Off The Record

Here is the final cover art for the Highly Esteemed Goon Show Classics LP’s

we conclude the series with the 11th and final Goon Show LP released by the Beeb until the volumes were later repackaged and restored for CD by Ted Kendall the demon Goon Show restorer.

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 11

Label: BBC (Distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Polygram)

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

PRT/BBC Catalogue Number REB 565 (I don’t know if Polygram ever manufactured this locally.  If you know by posting in the comment section or via the normal e-mail address.)

Compilation co-ordinated by William Grierson (from episodes selected by Spike Milligan?)

Cover art by Hunt Emerson

Side 1

1985 (Original performance – first transmitted 4/6/1955 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Bruce Campbell

Script by Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: It Had to be You (Max Geldray) and Shake, Rattle and Roll (Ray Ellington Quartet)

Side 2

Shifting Sands (first transmitted 24/1/57 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with guest Jack Train

With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade

Produced by Pat Dixon

songs: Isn’t it Lovely To be Caught In The Rain (Max Geldray) and All Of You/All Of Me (Medley: Ray Ellington Quartet)

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The Goons give their warped twist on George Orwell’s famous novel (more to the point, the BBC’s TV version of the book), with gullible Neddie taking on the role of BBC (that is Big Brother Corporation) worker number 846 Winston Seagoon.

Side two sees a guest appearance by cast member from the BBC’s earlier radio series starring Tommy Handley (It’s That Man Again – or ITMA) – Jack Train reprising his role of Colonel Chinstrap in a tale of the shifting sands of Woziristan.

1985 can be found in it’s pristine version on The Goon Show Compendium Volume 2, while Shifting Sands can be found on The Goon Show Volume 5

And there will be more where that came from. (no there’s not.  This is now the end of the series.) We return to normal very soon.

 

Whatever you do, don’t accept an offer of Blackpool Rock from Eccles…

…or the results could be explosive.

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 10

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

Label: BBC (distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Polygram)

BBC/PRT Catalogue Number REB 481

Record Co-Ordinated and Produced by Mike Harding (from Episodes selected by Spike Milligan)

Cover Art by Hunt Emerson

Side 1

The Whistling Spy Enigma (original transmission: 28/9/54 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Production by Peter Eton

Songs: I Don’t Know Why (Max Geldray) and ABC Boogie (Ray Ellington)

Side 2

I Was Monty’s Treble (original Transmission: 10/11/58 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Production: John Browell (Credited on record as produced by Stella Waters for John Browell)

Songs: There’ll Never Be Another You (Max Geldray) and Sunday (Ray Ellington)

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The 10th Volume in the series involves intrigue, outrigue, some exploding boots and a slew of Field Marshall Montgomeries.

A restored and more complete broadcast of “The Whistling Spy Enigma” can be found on The Goon Show Compendium Volume 1, while a restored and more complete version of “I Was Monty’s Treble” can be found on The Goon Show Volume 6.

Stay tuned for the final installment of the Goon Show Classics LPs, later on today.

Here is the third and final Goon Show Classics LP cover post today.  The final two volumes will appear sometime in the next two weeks)

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 9

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

Label: BBC Records (Distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Polygram)

Catalogue Number: 2964 079 (original PRT/BBC Catalogue Number REB 444)

Compiled and produced for Record by Mike Harding from shows selected by Spike Milligan

Sleve Design by Mario Moscardini

“Cover Notes” by Spike Milligan as Bluebottle

Cover Art by Martin Honeysett

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Side 1

The Call of the West (original transmission 20/1/1959 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Production by John Browell

Songs: A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square (Max Geldray) and You’d Better Know It (Ray Ellington)

Side 2

The Last Smoking Seagoon (A.K.A. The Last of the Smoking Seagoons) – Original Transmission 28/1/1960 – BBC Home Service (not 1959 as incorrectly listed on the cover)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Production by John Browell

Songs: What More Do You Want (Max Geldray) and Too Marvelloua for Words (Ray Ellington Quartet)

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The ninth volume in the series (but the last volume in my collection to be manufactured locally.  I know volume 10 was locally produced, but I picked up the PRT pressing of both volumes 10 and 11, so when I get around to doing them in the next couple of weeks I’ll only have the PRT catalogue number)

If you have the Australian pressing of either volume 10 or 11, please send me the LP catalogue number (it will be in Polygram’s modified six digit catalogue number and format suffix, E.G. 317-219-1 (I made that number up))

You can send me the info by sending an e-mail (it can be found in the contacts page) or posting in the comments below.

