BBC Essential Science Fiction Sound FX Volume 1
Very much a specialty item - and almost absolutely unobtainable in the States - this CD contains the BBC Radiophonic Workshop’s numerous distinctive sound effects mainly from science fiction programs other than Doctor Who, whose FX library is well represented by 30 Years in the Radiophonic Workshop, though there are some Who effects here - such as the Master’s TARDIS and others - which are not available elsewhere. Sounds from radio productions of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Earth Search are included, along with a wonderful 30-track selection of effects from Blake’s Seven, the late 70s/ early 80s science fiction series which occupies a place in my heart as my all time favorite of that genre. If you wax nostalgic at the sound of Orac computing, the Liberator’s teleports or weapons powering up, the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal eating a Vogon’s grandmother, or the Hitchhiker’s Guide itself coming online, this U.K. rarity is right up your alley. No, not something I’d recommend for everyone’s music collection - since it’s hardly music - but it’s a must for any truly rabid fans of vintage BBC sci-fi productions.
Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (BBC Radio, 1979)
- The Book’s activating code (0:04)
- Slartibartfast’s aircar - takeoff (0:18)
- Slartibartfast’s aircar - constant run (0:38)
- Slartibartfast’s aircar - landing (0:27)
- Magrathea alarm (0:22)
- Magrathea police guns (0:36)
- Space car park outside Restaurant at the End of the Universe(0:49)
- The end of the Universe (0:32)
- Black spaceship oscillates (0:43)
- Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal - eating (0:07)
- Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal - walking (0:32)
- Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal - roaring (0:40)
- Penargilian Kangaroo Relocation drive engaged (0:05)
- Panargilian Kangaroo Relocation drive engaged (0:12)
- Golgafrincham Ark ship bridge background (1:07)
Doctor Who
- Earth shuttle arriving on Argolis (1:09)
- Planet exterior atmosphere on Argolis - Leisure Hive (1:39)
- Flock of bats - State of Decay (1:04)
- Laboratory descends, Gaztak spaceship takes off - Meglos (0:25)
- Marshmen - Full Circle (0:24)
- Respirator room background in spaceship (0:46)
- Time winds - Warrior’s Gate (0:37)
- Alarm (0:20)
- Electric storm - Keeper of Traken (1:14)
- Cloister bell in the TARDIS (0:24)
- The Master’s TARDIS lands (0:21)
- The Master’s TARDIS takes off (0:15)
- TARDIS slips out of time - Logopolis (0:09)
- TARDIS slips into time (0:10)
Blake’s Seven (series D, 1981)
- Dawn of emptiness (1:55)
- Space bells of ceremonial room (1:22)
- Scorpio spaceship lands (0:35)
- Scorpio teleport dematerialisation (0:09)
- Scorpio teleport rematerialisation (0:06)
- Scorpio handgun (0:07)
Blake’s Seven (series A-C, 1978-80)
- Orac switch-on (0:02)
- Orac working (0:31)
- Orac switch-off (0:04)
- Liberator computer malfunction - Redemption (0:33)
- Liberator plasma bolt explosions (0:10)
- Liberator laser (0:25)
- Federation ship laser explosions (0:26)
- Liberator life capsule ready to be launched - Aftermath (0:39)
- Liberator ship background (1:35)
- Liberator handgun - three shots (0:13)
- Avon’s communicator bracelet, hail and transport sounds (0:09)
- Liberator teleport disappearance (0:11)
- Liberator teleport reappearance (0:11)
- Mysterious being disappears in a flame - Sarcophagus (0:05)
- Alien gun (0:06)
- Appearance of the Ovoid (0:35)
- Heavy voltage force (0:09)
- Glow from a mysterious ghost who haunts the Liberator (0:25)
- The core, a huge ever-growing pulsating brain - Ultraworld(0:32)
- Interior of Federation patrol ship (1:14)
- Going through a black hole in the Liberator - Dawn of the Gods(1:19)
- Space centre medical unit hum (0:43)
- Machine monster with a black sense of humour (0:37)
- Breakdown of machine monster (0:09)
- Extraterrestrial heavenly choir (1:24)
Earth Search (BBC Radio 4, 1980)
- UFO landing (0:11)
- Computer touch panel bleeps (0:43)
- Warbles (0:25)
- Alarm (0:06)
- Meteorite alert station (0:32)
- Rumbling gurgle (0:35)
- Handheld ray gun (0:14)
- Space bombs (0:19)
- Space police (0:15)
- Outer airlock door open and close (0:11)
- Inner airlock door open and close (0:10)
- Plasma discharge weapons (0:09)
- Underworld animation chamber (0:39)
- Bleeps for suspended animation chamber (0:30)
- Electric warning gong (0:20)
- Three harmonic strings followed by explosion (0:07)
- Sharp hum with trail out (0:21)
- Rapid Fire
Released by: BBC Records
Release date: 1991
Total running time: 44:21