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The Music From Bagpuss / Limited edition ‘shop window’ die-cut vinyl

By Paul Sinclair

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First time on vinyl • ‘Book’ CD edition • Outtakes

Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner’s charming music from British children’s TV programme Bagpuss (whose 13 episodes were created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin and originally broadcast in 1974) is being made available – with additional outtakes and alternate versions – on new deluxe vinyl and CD editions.

The music has never been issued on vinyl before and Earth Records have gone to town and created a very special – and limited – ‘shop window’ vinyl edition which features a die-cut gatefold sleeve, into which you can swap one of five high quality lithographs featuring five characters from the show.

The vinyl and CD editions both feature 32 tracks of which – like all good folk music – are a patchwork of traditional pieces, half-remembered tunes and pure improvisation. Of the recording, Oliver Postgate (in his autobiography ‘Seeing Things’) says: “Between them Sandra and John could play every sort of instrument from a mountain dulcimer to an Irish fiddle. They knew and could sing every tune in the world and didn’t bother with written music, except as a last resort. They were exactly suited to Gabriel the Toad and Madeleine the Rag Doll and in those roles were happy to play whatever music and sing whatever songs would be needed.”

In addition to these compositions, there are 17 never-before-heard outtakes on the CD (included as 24/48 kHz WAV files – along with the 32 album tracks – via download card on the vinyl edition) which provide an intimate – and often very humourous – insight into the creative process. Highlights include alternative opening words and end music, as well as Postgate sound-checking in character as Bagpuss.

The CD comes as a stylish book edition and both versions include sleeve notes by writer/comedian Stewart Lee, Sarah Martin and Frances Mckee and some ‘behind-the-scenes’ photos. The die-cut ‘shop window’ vinyl edition is a limited run that will be superseded by a standard edition in the near future.

The Music From Bagpuss will be released by Earth Records on 16 November. These special deluxe editions can be pre-ordered from the SDE shop using this link or the buttons below.

Music From Bagpuss vinyl LP

Side One

  1. Opening
  2. We Will Wash It
  3. I Saw A Ship
  4. We Will Rub It
  5. The Bony King Of Nowhere
  6. Cat And Bird Tone Phone
  7. Princess Suite
  8. The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe
  9. Row The Boat
  10. We Will Lace It
  11. Ballerina Music Box
  12. Porcupine Song
  13. Here’s A Pin
  14. We Will Fix It
  15. Turtle Calypso

Side Two

  1. The Elephant’s Fable
  2. The Miller’s Song
  3. We Will Find It
  4. The Town Band
  5. Song Of The Flea
  6. We Will Do It (Undo It)
  7. The Weaving Song
  8. Charliemouse Weaving
  9. Bucket’s Burning
  10. Brian O’Lynn
  11. Lullaby For Cabbages
  12. We Will Do It (Go Through It)
  13. The Old Woman Tossed Up In A Basket
  14. Mouse Ragtime
  15. We Will Fold It
  16. Uncle Feedle
  17. Closing

24/48 WAV download: additional outtakes and alternate versions

  1. Opening Words (Outtake)
  2. Introducing The Characters (Outtake)
  3. Characters Waking Up (Outtake)
  4. Bagpuss Soundcheck
  5. I Saw A Ship A-Sailing (Alternate Version)
  6. Mermaid Song
  7. Captain Bagpuss Poem
  8. Owls Of Athens Story
  9. Birdsong
  10. Princess Suite (Outtake)
  11. The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe (Outtake)
  12. Porcupine Song (Outtake)
  13. Bagpipers
  14. Brian O’Lynn (Outtake)
  15. Agricultural Jig
  16. Percy Pratt Poem
  17. End Music (Outtake)

Music From Bagpuss deluxe CD edition

  1. Opening
  2. We Will Wash It
  3. I Saw A Ship
  4. We Will Rub It
  5. The Bony King Of Nowhere
  6. Cat And Bird Tone Phone
  7. Princess Suite
  8. The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe
  9. Row The Boat
  10. We Will Lace It
  11. Ballerina Music Box
  12. Porcupine Song
  13. Here’s A Pin
  14. We Will Fix It
  15. Turtle Calypso
  16. The Elephant’s Fable
  17. The Miller’s Song
  18. We Will Find It
  19. The Town Band
  20. Song Of The Flea
  21. We Will Do It (Undo It)
  22. The Weaving Song
  23. Charliemouse Weaving
  24. Bucket’s Burning
  25. Brian O’Lynn
  26. Lullaby For Cabbages
  27. We Will Do It (Go Through It)
  28. The Old Woman Tossed Up In A Basket
  29. Mouse Ragtime
  30. We Will Fold It
  31. Uncle Feedle
  32. Closing

Plus additional outtakes and alternate versions

  1. Opening Words (Outtake)
  2. Introducing The Characters (Outtake)
  3. Characters Waking Up (Outtake)
  4. Bagpuss Soundcheck
  5. I Saw A Ship A-Sailing (Alternate Version)
  6. Mermaid Song
  7. Captain Bagpuss Poem
  8. Owls Of Athens Story
  9. Birdsong
  10. Princess Suite (Outtake)
  11. The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe (Outtake)
  12. Porcupine Song (Outtake)
  13. Bagpipers
  14. Brian O’Lynn (Outtake)
  15. Agricultural Jig
  16. Percy Pratt Poem
  17. End Music (Outtake)

