A Personal obsession... and nothing more

PRISONER CELL BLOCK H

Aaaaah! The thrills of late night TV or, to be more specific, of Prisoner Cell Block H - groundbreaking Aussie soap at its spellbinding best.

I've no idea quite why Prisoner enthrals me so. Perhaps it's Erica Davidson, with her shimmering, spun gold beehive and beautiful telephone manner. Or maybe it's the brooding menace of Miss Ferguson - Joan to her friends - whose shadowy presence suggests the threat of an imminent, unauthorised body-search after 'lights out'.

But somehow, its 50 minutes never provide full satisfaction, which is why the first line of its beautiful theme-song, "On The Inside", sung by Lynne Hamilton and kindly issued by the aptly named AI Records in '89, seems so poignant. While those who know nothing of Prisoner's delights insist that opening phrase is "Heels to give me roses", the initiated will immediately scoff. They know full well that Lynne is actually muttering: "He used to give me roses - I wish he could again".

This tender message is made more tragic because it usually follows a nail-biting finale (Joan Ferguson unconscious after a mystery attack, the endearingly inept Joyce Barry being hammered on the head by a vase) and this at the hands of the scheming Eve Wilder. It's all too much to bear.

Needless to say, this record is priceless, in every sense of the word. Without this on your turntable, you are no Prisoner fan. the £50 price tag (or is that 50p?) is worth it for the cover alone - a beautiful photograph of the assembled cast, in such kind lighting you may wish to frame it and buy another copy.

And if this isn't reason enough to rush out and purchase, pause to reflect on the possibility of owning the marvellous flipside, "Love Theme". Performed by the William Motzing Orchestra, this instrumental classic is bound to bring a tear to your eye.

JR Blandford
Record Collector Magazine.