The Young Ones is one of the greatest situation comedies ever produced, even though it was not a conventional sit com. It was offbeat, anarchic, surreal and as far as my younger self was concerned, absolutely brilliant.
Broadcast between 1982 and 1984 on the BBC, the premise was simple. Four students all at the same University (called Scumbag College) share a house but as far as the individuals are concerned, they have little in common. These were Vyvyan, medical student and borderline psychopath. Rick, left leaning attention seeking radical who is shown leaving the sociology department in the credits. Neil, a hippy who cooks everyone else’s meals but is bullied by the rest of the house and then there is Mike. He might not be a student because in the opening credits of the first series, he is seen giving a member of the University staff some cash in what looks like a bribe. At no point at they actually shown being in lectures or rarely leaving the house. There was also fifth member of the house hold who would appear in the background, never interacting with the others or even saying anything. No one is quite sure who the person playing this role actually was. It just seemed like a good idea to have a figure in the background that no one talked about or have an explanation as to why they were there.
The series also featured Alexi Sayle in several supporting roles as well as numerous guests who would go on to great success themselves. These included Huge Laurie, Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French and Paul Merton. The show was also able to acquire a higher budget by coming under the heading of a variety show. To achieve this, there was a music guest in each show except one. In that one, there was a lion tamer.
The show was also full of incidental music. Some of this composed and recorded by Peter Brewis, who had performed with the band Magnet, who appeared in the original Wicker Man film in 1973. There also lots of music used the background including well established songs, obscure tracks and library music.
The first part of this post is what a soundtrack LP could have been like if it had been released in the early 1980s when the show was originally broadcast. This would have included most of the songs performed by the bands that appeared in each episode. As this imagined record would have been released by try BBC’s own in house record label, they would not have used the recordings made for the show. Some of the bands had actually performed live.
The compiler, I suspect would have used the original recordings made by each artist. I believe that the BBC would have edited out the introduction to this recording of Dr Marten’s Boots so as to get rid of the profanity. The version of House of Fun by Madness used in the show was the single version. That person has an abrupt piano chord ending, unlike the LP version which fades out.
Some recordings would not make the cut, as these seemed to have been recorded for the show and not available anywhere else. The most prominent was a cover of Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues by Ken Bishop’s Nice Twelve. This was included in the second episode of the second series but this was a band made up of Chris Difford (Squeeze), Jools Holland (Squeeze), Martin Dobson (session player), Peter Brewis (music director of the show), Rowland Rivron (comedian/musician), Simon Brint (comedian/musician) and Stewart Copeland (The Police) which was recorded especially for the show and has never been officially released.
The second was included in series one, episode two and was called ‘Coo Coo Daddy Long Legs’. It was performed by Ronnie Golden, once of The Fabulous Poodles dressed to look like Buddy Holly, hanging upside down and still in a parachute. The last was another by Alexei Sayle. It was also in series two,, episode two and was called ‘Stupid Noises’.
Side 1 (Series 1)
- Eleven Plus Eleven – Nine Below Zero
- Dr Marten’s Boots – Radical Posture
- House of Fun (Single Mix) – Madness
- Jackie Wilson Said – Dexy Midnight Runners
- You’re Not My Climate – Rip, Rig & Panic
Side 2 (series 2)
- Ace Of Spades – Motörhead
- Nasty – The Damned
- Moonlight Romance – Amazulu
- Our House – Madness
- Body Talk – John Otway
If there was a deluxe edition of the compilation for the CD era, the second disc would include songs that were used in the Young Ones TV Show has background music. I imagine that this would been a niche release on the always reliable Cherry Red Records.
- Rock Around The Clock – Bill Haley & the Comets
- Travelin’ Light – Cliff Richard
- Skin Tight – Paul Keogh (Bruton Music – Library Piece)
- Souq – Ali Ishfahan And George Farid (Library music)
- I’m Bustin’ My Rocks (Working On The Chain Gang) – Roy C
- Fire – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
- Bermuda Triangle – Barry Manilow
- Flash Barrier – John Hawksworth (Library Music)
- The Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Henry Hall
- Les Patineurs Valse (The Skater’s Waltz) Op. 183 – Emile Waldteufel
- Good Day Sunshine – The Beatles
- I’m Not A Juvenile Delinquent – Frankie Lemon & The Teenagers
- Bluebird – Alan Hawkshaw (Library Music)
- Cinderella Rockafella – Alan Moorhouse & His Bond Street Brigade
- You’ll Always Find Me I The Kitchen At Parties – Joan Lewie
- Ain’t Nothin’ But A House Party – The Paper Dolls
- The Things That Dreams Are Made Of – The Human League
- It’s My Party – Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
- Mama Told Me (Not To Come) – Three Dog Night
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) – Tight Fit
- The Day The Rains Came – Helen Shapiro
- Move It (1958 Version) – Cliff Richard & The Drifters
- At The Sign of there Swinging Cymbal – Brass Incorporated
- Electric Gypsies – Steve Hillage
- Comedy Cues (Comic) – Dave Richmond (Library music)
- Twist & Shout – Brian Poole & The Tremeloes
- Funky Feeling – Miki Antony
- The Good Life Theme – Burt Rhodes
- Chase Sequence – Don Banks
Not all of the music would be included due to limitations on the CD and these are listed below.
Morning Has Broken – John Gregory
Inferno Galop – Jacques Offenbach
All I Have To Do Is Dream – Unknown (From 20 Golden Hits of the 50s LP)
Introit Puer Natus Est – Gregorian Chant Vol III No 1 – Unknown
Greensleeves – Jack Shaindlin
If you wish to read more about the music contained in the show, check out the following links.