Doctor Who’s Next

While watching Doctor Who on the Roku HD player, I wondered if anybody had collected all of the versions of the theme song, written in 1963 by Ron Grainer and realized by Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The answer is, of course, that quite a few people have. I picked this one because the sound is good.

Speaking of Doctor Who, I was surprised to learn tonight that Bismo didn’t know of Rowan Atkinson’s appearance as The Doctor:

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2010/JUL/AtkinsonWho.flv 640 360]

Capitol-ism: from Bozo to The Beatles – 1

One of the the most controversial figures, and frustrating subjects, in the history of the Beatles is Dave Dexter, Jr. (1915-1990). Dexter hated the Beatles, both personally and professionally — as you’ll hear for yourself later — and yet he was in charge of their American releases on Capitol Records until the Yesterday and Today album, which was “prepared by Bill Miller” and was originally released with the infamous “butcher cover.”

Before I say anything more about Dave Dexter, Jr., listen to the recording on the player below. “The Chase” is exclusive to Dexter’s American version of “HELP!”, and it’s a noteworthy recording to be found on a Beatles record, but it isn’t by the Beatles.

“The Chase” is credited to Ken Thorne, who scored the soundtrack to “HELP!”, but it was performed by Pandit Shiv Dayal Batish (1914-2006). Click here to read his account of the recording session, and his subsequent involvement with George Harrison.