Friday, August 2, 2024

So Tonight We Gonna Party Like it's Space: 1999

Trying to catch that one episode of Space: 1999 (1975-1977) with Joan Collins playing an exotic space babe is nigh on impossible. Shout! have the vintage sci-fi series currently streaming in HD on its YouTube channel, but no option to watch any episodes individually. Hence, it's great news for no-life nerds, but a pain in the arse for everyone else.

Not only did the the first season, known as Year One, have the likes of Joan Collins, Ian McShane and Christopher Lee in it, but it was also blessed with Barry Gray's bonkers theme. A weird mash-up of ballroom tango music and uptempo disco funk; so funky, it wouldn't have been surprising if a b-boy crew rolled out the lino and performed windmills.

Space: 1999 (Year 1 Opening Titles)
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, 1975-1977

Can't say the same for Derek Wadsworth's underwhelming theme for the second season (Year Two) and whatever mind altering drugs Ennio Morricone might have taken when he composed the theme for the Italian version for the show.

4 comments:

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

This is the sorta tune I'd expect DJ Format to have sampled, but Whosampled says he hasn't and I'm glad about that.

Never knew Dame Joan got her kit off in The Stud until I watched part 2 of Saucy!... last night.

Spartan said...

Closest I've come to hearing it on anything rap related was on Planet Asia and DJ Muggs' Lions in the Forest. Before that, I rememeber hearing the theme on Portishead's Radio 1Essential Mix.

Yeah, Joan Collins bared it all for both The Stud and The Bitch. Not a fan of either of those films, sadly. Her so called career dip in the 1970s is still impressive, however: Revenge (1971), Tales from the Crypt (1972) and Fear in the Night (1972) are quality.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

A damn shame Kate O'Mara never did a sexploitation comedy.

... or did she? 🤔

Spartan said...

Don't know.

Only seen Kate O'Mara in two great Hammer films and Cushing's surprisingly sleazy,Corruption (1968) before that.