BTW, The Call of the West and The Last Smoking Seagoon appear in expanded editions in The Goon Show 5

Anyone for a 1904 calendar  

 

LP Title: The Goon Show Classics Volume 8 

Label: BBC Records (Distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Polygram) 

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows 

Catalogue: 2964 067 (original BBC/PRT catalogue REB 422) 

No compilation credits, but shows would have been selected by Spike Milligan 

Cover Art: Bill Tidy

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Side 1 

World War I (original transmission 24/2/58 – BBC Home Service) 

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray 

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley 

Script by Spike Milligan 

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade 

Production by Charles Chilton 

Songs: Sometimes I’m Happy (Max Geldray) and Beep Beep (Ray Ellington Quartet) 

Side 2 

The Nasty Affair At The Burami Oasis (original transmission 4/10/56 – BBC Home Service) 

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray 

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley 

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens 

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade 

Production by Peter Eton 

Songs: When You’re Smiling (Max Geldray) and Stranded in the Jungle (Ray Ellington Quartet)

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Volume 8 in the series of Goon Shows.  Side two has a bit of signifigance, as this was the first ever episode I had ever heard in it’s entirety (I heard it on a plane going from Sydney to Los Angeles (via Auckland – I flew via Air New Zealand at the time))

A more complete version of “World War One” and “The Nasty Affair of the Burami Oasis” appears on The Goon Show Volume 4.

The third and final Goon Show Classics LP cover post that I’m doing today will appear shortly.

This post claims Diplomatic Immunity  

  

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 7 

Label: BBC Records (Distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by Polygram) 

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows 

Catalogue Number: 2964 059 (original PRT Catalogue Number REB 392) 

No compilation credits for this LP, but shows would have still been selected by Spike Milligan 

Cover Art by Martin Honeysett 

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Side 1 

The Man Who Never Was (original transmission: 17/2/58 – BBC Home Service) 

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray 

Orchestra xonducted by Angela Morley 

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens 

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade 

production by Charles Chilton 

Songs: Making Whoopee (Max Geldray) and Will You Still Be Mine (Ray Ellington) 

Side 2 

The Case of the Missing CD Plates (A Strange Case of Diplomatic Immunity)  (Original Transmission: 18/10/1956) 

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray 

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley 

Script by Spike Milligan 

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade 

Production by Pat Dixon 

Songs: The Lady Is A Tramp (Max Geldray) and Cloudburst (Ray Ellington)

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The seventh volume in the long running Goon Show Classics LP’s released by the BBC.  A more complete broadcast of “The Man Who Never Was” can be found on The Goon Show Volume 4, while a more complete version of “The Case of the Missing CD Plates” can be found on The Goon Show Compendium Volume 3.

This LP was released shortly after Peter Sellers passing.  the back cover has the following tribute

This album is dedicated to Peter Sellers, with grateful thanks for all the pleasure and laughter which he gave to so many people

BBC Records, September 1980

Volume 8 will appear in the next post shortly

We take you now to the besieged garrison of Fort Spon…

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 6

Category: Comedy/Radio Series

Label: BBC Records (distributed in Australia and New Zealand by PolyGram)

Catalogue Number: 2964 050 (original BBC Records catalogue Number REB 366)

Cover Art by Bill Tidy

Cover notes and production by Mike Harding from episodes selected by Spike Milligan

Side 1

Wings Over Dagenham (original transmission 10/1/57 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and guest star George Chisholm, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

Songs: Cheek to Cheek (Max Geldray) and Rockin’ and Rollin’ Man (Ray Ellington)

Side 2

The Rent Collectors (original transmission 17/1/57 – BBC Home Service (how about that?  Two shows in a row”))

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and Guest Star Sir Bernard Miles, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

Songs: Lulu’s Back In Town (Max Geldray) and Old Mother Hubbard (Ray Ellington Quartet)

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The Goons’ wacky twist on the invention of the aeroplane (as invented by Neddie Seagoon, and not Wilbur and Orville Wright) in an attempt to save the garrison of Fort Spon in 1902.

The other show is a how-to – that is how not to collect the rent from Death Grange.

These two shows have a slight connection with the first (unofficial) appearance of Little Jim (as these two shows were recorded on the same night when Spike uttered Little Jim’s Catchphrase “He’s Fallen In the Water” (mostly to himself), Harry Secombe (who knew what was coning on the second show, reacts))

A more complete version of both these shows appeared on “The Goon Show Volume 3″ (the restored Ted Kendall version, not the CD that Polygram issued which was based on the original LP versions)

When Goon Show Classics Volume 7 appears in August, we will have a strange case of diplomatic immunity, and meet the man who never was.

But in the meantime, I have some more stuff coming up before the month is out.  Stay tuned.

We go now, to go in search of the treasure of Loch Lomond – Goon Style

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 5

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

Label: BBC Records (distributed in Australia and New Zealand by PolyGram)

Catalogue Number 2964 049 (original BBC Records catalogue Number REB 339)

Cover art by Martin Honeysett

Cover notes and production by Mike Harding from episodes selected by Spike Milligan

Side 1

The Treasure of Loch Lomond (A.K.A. The Treasure in The Lake – original transmission 28/2/1956 on BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Bruce Campbell

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

Songs: You’re Driving Me Crazy (Max Geldray), Hold Her Tight (Ray Ellington Quartet) and an encore performance of “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas” performed by Adolphus Spriggs (Spike Milligan) with Reuben Croucher (Peter Sellers) at the Piano.

