Hello, I hope all is well.

And let's all hope today is better than yesterday, with three extraordinary deaths all in row - of people who have certainly shaped my life in one way or another: Chrstopher Lee, Ron Moody and Ornette Coleman. I remember getting phone calls from Mr Lee when I first issued The Wicker Man. He used to phone up on a regular basis and sing "Tinker Of Rye" down the phone. One day, he phoned and I wasn't in - these were pre mobile phone days. My flat mate answered the phone and told him I was out. He asked, "are you Christopher Lee by any chance?". "Why Yes" came ther reply - "how did you know it was me?". Well I recognised your voice Mr Lee, from all those classic horror films you made". "Horror!" shouted Mr Lee, "I don't do horror!" and slammed down the phone. He will be sorely missed, certainly around central London where he used to spook about the place, signing anything he was involved with (posters, soundtracks, you name it.). There was (to me) another classic Christopher Lee moment, when he put some of his possessions into a James Bond sale at Christies in the 1990s. He put in a pair of his white Scaramanga loafers - both signed inside in black pen of course. Trouble was, he'd put in two left shoes. Brilliant.

Over this coming weekend if you have a spare one and a half hours I suggest watching To The Devil A Daughter, one of Hammer's oddest and most disturbing films, with Lee revelling in pure evil like never before.

As for Ron Moody, there will be his odd and only LP up for 50p next week, and I will be playing Coleman's "Chappaqua Suite", made for Conran Rook's Chappaqua film but "too beautiful to use" on tomorrow's OST Show.  

As for today's 50p album, the only recording I thought appropriate with all these passings was A Matter Of Life And Death. Yes, it's very short indeed, but contains the legendary and hugely influential stairway to heaven sequence. Also included is the cosmic opening sequence. All music for the film was by Allan Gray - real name Jozef Zmigrod - these cues were originally issued on 78 rpm shellacs shortly after the film was released. The chances of ever finding them are remote to say the least. 

This short but appropriate 50p journey to heaven can be found here.

I now have to journey to the centre of London. I have to have some kind of of breakfast with my mum. I'm going to try and get her to pay. 

Thanks for listening.

Jonny