The Recordings
The NDO was primarily a studio Band, recording items for inserts into Radio 2 programmes on
5 inch “W” reels, and after repeats these tapes were normally wiped.
There was one disk made by BBC records (REC 133S) which is now no longer available,It was recorded in Strawberry studios in Stockport, and based on the Bands 21st Birthday Programme. Great LP !
Other early NDO material has been released on an excellent CD, ( NDOCD 101) - with the relevant permissions. This sadly is no longer available.
The double CD of ‘Diamonds ‘ ( The best of the NDO) is now available, in a limited edition, with the permissions of both the BBC, the Musicians Union and the MCPS .
This is an extremely generous gesture by all the organisations,which reflects the importance and musicianship of the band.
5 inch “W” reels, and after repeats these tapes were normally wiped.
There was one disk made by BBC records (REC 133S) which is now no longer available,It was recorded in Strawberry studios in Stockport, and based on the Bands 21st Birthday Programme. Great LP !
Other early NDO material has been released on an excellent CD, ( NDOCD 101) -
The double CD of ‘Diamonds ‘ ( The best of the NDO) is now available, in a limited edition, with the permissions of both the BBC, the Musicians Union and the MCPS .
This is an extremely generous gesture by all the organisations,which reflects the importance and musicianship of the band.
If you haven’t ordered ‘Diamonds’ please do so quickly to avoid disappointment .
THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION DOUBLE CD, WHEN THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE !
The LP - now sadly no longer available
No CD was made of this.
I have a spare copy of this rare Disk, in good condition, if anyone wishes to purchase it.
I have a spare copy of this rare Disk, in good condition, if anyone wishes to purchase it.
The mystery EP - GEP 8758
Bedtime for drums / On ilkla’moor baht ‘at
The Cobblers song / Cherokee
1959
Thanks to Christine Lock for sending me the record.
Worth investigating too is the wonderful Swing Time CD ( Emi gold ), with Alyn Ainsworth conducting - see if you can spot 3 tracks which sound remarkably like the NDO !
Bedtime for drums / On ilkla’moor baht ‘at
The Cobblers song / Cherokee
1959
Thanks to Christine Lock for sending me the record.
Worth investigating too is the wonderful Swing Time CD ( Emi gold ), with Alyn Ainsworth conducting -
A lovely comment by Eartha Kitt about the NDO, following her recordings with them, and during her wonderful conversation with the late Peter Wheeler .
“When the orchestra is right, the whole world suddenly is right - they were absolutely fantastically wonderful - I felt like a star !”
Apparently the late Alan Dell knew from members of the band that the tracks on
the EP were indeed mostly, if not all, played by the NDO- or at least most of the NDO !
the EP were indeed mostly, if not all, played by the NDO-
Another interesting “late night listening” LP is CARIBBEAN COCKTAIL, conducted and arranged by Tony Harrison, which included many members of the band:- BBC REC 559s
Roger Fleetwood,Steve Shaw,Bill Pettigrew
Fred Kelly,Derek Southcott,Barry Daykin, Alan Pepperell, Peter Lingwood,Tom Steer, Ray Barlow ,Ian Early,Bob Turner,Pete Glennon, Dave Hassell, Bill Nickson.
Roger Fleetwood,Steve Shaw,Bill Pettigrew
Fred Kelly,Derek Southcott,Barry Daykin, Alan Pepperell, Peter Lingwood,Tom Steer, Ray Barlow ,Ian Early,Bob Turner,Pete Glennon, Dave Hassell, Bill Nickson.
It says “Alyn Ainsworth and his orchestra,” But it sounds uncannily like some members of the early NDO - even down to the musical arrangements.
