I don't think it would be unreasonable to suggest that some of the best television themes have come from science fiction and fantasy. These range from the Star Wars inspired space opera openers of Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek to the funky themes of the 60's with Barry Gray lending his services to Gerry Anderson's puppet epics and then there's the hundred and one curiosities in between. Things start in fine style with an extended suite from Stu Phillips' score to the Battlestar Galatica movie that started off the series. I never really cared much for the show; it took all the worst bits from Star Wars and left them and took the good bits and made them look cheap. Stu Phillips' full score for the pilot is a passable TV effort, but the short suite presented here is a pretty good sample that features the prologue and main title. Both this and Knight Rider are credited to both Phillips and Glen A Larson, the sub-George Lucas "creator" of both shows. Quite what he contributed to the themes, I don't know, but Phillips' efforts are pretty enjoyable.
Barry Gray was essentially Gerry Anderson's inhouse composer and his style pervaded every one of Anderson's most famous Supermarionation productions. From the insired use of the opening timpani motif from Captain Scarlet to join scenes in the actual show to the memorable themes for Stingray and Thunderbirds, the latter often being attempted by school orchesrtas (at least they were here in Guernsey) and usually pretty poorly. The performance of these three themes as well as Gray's other very distinctively 60's themes is excellent. On a side note, Barry Gray used to live in Guernsey and played the with a band (I believe) at a hotel just around the corner from my house and was a good friend with someone I currently work with. Small world.
I don't suppose Irwin Allen knew how lucky he was to have a future film music deity working on his often hilariously tacky TV shows such as Lost in Space. It is interesting to note that John Williams music to Allen's sci-fi shows wasn't really that much like his Star Wars music, but still contains a few Williams trademarks. Perhaps the most obvious being the hideously complex orchestrations and in theme such as Land of the Giants every bit of the orchestra is rattling around into a slightly dated but enjoyable concoction. My only disappointment is that my very favourite Williams theme from the 60's, the third series theme from Lost in Space doesn't really get a terribly good performance. A combination of mixing and performance problems mean the horn led theme is rather difficult to make out which is a great shame (especially considering the original is in mono).
The problem with compilations like this is that there are just so many things to comment on that it is impossible to mention everything. All but The Next Generation of Star Trek receive a performance, the most notable being Dennis McCarthy's excellent extended version of his Deep Space Nine theme which works much better than most extended TV themes. Having said that the lenthy arrangement of Debney's SeaQuest is very enjoyable. Joseph LoDuca's music from both Xena and Hercules has been extensively released, but the performances of both themes here are superb. The brass playing from Hercules is some of the best I've ever heard on a Silva Screen album and the detailed recording make it sound even more impressive.
I suppose my relative youth means that I can't really get any great buzz by returning to my childhood through listening to old TV themes and as such things such as Blake's Seven, The Outer Limits and even The Twilight Zone don't really mean much to me. The performances are generally excellent and certainly there is a huge improvement over previous albums. I always think that albums of television themes really aren't the kind of thing one can get much pleasure out of repeatedly. The tracks are (generally) short and obviously not connected musically and so it can get a bit frustrating. The mixture of eras and styles means that there will always be things that you love and things you just can't stand. The theme from Dr Who always drives me mad and themes that are sung (to a fashion) such as Batman or The Addams Family are just a bit embaressing to listen to. On the other hand I love the theme from Red Dwarf although the arrangement here is ruined by a hideous ending where the final chord bounces from one speaker to anther. Fun for testing your speakers, but an excrutiating way to end what is generally an enjoyable effort. All in all, a good album that is liable to have something you like and if you're fed up with all those crackly recordings of old TV themes, then you'll most likely enjoy the great sonics and generally good performances here.
Rating ~ 
Disc One:
Total Time ~ 73:14
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Disc Two:
Total Time ~ 69:14
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