ORIGINAL TELEVISION SOUNDTRACK

SUPERCARA PRODUCTION MUSIC BY Marvel of the age Sometimes the greatest successes in life come out of the most unexpected places. Making films wasn’t the avenue that the A.P. Films crew would have chosen - live-action drama was really the thing! - but using all their technical ingenuity they made the best shows they could. With their first independent series, , they introduced a new sophisticated type of marionette - with an innovative ‘lip-sync’ system to enable these fibreglass characters to ‘speak’. Four Feather Falls was a success, but Granada Television declared that 39 episodes was sufficient - and they were not interested in new proposal ‘Supercar’. As bankruptcy loomed, a meeting with TV impresario changed everything and AP. Films was saved. 26 episodes of Supercar entered production, filmed using their cleverly-designed - dubbed in the promotional literature as ‘Super Marionation’ (‘Super’ ‘Marionette’ ‘’). Huge success and a further 13 episodes awaited and the phrase previously restricted to the publicity now entered the public lexicon as each episode’s end titles proudly proclaimed that this mini-epic had been Filmed in . Welcome to Black Rock “Fire One! Fire Two! Full Boost Vertical!”

Black Rock, Nevada - home to the Black Rock Laboratory and the Supercar team. At the heart of their multi-storey base lies the launch silo for Supercar - the magnificent creation of Doctor Horatio and Professor Rudolph Popkiss. It can travel the land, roam the skies, and explore the depths of the ocean or even the dizzying heights of space. Such a sophisticated vehicle needs a dashing and fearless test pilot. Enter Mike Mercury whose no-nonsense, cool and collected manner makes him not just the perfect man for the job, but also the hero to lead the team on their many missions to help others and thwart crime. The family is completed with the rescue and subsequent adoption of young orphan Jimmy Gibson and his by turns endearing and infuriatingly mischievous monkey, Mitch. Naturally though, an invention such as Supercar attracts much attention, and whilst the Black Rock crew are happy to use it for altruistic purposes, imposing arch-villain Masterspy and his weaselly assistant Zarin have other more financially- lucrative plans. If only they could get their hands on this marvel of the age… ‘Mike Mercury Episode Listing Episodes listed in production order, with original UK airdate.

