THE AVENGERS & Other Top Sixties TV Themes

Here's an excellent 2-disk set of TV soundtrack themes as rendered by Britain's top EZ bandleaders. Most of these shows never made it to our shores here in the US of A so this is pretty unfamiliar territory for me, but it's hard to go wrong with '60s soundtracks, especially ones of the sci-fi, action and crime genres.

There's some famous names here: jazzman Roy Budd ("Get Carter" soundtrack), John Keating of "Space Experience" Space-Age/Moog fame, and Ron Grainer of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, whose sketch of the "Dr Who" theme melody was eventually realized by Delia Derbyshire.

I cannot stop impulsively singing the "Stingray" theme, much to the annoyance of anyone around me: "Stingraaaaay...STINGray!" You'll be doing it too, I tells ya...

Disc: 1 1. Avengers - Laurie Johnson Orchestra 2. Man in a Suitcase - Ron Grainer & His Orchestra 3. Thunderbirds - Barry Gray Orchestra 4. Dr. Who - Eric Winstone And His Orchestra 5. Old Ned (Theme from Steptoe & Son) - Ron Grainer 6. Who Do You Think You Are Kidding... Mr. Hitler? (Dad's Army) - Bud Flanagan 7. Captain Scarlet - Barry Gray Orchestra 8. Theme from Z-Cars - Johnny Keating & His Orchestra 9. Saint - Cyril Stapleton & The Eliminators 10. Departments - Cyril Stapleton Orchestra 11. Joe 90 - Barry Gray Orchestra 12. Crossroads Theme - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 13. Lucky Stars [Theme from "Thank Your Lucky Stars"] 14. Light Flight (Theme from Take Three Girls) - Pentangle 15. Stingray - Barry Gray Orchestra, Gary Miller 16. High Wire [Theme from Danger Man] - Bob Leaper Orchestra 17. Champions - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 18. Hancock [Hancock's Tune] - Derek Scott Music 19. Forsyte Saga Theme - Cyril Stapleton 20. On the Ball [World Cup TV Theme] - The John Schroeder Orchestra 21. Power Game - Cyril Stapleton Orchestra 22. Little Sutie (Theme from Dr, Finlay's Casebook) - Les Reed Strings 23. Fireball (Theme from Fireball Xl5) - Flee-Rekkers 24. Maigret Theme - The Eagles 25. Out of This World - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 26. No Hiding Place - Laurie Johnson Orchestra 27. Fugitive Theme - The John Schroeder Orchestra 28. Theme from 'Who Dun It' - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 29. W. Somerset Maugham - Cyril Stapleton Orchestra 30. Happy Joe [Theme from 'Comedy Playhouse'] - Ron Grainer

Disc: 2
1. Scarlett [Theme from 'Scarlett Hill'] - Peter Knight Orchestra 2. How Soon [Theme from the Richard Boone Show] - Jackie Trent 3. THW Willow Waltz (Tim Frazer's Theme) - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 4. Mr. Rose - Roy Budd 5. Doctors - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 6. Theme from Sam Benedict - Johnny Keating & His Orchestra 7. Ben Casey - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 8. Sir Francis Drake - Piccadilly Stings 9. Perry Mason - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 10. Our House - Piccadilly Stings 11. Who Is Sylvia? - Charlie Drake 12. Latin Quarter [Theme from 'Riviera Police'] - Laurie Johnson Orchestra 13. Ghost Squad - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 14. Echo Four-Two - Laurie Johnson Orchestra 15. Our Love Story [From TV Series 'Love Story'] - Sounds Orchestral 16. Theme from 'The Naked Story' (Somewhere in the Night) - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 17. Sucu Sucu [From TV Series 'Top Secret'] - Laurie Johnson Orchestra 18. Casablanca (Theme from Crane) - Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen 19. Oliver Twist Theme - The Eagles 20. Carlos' Theme [From 'The Sentimental Agent'] - Johnny Keating 21. Spies Theme - Cyril Stapleton 22. Deputy - Laurie Johnson 23. Man Alive - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 24. Memories of Summer (Love Story Theme) - Tony Hatch & His Orchestra 25. Lunar Walk [Theme from 'Thank Your Lucky Stars'] - Johnny Hawksworth Orchestra 26. West End (From Whicker's World) - Laurie Johnson 27. Three Live Wires - Bob Wallis 28. Quick Before They Catch Us - Paddy, Klaus & Gibson 29. That's Me over Here (Ronnie Corbett's Theme) - Cyril Stapleton 30. Theme from 'Peyton Place' - Jack Dorsey Orchestra

THE AVENGERS & Other Top Sixties TV Themes (disk 1)
THE AVENGERS & Other Top Sixties TV Themes (disk 2) .

