Music While You Work

This non-stop medley of popular tunes, played by a different band each day, began in the dark days at the end of June 1940 as a ploy to keep workers contented and therefore productive. The first broadcast was by Dudley Beaven at the BBC Theatre Organ and the afternoon broadcast was by a group which later evolved as Jimmy Leach and his Organolians who also did the very last broadcast 27 years later.

Altogether there were 16781 editions and the programme was broadcast live to factory workers with a different band or orchestra each morning and afternoon on the Light Programme. Unfortunately, none of the programmes have been archived by the BBC but there are still some recordings on tape archived by amateur enthusiasts.

A wartime BBC list of "unsuitable" music for the programme reads as follows:
"Banned completely: numbers with predominant rhythm, insufficient melody or other unsuitable characteristics; numbers that are too lethargic and unsuited to any speeding up of tempo; all modern slow waltzes owing to their soporific tendencies".

"Deep in the Heart of Texas" was also banned due to its clapping motif which caused the workers to beat hammers etc. on the workbench doing much damage.

This BBC standing instruction to bandleaders was issued during wartime:
"From the point of view of the general listener, we are asking for a bad piece of programme building. There must be as little variation of tempo as possible, the ideal being to maintain the same beat throughout the whole programme. Artistic value must NOT be considered. The aim is to produce something which is monotonous and repetitive. Subtlety of any kind is out of place!"

Fortunately, few bandleaders followed this directive to the letter; if they had, the programme might not have survived the war, let alone continue into peacetime!

During one live programme a pianist collapsed and fell of his stool. As this happened very close to the end of the programme, he was left there until the programme went off-air. It was subsequently found that he had unfortunately died of a heart attack.

From 1963 the programme was pre-recorded after which time some people considered that the vitality, that made it what it was, had left the programme.

Although the programme's demise coincided with th end of the Light Programme on 29th September 1967, it was revived several times during the eighties and nineties, including for a full year in 1983.

The stirring theme tune was called Calling All Workers by Eric Coates and is available on CD here.

Recapture memories of many vintage radio programmes, some of which have disappeared into the mists of time. You can also read about the lives and careers of some of the 'men behind the music'. Although additions will be made from time to time, the emphasis will be on poorly documented artists who were prolific broadcasters as opposed to major recording artists such as Mantovani about whom much written material already exists.

Many editions of 'Music While You Work' and countless other programmes are available for hire to members of O.R.C.A (Old time Radio-programmme Collectors' Association). Membership details from:
O.R.C.A., P.O. Box 1922, Dronfield, Sheffield, S18 8XA
or by e-mailing: graemeotr@yahoo.co.uk