November 29th, 2022
32 comments
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Doctor Who The Celestial Toymaker Red and Blue Vinyl LP
Available while stock last from Cancer Research via www.ebay.co.uk
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk and www.zavvi.com
“We shall play endless games together, your brain against mine.”
Demon Records presents the narrated TV soundtrack of a ‘lost’ Doctor Who TV serial, starring William Hartnell as the Doctor.
When the TARDIS lands in the Celestial Toyroom, its occupants meet a new and deadly opponent. The Toymaker rules this ethereal kingdom, and he desires the Doctor, Steven and Dodo to become his perpetual playthings. While Steven and Dodo face a series of challenges posed by clowns, ballerinas and living playing cards, the Doctor is challenged to play the fiendish Trilogic Game against the Toymaker himself. His only hope of escape is to beat the powerful entity at his own game…
Presented across 2 x 140g ‘King & Queen’ red & blue coloured vinyl discs, this 1966 TV adventure is narrated by Peter Purves, who also plays Steven. It stars Michael Gough as the Toymaker, with Jackie Lane as Dodo and a supporting cast including Carmen Silvera, Campbell Singer and Peter Stephens. Incidental music is composed by Dudley Simpson, and the familiar strains of the Doctor Who theme are courtesy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
The LPs are presented in a fully illustrated gatefold sleeve showing cast and credits, and inner bags featuring complete episode billings.
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Please note comments may contain spoilers
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Categorised under: CD, Vinyl records
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Snowman
March 5th, 2024 - 6:16pmAbsolutely Despised this Cover when it was First revealed. I think it’s because it was so different to the “usual” Montage Style Covers. I love it now though.
Castellan1
November 29th, 2023 - 6:21amHaven’t got any of the vinyls yet but had to had get this at 9.99 – what AGM bargain!
Dave
November 29th, 2023 - 3:55pmMISSED IT
Coleman
September 30th, 2022 - 11:20amJust looking at the Hornets Nest set which was originally £160 and is now £96.56 with a good chance it could go much lower.
I’m just wondering what effect this will have on new products going forward.
For instance will people Pre order the New Demon quest set for £160 knowing in a couple of months it could be £90.
If this becomes the “Norm” with this affect what if anything gets made in future?
booboo
September 30th, 2022 - 11:26amThis never used to happen with these LP’s. They sold out before any reduction was needed and i think this shows the squeeze on finances.
Only think i would say is that Demon Quest is available at far more retailers than Hornets Nest was possibly making reductions less likely.
Coleman
September 30th, 2022 - 11:36amDefinitely a Squeeze on Finances. When some people this Winter will have to choose between Eating and Heating, I think these items will be classed as Luxuries. (And rightly so).
booboo
September 30th, 2022 - 11:45amThese were probably all planned and signed off before the problems we have now were apparent, i assume Serpent Crest with appear at some stage.
Robbie
August 25th, 2022 - 6:07pmIt’s spoiled by having the new logo. It should really have the logo of the day it was first broadcast.
Callum Eales
August 20th, 2022 - 4:51pmNaratted by who?
booboo
August 20th, 2022 - 5:51pmPeter Purves i would imagine as the CD was
Coleman
August 20th, 2022 - 6:31pmYeah, it says in the blurb above Peter Purves.
Duncan
August 20th, 2022 - 10:17amI’d laugh if the Celestial Toymaker had been found. No one wanted it on that Gallifrey Base place so I’m guessing no one on there will buy it ?
The Toymaker
August 18th, 2022 - 9:34pmInteresting timing with the apparent return of the Toymaker in 2023. Can only hope an episode might have been recovered as well prompting this renaissance of the story! It’s a shame there wasn’t an animation before they were apparently cancelled, you could have huge fun taking new liberties with an animation.
Harold Shand
October 6th, 2022 - 4:55pmThis ‘rumour’ of a return in 2023, any idea where it came from and is there evidence? I was not aware of the rumour
Daniel Seymour
August 18th, 2022 - 6:07pmGenerating interest ready for the (rumoured) Toymakers return next year on TV. I expect we will see the Target Novel Audio announced soon as well. Although I never believe any rumours i hear about the TV series as they never turn out to be true. Also why is this story controversial among fans? I cant see any reason why it is / was apart from it being a little mediocre.
