One of the exciting chapters in 1960s pop culture was the rise of pirate radio. Combatting the limitations of national broadcasting in the UK, floating stations were set up to beam music 24 hours a day outside the boundaries of the law in international waters. For many kids growing up in the era, this network of DJs offered a kind of subversive rebellion to the establishment and provided a hearty diet of Rock and Roll. Radio Caroline (launched in 1964) transmitted from two ships anchored off the Isle of Man and Frinton-On-Sea and provided stiff competition to Radio Luxembourg, which had been long supplying the UK with broader content (a great inspiration to early Beatles!). The history of Pirate Radio has been celebrated on a number of sites. Pirate Radio Hall of Fame features a wonderful collection of artifacts and clippings, including original Radio Caroline Club publications. One of my favorite discoveries is 242 Showbeat (previously 242), a monthly magazine published in the 1960s for Radio Scotland that featured news about DJs, musicians, and pop icons. Radio Scotland launched in December 1965 from a former Irish light-ship called The Comet. The station "that swings to you on 242" transmitted to fans in Scotland, Ireland and northern England until the Marine Offenses laws closed them down in August 1967. The magazine sported fun graphics, duotone images, and cool 1960s fashion. I was pleased to see The Man From U.N.C.L.E. appear on issue #1 of 242 (April 1966), spotlighting Glasgow-born actor David McCallum. In addition to the Hall of Fame site above, I can also recommend Radio London for more cool artifacts and historical info. Of course, the best example in the world of espionage is the final black and white episode of Secret Agent, Not So Jolly Roger, starring Patrick McGoohan. According to IMDB, the story interiors were filmed at the Red Sands Fortress, a Thames Estuary anti-aircraft structure from WWII. And the site actually played host to real pirate radio broadcasts in the 1960s by Radio Invicta, King Radio, and Radio 390. The location was used again for the Doctor Who story Fury From the Deep (1968). Spy Vibers can keep riding this wave with the 2009 film, Pirate Radio, starring Lucy Fleming (Ian Fleming's niece), Philip Seymour Hoffman, Emma Thompson Kenneth Branagh, Rhys Ifans, and Bill Nighy- great fun and a fantastic soundtrack. Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Spectre Advanced Poster, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School, Ian Fleming Memorial, Radiophonic Exhibit, Portmeirion Photos, Doctor Who Exhibit, Farewell Steed, Pussy Galore Returns, Diana Rigg birthday, Sherlock at 221B, Invisible Agent, Saint Interview: Ian Dickerson, Saint Doppelgänger, Fleming's Typewriter, Rare Fleming, Fleming's Music, Ian Fleming's Japan, Jim Wilson Corgi Interview, Fantomas Design, Jeremy Duns on Bond, John Buss interview, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Saint Volvo, Mod Tales Interview, Agente Secreto Comics, Danger Man Comics 2, Danger Man Comics, John Drake Comics, Der Mann Von UNCLE, Golden Margaret Nolan, Man From UNCLE Rocksteady, Pussy Galore Calypso, Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, Thai Bond Design, Bond vs Modernism, Art of Modesty, Tokyo Beat 1964, Feraud Mod Fashion, Green Hornet Manga, No 6 Festival, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
Ian Fleming Publications announced recently the new design campaign for their excellent series of audiobooks read by prominent British actors. Originally packaged as the Reloaded series with blue-toned portraits of the readers over a white background, the new set sports dynamic silhouette illustrations based on Fleming's plots, oriented diagonally like a Dutch tilt and printed in duotone. According to IFP, new CD editions of the audiobooks under this design motif will be out in the future. No release date has been announced yet. Meanwhile, fans who missed out on the original Reloaded series in the States have been able to pick up CDs and download files once again with cover designs based on the black and white, geometric Thomas & Mercer (Amazon) book jackets. Learn More: UK Audible, Ian Fleming Publications. Related Spy Vibe Posts: Double 007 Design, Audio: Simon Vance Interview, David Tennant Reads Chitty, Japanese 007 Editions, Bond E-books, Raymond Benson Interview, Ian Fleming Typewriter, Ian Fleming in Japan, Design Dopplegangers, Jon Gilbert Bibliography Interview, Rare Ian Fleming, Ian Fleming: Hawaiian Guitar, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin. Click images for larger view.
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Connery On Set, Bond vs Modernism, Imitation Game, New Avengers Books, Road to Hong Kong, Inside Gerry Anderson, Ringo Does Goldfinger, Sixties Beat Wear, SPECTRE Announced, Popular Skullture, New Gerry Anderson Sets, New SECRET AGENT set, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Modesty Monday, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, Home Movies, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Designing Bond Books, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
The Reloaded editions of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, read by prominent British actors, was re-released yesterday in the US by Blackstone Audio. The collapse of AudioGo last year had Bond fans clambering for out-of-print CDs and box sets, but Ian Fleming Publications was able to strike a deal with Blackstone to keep the recordings in circulation. Each 007 title is available in CD, download, and MP3 CD editions. Prices on Blackstone's site range from $10.46 for download to $17.47 (discounted from $24.99) for CDs. Amazon has not updated their pages and still list library-edition prices at around $56 each. Blackstone has ported over the abstract cover designs for each novel from the 2012 Amazon/Thomas & Mercer series (see samples below) and have dropped the "Reloaded" brand. The series features an exciting group of actors, including David Tennent, Kenneth Branagh, Rosamund Pike, Hugh Bonneville, Toby Stephens, Tom Hiddleston, Bill Nighy, Dan Stevens, and many others. Organized by the author's niece, Lucy Fleming, she also participated as a reader for "007 in New York" (Octopussy and the Living Daylights). Live and Let Die (read by Rory Kinnear) doesn't seem to be listed yet, nor do I see box set compilations offered. I was one of the people who bought the Volume One box set two years ago, but missed out on Volume Two when it went out of print. I look forward to hearing these great actors bring the rest of the series to life! Blackstone Audio also continues to offer the wonderful Bond audio series and Fleming/Lycett biography read by Simon Vance, continuation novels Solo and Carte Blanche, and the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang books read by David Tennent. Related Spy Vibe posts: Simon Vance Interview, Audio Book Update, David Tennent Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
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Selected Spy Vibe posts: Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
