The Very Best of BBC DVDs...

A Twitter comment about the blandness of early BBC DVD branding prompted someone to recall the "Best of Doctor Who" DVD covers I did a few years ago. That post is here.

So realising that the original gag hadn't gone far enough, I did some broader versions of them with other subjects. I think the joke has finally worn a bit thin now.

Christmas with the TV's Survivors

It's nearly Christmas again and the shops are full of festive merchandise and cheer. Well they are round my patch...

You may recall the LP "A Very Survivors Christmas" from a few years back based on the Terry Nation series of the 70s. (Not that remake thing with Julie Graham).

Well here's more from that particular selection box.. 

Chocolate According to 70s Cult TV...

Chocolate is always good. 

It's even better when its courtesy of your TV favourites from the 1970s...

Urgent Message from Dalek Control on Skaro...

Terry Nation and probably David Whitaker wrote three Dalek annual-type books in the sixties and they have become much sought after collector's items.

There was supposed to be a fourth one but it didn't get published. 

Apparently it was too downbeat for the blossoming swinging sixties... 

Here's some pages anyway.

Click for larger

Click for larger

Available From All Good Record Shops

There were some very odd releases from BBC Records over the years. Not content with providing licence payers with selections from their TV and radio output, the Aunty Beeb label gave us everything from collections of sound effects (Who can forget their 'Off Beat Sound Effects' LP complete with its stern verbal cues) to 'BBC Space Themes' (with a really lightweight cover of the Star Trek theme that appeared to have been performed by an orchestra bereft of bows for their violins).

A particular favourite is 'BBC Detective Themes' with one of the very few recordings of the third season 'Starsky and Hutch' theme that no one remembers. It also had the energetic Kathy Kirby belting out "Leave this man alone!" on the theme from 'Adam Adamant Lives'. At the time I bought the album, I'd never heard of the Victorian adventurer but the camp lyrics left me wanting to do anything but leave him alone.

Here's a selection of some of BBC Records & Tapes' lesser known releases. The 'Survivors' Christmas LP was hastily withdrawn after it was spotted that Lucy Fleming's name had been spelt wrong. You couldn't get the staff then either....

1984 - Read by Derek Griffiths

The Sound of Moog Synthesizer Funk

Doomwatch Sound Effects Vol. 7

A Very Survivors Christmas