This track was not made for any TV program that I know of. It was made just for the album/cassette BBC Space Themes. The track name is 'Space for man and the case of the ancient astronauts' by Peter Howell. I have known of this track ever since I was bought the tape in 1978, and even today, it is still a powerful and moving track, invoking many memories of my childhood many many years ago.
I first heard this track when it was used as a backing track for The Red Arrows aerobatics team on television in the eighties and it fit perfectly.One of the best synth tracks ive heard.
Now there's a blast from the past! I had the "BBC Space Themes" album as a kid (still got it somewhere, although it was a pre-recorded cassette so whether it's still playable is another matter...) and this ended up being my favourite track by far. 1978, so I would've been 8 or 9. Never knew what programme it was from (Horizon, it seems, based on comments below) so I assumed it was an original Radiophonic Workshop piece to fill out the run-time as they were already reaching a little bit with some of the inclusions on the album, like the vintage Tomorrow's World theme - which (IIRC) was already "the old theme" when the album was released. I bought the tape for the Doctor Who theme, of course, and it was the first time I'd ever heard the full thing with that whole middle section that you didn't normally hear back then. The Blake's 7 theme was pretty cool, too. Anyway, I credit this track with kicking off a lifetime love of synth music. This track really seemed to tell a story to me somehow, going through all the different "movements" like they were scenes in a film in my head - it used to conjure up some amazing images :) Is it really only 5 minutes long? Wow... I could've sworn it was more epic in length, but maybe that's just because subjective time was moving at a different rate when I was a child :)
FWIW BBC Space Themes was released in 1978; the "new" TW theme was in 1980. Heh, that album had the most funky version of the Star Trek theme I've ever heard.
Just been to see the Radiophonic Workshop live down by the Clyde in Glasgow. Outdoor concert, beautiful evening and a truly stunning gig. When the Astronauts came on I did have a tear in my eye.
Glad to be of help. I recently bought an old reel to reel tape machine to try and copy some tapes my dad had made in 1963. I was surprised at how good a condition the tapes were in. Mighty spooky hearing your family from 50 years ago though. All the best.
@digitalbroadcaster Same here. The Dr who theme and the Radiophonic workshop got me into mucking about with tape recorders and microphones and just making sound. But this track just blew me away.
Still just as good now as it was all those years back. This made me buy a Roland JX3P a long time back. Now to find this without the glitch.... Any pointers anyone?
It's on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Retrospective CD's (Just Called The Astronauts). The glitch on here must have have happened during the upload and conversion to youtube. £12.61 from play.com 2 CD set.
Thanks for the link. Perfect. I still have my original Radiophonic tape somewhere in a huge box of tapes. Unless they've all crumbled to dust now! Haha. I also have one of those ancient machines called a tape recorder too. :o)
It was made for a 1977 Horizon documentary. There's a very ropey version of the doc on here. Must admit I've yet to watch it as the quality is so bad. If you look for Horizon Case Of The Ancient Astronauts you'll find it.
The first 2-3 Seconds were used by Swiss Radio DRS (now SRF) as the news tune in the 90s. Here's a sample of it: th-cam.com/video/sVQGBujyd2k/w-d-xo.html
I now have the digitally remastered version without that glitch in the beginning. Plus all of the other tracks from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. And somewhere in the attic lies the tape that originally got me hooked on this track, although it was damaged by a speaker magnet 38 years ago. Pahhh! Tape!
This music was from the UK BBC TV series, 'Horizon', 'The Case of the Ancient Astronauts', broadcast on 25th November 1977. The audio ONLY, unfortunately, is available for the whole program here- www.talkingofmemories.tightfitz.com/Documentary/DOCM01-1_Case of the Ancient Astronauts - 251177.mp3 though like other Horizon programmes at this time, 'The Hunting of the Quark' & 'The Crab Nebula', which are also available on that site of mine, both featured music by the Pink Floyd, but these programmes are unobtainable on the BBC iPlayer.. .And I pay two TV licence fees, just not good enough..
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This track was not made for any TV program that I know of. It was made just for the album/cassette BBC Space Themes. The track name is 'Space for man and the case of the ancient astronauts' by Peter Howell. I have known of this track ever since I was bought the tape in 1978, and even today, it is still a powerful and moving track, invoking many memories of my childhood many many years ago.
Sorry, that's wrong, see above comment by me...
I first heard this track when it was used as a backing track for The Red Arrows aerobatics team on television in the eighties and it fit perfectly.One of the best synth tracks ive heard.
Oh my god, this is absolutely stunning quality! Best version I’ve ever heard. Can’t thank you enough for this upload!!!