Dave
August 19th, 2022 - 12:21pmIt’s seen as a bit culturally insensitive in a modern light due to the Toymaker’s mode of dress (and what some suggest is yellowface, although I can’t see that myself). There’s a good, although I believe a bit over-the-top assessment of the issues here https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/the-most-totally-closed-mind-the-celestial-toymaker
(You’ve also got an undeniable racist slur in the original episode (edited out of commercial releases), which does make arguing against the position that the Celestial Toymaker is a racist piece of work a bit more difficult, as the writers clearly weren’t bothered by casually dropping in certain terms)
Coleman
August 19th, 2022 - 3:51pmYeah, regarding the Racist remark, wasn’t their also a racist slur in The Daleks Master plan aswell.
I think it’s just a product of the time really and not to be too deeply looked into.
Rex Farrel
August 21st, 2022 - 4:06pmDave: Mark Ayres pointed out, when doing the original CD release, that the whole “eeny meany” bit wasn’t in the script – which was one of the reasons he decided it was ok to drown it out with narration.
Coleman
August 18th, 2022 - 4:09pmGot to be honest, this is the first LP cover I havnt liked for a long while. But I’ll still get a copy because it’s the gorgeous Coloured Vinyl.
The Fishmonger
August 19th, 2022 - 8:11amI wasnt sure about the cover either at first, Coleman. Very different to the other covers in the range. But it is really growing on me now. I agree the coloured vinyl looks really nice too.
Coleman
August 19th, 2022 - 3:41pmYes, it’s only because it’s totally different to what’s come before, I think I prefer the montage style of all the other covers.
Anyway it’s only a cover. I really like this story. (Whatever anyone else says).
Can just image the Series being restored and also colourised it would be a thing of beauty indeed.
Gareth Pugh
August 19th, 2022 - 9:25pmI think what they’ve done – maybe for the first time with the TV episodes vinyl releases – is go for something a bit pop-art/stylised in its approach. The others have tended to feature a single scene either from the story or else a ‘could have been on screen’ visual with characters in scale within a particular setting. This one takes several characters and showcases them in a more arty setting. Personally I love it – I’d really hoped they would tackle this one and even wondered if they would use playing card key colours for the design and vinyl. This is way more imaginative than I’d dreamed up though!
Anonymous
August 18th, 2022 - 3:46pmDoes anyone know if this includes the new higher quality audio recording they found a few years ago that hasn’t had a commercial release yet (to the best of my knowledge)?
Anon
August 18th, 2022 - 4:12pmI think you are thinking of the highlanders
Anonymous
August 18th, 2022 - 4:58pmThe Randolph tapes run from The Daleks’ Master Plan through to The Moonbase. The Celestial Toymaker was one of the stories noted as being of superior quality (as well as a few episodes of Master Plan and Episode 1 of The Highlanders).
EvanMarshall
August 18th, 2022 - 11:58pmI don’t know for certain but I would think not. That would require a budget for restoration and a window to open up in Mark Ayre’s very busy schedules as he works on the Blu-ray range. All of these releases are made viable by being ‘off the shelf’ – which is why we get non-missing stories which have been released with narration on CD previously. Doing ‘new’ releases which require restoration would probably make them unviable for Demon. I suspect though that we’ll hear the benefits of the new audio tape source for things like the Season 3 Blu-ray when they get around to it.
bryan
August 18th, 2022 - 1:55pmWow. Oink Creative have surpased themselves. A 3 dimensional chess board with characters on each.
Gosh we are getting spoiled this year for vinyl . Great story .
Sons of Skaro
August 18th, 2022 - 1:01pmHmm.. I wonder why they chose to release this one….hmmmm.
Stephen
August 18th, 2022 - 1:52pmProbably as it’s already been released on CD?
Gareth Pugh
August 18th, 2022 - 5:00pmStephen, I think Sons of Skaro is alluding to something that’s been heavily speculated about recently… regarding things that may be to come… I won’t say more than that in case you are avoiding spoilers…
Fengschwing
August 18th, 2022 - 12:53pmHmm. Makes you wonder if the Toy Maker is returning for the 60th Anniversary….
EvanMarshall
August 18th, 2022 - 12:45pmOne of the best covers yet. Absolutely beautiful. And good to see the price back down to normal levels after the £25 per disc of The Sensorites.