The cover of this extremely offbeat disc doesn't really communicate what it's all about. The 27 short selections, each originally contained on a 78 rpm record, were not commercial releases but were part of a library of recorded mood music (or "production music," as it is now sometimes known) compiled beginning in the 1930s by the British music publisher Bosworth; these pieces date from between 1937 and 1953. They are little self-contained generic pieces (Highdays and Holidays is the title of one, and Busy Business and Sketch of a Dandy are others) suitable for illustrating common types of scenes in films or newsreels (if you've ever wondered how something as time-sensitive as a newsreel came complete with background music, this disc will answer your questions). Producers in search of ready-made background music could simply license it as needed. With the exception of
Albert Ketèlbey, the composers are almost unknown today; they were journeymen active in the fields of British popular and light classical music. Brief biographical sketches are provided for most of them.