The RKO Orchestra - Music from Studio X

Where did the "discriminating listener" turn on the radio dial for "an uninterrupted flow of lovely melodies" in the mid-1950s?

Apparently the Mutual Broadcasting System didn't think there was much choice -- and so was born, on July 9, 1956, Music from Studio X. The program was broadcast daily from a specially constructed studio at WOR in New York -- between 9:05 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday to Saturday and from 1:30 p.m-5 p.m. on Sundays. The show lasted until 1959.

Music from Studio X's menu of lush instrumental and vocal arrangements included many tunes composed especially for the program, including theme music by arranger Joe Leahy (1916-1974). Some of the originals were gathered for an LP on RKO Records, with Leahy acting as music director.

For some reason, this obscure LP was released on CD in 1999 with the cover pictured at the top of this post. Below is a sample, something called Two Minute Melody, which is actually about 15 seconds short of that mark.

Two Minute Melody


If this type of mood music appeals to you, you can pick up a used copy of the Music from Studio X CD for $5-$8 from a number of online sources.