Ron Goodwin: Jet Journey (1952)

My early flights were all on turboprops, and it was not until my first transatlantic crossing that I finally experienced a large jet. Jets themselves are not new. The first commercial jet flight took off on 2 May 1952, when the de Havilland Comet entered BOAC service and flew from London Heathrow to Johannesburg. From that moment on, they have shaped the story of modern aviation.

Ron Goodwin’s Jet Journey was composed that time, so it reflects the excitement of the “early days” when the globe was shrinking. Suddenly the far-flung corners of the world were no longer long sea voyages but were a few hours in a pressurised cabin.

Listeners will know composer and conductor Ron Goodwin (1925-2003) for several important film scores, including Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, 633 Squadron, Where Eagles Dare and the published version of The Battle of Britain. (William Walton wrote the original music, but most of this was not used). And then there was the 'Miss Marple Theme' used in the films made by the redoubtable Margaret Rutherford. Besides his work for the film industry, he has written many orchestral miniatures. These include one-time favourites such as the Puppet Serenade, The Venus Waltz, and the Headless Horseman. His style blends melodic clarity, rhythmic drive, and brilliant orchestration into a distinctive voice.

Jet Journey is quintessential light music. It is professionally written, exciting, and optimistic. At that time people believed the future was bright, fast, and incredibly glamorous. Goodwin has used his skill to create a piece of music that creates an image of “height” and “airiness.” Even the sound of the jet engine starting up is mimicked in the opening bars. The final result is a miniature tone‑poem of flight - stylish, forward‑looking, and unmistakably Goodwin.

While Jet Journey captures the spirit of the mid-50s, it was actually recorded in September 1952, just months after the first commercial jet took flight. It was originally released in the UK in early 1953 on the Parlophone label (R 3612), paired with The Last Rhapsody. The version many collectors recognize - the 1955 release on the Coral label (9-61504) - was the American debut that helped bring Goodwin to a global audience. On that US pressing, the ‘flip’ side featured Summertime in Venice, the lush theme from the Katharine Hepburn film Summertime (1955). Both tracks have since been remastered and remain staples of light music anthologies today.

Listen to Jet Journey on YouTube, here.