Fireball XL5 was set in 2062 and followed the exploits of the eponymous spaceship commanded by Colonel Steve Zodiac of the World Space Patrol. It was produced, like most other Anderson productions, in Supermarionation, using puppetry techniques that captured the imagination of a generation.
The album features 24 tracks from 16 episodes, including the Fireball XL5 main theme and single version. In the opening theme, Barry Gray employs, for the first time, the Ondes Martenot, bringing an eerie and other-worldly sound to the series. The contrast of detached electronic music with the Jazzy musical language served as a perfect juxtaposition of the alien and human Worlds. Each episode would finish with the pop song "Fireball", bringing the viewer back to the warmth of their 60s lounge. The song was performed by Don Spencer, and was a minor hit in the UK, spending 12 weeks in the UK charts and peaking at number 32.
- Silva Screen
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