View source for At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal

"'''At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal'''" (alternatively titled "'''At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal'''") is an [[instrumental]] piece written by [[Brian Fahey (composer)|Brian Fahey]].<ref name="Goldman 2013 413">{{cite book|editor-last1=Goldman|editor-first1=Lawrence|title=Oxford dictionary of national biography, 2005–2008|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=0199671540|page=413}}<!--|accessdate=9 July 2014--></ref> The piece was first released in September 1960 under the name Brian Fahey and His Orchestra.<ref>[https://secondhandsongs.com/work/168502/all Listing at ''Second Hand Songs'']</ref>
It is best known as [[Alan Freeman]]'s [[signature song]], having been used as the theme tune to his [[BBC Light Programme]] ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'' from 1961 to 1966.<ref name="Goldman 2013 413" />  The original version was proposed to Alan by the BBC producer Derek Chinnery. By April 1966 it was replaced as the main theme by "Quite Beside the Point" by the Harry Roberts Sound and written by Cliff Adams. But bits of the original "Swinging Cymbal" theme were used occasionally by Alan as jingles in the show. From 5 April 1970, the show used a new version of "At The Sign of the Swinging Cymbal" arranged by former Ladybirds singer [[Barbara Moore (composer)|Barbara Moore]] and recorded by [[Syd Dale|Brass Incorporated]]. This version is still used by the BBC today.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wqx7 BBC Radio, ''Pick of the Pops'']</ref>
[[The Propellerheads]] modernised the song in their 1998 reimagining "Crash!" which was included on the second soundtrack of the film ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me#.22More Music.22 track listing|Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]''. It was also used for several years as the music for the Radio 1 Top 40, following a brief outing of an alternative remix by [[Norman Cook]].
== Background ==
After joining [[BBC Light Programme]] from [[Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg]] in 1961, Alan Freeman used the piece as his theme music for ''[[Records Around Five]]'' and a year later as the theme to ''[[Pick of the Pops]]''.<ref name="Wallenfeldt 2013 9">{{cite book|editor-last1=Wallenfeldt|editor-first1=Jeff|title=Sounds of Rebellion Music in the 1960s.|date=2013|publisher=Britannica Educational Pub.|location=Chicago|isbn=1615309136|page=9}}<!--|accessdate=9 July 2014--></ref>
== References ==
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[[Category:1960 songs]]
[[Category:1960s instrumentals]]
[[Category:Radio theme songs]]
[[Category:Songs about musical instruments]]