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60 Comments

60 thoughts on “The Music From Bagpuss / Limited edition ‘shop window’ die-cut vinyl”

  1. Pingback: Clangers / Original Television Soundtrack black vinyl LP | superdeluxeedition

  2. I just received my long-awaited CD edition pre-order from Amazon and to my dismay it was a rubbishy little slimline cardboard slipcase edition which, when I pre-ordered it almost two months ago, I didn’t know existed.
    I have just re-ordered the CD book edition direct from Earth Records and this CD shall be returned to Amazon forthwith!

  3. Listening to this now. I thought it would be good, but it’s so much better than I expected. Compulsory listening for people of a certain age.

  4. Having received this from SDL last Tuesday & now having had a chance to listen to it, I find it to contain an evocative (yet purely accidental) level of symbiosis with the early Kate Bush albums from her recent box set, as I was exposed to a fair proportion of music/ imagery from both during the same time period.

    To the point where reading the linear notes that form part of this sumptuous Bagpuss package only seeks to reinforce in me a need for Kate to have done the same!

  5. (I tried a comment earlier but perhaps it didn’t submit properly)

    Paul, this is being listed on Amazon as well, and i wondered whether you know if the book edition of the CD is the *only* edition there’s going to be? i wondered whether Amazon will be selling a more simple version and the one mentioned here is a special edition?

    Many thanks!

    1. I’m not sure about either, to be honest… potential risk with Amazon and also whether they can fulfil this title. Fire/Earth records are actually neighbours to SDE so we have a great relationship. But obviously buy wherever you prefer :)

  6. Paul,
    I just wanted to say a hearty thanks for letting us know about releases such as this, and also the Matt Berry TV Themes one. I love to see TV & Film themed items like this become available and we probably would not be aware of them without you, so I hope you will carry on doing so despite the odd dissenter.
    I’ve happily ordered the LP version from the SDE shop.

  7. Beautiful packaging but a real shame this is on standard black vinyl. Pink or pink and white swirl vinyl would’ve made it complete.

    Also, I totally understand why this wouldn’t appeal to some SDE readers, but there’s no need for such catty remarks! Saucer of milk for Francis, Neil Kelly, Guitarman, etc.!

  8. Any chance of the Pipkins Dub plates getting a release any time soon?

    Those Octavia the ostrich lost vocals.. have never seen light of day..

    Annoying

    1. Your comments were borderline trolling. A spew of negativity. To summarise (since it wasn’t published): you hate the idea of this release, think it’s useless and wouldn’t want it if it was free. I see you tried twice to post that TWICE. Why are so desperate for people to know this opinion? How does it help anyone? Haven’t you got anything better to do? And also there is no ‘membership’ to SDE… it’s free to all. You make is sound like you are paying an annual subscription that gives you the right to post any comment you want. You aren’t and you don’t have that right.The ‘point’ of SDE is to give music fans around the world free access to news/information/reviews/videos on releases and the opportunity to have some grown up debate and discussion around such releases.

      1. Why anyone would be negative to this release is beyond me. The original music is wonderful , there’s loads of extras and the packaging looks first class. Add in high res WAV files for all 49 tracks and I’d say you have something to treasure, whether it’s vinyl or CD.

      2. I notice you did not remove these 3 snarky negative comments! – Neil Kelly says: “Sorry but is it April 1st?” / Guitarmanc says: “Takin the Puss??? What next for the serial ticker…collecting dust?” / Steven says: “Words fail me.” – Surely the whole point of comments and having opinions of releases is to say what people think, whther poisitive or negative. In my case, and these 3 others, this release is not for us and surely we have a right to says. What is the point of a webiste such as this one wherer all comments have to be or can only be positive? I notice when you do reviews, which I do fine very interesting and helpful and I praise you for them, even your comments are sometimes only negative. Anway, I hope this explains why I left such a comment about this release. It looks nice and is well packaged but as for the music, no thanks. Unlike many, I purchase CDs and Records to listen to and not just to collect and look at. :o)

        1. Francis… you don’t have a ‘right’ to say anything on this site. If you send a letter to a magazine, are they obliged to publish it? So, what’s the difference? As I have said a hundred times before I moderate the comments so that nothing untoward or offensive gets through, so that there isn’t undue repetition, so that intelligent discussion can take place, and so on. Your little dig at the end is the kind of thing I don’t take kindly too – YOU don’t like the music so you assume everyone else is ONLY buying it for the packaging. Basically sneering at music fans that might be interested in this release. Comments that are purely designed to wind people up in a passive aggressive way, are likely to not be published either. If you think all this is too controlling, then there’s nothing I can do about that except recommend you find some other music website that will let you post whatever you like. But I think most people understand that some kind of unfiltered discussion board where ‘anything goes’ and people are constantly trying to score points, or put each other down isn’t pleasant and is not what SDE is about.

