1943 BBC Radio Broadcast "Music While You Work" No.1

[@MichaelSmith-ui5zs]

I remember this from the 50s when i was at home from school maybe on holiday.

[@petertaylor3600]

Michael, I remember it from the days when it was current, wartime. I was tiny but we had the radio on all day and I recall all of this. In the 50s you could still hear music from the 30s and 40s, you could still get the discs.

[@azillliasmith2734]

I remember it from before I went to school......... I can remember messing around in the house and playing with the cats when me Mam was polishing ironing washing baking dusting chopping up kindling digging up carrots setting the fire getting the tea ready for when me dad came home from work...... Cannny auld Sunderland ❤x

[@grahamcheater9738]

From the year I was born, but I can recall hearing later broadcasts .... thanks

[@wordsmith52]

All the best Graham!

[@JohnLeeming23]

How splendid that you have saved all these programmes. I used to love Music While You Work. It went out on both the Home Service and Light Programme each weekday morning at 10.30 (Home only on Saturdays) and a new edition in the afternoon at about 15.45 on the Light Programme only. For a short period in the late 1940s there was also an evening edition.

[@irenekent4335]

Me to loved my time then

[@wordsmith52]

Yes indeed - tough times - tough people - heroes all of them. MWYW went on for years - well into the mid-60s and even I remember hearing it regularly myself.

[@pegjones7682]

wordsmith52 g

[@janetcockerill6704]

This programme was broadcast in the shoe factories in Northampton in the 1940s, my grandmother lived opposite one, I could hear the the girls singing along, I longed to get in there with them and join in but I was only 3.

[@wordsmith52]

+Janet Cockerill Thanks for that...yes - I remember women telling me that they preferred to stay all night in the factory shelter rather than risk going home and getting killed by bombs - and the company and singing was a much better experience.

[@reggiesmith3866]

Yes Music While You Work was broadcast in the factories during WW2 and it lifted the spirits of the workers and their output increased.

[@dkromft396]

I Served My Time as an Engineering Apprentice in the late 1950's. The Girls singing almost drowned-out the hum of their Machines. Roses of England.

[@richardcummins5465]

Cobblers!

[@bwghall1]

how lovely. just 3. I remember Sandy Mcpherson on the theater Organ. 85 now, God bless Briddy.

[@mavisemberson8737]

Is Your Journey Really Necessary... is the poster I remember. I could read when I was five !

[@wordsmith52]

Thanks so much for the further info. I'll put the link in to your web site as it looks fantastic - "Melody On The Move" for instance - I well remember this one and never thought I'd see or hear of that again - I look forward to re-acquainting with those sounds. Regards.

[@irenekent4335]

I loved this programme to listen to

[@wordsmith52]

A further post script: I believe the band was Jack Simpson and / or the Freedom Boys in this case - although as we know the Victory Band featured in many of the MWYW broadcasts of this time. Thanks again - I am very much enjoying your Masters Of Melody website.

[@wordsmith52]

@Wnoronz I am obliged to you for that helpful information Whoronz. It explains why I was still hearing the dulcet Queen's English tones of the BBC Home Service announcers well into the late 60s - and that my memory was not playing tricks on me! How times change.

[@wordsmith52]

@IVORIESMAN Yes I agree thanks. "Down Your Way" was another one I particularly remember - afternoon teas and pink coloured evening newspapers.

[@theflyinghamster8442]

If they could only see what has happened to our once great country they would cry 😢

[@wordsmith52]

Sorry, I meant / should have said: 'excluding the MWYW signature tune". Hope to look into your book soon.

[@wordsmith52]

@Wnoronz Thanks for the informative and technical info. I always remember (or think I do) of hearing the BBC announcers say something like "...this is the BBC Home Service..." Do you know if that was that a different channel or part of the Light Programme or something else?

[@JohnLeeming23]

The Home Service and Light Programme were different channels. The Home Service took over from the Regional and National programmes at the outbreak of war in 1939. A channel for the forces, the Forces Programme, also ran during the war. In 1945 after the end of the war, the Light Programme replaced the Forces Programme. These two channels were joined by the Third Programme in 1946. In 1967 the Home Service became Radio 4, the Light Programme Radio 2 and the Third Programme Radio 3, though the nature of these channels has become much more compartmentalised. Radio 3 (the Third Programme) celebrates its 70th anniversary this autumn. The other channels are all new, starting with Radio 1 in 1967.

[@andyhaslam9231]

But what about people listening who were unemployed or between jobs. Would they be allowed to listen?

[@wordsmith52]

Yes, it was received by anyone who happened to be listening - the BBC couldn't choose who it broadcasted to in its own country.

[@irenekent4335]

Ofcourse

[@irenekent4335]

That is a strange question

[@Roland_Tr909_Swing]

Total time capsule

[@musicom67]

2:22 - Now here's a tempo change for ya....

[@amigochevere5217]

The US already had colonized the world with it's music

[@liberty1944]

Les héroïnes des années 40 , tout simplement mais sans elles !!! mieux vaut ne pas y penser. nous ne leur diront jamais assez merci. N'oublions jamais

[@wordsmith52]

Merci pour vos commentaires très appropriées - Je suis d'accord, nous ne devrions jamais oublier ... Meilleurs voeux.

[@wordsmith52]

@Wnoronz I've heard it condemned as being elitist, chauvenistic, imperialist and generally politically incorrect etc etc since - just as many had learned to speak with at least an fairly educated accent!

[@wordsmith52]

@Wnoronz I agree entirely of course - the "condemnation" I alluded to was (like most "politically correct" ideologies of today) based on ignorance, stupidity and inane attempts at state sponsored brain washing. Regards!