John Baker Tapes, Volume 1, The

Incredible collection of recently unearthed “incidental themes” for the BBC created by one of their most prolific composers. Lots of playful electronics and percussion ‘ala Jean Jaques-Perry and other times weird sci-fi themes. Plenty of great stuff to mix with or use as soundbeds.

((((1)))) “In the next 15 minutes the Penguin on your TV set will explode…”
(((2 & 3))) Corny, bubble theme with some cool beats.
(((((4 & 34)))) Airy, slow dark ambient-ish.
((((5)))) Jazzy, sci-fi beat, very cartoonish.
((((6)))) & ((((22)))) Cool, “how to sample” interviews. Sounds like it’s gonna be cut up by People Like Us (if it hasn’t been done already)
((((7)))) Silly but pleasant commercial theme. God, this title sounds so British!
(((8))) Kooky, late 60’s “Doot-tootie” thing.
((9)) Sombre, typical “dramatic” documentary theme.
((((10)))) Funky ass, clicky beat, flute & bass.
((((11)))) “It’s currently 15:00 GMT and you’re watching Big Ben Niwsz…”
((((((12)))))) Whoa – bubbly, spy-surf-60’s grooviness.
((((13))) Playful wackiness with the sound of several pence rolling on a desk.
(((14))) Goofy, bubbly theme for a kid’s show
((((15))) More bubbles but this time more dramatic and filled with a telephone ringing & a few super high pitches.
(((16))) Similar to #7
(((17))) Kooky-60’s high pitches, warbling grooves and the like. Did MF Doom sample this already?
(((18))) Today in the lab we’ll be making bubbles and playing a xylophone, cracking good, innit?
(((19))) Early synth/early 70’s era kids theme
((((20))) Peep-peep, slow perculating bubbles and piano.
(((21))) More of the same except more bloops and blorps.
(((23)) Sounds like a setting on a cell phone only bass and more pleasant.
((((24)))) Short news time intro.
((((25)))) Dreaming in Mr. Rogers neighborhood?
(((26))) It’s the punch card computer theme.
((((27)))) Shh…they’re using sonar! Proto-dark ambient piece.
(((28))) Someone’s doorbell circa: 1966 then more sonic polyester fibers.
(((29))) NASA failed mission of the “bleep, quant, bloop” rocket.
(((30))) A deformed “samba” setting on every early Casio keyboard?
(((31))))Cartoon kookiness.
(((32))) Airy light, jazzy
((((33)))) Nutty ‘lil percussion & silly very 60s’ vocals. Points for the kitsch factor.
(((35))) Simple call & response theme with kids chorus and presenter.
(((35))) Twangy, western with then modern electronics.
((36)) More “dee-deet-dee” …and now the news
((37) Sombre then light jazz
((((38)))) Actual locust sound. Cool!
(((39))) More wacky koo—koo, nuttiness.
(((40)) Clanking percussion
(((41 & 42))) Twang, twang, flooopbee bloop electronics
(((43 & 44))) Very simple almost near techno beat with a bunch of high level squals.
(((((((45)))))) Whoa! Fast, bouncy, jazz-techno!?!
(((46))) Sci-fi filler, silly but amusing
(((47, 48, 49))) Blorps, pianos, growling and pings