A Rediscovered Theme Tune With 70s Attitude
E.N.D.A.N.G.E.R.M.E.N.T. (Single)
Lounge Bar Orchestra
E.N.D.A.N.G.E.R.M.E.N.T. is the theme tune for a long forgotten TV series that starred Anneke Wills who played Polly, companion of both the 1st and 2nd Doctors in Doctor Who. The theme tune by the Lounge Bar Orchestra directed by Reg Omeroyd has been rediscovered by Heaven’s Lathe thanks to the detective work of Greg Healey who tracked down the master tapes. It is a classic example of the brilliant theme tunes of the early 70s with a lovely piano intro which develops slowly and subtly. It has fun with the early synthesiser effects, used memorably in the theme tune for The Persuaders amongst others.
You may not remember the programme, which was wiped in the BBC purge, but you will dimly recall the tune itself. Towards the end it becomes more brass led and the percussion kicks in with real gusto. The credits sequence no longer exists, but, from research, I have found out that it starts with a dark backdrop that has two white silhouettes moving stealthily through a ruined industrial landscape with the buildings coloured a threatening red. It reflected the job of the MI5 agents 9 (Wills) and K (Maurice Colbourne) of rescuing agents from deep cover operations that were in danger of being exposed. The final scene of the opening credits sees the POV shift to the sight of a rifle which is trained on our two heroes.
The B Side is a nice touch, befitting the level of detail that Heaven’s Lathe have brought to this reissue of the original theme. It is incidental music from Episode 4 of Series 1 that is very much of its time. There’s a James Last style to this recording, for better or for worse, that makes it nice to have on in the background. However, towards the end of the piece you get a Radiophonic Workshop musical effect that really makes you sit up and take notice.
This won’t be to everyone’s taste of course, but for theme tune completists this is an absolute must especially on the retro 7” vinyl version that is a reassuring black colour. There will be a full album coming soon that features E.N.D.A.N.G.E.R.M.E.N.T. so if you want to hear more theme tunes from lost, almost mythical programmes of the late 60s/ early 70s you should look out for that.