A puppet idol’ Series One (1961) 14. Phantom Piper Series Two (1962) 29/4/61 1. Rescue 1. The Runaway Train “I can’t pay that for a kid’s series!” 28/1/61 15. Deep Seven 4/2/62 27/5/61 cried Lew Grade when Gerry Anderson 2. Amazonian Adventure 2. Precious Cargo 4/3/61 16. Pirate Plunder 11/2/62 6/5/61 presented him with the budget of Supercar. 3. The Talisman of Sargon 3. Operation Superstork Just two years later, Lew was prepared to 18/2/61 17. Flight of Fancy 18/2/62 20/5/61 4. False Alarm 4. Hi-Jack pay that and more when ATV bought the 11/2/61 18. Hostage 25/2/62 3/6/61 now extremely lucrative A.P. Films. Supercar 5. What Goes Up 5. Calling Charlie Queen 25/2/61 19. The Sunken Temple 4/3/62 hit television screens in January 1961 10/6/61 6. Keep It Cool 6. Space for Mitch and was an instant hit. Children signed 25/3/61 20. Trapped in the Depths 11/3/62 25/6/61 up in their thousands to join the 7. Grounded 7. The Sky’s the Limit 18/3/61 21. The Magic Carpet 11/3/62 9/7/61 ‘Supercar Club’. The show 8. Jungle Hazard 8. 70-B-Lo 1/4/61 22. The Lost City 25/3/62 was dubbed into many other 17/6/61 9. High Tension 9. Atomic Witch Hunt languages - including French, Spanish and 8/4/61 23. The Dragon of Ho Meng 18/3/62 2/7/61 Japanese, but it was in the enormous anglophone market 10. Island Incident 10. Jail Break 15/4/61 24. Supercar 8/4/62 of North America that it really made its mark. A lucrative 11. A Little Art “Take One” 16/7/61 11. The Day that Time syndication deal saw the series transmitted across the 13/5/61 Stood Still” 12. Ice-Fall 25. The White Line 15/4/62 6/8/61 USA, paving the way for its Supermarionation 22/4/61 12. Transatlantic Cable successor Fireball XL5 to achieve the holy 13. The Tracking 26. Crash Landing 22/4/62 23/7/61 of Masterspy 13. King Kool grail of a Network transmission on NBC. 30/7/61 29/4/62 There was seemingly no limit to the number of merchandising deals that could be done (to the delight of A.P. Films who set up their own subsidiary company to handle it all). This achievement was but the embryo for the towering successes that were to follow - and much of that success was owed to Mike Mercury, the original Supermarionation puppet idol. The Music of Supercar In later years musical maestro Barry Gray would have the freedom to write scores for selected episodes of each series - with the cues being reused on subsequent episodes and new material being composed as needed. For Supercar this was initially not possible due to the breakneck turnaround of the show and limited budget. Therefore, in addition to composing the all- important title theme, Barry produced a series of ‘themes’ for locations, situation and characters (Supercar itself being embedded with heroic characteristics through the score launching the idea that the vehicles were central characters too). The often whimsical, charming score beautifully embellishes the equally charming and whimsical nature of Martin and Hugh Woodhouse’s dialogue. However, the more serious moments are scored with appropriate menace, suitably written to underline the knowingly melodramatic nature of the plots. For series One, Gray’s music was heavily supplemented with library music by , but for the second series Gray was the sole musical voice and, in addition to a new version of the main theme, he expanded on his existing score with tracks that would serve not just the Supercar team, but future heroic organisations as yet undreamt of. Track Notes Amazonian Adventure / The Runaway Train The Talisman of Sargon 08. The Runaway Train 01:39 01. Supercar 00:47 03. The Headhunters and Sargon 03:35 “Come, friend Zarin. We have work to do... Dirty Series One Main Titles “Do you mean they collect heads? work to do!” Masterspy With beauty and grace as swift as can be, its the Human heads?” Mike An atomic powered train calls for atomic marvel of the age! “Only for ornaments.” Beaker powered minds to man the controls, and Beaker Supercar goes in search of the secrets of the and Popkiss are thrilled to oblige. However, their Rescue / Amazonian Adventure jungle and the Middle East. But they’ll need to delight at playing train drivers soon turns to 02. Full Boost Vertical 03:51 keep their heads in the jungle, and look into the desperation when it is revealed that the reactor “What’s five years as compared to mouth of Sargon for the answers they seek. has been sabotaged and only Supercar’s newly two lives?” Popkiss equipped magnetic grabs stand between the out The Supercar is the product of five years work 04. Whimsical Antics 02:26 of control vehicle and certain destruction. for Doctor Beaker and Professor Popkiss. “Remind me to keep my laboratory door shut!” But when brothers Jimmy & Bill Gibson find Beaker Precious Cargo themselves adrift at sea with pet monkey, Mitch, 09. Precious Cargo 03:33 the experimental test-vehicle is pushed into 05. Masterspy Theme / Pleasant Theme 02:03 “Please can you come and rescue me early service. Mike Mercury rushes to their aid “Well friend Zarin, and what do you think of that?” and take me away from my - launching a series rocket powered adventures Masterspy wicked guardian?” Zizi for the team. Sinister businessman Masterspy, and his When cruel winemaker cowardly assistant Zarin will stop at nothing Monsieur Leval receives to get their hands on Supercar. Their villainous an order for Black Rock schemes are nothing though when matched Observatory, his neglected with the heroic courage of Mike Mercury and young ward fantasises about his team. being rescued by dashing pilot Jimmy Gibson. 06. What Goes Up 01:55 “We’ve never tried Supercar at such altitude!” Beaker When an Air Force test goes awry, Supercar is forced to go further into space than it’s ever done before. What goes up must come down - but will Supercar manage it in one piece?

