BBC Space Themes (1978)

Thirty-two years ago tonight my late Mother put this record under the Christmas tree for me, along with Parallel Lines, Another Music In A Different Kitchen by the Buzzcocks and The Man Machine.  She always knew the records I wanted.

However, this record was a surprise as I hadn't asked for it (or knew it existed).  She said she got it as she knew I loved Blake's Seven.  I've not listened to this album for years and only recently dug it back out of the loft due to positive comments received for its sister BBC album, Sporting Themes.

So, three decades later this is a Christmas present for you lot now.  I hope you and yours have a good one.

Mantovani - An Album Of Christmas Music (1958)

An absolute Christmas favourite in our house for many years.  Side one is a little crackly but side two isn't bad at all.  A truly wonderful Christmas record.

Bert Kaempfert - A Drop Of Christmas Spirit (1963)

Another repost from last Christmas.

John Williams - We Wish You A Merry Christmas (1980)

A classic from John "Star Wars" Williams.

Franck Pourcel - The Sound Of Magic (Studio 2 Stereo, 1967)

Not a Christmas one, but a cracker nonetheless.

Something Festive! (1970)

Nice Christmas compilation from those lovely people at A&M.

Paul Mauriat - Salutes The Beatles (1973)

Because it was thirty years ago today.

Christmas At Home (1962)

Another one from last year.  Some great traditional carols and Christmas songs on here.

Swingin' In A Winter Wonderland (1968)

The start of some Christmas reposts from last year.

Martin Denny - Plays (1966)

Includes my favourite version of A Taste Of Honey.  Basically, the same album as Martin Denny!

Ronne Aldrich - This Way 'In' (Phase 4 Stereo, 1968)

Some great stuff on here from the prolific Ronnie Aldrich who seemed to release Phase 4 albums on a weekly basis!

Laurindo Almeida - Viva Bossa Nova! (1962)

One of the best bossa nova albums ever made.  Unfortunately, I only own a mono copy, but that doesn't ditract from the fantastic music too much.   Just the thing for a snowy English day.

Eric Winstone - Supersonic Sounds (1972)

Some nice interpretations on here and a couple of storming Winstone's compositions thrown in for good measure.

Carlo Peretti - Mambos And Cha-Cha-Chas (1959)

Fantastic early Mambo album.  All the tracks are brilliant, particularly the first, Mambo A La Puenti, a six minute stormer!

BBC Sporting Themes (1979)

This is another one of my favourite albums and it's posted to celebrate In-Flight Entertainment being one year old today.  Thanks for all the advice and encouragement from over the last year.

As for this album, yes, it probably is one of the worst covers you'll ever see, but it hides one of the finest collection of tracks on plastic.  Lots of your KPM boys on here:  Johnny Pearson, Keith Mansfield and Brian Bennett.

My personal favourite is the theme to Superstars, Heavy Action by Johnny Pearson.  If you're of a certain age like me then you'll remember Kevin Keegan falling off his bike like it was yesterday.  Fantastic!

Harry Stoneham - Latin Lowrey (1972)

More classic Studio 2 from HS.

Marty Gold - Moog Plays The Beatles (1970)

Another day, another Beatles covers album.  Nice one this.

Nelson Riddle - Music For Wives and Lovers (1967)

A fabulous mid-60s album from Nelson Riddle.

Barry Gray - Music From The 21st Century (1987)

This was an excellent EP issued to us Fanderson members back in the late 80s.  It contains some superb material, some of Gray's best:  White As Snow (otherwise known as TVR-17, which is what I was originally going to call this blog), Theme From UFO, Thunderbirds and the fantastic vocal version of Captain Scarlet recorded by The Spectrum which included drummer Keith Forsey who famously went on to co-write Flashdance and Don't You Forget About Me by the Simple Minds.

Strings For Pleasure - Play The Music of John, Paul, George and Ringo (1975)

MFP magic from Strings for pleasure.

The Mystic Moods Orchestra - Love Token (1972)

Another cool Sunday morning record.  This one drives my wife mad for some reason.  Maybe because I'm a man of habit and play it every weekend! 

Frank Barber - Swingin' Percussion (1966)

Another S2S favourite of mine.

Edit, March 2011:    Thanks to those who have contacted me regarding the duplication of Spanish Flea.  Here's Creole Carnival, the missing track.

