PM The Upshares, Downshares theme tune

Upshares, Downshares, the PM programme's daily business and economics slot with Nils Blythe, charted the economic crisis daily from November 2008. Once the listeners (David Cartwright in fact) had named the slot, we began to play the original theme from Upstairs, Downstairs ... but then, unbidden, listeners began sending in their own renditions and interpretations of the tune.

Almost a hundred versions later, and the slot had developed into one of the stranger corners of PM. But with the UK officially declared out of recession in January 2010, it was logical to bring the curtain down on Upshares.

Eddie wrote about the end of the feature on the PM blog.

Here then are all the versions PM has played over the year, from crumhorns to the carillon at York Minster, covering Bee Gees to Bach to Elvis, and featuring some very special versions recorded with the original composer Alexander Faris, playing on solo piano and conducting the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

A number of listeners have inquired about a charity CD release of these themes. The idea is currently under consideration, but in the meantime, people wishing to make a donation are invited to contribute to Children in Need.

Charting the recession in song

 

 

• Reggae version

  By Jeremy Bentliff. Aired 11th May 2009.

  Hear Jeremy Bentliff's Reggae version

   

• Banjo version

  By Dr Martin Johnson. Aired 18th May 2009.

  Hear Dr Martin Johnson's Banjo version

   

• Jazz waltz version

  By Oliver Sheen. Aired 25th May 2009.

  Hear Oliver Sheen's Jazz waltz version

   

• Spaghetti Western version

  By Jeremy Bentliff. Aired 1st June 2009.

  Hear Jeremy Bentliff's Spaghetti Western version

   

• Classical guitar version

  By Emma Vinyard. Aired 8th June 2009.

  Hear Emma Vinyard's Classical guitar version

   

• Stylophone version

  By Caroline Jackson. Caroline writes: "Incarcerated as I am, with a badly broken arm, I wanted to contribute to the upshares theme ... but what can I do (musically speaking, you understand) being one handed? And it came to me ... the trusty stylophone – a present from my somewhat wry but ever thoughtful other half". Aired 15th June 2009.

  Hear Caroline Jackson's Stylophone version

   

• Organ version

  The 1802 (George Pike England) organ in St George Colegate, Norwich, played by Anne Duart. Aired 22nd June 2009.

  Hear Anne Duart's organ version

   

• Virtual Wurlitzer version

  By Richard Mack. Aired 29th June 2009.

  Hear Richard Mack's virtual Wurlitzer version

   

• Heavy Metal version

  Heavy metal version by Nick Roesen. Aired 6th July 2009.

  Hear Nick Roesen's Heavy Metal version

   

• Vibraphone version

  Vibraphone version by Janet Fulton. Aired 13th July 2009.

  Hear Janet Fulton's Vibraphone version