The Goon Show Compendium Volume 12: The Last Goon Show of All & More

Episodes from the Classic BBC Radio Comedy Series

By: Spike Milligan

Narrated by: Harry Secombe, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers star in 10 rare episodes of The Goon Show, plus a plethora of bonus features.

Immensely popular and hugely influential, the groundbreaking series The Goon Show changed the face of British comedy.

This twelfth collection includes the episodes 'China Story', 'Foiled by President Fred', 'Tales of Old Dartmoor', 'The Macreekie Rising of '74', 'Robin Hood', 'Six Charlies in Search of an Author', 'Insurance - The White Man's Burden', 'The Red Fort' and 'The Missing Ten Downing Street' (aka 'Ten Downing Street Stolen'), along with the 1972 reunion 'The Last Goon Show of All'.

Also included are numerous bonus archive items, including celebratory programmes Parkinson Meets The Goons and Heroes for a Time: 6 - The Goons. Here, too, are interviews and features taken from The Best of British Laughs: Peter Sellers, Robbie Vincent's Late Night London, It Takes All Sorts and more, as well as extracts from unedited studio recordings and rehearsals.

Remastered using newly sourced material and the latest technology to give the best possible sound quality, these recordings are sure to appeal to all collectors of The Goon Show.

The Goons is a classic comedy which reflects the broadcast standards, language and attitudes of its time.

©2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2016 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Absurd vs Nonsense

Sometimes it's best( and very funny) to answer a question, with a question. For example, Call: "Any question(s)? Response: Do you play the saxophone?" With the incredible talents of these men, that becomes an elegant joke.
Being able to hear what they created more than 60 yrs ago is a joy. But, why this 11 plus hr compilation contains only 6 hrs of original material, has no funny follow up.

I may be mistaken, but I believe this recording plays several of the same pieces, more than once. So 6 hrs of original work is presented over almost twice that time.

Presenting these geniuses of the absurd in this way makes no sense. It's a disservice that leaves the listener "hanging."
If Spike Milligan heard this, he might wonder: was this edited, by Ned C Goon?

Speak, Though You Only Say Eeee Yackaboo!

So, here we are…the end of it all, more or less — until the next volume and we go back towards the beginning.

“Do you play the saxophone?” “Only in the mating season.”

These collections have been exhaustive…and, I dare say, exhausting at times. The earliest volumes are mostly episodes, well restored (as they are here), and a tiny bit of bonus material, plus booklets (which most of the digital versions fail to provide.) At some point the compilers realized there was a ton of extra material available — documentaries, interviews, examples of other work by the core trio (though Ray Ellington gets his due here and there), excised continuity announcements and even outtakes and rehearsal material.

This set goes deep into the rehearsal vaults — unfortunately for “The Last Goon Show Of All,” an ill-advised attempt to revive and pay tribute to the series. The final show suffers badly from bloat and lethargy, and that goes double for the behind the scenes material. Two and a half hours goes to Parkinson and the droning “Late Night With Ian Vincent.” Not the most engaging package, then.

Lack of a PDF booklet is *very* annoying, as is the lack of chapter titling (an unfortunately standard issue with Audible releases.)