Desert Island Discs The BBC's Long Running Radio Show Celebrates It's 70th Birthday

Desert Island Discs was born on 29th January 1942.

On a relative quiet day for a World at War.

Ironically the main news that ,was of the imminent attack by Japanese forces on a little known, out of the way Island, called Ambon in the Maluku or Moluccas islands of the Indonesian archipelago.

The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942 wiki.com) was fierce and bloody.

Bravely defended by a small garrison force of 5,300 Australian & Dutch soldiers.

They managed to holdout for several days, before overwhelming Japanese forces took the Island.

Quite an inauspicious start to the world's longest running radio show one would think?

In an era when foreign travel and tourism was the reserve of the rich and famous.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)' Desert Island Discs transported the listener to a far flung tropical paradise.

Remember that London at that time, had been bombed to bits and pieces.

The place looked like a war zone! Because it was.

Being stranded on a desert Island would have been on everyone's wish list.

Hold On There, Firstly What Is A Radio?

For many younger people today, with the internet and social networks and a million and one free music download sites.

It must be hard for them to understand the very concept of a Radio?

Let alone a recording disk or record.

Many are not even aware of the concept of a CD. (Compact disk, in case you were wondering)

This article will illustrate how they rocked it old school.

That there really was a music scene before the development of the iPod and the Interweb.

January 29th 1942 England stood alone and at war with the Germans.

Running away to a desert island must have seemed very attractive.

The very first 'cast away' was none other than Vic Oliver (born Victor Oliver Von Samek; 8 July 1898–15 August 1964) an actor and radio comedian from the then hit show Hi Gang!

His other claim to fame is that he was briefly married to Winston Churchill's daughter, Sarah, much to the annoyance of Winston!

This was another Austrian that Winston couldn't stand!

The BBC Crystal Radio set on the right would have been very familiar to all of the above.

It didn't need power or charging up!

The power of the radio signal alone was sufficient for it to work.

We could do with something like this today. Very environmentally friendly, way before anyone knew what the 'environment' was?

Or that it needed protecting..

The show Desert Island Discs, of course, could not exist without the invention of the recordable disc itself.

The earliest recording machines used cylinders.

It was a number of years before the innovation of the recordable platter, or record.

The development of the record is generally attributed to Emile Berliner who started marketing the 5 inch disc in Europe in 1889.

When we consider that desert island discs started in 1942.

It tells us that, while the recorded disc as a technology, was by this time quite mature.

The technology, was to expensive, for the average person in the street.

The platters were made from Bakelite (early plastic) and very brittle.

Breakages were common.

The chances of making this technology into a profitable business, were limited.

On the other hand just about everyone had a radio.

How can a show created in another era, still be so popular?

Maybe it is the old adage. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid.

It is a radio show, with a very simple idea. It taps into something that many of us think of at least sometime in or lives.

'I wish I could just get away from here' or 'I just need some solitude sometimes'.

These are ideas that we can all relate too, at some time or another.

When we hear from people on the show, who we respect and admire for whatever reason.

We find they share the same desires.

It makes us realise, that they are only human too.

The disc choices that they make, also can tell us something about the things they value.

The Choices Of The Listeners

In May 2011. The BBC, asked the public, which eight discs they would take with them, if they were going to be the cast away.

Below are the top ten records of one hundred chosen by the listening public.

There are three videos below for you to sample these tunes.

Top 10 Of 100 Tracks

1. Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending

2. Sir Edward Elgar - Enigma Variations

3. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No 9 in D minor 'Choral'

4. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

5. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

6. Sir Edward Elgar - Cello Concerto in E minor

7. George Frederic Handel - Messiah

8. Gustav Holst - The Planets

9. Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem in D minor

Source BBC.Co.Uk

The original presenter of this excellent radio show was Roy Plomley. (pronounced Plumley)

He managed to attract the biggest stars and the most diverse and interesting range on people to this show.

It has become an institution and a national treasure. if you get invited on to the show, it is a sign that you have 'made it'.

The show usually interviews people that have been around for a while and have contributed something to life or entertainment.

Therefore you will not see one hit wonders on the show, or those 1000's of 'celebritonts', that adorn the tabloid press for 5 minutes, and vanish again as soon as they came.

You will find people that have made a difference somehow, and are worthy of a listen.

I don't know the exact selection criteria, but the guests that turn up on the show, are interesting and have done something with their lives, other than wear a famous designers clobber, or make an ass of themselves on facetube to get 'famous'.

I know it may be hard for some people to believe but there was a time, when you had to actually do something, to become famous.

Like climb Mount Everest or invent a longer lasting light bulb!

They say you can tell a lot about a person by the music they choose.

Some people want to appear cultured and come up with classical tracks. Beethoven Mozart etc while others go for more main stream contemporary tunes.

Whatever the choices, it is a great show and continues as the flagship of the BBC world service.

It is often said that 'the first casualty of war is truth'

During times of crisis in the world where governments and militias conspire to mislead the general public.

The BBC World Service has been a beacon of real news, and truth, is a sea of deceit.

Honest reporting along with great shows like Desert Island Discs, have made the BBC brand successful and recognised worldwide, as the leading broadcaster, on the planet.

The BBC Is Financed By The British Public

The reason that the BBC is so successful, and able to remain independent, is because of the way it is financed.

The BBC has a charter to perform certain broadcast functions. To maintain certain standards. It is paid for by the British public, in the form of an annual license fee.

This is incredible value for money in my opinion.

If we consider the quality of the programmes the BBC produces every year.

Always ranked 1st in the world.

No advertisements or commercials are allowed on the BBC.

So you get to see the whole show from beginning to end with no breaks.

Top unbiased news reporting, and radio broadcasts for the whole world.

The BBC World Service and Desert Island Discs, maintain and continues this tradition of excellence.

Why Is It So Successful?

The show itself harkens back to a simpler time? maybe.

The show gives us a glimpse into the lives of the famous? maybe.

The show allows us to remember, that there is another way to live? definitely.

Never forget the power of dreams. The need for everyone to escape from their lives every now and again.

Even if is for only 1 hour a week via a radio show.

Desert Island discs is much loved. The sound of the opening title music just sets you up for a pleasant hour. Listen below

It's right up there with the aroma of a Sunday Roast Beef and Yorkshire Puddings or treacle sponge and custard. It is comforting in a changing world.

It is part of the British psyche. Congratulations to Desert Island Discs on reaching 70 years. Here's to the next 70.

So what would you want to have with you?

If you found yourself marooned on a desert island?

Originally the show allowed the 'cast away' to chose 8 pieces of music.

Many years later they added the bible or religious book of your choice, and the complete works of William Shakespeare.

That this simple premise, is the basis for the longest running radio show on Earth, is mind-boggling.

There have been and still are 100's of imitators around world. This original is still the best. While imitators come and go Desert Island Discs persists.

So what are the 8 pieces of music that 'you' would take.

It is a great question and of course different for everyone.

So what is your choice?

I was lucky enough to see this show live in London in 2011.

I have been following the band since the 60's and this was only the second time I got to see them 'in the flesh' and they were brilliant.

The music is timeless and most people can relate to the ideas and emotions in both of these great albums.

It is the kind of music that grows with you. When you listen to this great music at different ages you hear and respond to it in different and interesting ways.

Seeing any band as massively popular as Pink Floyd is not always possible. The next best thing is to watch them on DVD. However I would recommend that you try to just listen to these great albums and let you mind fill in the imagery for you. It is well worth using your imagination occasionally.