Roy Budd - Is The Sound Of Music (1967)

Now I can't stand the film, but I love this album by Roy, produced by Tony Hatch.

Riz Ortolani - The Valachi Papers (1973)

One of my favourite Sunday morning records.

Les Baxter - Thinking Of You (1954)

Ah, some nice dreamy Les from '54.

The Phase 4 World Of Thrillers (1971)

Nice Phase 4 album of Spy Themes.

Alan Moorhouse And His Bond Street Brigade (1972)

Best known for the fantastic Funky Fever. 

The Hollyridge Strings - Exciting Instrumentals From The Beatles Songbook (1968)

Stu Phillips and the Hollyridge Strings tackle the Beatles.

Paul Mauriat - A Taste Of (1966)

A little taste of PM.

The Zero Zero Seven Band - James Bond Thrillers (1965)

Cool James Bond covers on Marble Arch.

Richard Harvey - The Theme From Terrahawks (1983)

For the last year or so I'm been pretty successful in brainwashing my four-year-old son into liking stuff I do.  He loves music, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Thunderbirds, Back To The Future, etc.  Over the weekend I thought I'd try Terrahawks.  He wasn't to impressed with the DVD - and neither was I, to be honest, I'd forgotten how much it had dated - but he loved the theme tune, so I dug my 12" single out and encoded it for your listening pleasure.

OK, so Richard Harvey is no Barry Gray, but this is the beginning of the 80s and is a theme very much of its time. 

Apologies as  there is a slight jump but it doesn't detract too much.

(More) Late Night Sounds In Stereo (Marble Arch) (1968 and 1969)

Two lovely Marble Arch double albums contains some great stuff from Tony Hatch, Cyril Stapleton and John Schroeder.

Late Night

More Late Night

Norrie Paramor - Soul Coaxing (1968)

Great version of Soul Coaxing.

Larry Page Orchestra - Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970)

Another gem from the bespectacled genius.

Alan Tew - Rosie (1968)

Alan Tew - Rosie.

Ennio Morricone - A Fistful Of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More (1968)

One of the ways I like to pass my time is listening to Titoli while our cat and the one next door stare each other out on our garden wall.  "We can fight!"

Rediffusion Stereo Sampler (1972)

Snatched from the jaws of queasy listening by the magnificent Birds 'N' Brass.

Nelson Riddle - The Contemporary Sound Of... (1968)

One of my favourite Nelson Riddle albums this.  Some great takes on Light My Fire and Gentle On My Mind and a storming Stoned Soul Picnic.  Here are the UK and US sleeves.

Barry Gray - Space 1999 - Original Television Soundtrack (1976)

Another gem from Barry Gray, the soundtrack to Season One of Space 1999.  Gray only scored the first season and then dropped out for the second series.  This ended a long-run of soundtracks Gray had done for Gerry Anderson including classics such as Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90 and UFO.

Apart from the main titles there are some corkers on here, particularly Black Sun and Death's Other Dominion.  Genius!

Don Tracy - A Night With The Voodoo Family (1965)

A wonderful Studio 2 oddity, co-written and produced by the great Brian Fahey.  Lovely stuff.

Arthur Smith - Original Guitar Boogie (1974)

Not usually a fan of guitar albums, but this is on Rediffusion.  Some nice tracks on here.

Pete Moore - Plays The Best Of Bacharach (1970)

Here's something for my wife who is forty today.  What better than some Pete Moore from 1970.

Ronnie Aldrich - Destination Love (1969)

What the hell, it's Bank Holiday weekend so let's have some more Phase 4 Aldrich.

Ronnie Aldrich - Two Pianos Today! (1967)

Two Pianos Today!

Alan Tew Orchestra - The Magnificent Westerns (1969)

Alan Tew Orchestra - The Magnificent Westerns

Vic Flick Sound - West Of Windward (1968)

Fanbloodytastic.  Not much else to say really.

Geoff Love and his Orchestra - Themes For Super Heroes (1979)

Another cracker from Geoff Love.  Nearly in the 80s with this one!

Morton Stevens Orchestra - Hawaii Five-0 - Television Soundtrack (1968)

Fabulously funky soundtrack from Morton Stevens.  A really great album and there's so much more than the theme on here to enjoy.  Ignore at your peril!