The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: Primary Phase: Primary Phase: 1 (Hitchhiker's Guide (radio plays), 1)

A great classic BBC radio show, very clever and s bit different.

The best form of hitchhikers guide. Stereo effects are a brilliant part of the production, and Peter Jones as the book is fantastic

A great update to the Radio series, with an interesting documentary on Disc Four. Is it really 42 years ago since I first tuned in (and taped) the series. Forget the guy with the waveforms, I’ve ran a stopwatch check across this 2018 version and the other CD box sets, and it does run slower, proving that Dirk Maggs has tweezed the tapes to run at the correct speed. The missing Pink Floyd section set on the planet Magrathea, is still missing however, due to ongoing copyright issues. It has never been available, and I’ve gone back as far as the original tape and CD collections with Don’t Panic on the packaging. Well worth buying if you are new to the programmes/books/film and TV series, and nice to catch up with if like me, you’re nearly as old as Slartibartfast.

Like the HGTTG Boxset this Primary Phase (please check for the mono issues in those reviews) is a mono recording although it is listed as stereo. Meaning that since this issues release is the most recent version (and is the basis for the digital versions) the Primary and Secondary remasters have only been officially available in mono for years. I double checked the lack of stereo by pulling the .wav file in to Audacity and both the left and right channel are exactly the same. Meaning the stereo mix has been crunched into both channels so that there is no panning of the sound effects to either side. Disappointing. This edition even states in its liner notes the importance of it being a stereo recording for the BBC. Until then if you are interested in this series I would avoid any releases labelled as a remaster to avoid the mono issue.

This legendary set is a joy to hear. I am very pleased to have it.