07. Supercar Series Two Main Titles 00:48 The Day That Time Stood Still 10. Zizi’s Song 01:04 “Gee, I liked that song, Zizi. Can we have another Hi-jack chorus?” Jimmy 12. Hi-jack 05:30 Still grateful to the Supercar team for freeing “It is not my intention that we should buy an her from a life of misery, Zizi serenades Mike airliner from America, but you should hi-jack on the occasion of his birthday. one…” President Gourmet After a corrupt dictator of the Islands of Operation Super Stork Bantonga sets his sights on an aircraft piloted 11. Super Stork 03:49 by Jimmy’s brother Bill, Supercar must race “Did you say parachutes, Doctor Beaker?” Mike to the rescue. “No, Mike. I said parachute. We have one. Only one...” Beaker Calling Charlie Queen Mike is underwhelmed when Beaker reveals his 13. Calling Charlie Queen04:21 latest project, a hot air balloon. He’s even less “You’ve been a naughty boy again, haven’t you impressed when a certain mischievous monkey Hopkins? I’m going to have to lock you up in your sends Beaker, Jimmy, and him up into the cage again…” Professor Karloff Space for Mitch atmosphere with no way of returning to earth. When a mysterious distress call lures Mike and 15. Space For Mitch 08:30 Beaker to the home of a miniaturising madman “Gentlemen The dreadful truth of the matter has and an appointment with some drugged cups of now become obvious. Mitch must have entered the coffee, the duo soon discover that the smallest rocket during the night.” Beaker problems can be the biggest of them all. After Mitch commandeers Beaker’s experimental space rocket, a race against time The Day That Time Stood Still ensues. Will Mike and Supercar be able to bring 14. The Beakette Danube 00:43 the capsule back down to earth before the “This entirely revolutionary musical calamitous cosmonaut runs out of oxygen? instrument is to be called a Beakette.” Beaker Jail Break In concocting a surprise for 16. Jail Break 05:55 Mike’s birthday, Doctor “Seven more years and ten more days and they’re Beaker turns gonna turn me loose… unless our little plan works electronic music out that is…” Joe Anna maestro with this When a jailbreak results in Mike being held “modern” at gunpoint and forced to play getaway driver, take on an an experimental ejector seat may be all old classic. that stands between the villains and their ill-gotten freedom. The Day That Time Stood Still List of Musicians 17. The Day Time Stood Still 06:01 The following musicians performed the What could possibly top a surprise party for Mike’s music composed specifically for Supercar. birthday? Perhaps an alien envoy bearing time freezing technology and recognition of his heroic work will set Bass: Joe Mudele, Chris Staunton our daring pilot on course for a rude awakening. Bass Guitar: Ted Wadmore

Transatlantic Cable Cello: Fred Alexander, Reg Kilbey 18. City Lights 00:57 Clarinet: Gordon Lewin, Cyril Reuben, The transatlantic cable that carries Chester Smith telecommunications across the vast span of the Flute: A Ackroyd, Gordon Beckingham, Atlantic from America to Europe would yield many Bob Boddington, Geo Crozier, Phil secrets in the wrong hands. And those (large) hands Goody, Gordon Heard, Bill Hudson, John belong, naturally, to Masterpy. Scott

King Kool Guitar: Billy Bell, Ike Isaacs, Alan 19. Gifted Gorilla 04:02 Metcalfe, Roy Plummer, Judd Proctor, The Supercar team are shocked to discover Terry Walsh that Mitch has grown considerably in size Horn: Jim Buck and has gone from being mischievous to downright dangerous. The solution is Percussion: Stan Barratt, Alan Haken, found in a little jazz - and this case Don Lawson, Steve Whittaker of mistaken identity with a gigging Trombone: Jackie Armstrong, Jock Bain, gorilla is soon sorted when the Bill Geldard, Jack Thirwell owner is traced to ‘take it away’ Trumpet: Fred Clayton, Tommy

McQuater, 20. Supercar Bobbie Pratt, Bill Shakesphere Extended Theme 01:35 Viola: Herb Powell Violin: Gerry French, Joe Hitchenor, David Wolfsthal Vocals: “Quintet – 2 Girls, 3 Boys” All music composed and This release was made possible with the conducted by BARRY GRAY grateful assistance of , the Official Gerry And Appreciation Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing Society. For further information visit: Produced by: Tim Mallett, Kindred Productions fanderson.org.uk and Ralph Titterton Supercar © ITC Entertainment Group Limited. 1961 Remastering and digital restoration by: and 2020. Licensed by ITV Studios Limited. Andrew Lang All rights reserved. Package design and restored Digital compilation and mastering by: recording © 2020 ITV Ventures Limited under Tim Mallett exclusive licence to Silva Screen Records Limited. Designed by: Mike Jones The copyright in this compilation is owned by Silva Track Notes by: Screen Records. Unauthorised public performance, Stephen La Rivière and Andrew T. Smith broadcast or copying of this recording is prohibited. Barry Gray archivists: CM Ford and Ralph Titterton CD Mastering Services: Kindred Productions Thanks to: Chris Bentley, Stephen Brown, Ros Connors, Clive Eardley, Gerry Forrester, Andrew Frampton, Robert Hill, Glenn Pearce, Martin Townley, Nick Williams. Special thanks to: Maggy Harris, Megan Palm, Emma Sutherley. (ITV Studios Global Entertainment), Executive Producers for Silva Screen Records Ltd: Reynold D’Silva and David Stoner