Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of product placement as it once was. Released as Volume 10 in RPM’s Mood Music series and compiled by Vinyl Vulture Christopher Malins, this bumper selection box breaks new ground in the highly specialised world of music library compilations, by virtue of the fact that it’s the first to focus entirely on the hugely collectable Rediffusion label. Launched in 1968 as an outlet for their inhouse music division, Rediffusion International Music, it ran until 1974, when it was superseded by their Gold Star imprint.
With a sizeable number of selections coming from Pete Moore, the Pearl & Dean man, and Harry Stoneham of Parkinson house band fame, the balance of material comes from a variety of loungecore specialists, including Vic Flick Sound, Val Merrall, The Howard Blaikley Orchestra and Tony Evans. What’s interesting is the way this mixes generic library instrumentals with branded compositions such as Gypsy Creams and Martini, with covers of recent hits including Hold Tight, Norwegian Wood, Son Of A Preacher Man, For What It’s Worth and the theme from Steptoe & Son. What more could you ask for? Just sit back, relax and imagine yourself browsing yesteryear’s supermarket aisles.
