Tony Hatch - Crossroads TV soundtrack (not LP) - (1964, Unique Edit & DES Stereo Remix)

Описание: Writer - Tony Hatch. Released - never officially. Label - © Nope, there wasn't one. Catalogue - you're having a laugh.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? - Look - I know it's completely random. Just bear with me on this. ATV (Associated TeleVision, based in Englands Midland Region) produced a legendary soap called "Crossroads" in one form or another, which launched towards the end of 1964 and ran for what seemed to be forever. Built around Noele Gordon, who'd fronted ATV's "Lunchbox" and other popular ATV programmes, it was the programme's producer Reg Watson who listened to, and rejected suggestions from crew members such as "The Midland Road" and simply "Hotel" before coming up with "Crossroads" himself.

A SLOW BURNER - It started broadcasting in the Midlands and became locally popular, being slowly bought by most other regions on the ITV network. Independent Television was then composed of individual companies who contributed to the ITV network and often bought each other's output, though were under no obligation to do so. Despite the slow uptake and chaotic scheduling episodes would rarely be seen in the same week or month, with latecomers showing an episode many months behind. Granada was a notirious example. The makers of ITV's flagship soap "Coronation Street" held off buying "Crossroads" for years and only public demand saw them grudgingly take it up. Once viewers caught on it became an unmisssable pre-news tea-time fixture for many.

KING OF THE SHAKES? - It became a popular pastime to knock "Crossroads"; the low budgets necessarily lead to a few errors and yes, occasional wobbly sets and rare sightings of microphones and cameras. What is forgotten is that at its height, the soap was on every weeknight - a phenomenal scriptwriting and production schedule achievement all but forgotten today. Something totally overlooked is that "Crossroads" dared to tackle difficult themes and issues. It also stayed ahead of the game by employing more ethnic actors at a time when other companies and productions simply ignored general advice to up their game and give more exposure to ethnicity. Maybe this was easier to achieve for ATV, as their Midlands Region included Britain's increasingly multicultural 'Second City' Birmingham.

QUALITY CONTROL - The IBA (Incdpendent Broadcasting Authority) who oversaw ITV output eventually waded in and with concerns it was at breaking point had ATV cut it down to 4 editions per week and later on 3. That crazily-popular era was lovingly and beautifully lampooned in such things as "Acorn Antiques". What they didn't get right was a tribute to the spankingly-wonderful theme tune. This creation of Tony Hatch featured himself on piano and arranger, with a few musicians from his orchestra adding drums, bass, 12-string guitar, oboe and harp. Scurrying into a studio with a small suite of tunes based on one theme, the results would be heard at various junctures.

THE END - The end credits of "Crossroads" were highly ambitious. The big beat sounding theme played bi-directional credits. One lot would scroll up, stop, and then scroll up and out of sight, to be replaced by those coming in from left, stopping, then leaving to the right. Right at the end, the music would dip and a tiny, final scene would give viewers one final teaser before the ATV's logo came up and the perfectly-timed music came to an end. It was a technical marvel managing to get this iconic sequence recorded live for every end credit sequence for over two decades until changed in the 1980's overhaul. We accepted fluffs as-live and took it for granted at a time Television had a sense of adventure which is completely missing today.

MY EDIT AND MIX - This is NOT the version released on LP, but my 'super edit' of original elements recorded on the miserly budget given to Hatch in 1964. After the advert 'break bumpers' intro it leads into the main theme, cutting into a lone oboe and harp piece only heard over end credits for a sad episode. Drums announce the return of the main theme but before it ends, it cuts to the start which plays out, re-creating how it sounded on the programme, to make it longer two copies were cut together to get it all in. I did my edit years ago, but only recently thought to put it through the DES mincer'.

THE END - In the 1980's, new producers cleared many regulars in a fire which razed the old hotel. Controversially central character Meg Richardson/Rydall/Mortimer also disappeared, though her character was given a royal send-off on the QE2, never to be seen again. It was retitled to "Crossroads, Kings Oak", eventually closing its doors for the final time after 24 years. Though many editions from the 60's and 70's were wiped, its massive cult following saw re-airings of "Crossroads" on niche channels.

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