Talk:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)

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I had a note here about whether or not one actor returned. According to the "Above the Title" site, he did. --JohnDBuell 03:23, 13 May 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Requests

Would anyone like to add plot outlines for each of the individual episodes? Or details about the cassette/CD releases? --JohnDBuell 02:39, 14 May 2005 (UTC)

I've made some changes relating to the naming of the "Fits" which also has relevance to the cassette/CD releases. I am not convinced the Cassette and CD releases were at the same time (1988 as quoted here and in Simos book)

Simpson states 1988 multiple times, and as he's described fallacies in other documentaries and sources, I consider it likely he got it right the first time. The 1996 individual sets of the Primary and Secondary Phases on CD only state that they had been released previously as a box set (likely the 1993 first re-release, which first gave the names of "Primary and Secondary Phases"). --JohnDBuell 17:53, 23 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Length

I was afraid it wouldn't take very long for a single article about the radio series to get too long. I've split off cast lists and plot outlines of the primary and secondary phases into one article, and the tertiary through quintessential phases into another.

[edit] Music

An anonymous user added a blurb about having to use studio musicians to re-record "Journey of the Sorcerer" for the Quandary and Quintessential phase titles. I have not been able to verify this after having looked on several websites. And it sounds like the original recording to me from the first three episodes of the Quandary Phase. Can anyone else verify this claim? I'm going to leave it for a day or two, until or unless someone can prove or disprove it. If proof is found, please add a source. --JohnDBuell 04:33, 24 May 2005 (UTC)

Ah, "the ears have it." They aren't using the original "Journey of the Sorcerer" on the CDs anymore. Just got my Quandary Phase copy. --JohnDBuell 23:31, 24 May 2005 (UTC)


Tidied up the 'copyright music' bit. I know radio broadcasts kept broadcasting the scene well after the first broadcast - I heard it. DJ Clayworth 03:38, 11 Jun 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Failed GA

The prose looks good, just fix the above. Cheers, Highway Return to Oz... 12:22, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Done, done, done and done. Resubmitting. --JohnDBuell 20:50, 23 July 2006 (UTC)
I'll add here that I added ISBN numbers for everything that had them. BBC Video releases have catalogue numbers and UPC codes, but no ISBNs, unlike some counterpart US releases. --JohnDBuell 21:05, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Help With the Different Versions

This isn't strictly related to the article, but I need some help figuring out the different versions of the radio show. I am, of course, familiar with the common versions (the ones that seem the most widespread), but I've also heard a different version of the radio show (perhaps a newer version) with different music and more comedic segments and asides (such as the "black vehicle" stolen in one of the episodes being the ship of a rock band known for playing incredibly loud). Can somebody help me out here?203.131.167.26 23:23, 30 October 2006 (UTC)

The "black ship" being Disaster Area's rather than the Haggunenon Captain's is used in the version on the LP records and cassettes. This version makes several changes compared to the original radio series making it similar to the books and the TV series. In my own opinion, it is probably the most coherent version of the story.Gusty42 10:01, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Do they still sell the LP version, preferably new? I tried researching around for it but I only see a couple of different products on Amazon. It just seems like that version was funnier. The "Share and Enjoy" song, the caveman only knowing "ugh" instead of "grunt", the cops being funnier and more sterotypical, the mice actually trying to go for Arthur's brain and the 30-odd seconds of space battle sound effects before the two fleets are swallowed by a small dog - that'll all be in there?203.131.167.26 12:57, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Unfortunately not. The LP and Cassettes have been out of production for many years. All the versions on Amazon will be the original radio series in one form or another. Best bet is E-Bay or, though I hate to say it, the torrents.Gusty42 20:34, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Although I've got absolutely no idea why they aren't selling that version instead, I'll just go with the torrents for now. As long as it's out of print. . . Thanks!203.131.167.26 23:23, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

