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

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 The die-cut ‘shop window’ vinyl edition is a limited run that will be superseded by a standard edition in the near future.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)