A Prisoner BBC audio series. At the same time as it condenses some of the series, it adds some depth in other places. It stars someone who sounds like the original, and he becomes increasingly frustrated when his James Bond plans don't work there. The writers have pushed forward the technology of the original. That giant beach ball fits in very nicely with the other toys that have been upgraded. Two episodes in so far.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
I seem to be in A Very British Mood this morning...
T. Rex, "A Beard of Stars" -- The "awkward phase" album between their acid folkie phase and the acid glam phase that made them famous, but a good listen nonetheless. Morrissey selected one deep cut from this album, "Great Horse," for his "Under the Infuence" album of favourite songs by other artists. And speaking of the Mancunian Madman...
Morrissey, "My Early Burglary Years" -- Some people complain about the overlapping songs on his numerous odds-and-sods compilations, but in spite of it all, I'll still enough of a fan to own almost all of those comps. This is one of the best, as it includes *both* the gorgeous 1994 B-side "I'd Love To," an obvious valentine to his then-partner Jake Walters, one of those songs that makes me forgive all of M's varied sins, *and* the 1996 non-album single "Sunny," which laments the end of the same love affair and has one of M's most heartfelt and heartbreaking vocals.
Billy Bragg, "Don't Try This At Home" -- Every US fan considers this his best album, and every UK fan considers it his worst. No, I'm exaggerating. Almost 30 years after its release, it holds up much better than expected, and includes his beautiful cover of Fred Neil's "Dolphins." It's kind of like William Bloke's equivalent of Julian Cope's "Saint Julian" -- both attempted "sellout" albums that didn't *sell* as well as hoped, but which *did* introduce a lot of discerning listeners (especially American ones) to these artists, and served as gateways to their more challenging work!
Last edited by Ann Hebistand; 01/11/1909:44 AM. Reason: Correcting a song title
While I've series two of The Prisoner awaiting, I was listening to the Quatermass Memoirs. Great British sci/fi horror that started off as a BBC series before Hammer made three films. There was a fourth after that. The Memoirs have Quatermass telling his story between the third and fourth films. Oddly, it also has the author intersect with this, explaining some of the cold war reasoning behind the stories.
I'm not too far into it, as I keep dozing off as I listen to it las thing at night. Or into the early morning, as the poor sleeper's thread will attest to.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
Audio adaptation of Stephanie Land's Maid. I'd heard a couple of teasers over the last couple of days for it. But I wasn't that interested. But it came on while I was looking for something to listen to and I was hooked very quickly. A sobering reminder of societal wrongs alongside a great mother/daughter relationship.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
That's the only Cardigans song I like. I remember borrowing the album from the library, thinking there'd be other songs that were just as good. Nope. Not a one. In my opinion.
Oh yeah, I was listening to a BBC full cast audio of Dracula. It seemed a bit like the Coppola movie. Sure enough, after a quick search it was made around the same time. Auntie Beeb was ever quick on a cash in. They've streamlined parts much as Coppola did, and gone with the darker tone. But they've kept a few other things from the book to keep it interesting. The ending is really abrupt in this version too. It could have done with a bit more on the tracking down of the vampire Lord. Instead, we get some highlights and then it's off to Castle Dracula for some stabbiness.
"...not having to believe in a thing to be interested in it and not having to explain a thing to appreciate the wonder of it."
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