'Keep the Home Fires Burning'

The onset of War, the Blitz and the Blackout curtailed public entertainment and rendered radio reception difficult. Against this background the gramophone and the record industry made a comeback.

The gramophone became a standard feature of every large air raid shelter as people sang along with favourites Vera Lynn, Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson and Flanagan and Allen, danced to Joe Loss and laughed at the antics of Arthur Askey. While Britain resisted Nazi invasion, our shores were breached by American influences, most notably big band swing, epitomised by Glen Miller.

It was not plain sailing all the way for EMI during World War II. Its European markets were disrupted, and many of its recording stars, including Jewish classical musicians, were persecuted and murdered.

One war-time technological advance was recording on magnetic tape, an innovation that was introduced at Abbey Road.

With the return of peace in 1945, EMI sought to refresh its artist roster. It employed Artist and Repertoire Managers, including a young George Martin. to scout for new talent. Before long Josef Locke, Ruby Murray and Max Bygreaves were the new stars in the EMI constellation. The previously standard 78 revolutions per minute was adjusted to 33 and one third, and 45 rpm, giving birth to the 'LP' and the 'Single'. In 1952 the New Musical Express launched the first British record chart. A wind of change was blowing.

music 100 remembers World War 11 and post-war reconstruction with a full scale reconstruction of a London Underground shelter, film of recording artists in uniform entertaining the troops, recordings of Winston Churchill's famous speeches and pictures of the Home Guard Unit at the EMI factory at Hayes. Visitors can also linger at the listening posts in this section of the exhibition and hear those songs that will forever be associated with Britain at war -'We'll Meet Again', 'The White Cliffs of Dover' etc. The transition to the post-war world is signposted by the first LPs, Singles and Hit Parade.