Paddy Kingsland (born 30 January 1947) is a composer of electronic music best known for his incidental music for science fiction series on BBC radio and television whilst working at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Educated at Eggar's Grammar School in Alton, Hampshire, he joined the BBC as a tape editor before becoming a studio manager for BBC Radio 1. In 1970 he joined the Radiophonic Workshop, where he remained until 1981. His initial work was mostly signature tunes for BBC radio and TV programmes. He later recorded incidental music for programmes including The Changes, two versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the second radio series and the TV adaptation), and several serials of Doctor Who. His work on the latter series included incidental music for several serials in the early 1980s.
Other well-known series with music by Kingsland are Around the World in 80 Days and Pole to Pole, both travel series by Michael Palin. Kingsland also wrote music for many schools' television series, including Words and Pictures, Rat-a-tat-tat, Watch, Numbercrew, Storytime, English Express, Music Makers, Hotch Potch House and the Look and Read stories "Joe and the Sheep Rustlers" and "The Boy from Space". He also wrote music for the CITV series “Blips”, produced by Ragdoll Productions.
Since leaving the BBC, Kingsland has composed music for the KPM music library, television, commercials and corporate videos. He owns his own studio, PK Studios.
In 1973, Fourth Dimension, a compilation of his early signature tune work for the Radiophonic Workshop, was released. In 2002, his incidental scores for the Doctor Who serials "Meglos" and "Full Circle" featured as part of the Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop compilation series. KPM has issued eight albums of his library music work.
Discography Commercial albums Year Album details 1973 Fourth Dimension Released 1973 Label: BBC Records Formats: LP 1974 Supercharged! Released 1974 Label: EMI Formats: LP 1976 Swag Released 1976 Label: EMI Formats: LP Note: Written and produced with Richard Bellevue-de Sylva2002 Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Volume 4: Meglos & Full Circle Released 2002 Label: BBC Music Formats: CD2018The Changes Released 21 April 2018 Label: Silva Screen Formats: 2-LP (limited), download2020Doctor Who – The Visitation Released 1 May 2020 Label: Silva Screen Formats: CD, Vinyl
Stock music library albums Year Album details1978Moogerama Released 1978 Label: Amphonic Music Format: LP1983The Jingle Machine Released 1983 Label: KPM Format: LP1984Storytellers Released 1984 Label: KPM Format: LP, CD1985The Main Chance Released 1985 Label: KPM Format: LP1986The Effects Machine Released 1986 Label: KPM Format: LP, CD1988Sound Images Released 1988 Label: Themes International Music Format: CD1989Street Life Released 1989 Label: KPM Format: CD1991The Jingle Factory Released 1991 Label: KPM Format: CD1993Nature Released 1993 Label: KPM Format: CD1996In Character Released 1996 Label: KPM Format: CD1998Nature + Wildlife Released 1998 Label: Themes International Music Format: CD2012Retro Electro Released 15 March 2012 Label: Universal Publishing Production Music Format: CD
Singles Year Title Label 1974 "Spinball" (Theme From T.V. Series "Rugby Special") / "Wobulator Rock" EMI 1976 "Wobulator Rock" / "Get Back" EMI "London" (Radio London Theme) / "In the Bag" EMI Music From "The Changes" (BBC-1 Television Series) BBC Records
See also List of ambient music artists
References
External links Paddy Kingsland's Website Book: 'Rocking At The BBC (Still in love with Auntie)'
Information about Paddy Kingsland and PK Studios Blips Article on Paddy Kingsland's score for Look and Read The Boy From Space Marcus Parker-Rhodes, an animator working with Paddy Kingsland on several School's series Cut-Out, an animation studio working with Paddy Kingsland on several School's series Number Crew Memories of the Workshop