James Paul asked Ray Connolly:

Mr. Connolly--Eleven years ago, I loved listening to your radio play Unimaginable, about the effect John Lennon's murder had on you and your family. I tape-recorded it off the computer, but was wondering if a professional recording of it was available commercially? Thanks for your work!

Ray Connolly I'm afraid not, James. The BBC didn't make as much stuff available then commercially. And even if they had done, it would have been too complicated because we used a couple of Beatle records in the play which were covered for playing under the blanket agreement with the BBC, but which meant that the play could only be broadcast in the UK and nowhere else.

Music publishers and record companies guard their product very carefully and every country has to have a special deal with them if they want to use their songs. Trying to get permission for the use of Imagine in a product outside the BBC would have made it commercially impossible.

Another radio play I wrote recently, Sorry, Boys. You Failed The Audition,, ran into the same problem. In the event a Czech version was translated and broadcast, but I can only assume they didn't use any songs, or they have their own blanket agreement for music.

I'm sorry to disappoint you.

Best

Ray Connolly

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