Off The Record

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.

Here is the first of two Goon Show Classics LP cover posts I’m making today.

 

LP Title: Goon Show Classics Volume 1

Category: Comedy/Radio

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

Catalogue Number: 2964 034 (original BBC Records catalogue number REB 177) (did the Beeb use the mono designation (EG REB 177M) or did they stop using the designation by this time)

Cover Notes: John Browell

Cover art by David Machell for Costal Colour Ltd.

Record produced by Mike Harding.

Side 1

The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler (of Bexhill On Sea) – Original transmission 12/10/54 (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 (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Peter Eton

Songs: They Were Doing the Mambo (Max Geldray), Old Man River (Ray Ellington Quartet)

Side 2

The Histories of Pliny The Elder – Original transmission 28/3/1957 (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 and Larry Stephens

Announcer: Wallace (Bill) Greenslade

Producer: Pat Dixon

Songs: Get Happy (Max Geldray), Medley: You Made Me Love You/This Can’t Be Love (Ray Ellington Quartet)

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The first official volume of the Goon Show to be ever released by the BBC (all previous volumes were butchered and released by EMI’s Parlophone label)

For the most part (and as it will be for the rest of the LP’s here) these are either the original broadcast version or the shortened 27 ½ minute BBC Transcription Services re-issues

A more complete version of the Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler can be found on The Goon Show Compendium Volume 1 (Series 5 part 1) (this also includes an alternate version, so I have been told)

Also, a more complete version of The Histories of Pliny The Elder can be found on the Goon Show 1 (CD version). (not the original Goon Show Classics CD that PolyGram issued before the re-mastered Ted Kendall versions, you’ll only get the original LP version)