BOX tv themes tribute
Released: 1996
This compilation was curated in 95-6 by Richard Hagen in Brisbane, with organizational help at the Melbourne end from Spill. It features a selection of Aust. Ind. musicians of the day, some of them incognito, covering their favourite TV show themes. This had the potential to be cheesy, however I was pleasantly surprised with the level of interest and the results. It was uncanny how bands seemed to pick the tv show that suited them, like starsigns. Richard released it on cassette and I rereleased it later on cdr.
The cover photo for is from Bruce Robinson's film "How to Get Ahead in Advertising", starring Richard E. Grant. Richard photographed it using a nice camera borrowed from Michael Lawley. David Metcalfe selected the best shot for the artwork, and did the printing at a knock down price. Richard's sister, Annette Hagen, contributed the title.
Click on songs to download, or grab the entire album.
1. The Pixels .. Benny Hill .. 1:43 .. mp3
One-off recording by Peter Jetnikoff, then of New Waver and previously of the Gatekeepers, utilizing a computer sequencer to produce this stunning rendition of the Benny Hill theme, which to me at least, illustrated the true emotions behind the chase scenes in that show.
2. Nil By Mouth .. The Mary Tyler Moore Show .. 0:57 .. mp3
Ian Wadley, then playing in the Small World Experience and Min Chips in Brisbane, multitracked this childhood favourite, inviting local celebrity Michael O'Shea to sing, on what was hoped to be an LP of selected inspirational shower-singing hits.
3. New Waver .. Four Corners .. 3:10 .. mp3
The NW process went something like: choose a nerdy tv show that no-one will want to do, cover it in a style sounding something like a combination of techno and the ABC showband, then add the voice-over from a science documentary.
4. Flip Flop .. Spiderman .. 0:57 .. mp3
A solo project by Richard of San Jose Cow Muzak, half sequenced, half played on real instruments. Richard also released other material under this monicker.
5. Ninetynine .. Blake's 7 .. 0:55 .. mp3
Solo multitrack project by Laura Macfarlane. She later used this name for her indie pop band.
6. The Sump .. Prisoner .. 3:15 .. mp3
An emotive rendition of the Aussie classic from Michael Ison and Paul Newsome in Brisbane.
7. Julian Williams .. UFO .. 2:08 .. mp3
One nice thing about Box is how aptly the musicians chose the tv themes they would cover. Fans of JW, Hi God People etc will know Julian made the right choice.
8. Trabampoline .. The Flintstones / The Simpsons .. 2:37 .. mp3
Keith Urquardt sequenced this superb dance medley of two favourite pieces of tv music.
9. Pigshit .. Degrassi Junior High .. 0:39 .. mp3
Mystery artist - this was contributed anonymously.
10. San Jose Cow Muzak .. Gilligan's Island .. 2:39 .. mp3
SJCM were quite active at this time. I was briefly a member of the band in 1995 and can be heard here on guitar and backing vocals.
11. The Worms .. Sesame Street .. 2:17 .. mp3
This close associate of SJCM provided material for several compilations.
12. Popemobile .. Silk Stalkings .. 1:46 .. mp3
A 90s duo usually consisting of Ben Butler and Laura Macfarlane, though I think this recording was LM solo.
13. 'Barnsey' .. Laverne and Shirley .. 0:57 .. mp3
Not the well-known singer of Cold Chisel, but in fact Mark Woodley from Brisbane's Hooray Henrys and his wife.
14. Wank Engine .. Mr Squiggle .. 1:01 .. mp3
Solo project of Richard Hagen, who also organized the comp. Richard describes this track as one of the few things he's proud of doing in his life.
15. Ruff Buff .. Minder .. 2:26 .. mp3
Played by James Dutton, Michael Nichols and Paul Sloane, recorded in Sydney by Stephen O'Neil.
16. The Gatekeepers .. Callan / Twin Peaks .. 4:56 .. mp3
Another medley, this time by Peter Jetnikoff, singer-songwriter of the GKs.
17. The Cheated .. X Files .. 0:00 .. mp3
This pun on the well known tv show as well as the book by Louis Nowra worked well on the cassette version, was a bit harder to implement on the cd version, and may not have survived the translation to mp3 at all.
from Greg Wadley in Melbourne, Australia