09/10/2025
Thanks to Charles Waring for this review of Vocalion Books’ newest title, ‘Sophisticated Harmony,’ which appears in the November 2025 issue of ‘Record Collector’ magazine.
Portraits of forgotten masters
After ‘The Mood Modern,’ his excellent 2018 tome dedicated to illuminating the arcane world of British library music, Lomax turns his attention to six key composers and arrangers who helped shape the sound of British TV music in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Arguably the most prominent of these unsung heroes is Ronnie Hazlehurst, who wrote the memorable themes for ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ and ‘The Two Ronnies,’ both iconic BBC shows; also profiled are the estimable but more obscure Trevor Bastow, Anthony Isaac, Peter Knight, Steve Gray, and Dick Doerschuk, an American composer and trailblazing TV music director who at one time lived in the UK.
Combining forensic background research with revealing quotes from family members, friends, and work colleagues, Lomax skilfully penetrates the inner lives of his six subjects, getting to the nub of what made them tick. Each of Lomax’s portraits is respectful but never hagiographic, unafraid of uncovering flawed personal lives, like Isaac’s self-destructive alcoholism and Doerschuk’s dysfunctional marriages. But ultimately, this fascinating, well-written book is a celebration of unsung, largely forgotten musical heroes who deserve wider appreciation; few people know their names, but many in the UK would instantly recognise their music as part of the soundtrack to their lives.
