In 1954, Spear was commissioned to write the theme tune to The Grove Family, a BBC series that ran for three years, which is generally regarded as the UK's first real soap opera.
The theme, originally entitled "Lancashire Blues", was commissioned by Peter Taylor at De Wolfe Music for a new television soap opera called Florizel Street.
However, the name of the serial was changed to Coronation Street, because cast member William Roache (Ken Barlow) could not pronounce the title, and because it was felt that the name bore a resemblance to Zoflora, a popular floral concentrated disinfectant.
The new version of the theme also differs by being less strident than the original, with less of an orchestral sound, and having a shorter closing section, which is occasionally 'squashed' by the voice-over announcing the upcoming programme menu across ITV's channels.
[6] A budget cover version by James Wright (a pseudonym for Gordon Franks) and his Orchestra was released on the Embassy label in April 1962, which was also included on a 1965 LP, Top TV Themes.