Title:
Popular music: Mr J. Alliston
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
CHELMSFORD AND ESSEX MUSEUM
Level: Sub-Fonds
Oral history recordings
Level: Series
Popular culture
Scope and Content:
Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
SIDE A
[1] History of The Blue Ramblers Band; band members, singers; early interest in music; had no drums, so had to practice with other objects.
[2] Popularity of dance bands; bookings; cabaret at the Lion and Lamb (now Duke's) in Chelmsford; organising bookings; practices; semi-professional status; pay.
[3] Types of music played; supporting big bands (e.g. Ted Heath); big bands at the Shire Hall; audiences.
[4] Venues in Chelmsford.
[5] Other bands - playing together with the Embassy Band; New Years Eve at Marconi; very little trouble; not always a bar at events; dances as a place for men and women to meet.
[6] Weekly dances at the Odeon; little else to do in the 1950s; meeting in pubs before going to the dance; strict ballroom dancers.
[7] Children's parties; mostly no need for written music; taking requests; end of the dance band era (1960s); bands continued just for their own amusement.
[8] Former band members keep in touch; band continues to play; lack of venues and live music in Chelmsford.
[9] Changes in live music; Chelmsford Spectacular; local bands in 1950s and 1960s.
SIDE B
[10] Needed car to carry drum kit - Morris 8 saloon; driving to bookings - short cuts, running out of petrol; playing in village halls with no electricity.
[11] Damp affecting drum skins and piano; buying instruments - drum kits, comparison of old and modern.
[12] Village halls - usually in terrible state; enjoyed playing despite same tunes over and over.

Extent:
59 minutes 6 seconds
Creator Name:
Chelmsford Museum/Dot Bedenham
Physical Characteristics:
CD-R [copied from C90 cassette]
Originals Location:
Chelmsford and Essex Museum
Related Unit of Description:
A recording of the Blue Ramblers Dance Orchestra is catalogued as SA 15/2/1/2/1.

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Music Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
Subjects Musicians Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
Subjects Popular music Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
Personal Names J.
Alliston 		Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
Place Names Chelmsford Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Mr J. Alliston about his experiences in The Blue Ramblers Band and popular music in Chelmsford.