Thanks to Chris Swank!

MOOOOOOOOO...

Mike Sophia's song "Cow" was one of my favorite songs from the 2007 edition of the 365 Days Project, a wacky ode to our bovine friends sporting lo-fi Casio-phonic production, ridiculous sound effects, and an irresistible sing-along melody. But who was this cracked genius?

Well, it looks like Los Angeles' Mr. Sophia might be on his way to stardom. A month or so ago, he put up a

MySpace page

featuring a few other songs besides "Cow." None are as wonderfully weird as "Cow" but "I Love You" is now my second-favorite Mike Sophia song due it's catchy tune.

And in a new indie film "Adventures of Power" that's apparently doing quite well on the festival circuit he performs - yes! - a new (if too short) live version of his sure-to-be Oscar winning song:



Sophia's method of handing his demo cd to location film crews he sees around town appears to be working.

Or maybe he just cast love spells on the film crews...
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Grand Nutz Da Ladies Man

Our friends at PlusTapes sayeth:

"Here’s the story:

I was working at a record store on the south side of Chicago a few years back, and this kid walks in and asks if we sell local music. So I try to point him towards our local section, but he’s like “naw…I make music.” So I ask him “Oh are you a rapper? Do you make beats?” He replies…”No, I sing R&B.” And he hands me a 90 minute Maxell cassette tape with a photo of himself on the cover and the words Grand Nutz Da Ladies Man on the cassette label. With that, he walked out of the store. So, of course, I immediately put it on.

What happened next was something magical. All the crusty jazz dudes perked up their ears and came up by the counter and listened with me as we heard this cacophony of failed R&B acapellas sung by someone who is most obviously tone deaf. But the thing is….he’s 100% committed. There’s Boys II Men harmonies, ad-lib rubber duckie rip offs, scat sung TV theme song flubs (Flinstones, Scooby Doo) and even a few moments of Karaoke style bliss as he puts on a boombox in the background and attempts to sing along. It’s unbelievably precious."

The pressing is already sold out, but thanks to the generous folk at PlusTapes, we have a copy of it for y'all here:

Grand Nutz Da Ladies Man

It really is as wonderful as that description. Apart from serving as a peek into one bedroom superstar's dreams, the 40 minute collection also dredges up memories of half-forgotten '90s r'n'b stars like Guy, Adina Howard, Boyz II Men, and Luther Vandross. He also throws in oldies like "Money (That's What I Want)", and yes, cartoon themes.

PlusTapes is an awesome cassette label. Yep, some folks are still making tapes. You will definitely want to dig out that old boombox because their catalog is spectacular: early '70s Korean funk, '60 French groovy girls, Singapore surf, Chicago improv craziness, Chris Connelly from Ministry...

HARRY PARTCH VS LLYN FOULKES

Yes folks, this weekend in Los Angeles it's a steel-cage death-match between two California prize eccentrics whose idiosyncratic music is performed on theatrical home-made instruments.

In this corner: Harry Partch, dead, former hobo who spent the '30s and '40s hopping trains, traveling around the country in pursuit of a buck and a meal, composer of songs that sometimes reflected this background, creator of fantastical micro-tonal instruments, the subject of a concert this Fri and Sat downtown at the REDCAT performed on said instruments, lovingly restored.

Harry Partch: "Barstow: Eight Hitchiker Inscriptions"

from the out-of-print '60s classic "The World of Harry Partch," tho a remake from 1982 by his ensemble can be found on "The Harry Partch Collection, Vol 2."

And in this corner, Llyn Foulkes, alive, one of the "Visionary Artists From L.A." featured at the Hammer Museum in Westwood whose non-conformist attitudes have kept the art-world from embracing them, who will be performing original songs inspired by his Spike Jones and swing-infused youth this Friday night on his "Machine," a one-man band riot of honk-horns, percussion, organ pipes, and a bass string.

Llyn Foulkes: "Top of Topanga"
from the mini-album "Lyn Foulkes and his Machine Live!"

"Barstow" is a classic gateway-drug to strange music: catchy melodies, fascinating lyrics and back-story. Play it for your Top 40-brainwashed loved ones.

So, now you know where I'll be this weekend. Who will be the winner? You!
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