all.
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Post by Richard Harrison on Apr 20, 2007 12:24:08 GMT
Hi Gary
Please drop me a line at richlive1976@aol.com
I have some news you will be interested in.
Thanks,
RTH.
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Post by Richard Moore on Apr 24, 2007 17:09:25 GMT
So, is there no chance that i can find out from anybody what exists?
I am looking for some specific transcription only programes - and who knows what else is amongst the discs/tapes too. I'm sure some things have commercial value. It seems odd that the BBC don't do anything with the archive!
If anybody can help point me in the right direction please contact me via richardmint at hotmail.co.uk
Thanks
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Post by Ed Brown on Sept 15, 2007 20:04:06 GMT
BBC 7 makes some use of the Transcription holdings of BBC Worldwide, in addition to using the BBC Sound Archive as a source.
Worldwide's holdings (including Transcription holdings) are not included on the Sound Archive's computerised database. The two operations are kept entirely separate.
Some material is held by the British Library, and its holdings are searchable on the internet, the only BBC material which is accessible by the public.
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