Side 2

The Greenslade Story (original transmission 18/12/55 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Spike Milligan and special guest John Snagge, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: One Two Button Your Shoe (Max Geldray) and Jingle Bells (Ray Ellington Quartet, with dog chorus(?))

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Two more episodes of inspired lunacy, with the show on side one being unusual, with most of the regular musicians unavailable due to strike action (Bruce Campbell fills in for Wally Stott (Angela Morley)), with Spike doing an encore performance of “I’m Walking Backwards for Christmas” (which was heard the previous week on the episode “The Great Tuscan Salami Scandal” – released on CD years later)

The other episode of note was the only time veteran BBC announcer John Snagge was in the studio (instead of being on pre-recorded segments) in the Goons fictional account of the rise, fall and rise again of Wallace Greenslade.

A more complete version of The Treasure… can be found on the Goon Show Compendium Volume 4 while a more complete version of The Greenslade Story can be found on the Goon Show Compendium Volume 3

More goonery to come shortly

Time for a gorilla (and the Goon show Classics Volume 4)

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 4

Label: BBC Records (distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by PolyGram)

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

Catalogue Number: 2964 046 (original BBC records catalogue number REB 291

Cover Art by McLachlan

Sleeve Design: Mario Moscardini

Record prepared and produced by E. “Stan” Stancliffe” from episodes selected by Spike Milligan

Side 1

Napoleon’s Piano (original broadcast 11/9/55 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Max Geldray) and Bloodshot Eyes (Ray Ellington Quartet)

Side 2

The Flea (original transmission date: 20/12/56)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, With the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan and Larry Stephens

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

songs: Lady Be Good (Max Geldray) and You Do Something to Me (Ray Ellington)

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The Goons return with one show from the sixth Series and one show from the Seventh series, involving French Fleas, Gorillas and moving a piano from one room to another (although not necessarily in that order)

A more complete version of Napoleon’s Piano can be found on the Goon Show Companion Volume 3, while a more complete version of The Flea can be found on the forthcoming Goon Show Compendium Volume 5

I’ll post the next two volumes in the series by the end of this month, with volumes 7 to 11 appearing during August.

now, for a touch more goonery…

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 3

Category: Comedy/Radio program

Label: BBC Records (Distributed in Australia and New Zealand by PolyGram)

Australian Catalogue Number 2964 045 (original BBC catalogue number REB 246)

Cover Art by David Langdon

Compiled for LP by E. “Stan” Stancliffe at the BBC Transcription Service

Cover Notes by John Browell

Side 1

Lurgi Strikes Britain (TS reissue: Lurgi Strikes Again) – Original Transmission 9/11/54 – BBC Home Service

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan and Eric Sykes

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: Pink Champagne (Max Geldray) and My Very Good Friend The Milkman and It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie (Ray Ellington Quartet)

Side 2

The International Christmas Pudding (original Transmission: 15/11/55 – BBC Home Service)

Starring Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: For Me and My Gal (Max Geldray) and The Crocodile Crawl (Ray Ellington)

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Two more classic Goon Shows from the vaults (and one (Lurgi Strikes Britain) being one of my all time favourite shows from the early years

a more complete version of Lurgi Strikes Britain (which was re-titled by BBC Transcription Services as “Lurgi Strikes Again) can be found on the Goon Show Compendium Volume 1 – Series 5 part 1, while a more complete version of The International Christmas Pudding can be found on the Goon Show Compendium Volume 3 – Series 6 part 1.

Volume 4 will appear in the next post shortly.

We take you now to Bushey Spon (and of course the second Classics LP)

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 2

Category: Comedy/Radio Shows

Label: BBC Records (Distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand by PolyGram)

Catalogue Number: 2964 039 (original BBC records catalogue Number REB 213)

Cover Art by Bill Tidy

Compiled and produced by E. “Stan” Stancliffe, BBC Transcription Services

Side 1

The Jet Propelled Guided NAAFI (original transmission 24/1/1956) (BBC Home Service)

Cast: Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Orchestra conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Announcer: Wallace Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: All God’s Children Got Rhythm (Max Geldray), Three Handed Woman (Ray Ellington)

Side 2

The Evils of Bushey Spon (Original transmission 17/3/1958) (BBC Home Service)

Cast: Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Spike Milligan, with the Ray Ellington Quartet and Max Geldray

Special Guest: A. E. Matthews

Orchestra Conducted by Angela Morley

Script by Spike Milligan

Producer: Charles Chilton

Songs: Lulu’s Back In Town (Max Geldray), You Better Know It (Ray Ellington)

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They don’t do cover art like these any more

This time, the BBC selected a show from the 6th series and one from series 8, during the Goons most difficult period (with the chopping and changing of producers all through this series)

A more complete version of the Jet Propelled Guided NAAFI can be found on the Goon Show Compendium Volume 4 (series 6 part 2), while a more complete version of “The Evils of Bushey Spon” can be found on the CD version of The Goon Show Volume 1.

Two more Goon Show volumes will appear here in the next couple of days.