Search - Various Artists :: Who Is Dr Who

Delightful collection of novelty songs, Who theme variations

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 08/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Doctor Who Who Is Doctor Who Episode 1Doctor Who became such a hit in the UK following the 7-part Dalek story (1963-4) that novelty records quickly sprang out of the woodwork trying to cash in, particularly 1964-5. As is usual with novelty records, some of them relate to Doctor Who, others are orchestral tracks with the word "Doctor" or "Dalek" in them."The original main title theme by Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop opens things off. Eric Winstone and his Orchestra do an offbeat big band interpretation of Grainer's theme. "I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM ALL DALEKS" intones a Dalek with a polished mechanical voice after some bleep-bleep sci-fi noises. That leads into the endearing catchy Christmas song "I'm Gonna Spend Christmas With A Dalek" by the Go Go's. No, it's not Belinda Carlisle and friends, but a group led by 17-year old Sue Smith, who sings in a little girl voice pronouncing her R's like W's, i.e. "Mewwy Chwistmas" The Dalek here seems to be in the X-mas spirit instead of exterminating people. A bit of this was used in The Daleks-Early Years video over soundless footage found from The Dalek Master Plan story. Episode 2The Earthlings put out the most controversial Who-related single, the alternately march-like then galloping 60's rock-pop "Landing Of The Daleks" whose bridge had "SOS-Daleks Have Landed" in Morse Code. Fearing that nearby ships would take the SOS seriously, the BBC had the song banned. The song was later reissued with the Morse message scrambled. This version too is included. The B-side, "March Of The Robots", begins with a conga beat that like its A-side, used guitars, organ, and reverse-tape rhythms and sound effects.Jack Dorsey and His Orchestra's "Dance Of The Daleks" sounds like a go-go dancing with loud brass that makes it sound like a theme to a TV show like The Man From UNCLE.11-year old Roberta Tovey, who played Susan in the two Peter Cushing Who movies, sings the upbeat "Who's Who" featuring "he's been to the past and future/and whatever he may do/he'll always a friend of mine/Who? Doctor Who." The Who-unrelated B-side, "Not So Old" sounds like one of the slow Motown covers the Beatles used to do on their early albums.Tovey's backing orchestra, led by Malcolm Lockyer, also did the dramatic brass-heavy movie-opening theme-ish "The Eccentric Dr. Who" as well as its B-side "Daleks and Thals." Episode 3"Fugue For Thought", the instrumental opening music from the second Peter Cushing Dr. Who film, Daleks Invasion Earth, 2150 AD, was composed by Bill McGuffie. It's partly a reworking of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor and swift piano music played in old silent movies. It's a catchy jazzy number at that, and one of the best.Then it's Frazier Hines, who played the Scottish piper Jamie McCrimmon (1966-1969). He does three songs, "Who's Doctor Who" its B-side, "The Punch And Judy Affair", reminiscent of Traffic's psychedelic "Hole In My Shoe." His singing voice is a cross between Paul, John, and George of the Beatles. The young tykes on backing vocals on the chorus of the first song are Hines's nephews and author Tommy Scott's sons. "Time Traveller" sounds like Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away."Jon Pertwee is the only actor playing the Doctor to actually put out a record. piano, weird keyboards, psychedelic sounds, Actually, he recites the lyrics "I cross the void beyond the mind/the empty space that circles time/I see where others stumble blind/to seek a truth they never find/eternal wisdom as my guide. I am the doctor.", "As fingers move to end mankind/metallic teeth begin to grind/with the sword of truth I turn to fight/the satanic powers of the night/is your faith before your mind?/Know me--am I the Doctor?"Oh, guess who revamped the Who theme music with weird keyboards and psychedelic sounds? Rupert Hine, yes, THAT Rupert Hine who produced Tina Turner's Private Dancer. As for the B-side, the piano number "Pure Mystery" is about a magician reminiscing on an illustrious career. Don Harper's Homo Electronicus does a totally weird but cool synth version, complete with special effects, and whooshy sounds, of the Doctor Who theme that probably outweirds synth wizard Wendy Carlos.This collection was compiled and produced by Mark Ayres, who composed the incidental music for Dr. Who during the Sylvester McCoy era (1987-1989), including some very upbeat synthesizer music. Best recommended for Who fans."

A Must for Who fans...

E. Bunke | St. Paul, MN USA | 05/08/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is worth buying just for "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek", but there much more on here... from peculiar arrangements of the Who theme, to instrumentals which have nothing to do with Who aside from their titles (Landing of the Daleks, Dance of the Daleks) to music from the 60's Dalek movies and singles by cast members (Jon Pertwee, Frazer Hines)The mastering by Mark Ayres is done very well, especially considering some tracks had to be sourced from 30-year old vinyl copies (and one of the bonus tracks is from an acetate) .. There is a very good, consistant sound quality thoughout the entire CDIf you're into Who or Novelty records this is a must-own!"

Amusing fun for Who fans

grrreg | 12/02/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"That description is true for about half the tracks, while the others may leave you scratching your head and go "huh?"Featuring Doctor Who themed tracks from Jon Pertwee (the third Doctor), Frazer Hines (Jamie) and Roberta Tovey (Susan in the Dalek movies), as well as TV and movie themes. Then there are The Go-Go's ('I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas With A Dalek' - and no, not those GoGos) with a strange stocking stuffer, and then there is the 'Dance of the Daleks' which seems to have nothing to do with Daleks at all.If you are a Doctor Who fan and willing to go on a journey down the very strange byways that the show has generated, then give this a go!"