Exciting Hong Kong Vinyl
Exciting Hong Kong Vinyl
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Hong Kong is a 26-episode adventure/drama television series (plus an initial pilot episode) which aired on ABC during the 1960–1961 season and helped to catapult Australian actor Rod Taylor into a major film star, primarily in the 1960s, beginning with his role in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. The series was a production of 20th Century Fox Television, and the final credit of each episode stated: "Filmed by Twentieth Century Fox Television Inc. at its Hollywood studios and in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong"
Hong Kong was set in the then British Crown Colony of Hong Kong. Taylor portrayed Glenn Evans, an American journalist who worked in the exotic Far Eastern city. His search for stories led him into encounters with smugglers, murderers, drug peddlers, and mysterious women who would disappear behind beaded curtains. Taylor's principal costars were Lloyd Bochner, who portrayed Chief Inspector Neil Campbell, and Jack Kruschen as Tully the bartender.
In the television series, Evans' residential address is often given as the fictitious 24 Peak Rd. As shown in various episodes, the interior of Evans' bachelor apartment (actually a Hollywood set constructed on a sound stage at 20th Century Fox Studios) includes a large, sliding-glass door which opens to a small patio with a sweeping vista that overlooks the harbor and distant peaks.
This music would fit into the "exotica" genre, ...along with "tiki" etc. and is wonderfully evocative of Hong Kong itself back before its handback to China.
Newman's ability to paint with music is shown to full extent here, and this album amounts to audial impressionism at its best.
To my knowledge this has never been transferred to CD, so vinyl it has to be, but if you can find a good copy you'll be in possession of a real gem, particularly if like me, you appreciate the days when musical scores were specially composed even for TV series, and they didn't just use current pop-songs to provide the atmosphere.
The title tune breathes sophisticated intrigue, where men in white dinner jackets entertained ladies in evening gowns, while fighting off ever-lurking villains, ..there was ALWAYS a fist fight every episode!
There is a very lush track called "Joanna's Theme" which exudes seductive charm,...although despite having watched all the existing episodes of this series, I cannot for the life of me work out just who Joanna is. There are one or two episodes which sadly remain elusive to this day, so perhaps she appears in those.
Put this record on, mix yourself a drink with one of those little paper umbrellas, ...and you'll be sticking chopsticks in your hair in no time....
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- Please note that all vintage items are pre-owned and show signs of age. The condition is reflected in the photos provided. Please consider this when making your purchase as I don’t allow refunds or exchanges. Thank you
