Barbara Moore talking about Vocal Shades and Tones - the album she wrote for De Wolfe music library and the one that has earned her a wonderful reputation as a top composer in the late 60s.

Barbara Moore talking - about Vocal Shades and Tones1

Barbara Moore talking about Vocal Shades and Tones again.  This album made her very famous as one of the top composers and arrangers of the day.  It still sounds fresh, bouncy and a good feel record!

Barbara Moore talking - about Vocal Shades and Tones2

Barbara Moore talks about the difference between ad libbing, scatting and sight reading tricky vocal parts.  Talking to Sarah Angliss and Lorraine Bowen, she explains how her vocal sessions were created in only two takes.

Barbara Moore talking - about ad libbing, scatting and reading music

Barbara Moore talking about recording with Jimi Hendrix and feeding him Shepherd's Pie at the BBC canteen in 1968.  Disapproved by the session musicians he was to receive adoration by the end of the session!

Barbara Moore talking - about Jimi Hendrix and Hey Joe!

Barbara Moore, now 80 yrs old, talking about her first commission - re-orchestrating the Alan Freeman Pick of the Pops theme tune.

Barbara Moore talking - about Alan Freeman's PICK OF THE POPS

Barbara Moore talking about what happened after her first commission for the BBC.

Barbara Moore talking - about commissions for BBC

Barbara Moore talks fondly of composing a whole album of latin music for the De Wolfe Library - this is Hide Away.

Barbara Moore talking - Voices in Latin Hide Away

Barbara Moore talking about composing for De Wolfe music library and writing Steam Heat.  Steam Heat has been featured in Soul Jazz's new TV compilation and out of 36 composers Barbara is the only woman composer!  This just goes to show how pioneering her presence was and still is in the world of popular music!

Barbara Moore talking - Steam Heat

Powerboats is a high octane 70s instrumental theme ready for some cops/cars/chase in New York or downtown Bognor Regis!  Barbara wrote this for De Wolfe music library and it would be great to find out where it ended up!  
The track is featured on the LP-2 A side of Instrumental Works on 'The World of Barbara Moore' Collection 1966-1981 - a Japanese re-release of works in 2001 by EM Records

Powerboats (extract) by Barbara Moore

LATE LATE SHOW - Barbara Moore

This is the Soundcloud page for Barbara Moore - composer and arranger in the 1960s/70s and 80s!  Lorraine Bowen and Sarah Angliss have set up this page and her website to celebrate the woman who famously rearranged Allan Freeman's PICK OF THE POPS theme into a colossal bombastic hit that is played to this day and surprises with its great brass arrangement.

Brief biography

Barbara Moore was born 7th March 1932

One of the great wordless vocalists of our time, Barbara Moore has had an eventful and busy musical life.  Born in Bradford, her father was the gifted jazzman Arthur Birkby and her godfather was Joe Loss, Big Band Leader. 

After a classical education at St Paul’s School for Girls she became a member of The Ladybirds , the best vocal group in the 1960s and regulars on Top of The Pops.  Every Wednesday, Barbara and the group would have backed for all the top pop stars of the day including Sandi Shaw and Jimi Hendrix.  Indeed Barbara was on stage in Vienna with Sandi the night Britain won the Eurovision Song Contest with Puppet on a String.

Barbara tells of the wonderful opportunity she had to start arranging for orchestras and her most well known piece is the re-make of Alan Freeman’s Pick of the Pops Theme.  It’s still used today and sounds as fresh as the day it was written.  Terry Wogan’s first BBC Theme tune was commissioned in 1971 and after that Barbara was highly in demand. She is an historical figure and one of the first women to break into the very masculine world of male musicians.

Barbara went on to form her own vocal group, The Barbara Moore Singers and they made many recordings for films including Modesty Blaise, Bedazzled and indeed Barbara famously sings her characterful wordless vocal solo on The Saint theme tune.

Her voice can be heard across the classic Birds and Brass albums and rarities such as her début for CBS, A Little Moore Barbara with her own trio.

Another big break for Barbara Moore was writing library music for De Wolfe Music Library and her Vocal Shades and Tones album is very rare and sought after and can be found on ebay for around £300!
Barbara Moore’s composition Steam Heat has made its way onto a new compilation this Autumn by Soul Jazz Records called TV SOUND AND IMAGE.  36 tracks and she is the only woman composer.

http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/releases/?id=28326


www.barbaramoore.co.uk

Powerboats (extract) by Barbara Moore

Barbara Moore composer

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