Now there's a blast from the past! I had the "BBC Space Themes" album as a kid (still got it somewhere, although it was a pre-recorded cassette so whether it's still playable is another matter...) and this ended up being my favourite track by far. 1978, so I would've been 8 or 9. Never knew what programme it was from (Horizon, it seems, based on comments below) so I assumed it was an original Radiophonic Workshop piece to fill out the run-time as they were already reaching a little bit with some of the inclusions on the album, like the vintage Tomorrow's World theme - which (IIRC) was already "the old theme" when the album was released.
I bought the tape for the Doctor Who theme, of course, and it was the first time I'd ever heard the full thing with that whole middle section that you didn't normally hear back then. The Blake's 7 theme was pretty cool, too.
Anyway, I credit this track with kicking off a lifetime love of synth music. This track really seemed to tell a story to me somehow, going through all the different "movements" like they were scenes in a film in my head - it used to conjure up some amazing images :)
Is it really only 5 minutes long? Wow... I could've sworn it was more epic in length, but maybe that's just because subjective time was moving at a different rate when I was a child :)
yes I had that. Wish that was available on CD. maybe it is I'll check
FWIW BBC Space Themes was released in 1978; the "new" TW theme was in 1980. Heh, that album had the most funky version of the Star Trek theme I've ever heard.
THIS TUNE IS AWESOME IN BILLIONS OF WAYS AND I WISH I HAD SEEN SPACE FOR MAN AND THE CASE OF THE ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS
Just been to see the Radiophonic Workshop live down by the Clyde in Glasgow. Outdoor concert, beautiful evening and a truly stunning gig. When the Astronauts came on I did have a tear in my eye.
+peggymount I wish the tune had been used on sci-fi series or sci-fi films
Yeah, an edited down version would have been great for a title sequence.
This was one of my favourite tracks when I was a kid... nice minimal video you've done too.
Glad to be of help. I recently bought an old reel to reel tape machine to try and copy some tapes my dad had made in 1963. I was surprised at how good a condition the tapes were in. Mighty spooky hearing your family from 50 years ago though. All the best.
Wow! So clear! This is even clearer than my tape was, 35 years back. This started me on the road to 'synthdom'.
My father had the tape with the sci-fi themes he brought with him from Britain. This track and the Doctor Who track I would track back to frequently.
Just like to say thanks for putting this on you tube not heard this since 1980 it sounds grate nice one
Glad you like it. If only they would re-release the Space Themes album.
agree so much
@digitalbroadcaster Same here. The Dr who theme and the Radiophonic workshop got me into mucking about with tape recorders and microphones and just making sound. But this track just blew me away.
I prefer this b side to the a side my 7inch has Tom Baker on the front cover
Still just as good now as it was all those years back. This made me buy a Roland JX3P a long time back. Now to find this without the glitch....
Any pointers anyone?
It's on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Retrospective CD's (Just Called The Astronauts). The glitch on here must have have happened during the upload and conversion to youtube. £12.61 from play.com 2 CD set.
Funny you should mention that - I just recorded a partial version of this that I have on vinyl to reel-to-reel a couple weeks ago.
Excellent, thank you
Thanks for the link. Perfect. I still have my original Radiophonic tape somewhere in a huge box of tapes. Unless they've all crumbled to dust now! Haha. I also have one of those ancient machines called a tape recorder too. :o)
It was made for a 1977 Horizon documentary. There's a very ropey version of the doc on here. Must admit I've yet to watch it as the quality is so bad. If you look for Horizon Case Of The Ancient Astronauts you'll find it.
The first 2-3 Seconds were used by Swiss Radio DRS (now SRF) as the news tune in the 90s. Here's a sample of it: th-cam.com/video/sVQGBujyd2k/w-d-xo.html
I sampled and made a song out of the first part because it sounds so cool but the whole song is sick
I now have the digitally remastered version without that glitch in the beginning. Plus all of the other tracks from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. And somewhere in the attic lies the tape that originally got me hooked on this track, although it was damaged by a speaker magnet 38 years ago. Pahhh! Tape!
But a shame about the drop-out at 1 second :o(
This music was from the UK BBC TV series, 'Horizon', 'The Case of the Ancient Astronauts', broadcast on 25th November 1977. The audio ONLY, unfortunately, is available for the whole program here-
www.talkingofmemories.tightfitz.com/Documentary/DOCM01-1_Case of the Ancient Astronauts - 251177.mp3
though like other Horizon programmes at this time, 'The Hunting of the Quark' & 'The Crab Nebula', which are also available on that site of mine, both featured music by the Pink Floyd, but these programmes are unobtainable on the BBC iPlayer.. .And I pay two TV licence fees, just not good enough..
Wonder what synth was used for the bassline. Sounds like a cs 80 but I dont think it is. Anyone have any ideas?
No doubt a Moog
@digitalbroadcaster A wee glitch in the tape:-)
www.factmag.com/2014/02/18/the-radiophonic-workshop-announce-substantial-uk-tour/