        2. Francis, Isnt that the case with all music, some will love it some will not. As a huge fan of the show which I consider the best childrens programme of all time I have pre ordered this not only for its beautfully packaged content but as an investment.

  10. Peter and Oliver were so much part of our culture, Ollie Beak, Fred Barker (Tuesday Rendevous and the first Beatles appearance), the ubiquitous Basil Brush, legend and star, the Clangers. The list goes on and on

    A few years ago Peter was kind enough to create a couple of water colours for me of Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog. Mrs BinD and I spent a wonderful morning at the farm near Canterbury, visiting the barn where it was all created and hanging with Bagpuss.

    There is a very worthwhile book called The Art of Smallfilms which beautifully tells the story. Don’t hesitate to visit Cosmo China in London and Canterbury where the Firmin children offer a wide range of products for us television children from the 50s 60s and 70s

    Nogbad the Bad going Bagpuss

  13. the earth vinylwebsite says that both versions come with a download card ?
    Released on limited edition ‘Shop Window’ sleeve LP, complete with 5 interchangeable lithograph prints, as well as 24 page Bookback CD. Both editions include a download of all tracks.

  14. My Sister used to be head of commissions (or whatever the title was) for Boosey and Hawkes and in the early 2000s (probably 2000 exactly) whilst we were having a post Christmas dinner chat and opening presents, my wife had bought me “Seeing Things”. I opened it up and my sister casually said, Oh I spoke to him last month…… Apparently he had worn through almost his entire collection of swannee whistles and small brass instruments on various shows and he needed a new bespoke set made for “Smallfilms”. Who would have thought that a few series of children’s programs would be so hard on Brass / Woodwind instruments. The Clangers were especially destructive.

    Although made for children these were seriously brilliant shows. Can’t believe there are only 13 shows when something of my children’s age like Dora the Explorer had 196 shows and Blue’s Clues 175.

    I’m in for this beautiful piece of history.

    1. Hear hear.

      Maybe that will be the 45th Anniversary edition next year.

      Soundtracks are really growing on me, it’s nothing short of modern classical music from the brilliance of The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford to the beauty of Ratatouille. And I have really enjoyed the recent “The Reflection” by Trevor Horn.

  18. Have to say it looks lovely – reminds me of my vinyl reissue copy of Avocet by Bert Jansch which also features a die cut window and some lovely prints you can insert.

    I must admit I couldn’t remember what the music from Bagpuss sounds like until I did a quick YouTube visit. It brought memories flooding back.

    Sort of tempted by this as it looks so good but I don’t know how often I would play it (and given the amount of other vinyl reissues coming out at the moment my wallet is already sorely strained).
    Still might cave though…

  22. I love all things Oliver Postgate, a true genius. Not a fan of folk music at all but reading trough those titles rang some bells and the unique charm of these catchy songs hark back to a special period. Sorely tempted.

  24. I’m wondering why they didn’t get Steven Wilson in to do a 5.1 mix? The music is crying out to be presented that way – imagine hearing Charlie Mouse’s vocals coming at you from all angles.

    That and the legendary Postgate demos – yes I know we all have them on bootlegs but it would be nice to have an official release. Even the sweary take of We Will Wash It would be a fun addition

    And when will we see a Blu Ray release of the Bagpuss live show which featured Professor Yaffle flying at the end and he ill judged decision to get Bagpuss Jr to sing a new song?

    POP FACT: Radiohead’s There There was subtitled ‘The Boney King Of Nowhere’

  25. Back around 2000, when our first child was a toddler, we bought our first DVD player. One of the first discs I bought for her was Bagpuss. I’d never been a fan of folk music before but the music from Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner was so captivating, it just sparked something within me and soon after I was down to the CD library absorbing the best of the 60’s folk revival, Sandy Denny, Fairport, Shirley Collins, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones and many more. So Bagpuss opened up a wonderful new world of music to me. I’ve always been an advocate of enjoying multi genres of music. Good music is good music whatever genre it comes from. Safe to say this disc will be bought. It’s much more than nostalgia. I’d reccomend it to everyone.

  30. Hint : It’s not a frog, it’s Gabriel the Toad….. And the others are Madeleine and Charliemouse. Looks like a wonderful record and CD though, pressing every nostalgia button going.

  33. Say what??? So that’s what all the vinyl-ticking hipsters have been waiting for? Mind you at least it gives them something to talk about whilst reminiscing about their grandad’s childhood memories…Or is this just a Pusstake? I’ll wait for the Hi-Def resolution with 4k outtakes if that’s ok? Now stop the world, I really wanna get off!

  35. Just watched the opening couple of minutes of an episode on ‘generic-video-playing-site’. They truly don’t make them like that any more. I did cry out “WHY?? HOW??” when I was told Emily owned a shop, but boy, the magic was still there.

  36. Frog? It’s Gabrielle the Toad! Someone clearly doesn’t know his Bagpuss from his elbow!! Nice quirky item, but I’ll wait for the standard vinyl. £33 is a bit steep to be honest, die cut or not.

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