Delia Derbyshire - Inventions for Radio - 6 CD Boxset [RSD 2024]

This product is a Record Store Day title and not available to pre-order.
Available to buy in-store from 10am on Saturday, 20/04/2024 (Record Store Day).
Any remaining copies will be available to buy online from 8pm on Monday 22/04/2024.

The BBC’s Third Programme aired four radio broadcasts between January 1964 and September 1965, collectively known as Inventions for Radio. They were ground-breaking in both form and content, conceived by playwright Barry Bermange and consisting of the voices of the general public answering questions on four themes, one for each programme: dreams, the existence of God, life after death, and ageing. At a time when it was unheard of to give a media platform to anyone perceived as being of low socio-economic status, the broadcasts generated many complaints for the “rough” voices of its participants.

Delia Derbyshire was assigned by the Radiophonic Workshop to edit and add electronic music/effects. The collaborative result is dreamlike and mesmerizing, an audial window to another era. For many years, Derbyshire was not credited for her contribution, nor were the broadcasts available commercially, although they still managed to acquire something of a cult following.

This boxset duplicates the recent vinyl release on CD, with one disc for each broadcast and two further CDs of additional material. The booklet includes notes by producer Mark Ayres on these extraordinary pieces which have been the most elusive of Twentieth Century classics until now.