Actually, I still have one more question. How many LPs were released? If I get the two complete vinyls each (with two sides each) is that the "complete" version of the LP and then everything that I download subsequent is just canon? I noticed that the seventh episode onward of the mp3s I had downloaded before sounded like the LP version. Although Beeblebrox's doctor did mention the Hagamemnon (as opposed to Disaster Area) so maybe there are more LPs?202.175.214.50 11:00, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

It depends where you are. In the United States, Simon & Schuster released two cassettes in the mid-1980s, one being 90 minutes long (which was, I think, most of the original double LP) and the second was 60 minutes long. There were three records released in total, a double LP in 1979 and a single LP in 1980. --JohnDBuell 01:45, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Thank you - I got them all and I'm in heaven now. I've been looking for those for five years and had no idea where they were. Pretty awesome. The sixth episode onwards pretty clearly has the production values of the LP so it all sounds great. Thanks!203.131.167.26 14:18, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

Oops. It's not the end yet. This is closer to the version that I remember hearing from a long time ago, but it's not quite the same one yet. The one that I remember in particular has about thirty seconds of random sci-fi sounds while the two alien races are fighting as a result of Arthur's offhand remark, as well as a conversation between the characters at Milliways with an animal that has been bred to want to be eaten. Does anybody know where that version is or is it all just a false memory?203.131.167.26 12:51, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
Are you sure you didn't listen to an audio recording of the TV series? Those BOTH sound like effects from the series - Arthur, Zaphod, Trillian and Ford have a chat with the "Dish of the Day" in TV episode 5 (played by Peter Davison). --JohnDBuell 13:34, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
Wow - I've never considered that and it seems that it may be the case. That explains a lot so never mind.203.131.167.26 10:12, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] DVD-Audio?

Are the tertiary phase et al really being released on DVD-Audio? Lots of sources say this, but other sources suggest this is an error, and it's merely a DVD-Video with Dolby Digital. If anyone has a copy, they can confirm by checking the cover: does it have a DVD-Audio or a DVD-Video logo? And you can double-check on a PC, if you don't have a DVD-Audio player: is there anything in the AUDIO_TS directory? --KJBracey 12:30, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

The way I was made to understand it, and I was pointed at the Douglas Adams Continuum forums, was that a DVD-A was intended, but a standard DVD release was made to increase potential sales. I don't own one yet myself. --JohnDBuell 12:57, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
I can see someone who didn't know much about DVD-Audio making that argument, sadly. DVD-Audio discs are almost always dual-format DVD-Audio/Video. DVD-Video players play a Dolby Digital or DTS version, and DVD-Audio players get advanced resolution quality. Leaving off the DVD-Audio section doesn't help anyone, and pisses off the people who don't want to be forced to less-than-CD quality to get surround sound...
At least some people are getting this right, like the high-profile release of the Beatles' Love DVD-Audio in the last few weeks. --KJBracey 14:13, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
The thread I was pointed to is: [1]. --JohnDBuell 16:06, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for that. The compatibility argument is, frankly, bogus and sounds like an idiot marketing person stuck his oar in. But it may well be the case that they decided they wanted to put video content on instead, and they wouldn't have had room on a DVD-Audio disc. There may also be specification, rather than technical, limits on how much video you're allowed to put on a DVD-Audio disc, regardless of space - I'm not sure, but I have a feeling you might not be allowed to put more than 15 minutes on.
The comment about "die-hard audiophiles" there is rather patronising. You might be able to argue all day about how much better DVD-Audio is than CD, but Dolby Digital is definitely worse than CD. They shouldn't be forcing you to trade-off surround sound with sound quality. And it's not as if DVD-Audio is exactly a new format - it's been around for 6 years now... --KJBracey 19:26, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
On top of that, what if you want to listen to it in your car? In-car 5.1 DVD-Audio players do exist, and they won't play DVD-Videos. --KJBracey 19:28, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
Hey, I'm just reporting the information.... :) I have had luck in the past getting responses from BBC Spoken Word via http://www.bbcworldwide.com/spokenword/ --JohnDBuell 20:20, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
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