Review for Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased): Original Soundtrack Selections - 180g Vinyl

With perfect timing (only a handful of weekends left until Christmas) Network have released the first two in a series of bound-to-be collectible vinyl soundtracks. ‘Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)’ is one of the two (with ‘Man in a Suitcase’ the other) and any self-respecting ITC fan and audiophile won’t be able to conceive of life without a copy in their collection.

Like all the very best vinyl it comes in a fantastic glossy, heavy cardboard gatefold sleeve. Festooned with imagery from the series the inside fold-out is has a fabulous selection of ten colourful stills from the series on the left and a single orange duo-tone image of Marty Hopkirk peeking over his own gravestone on the right along with the track-listing. The front cover is kind of business-as-usual with the series title logo and a standard publicity shot whilst the back has a melancholic still of Marty sitting all alone on a grave-stone


The vinyl itself is held in a classic white paper sleeve and, in common with much vinyl released today, is a chunky 180 gram slab of shiny black loveliness. 

According to the publicity, the fine folk at Network have worked with none other than Ray Staff (wait – I’ll tell you who is is) who was apparently the vinyl cutting engineer whose many credits include Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust’ and The Rolling Stones’ ‘It’s Only Rock n’ Roll’. Add to that a tape transfer (not sure from what but assume a 15ips half-inch stereo tape?) from the FX Group and pressing of the finished and very limited pressing by Pallas in Germany and I think it’s fair to say that it sounds as good as it’s are ever going to.

So on to the music itself. Well, it’s always great to hear isolated music scores from your favourite shows and the music from Randall and Hopkirk Deceased, with its distinctive harpsichord theme, is no exception. Though I have the show on DVD, I don’t rank it as a personal top 5 ITC show. Though it’s fun to watch, and a lovely period piece, I always thought Kenneth Cope was a bit hammy and Mike Pratt a little understated. Though I guess it’s hard to see how they would have played it any other way. When I saw it as a kid in the late sixties, early seventies, it’s title seemed complex too. Like – what did ‘deceased’ mean for starters? Maybe that’s why it was simply titled ‘My Partner the Ghost’ in the US.


The theme music of Randall and Hopkirk was composed by Edwin Astley, the man also responsible for themes to The Baron, Danger Man, The Saint, and Department S. Once again it’s a heady orchestral mix of staccato brass with flute, clarinet, violins, and harpsichord (of course!) the signature for a good ITC soundtrack from the swinging sixties. Tracks range from the fun opener to some fairly spooky tension building pieces using some genuinely weird percussion effects through to down-right action and adventure with full on bongo-driven orchestral pieces. The minor key main title theme, with the lead instrument intoning a plaintive melody over an upbeat, rhythmic brass section, perfectly matching the series’ balance of drama and humour. The harpsichord recurs throughout the incidental cues, as well as providing a memorable ‘sting’ whenever the ghostly Marty pops in and out of the action. It works as a stand-alone piece and you’ll find yourself flipping it over to continue to create a wash of ITC nostalgia.

Featuring new transfers from original analogue tape elements, mastering/vinyl cutting by Ray Staff (one of the best audio engineers in the world) and high quality pressing by the renowned Pallas pressing plant in Germany, this range of audiophile-level albums is presented on 180g virgin vinyl and gives superb sound reproduction.Working from a shabby suite of offices in Central London, Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk are two private detectives with a twist - one of them's a ghost! With both theme and incidental music supplied by the versatile Edwin Astley, he returns here to the harpsichord - an instrument he had previously employed to great effect in the theme for the hour-long Danger Man series. Astley furnished Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) with a minor key main title theme, the lead instrument intoning a plaintive melody over an upbeat, rhythmic brass section - perfectly matching the series’ balance of drama and humour. The harpsichord recurs throughout the incidental cues, as well as providing a memorable ‘sting’ whenever the ghostly Marty pops in and out of the action

I have a load of soundtrack material on CD (Including the excellent ‘Music from ITC’ CD compilation from Network) but very little on vinyl. What I do have I treasure; a Batman TV soundtrack; a bunch of those 21 minute Gerry Anderson EP’s, a Space 1999 soundtrack, a Green Hornet TV episode and a few others but most feature dialogue as well as music. After all, they all herald from before the days of video. Along with View-master reels, spin-off books and related TV comics this was as close as it got to accessing the series on demand. Now we have it all but there’s something very attractive about this release. It’s the vinyl baby!

At £25 it may seem a bit steep for a dabble but when you consider the innate risk associated with such a release, and the cost and labour of love to pull something so utterly special together, like me you’ll consider it a few quid well spent.

The vinyl has a rich, warm analogue feel and the crispness of the recording, especially when it comes to the harpsichord, has been retained from what must have been first class original recordings.

I suspect that this will be a really limited run so I would also add that if you’re considering a purchase, don’t dilly-dally. It’s got ‘collector rarity’ written all over it! It’s only available online, directly from Network. http://networkonair.com/shop/1848-man-in-a-suitcase-original-soundtrack-selections-5027626902834.html

I should also add that, despite the fragile nature of vinyl, that both this and the ‘Man in a Suitcase’ discs arrived in perfect nick.

One to buy the anorak in your life for Christmas, methinks. Or treat yourself.

RANDALL & HOPKIRK (DECEASED)
Vinyl Soundtrack Track-list

Side One
1 Main Title
2 My Late Lamented Friend And Partner
3 But What A Sweet Little Room
4 For The Girl Who Has Everything

Side Two
1 Who Killed Cock Robin?
2 The Smile Behind The Veil
3 All Work And No Pay
4 Money To Burn
5 Just For The Record
6 Murder Ain't What It Used To Be
7 End Title

All selections composed by Edwin Astley