In the early years of its existence, the BBC took its role as guardian of the nation's morality very seriously indeed. Between 1931 and 1957 dozens of records were banned from being broadcast across the UK. Looking back today some of those decisions seem quaint - Art Baxter And His Rock n' Roll Sinners, Rock You Sinners (1957), banned for religious overtones - while others are more puzzling. Don Cornell's Hold My Hand (1954), for example, was banned for comparing his girlfriend to the 'kingdom of heaven'. Amongst the most bizarre was the decision in 1942 to ban Bing Crosby's Deep in the Heart of Texas on the grounds that its infectious melody might cause wartime factory-hands to bang their tools in time with the song, instead of working.

British writer Spencer Leigh has collected 75 records banned by the BBC into a 3 CD compilation, and the result is a fascinating glimpse into the shifting social and theological concerns of years past. Join me as I dip into this bygone era, when Frank Sinatra struck terror into the hearts of committees around the world, and being in 'bad taste' was the kiss of death.