The Malcolm Lockyer Orchestra - Top TV Themes

 

To see in the new year, I have nothing finer than this treat from Malcolm Lockyer and co., with some TV-related tracks from the dim and distant. It starts off strong with the classic 'Hanged Man' by Alan Tew and carries on from there until the B sides makes its appearance, giving this record a softer, more yielding underbelly. Here lies the ubiquitous 'Onedin Line Theme' - no TV Themes record from the 70s is complete without it, and many a band leader was keel-hauled if they dared to leave it out.

The Malcolm Lockyer Orchestra - Top TV Themes

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Isao Tomita - Snowflakes Are Dancing

Now for some Moogy mood music with Isao Tomita, who brings us 'the newest sound of Debussy' although at over 40 years old I rather doubt it. Despite that, this isn't a 'rotten Tomita', hur hur.

It's pretty cool, with a sound like Vangelis, John Michel Jarre and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop which makes for rather a trippy experience. Added to that, the title even alludes to this time of year which is quite neat, but you'll not find any of the usual ghastly seasonal tunes regarding Santa coming to town or children singing Christ-i-an rhyme. The very thought!

Mega

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Play Away

With party season in full swing, there's no better reason for pushing your chairs back than this record, courtesy of classic UK children's series Play Away. Co-hosted by none other than Brian Cant (I've met him and have his autograph!), the series ran throughout the 70s and is a sure classic.

Brian went on to bring us such classics as Dappledown Farm and Bric-a-Brac, a strange junk shop where all the stock began with the same letter of the alphabet. Naturally, the shop went bust due to such a poor business model and its competitor Cash Converters bought up the premises.

Dappledown Farm was eventually repossessed due to fraud and mismanagement, after fellow farmers began making complaints that the livestock Brian was selling at auction were in fact just puppets which gave poor milk and had a litany of health issues relating to the overuse of steroids.

Play Away

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Christmas In The Stars - The Star Wars Christmas Album

A long time ago on a blog far, far away, I picked up this gaudy gem. Starring Anthony Daniels as C3PO and an ARP 2600 synthesizer as R2D2, this record also features Jon Bon Jovi's professional vocal debut on the track 'R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas'.

Needless to say the record deserves to be thrown into The Great Pit of Carkoon, but what with all the Star Wars hype coinciding with the anniversary of the birth of the Son of God (what a crazy story that is), I bring you this festive mix of Christmas cheer and desperate merchandising!

The Star Wars Christmas Album

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Dennis Hayward - Sequence Time Vol.3

Back to the Teacore, and our Dennis is back with more keyboard-based crooning! The series got to volume 3 before Dennis was purchased by a Russian oligarch in order to have him compete with other keyboardists in Nizhny Novgorod.

Dennis wasn't used to cagefighting at first, but became adept at striking his opponent with his elbows in order to preserve his nimble fingers should he ever earn his release. In a move later known as the 'Hayward Hook', Dennis would twist his body to the left and uncoil whilst jumping forwards in order to land a devistating blow, often breaking the jaws or cheekbones of his hapless opponents.

Sequence Time Vol.3

Go here for volume one and here for volume 2!

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Tacitos and his Bouzoukis - Music from the Greek Islands

More musical therapy for sufferers of seasonal affective disorder, and here's a smashing plate from the Aegean!

Starting with the famous Zorba tune, this record has more plucks than a turkey factory and will have you slapping your knees like disobedient wives. Hey, they're passionate down that way!

Music from the Greek Islands

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Klaus Wunderlich - Südamericana 3

Christ, what happened? I only went out for some milk!

I just got back and it's past its 'use by' date as well. I'd have a word with the shopkeeper, but his large black almond-shaped eyes have a very disconcerting effect.

Never mind though; to cheer myself up, I decided to upload this classic Klaus. Yes, up here in the northern hemisphere it's getting jolly cold (especially for July) so we can warm our cockles to the Latin flavour of Klaus' ivory ticklers. I might be persuaded to revive old uploads, so let me know if there's anything you fancy.

Klaus Wunderlich - Südamericana 3

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