The Record Library
(written by Richard Anscombe - Angel Radio IW's librarian and record researcher)
Our record library has been steadily built up from a clutch of nostalgic LPs under a table when we started, to a massive archive of recordings covering the period 1900 - the end of 1959. It currently boasts 65000 songs and is constantly being added to.
Built up mostly from the private collections of our presenters, the 70000 songs comprise of original 78rpm shellac records transferred onto minidiscs plus some LPs and 45rpm discs from the period together with some nostalgic CDs. Details are stored on computers in a huge Microsoft Excel file which can be easily accessed for requests and research purposes.
The library consists of a complete variety of musical styles of the period - a massive heritage and recognition of the artistes that are almost entirely passed over by other radio stations (by and large because they do not have them).
MUSICAL STYLES IN THE LIBRARY.
1. British dance bands such as Jack Hylton, Bert Ambrose, Roy Fox, Henry Hall, Ray Noble, Jack Payne, Nat Gonella, Maurice Winnick, Carroll Gibbons and many others too numerous to mention in total here.
2. American dance bands such as Paul Whiteman, Nat Shilkret, Russ Morgan, Rudy Vallee, Guy Lombardo and numerous others including bands from other countries.
3. Jazz and Swing bands from all eras such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Jimmie Lunceford, Gene Krupa, George Shearing, Chet Baker just to mention a few.
4. Famous singers such as Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como, Vera Lynn,Tony Martin, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Nat King Cole, Jo Stafford, Dick Haymes, Billy Eckstine, Peggy Lee etc.
5. Personalities & Comedy acts such as Gracie Fields, Maurice Chevalier, George Formby, Noel Coward, Stanley Holloway, Leslie Sarony, Max Miller, Sandy Powell, Tommy Handley etc.
6. Rock and Roll including Elvis, Gene Vincent, Bill Haley, Eddie Cochran, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and a whole host of rockabilly and obscure American artistes plus early British rock and roll acts.
7. Country & Western (it's OK to call it that up till 1962 !!) including Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Jean Shepard, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams, Red Foley, Jimmie Rodgers,Tex Ritter
8. Blues, Rhythm & Blues and Gospel including Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, T Bone Walker, Sonny Boy Williamson, Mahalia Jackson, Bessie Smith, Fats Domino, Robert Johnson, Nellie Lutcher etc.
9. Trad Jazz bands such as Humphrey Lyttelton, Chris Barber, Ken Collyer, Acker Bilk & Kenny Ball.
10. Operetta singers including Enrico Caruso, Beniamino Gigli, Jussi Bjorling, Richard Crooks, Mario Lanza, Dame Clara Butt, Nellie Melba, Richard Tauber, Paul Robeson, Oscar Natzke etc.
11. Pre 1926 accoustic recordings including Fred Douglas, Albert Whelan, Harry Lauder, John McCormack, Hubert Eisdell etc.
12. All the 1950s chart entries (we're only missing about 6 !) plus a wealth of other 1950s music.
13. Brass Band and Military music and Pipe & Wurlitzer & mechanical organ music & some light classical.
14. Easy Listening orchestras such as George Melachrino, Mantovani, Charles Williams, Peter Yorke,
15. Music from the films & musicals of the era plus nostalgic comedy & radio shows.
16. The rest - an amazing mixture of the famous and the obscure - ask us if we have it - you'll be surprised.
