Neil Richardson is the man behind some of the most evocative arrangements and compositions of all time. 

Neil ranks up there with the best arrangers this country has ever produced.  He created much of the BBC Radio Orchestra's output during the 70s and 80s, and has worked with many of the leading orchestras in the world, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 

If you listened to any decent radio during the 60s, 70s and 80s, you will have undoubtedly heard plenty of Neil's work, even though you may not have known he was the master behind the craft.  Even if you never listened to the BBC Light Programme or Radio 2, you will have still have heard Neil Richardson - he is the man who created the Mastermind theme tune, "Approaching Menace".  He was also musical conductor for "Four Weddings And A Funeral".

Theme tunes and compositions aside, it is worth taking a close look at his work with the BBC Radio Orchestra.  Along with other great arrangers during this period, such as John Fox and David Snell, Neil helped to create a unique sound and took full advantage of the wealth of talent available to him during his BBC years.  Quite simply, the arrangements he produced for the BBC are like no other.  The sensitivity and feeling he puts into a piece of music ensures listeners are enchanted and moved by his work.  Whether it be a classical piece or his own take on a more recent song, Neil always manages to achieve perfection.  We say this without any need for qualification.

In the late 80s, Neil got together with his old friend Mike Redway to produce the BBC Radio 2 show, "Those Beautiful Ballad Years", the songs from which Mike's own label, Redrock Records, later released on CD.  This was a truly magical combination.  One of the finest voices of the glory days of radio, together with its most talented arranger.  The result was a unique set of sensitive love songs and lovely old ballads - a recording that its owners treasure.

The real tragedy is that much of Neil's work is owned and controlled by music librarys, including the BBC.  The BBC must possess thousands of recordings of its Radio Orchestra, many of which feature Neil Richardson.  During the 70s, he was a central part of so many shows: String Sound, a half hour show devoted to the BBC Radio Strings; the Radio Orchestra show, a weekly fest of good music, presented by Steve Race; and numerous gala concerts and other wonderful broadcasts.  It is about time, surely, that these were repeated so that lovers of Neil's music, together with a whole new audience, can delight in the incredible arrangements.

We at Radiocafe are lucky to have a large collection of these recordings. Unfortunately, copyright laws prevent us with sharing these with the world.  However, his arrangements on Mike Redway's "Beautiful Ballad Years" CD are still available to purchase, and you can take a listen to these on Mike's page on Radiocafe here. A few of Neil's arrangements are also available on some commercial recordings, a small selection which we have located and made available from this page.  Take a listen to his arrangements of some of the popular songs from the sixties and seventies, and hear for yourself just how clever, and sensitive, his arrangements are.  These clips really do not do the great man justice, but do provide a taster of the skill and wizardry of Neil Richardson.

Neil recently moved from his Sussex home to Spain, and we are sorry to see a genius such as him leave our shores. But regardless of where Neil resides, his music occupies a place in the hearts and souls of all those who have had the privilege and pleasure of hearing his music.

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