BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: Woody Herman

18/02/1984

Woody Herman

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Woody Herman

Roy Plomley's castaway is jazz band leader Woody Herman

Roy Plomley's castaway is jazz band leader Woody Herman.

Woody Herman played saxophone and clarinet with various bands until 1936, when the Isham Jones Band in which he was working broke up and he organised a group of his own with the key players. Since then he has led many bands, most of which have been called 'herds'. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island, but he does not include his most famous, Woodchopper's Ball.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Moonlight In Vermont by The Johnny Smith Quintet
Book: Music is My Mistress by Duke Ellington
Luxury: Jaguar XJ6

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Americanisms

Americanisms

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Americanisms

Translating American words across the Atlantic, how English language changes over time.

Alistair Cooke examines the Indian roots of some American vocabulary and the variations between some American words and their English usage. 

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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