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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Albums cover art

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Albums

By: Douglas Adams
Narrated by: Full Cast, Peter Jones, Simon Jones, Geoffrey McGivern, Mark Wing-Davey
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Summary

Don’t Panic! Reissued for the first time in 40 years, two unique recordings of Douglas Adams's sci-fi comedy drama.

When Earthman Arthur Dent learns that first his house and then his planet are about to be bulldozed, it’s the beginning of an interplanetary adventure for him and his friend, Ford Prefect. After fleeing Earth they hitch a lift with hoopy frood Zaphod Beeblebrox, who hurtles from one improbability to another - literally. With Trillian and Marvin the Paranoid Android in tow, the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything is soon revealed: 42. But what was the question…?

Following the success of the BBC radio series, Douglas Adams adapted his scripts for these two full-cast albums, with incidental radiophonic music provided by Paddy Kingsland. First released by Original Records in 1980, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe star Peter Jones as The Book, Simon Jones as Arthur Dent, Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect and Mark Wing-Davey as Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Produced by Geoffrey Perkins and Tim Souster, the cast also includes Cindy Oswin, Stephen Moore, Richard Vernon, Valentine Dyall, David Tate, Jim Broadbent, Bill Wallis, Roy Hudd, Frank Middlemass, Stephen Greif and others.

Hang onto your towel – it’s going to be the ride of a lifetime.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: The Original Albums

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    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic! But the original radio version (Primary Phase) is better.

HHGG is a fantastically funny Sci-Fi satire. If you’ve ever wondered what the answer to the meaning of life, the universe and everything is.. it’s 42. Hence the Earth was created as the ultimate supercomputer to try and find out the original question... all well and good!

However, this recording is from the vinyl version, which is an abridged and modified version of the better and more complete original BBC radio series (also available on Audible as HHGG “Primary Phase”). Do take a listen at that on Audible, before deciding whether to get this.

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13 people found this helpful

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Why mono when my original vinyl LPs are stereo?

I've listened to my original LPs so many times over the years that they're now distorted and scratchy. So I was excited by this re-release in digital quality but how disappointing to find it's all in mono rather than stereo! The originals were such a wonderful headphone experience especially the music and sound effects, which really added to the atmosphere. The writing and performances are as terrific as ever but it just doesn't sound so good in mono. It even misses out "Arthur bruised his upper arm" which is unforgiveable.

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7 people found this helpful

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Great to hear these albums again

Apparently taken from the vinyl rather than the master tapes, this sounds pretty good. I love all the versions of the Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy but this one is extra special to me as for a long time it was the *only* way to listen to the show after the repeats had finished on Radio 4 in the late 70s. Despite the vinyl origins the sound quality is better than the original radio show (though the Dirk Maggs remixes have greatly improved them) and the backing music, from Tim Souster and Paddy Kingsland of the Radiophonic Workshop is completely recomposed, and rather better for the most part - Rainbow in Curved Air, Jean Michel Jarre, Pink Floyd, the Beatles and Louis Armstrong are all missing (rights issues) but you don’t miss them that much as the new music is so well fitted to the script with a delightfully light pizzicato feel shading to passages of choral synth grandeur - additional sound effects throughout make for a very rich and textured experience. This is the first appearances of Disaster Area (predating the TV show and novel adaptation) and Valentine Dyall as Deep Thought. David Jason is absent, but Jim Broadbent and Roy Hudd are both there. The rewritten scene with the mice is much funnier than the original with mouse voices that crack me up every time. The performances are great across the board, tight and finely honed. The only thing that I really miss - and it’s a big one - is Susan Sheridan in her role as Trillian as she was recording the dialogue for a Disney cartoon at the time, but Cindy Oswin does a great interpretation and gets to appear as one of the two operators of Deep Thought, which makes those scenes feel a fair bit more modern. These albums, lost for decades, bring fresh perspective to THHGTTG - if you’re a fan of the original show and into completism then these are a must-have. If you’re new to Hitch Hiker then this is a great - and compact - way to get into the show. Right, I’m going back to the desert of Kaktafoon Kappa for the finale of Disaster Area’s gig...

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Don't Panic

Very surprised and delighted to have this again after all these years. I had feared this re-release was about to be cancelled when my pre-order of the CDs on Amazon was suddenly pushed all the way back to October with no explanation & I fully expected the same to happen here. Thank Zarquon, Almighty Bob & his holy sandwich-maker that didn't happen.

As for the release itself, it sounds much better than any of the copies you'll find on YouTube and elsewhere, all of which have the pops and crackles you get from decades old vinyl. I had hoped this might be from the original master tapes, but listening with decent headphones I can clearly hear surface noise from a vinyl record during the quietest sections of the story so this is also a needle drop capture. It's most noticeable during the "I've bought some peanuts" scene, however apart from some harshness to the sibilant sounds, this does sound like the vinyl they used was practically mint condition, so no real complaints. Just temper your expectations as to sound quality.

I will still be buying the CD if it actually gets released in October...

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4 people found this helpful

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My favourite version of Hitchhiker, at last!

For me, this always trumped every other version. So pleased people can hear it again!

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3 people found this helpful

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  • 02-11-20

The original and the best

This is the original LP recording and nothing betters it. Don't listen to any others.

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2 people found this helpful

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The original and best

For some reason, someone saw fit to change the original story slightly, shorten it a bit and re-release it as a 'modernised' version. I don't know why. This is the original version where they leave Milliways in the ship belonging to the rock band. I was very disappointed with the other version missing this out and regretted using a credit to buy it. This version is well worth the credit and just like the original radio series

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

enjoying show.

I enjoyed the show and it was funny. the show was good and funny with story.

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1 person found this helpful

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Don't Panic!

These recordings are from the 1979/80 LPs and are re-recordings of the Radio 4 series. However, none of the original brilliance is lost. Some lines have been edited and different actors in parts. It's a great listen though

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1 person found this helpful

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Favourite classic

My always go to favourite classic story. This narration (the original) is just iconic. A brilliantly funny and timeless story!

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