Stephen Woolston
@woollers.bsky.social
What is it about December and the long run up to Christmas? Perhaps the dark evenings, cosy indoors, and tendency to dimmed lights and candles. It’s become the month for my traditional re-read of Dracula and the short ghost stories of James, Dickens, Jackson.
December 8, 2025 at 5:56 AM
What is it about December and the long run up to Christmas? Perhaps the dark evenings, cosy indoors, and tendency to dimmed lights and candles. It’s become the month for my traditional re-read of Dracula and the short ghost stories of James, Dickens, Jackson.
CDs that have been purchased over the last 18 months, ready to be taken upstairs to the CD boxes so the downstairs shelves around the CD player can become a bit less cluttered. Don’t worry. They’ll still get played plenty. I just can’t store everything around the downstairs CD player forever.
December 7, 2025 at 7:41 AM
CDs that have been purchased over the last 18 months, ready to be taken upstairs to the CD boxes so the downstairs shelves around the CD player can become a bit less cluttered. Don’t worry. They’ll still get played plenty. I just can’t store everything around the downstairs CD player forever.
Now December is here and I finished my Professional Scrum Trainer development, I plan to finish my current leisure read (Star Wars) so I can start my seasonal re-read of Dracula to finish on Christmas Eve, and, hopefully, one Hitchcock per cosy evening running up to Christmas. #leisureplans
December 1, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Now December is here and I finished my Professional Scrum Trainer development, I plan to finish my current leisure read (Star Wars) so I can start my seasonal re-read of Dracula to finish on Christmas Eve, and, hopefully, one Hitchcock per cosy evening running up to Christmas. #leisureplans
Guess what I’m listening to in Café Nero this morning. The funny thing is I don’t rate it as highly as OHMSS or Thunderball, but it’s still the expanded 007 music release I’m playing most. Do you like my custom cover for the original album program? I tried to echo the iconic Goldfinger album vibe.
November 27, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Guess what I’m listening to in Café Nero this morning. The funny thing is I don’t rate it as highly as OHMSS or Thunderball, but it’s still the expanded 007 music release I’m playing most. Do you like my custom cover for the original album program? I tried to echo the iconic Goldfinger album vibe.
This morning, I’ve been attentively listening to the new recording of Jerry Goldsmith’s THE CHAIRMAN. It’s always been one of my favourite Goldsmith film scores. I bought the LP back in 1986 and played it to death. To me, this is him on his top musical form. The reconstruction is absolutely amazing.
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 AM
This morning, I’ve been attentively listening to the new recording of Jerry Goldsmith’s THE CHAIRMAN. It’s always been one of my favourite Goldsmith film scores. I bought the LP back in 1986 and played it to death. To me, this is him on his top musical form. The reconstruction is absolutely amazing.
Scars of Dracula is the weakest of Hammer’s Dracula films, but it has saving graces. It delves into hitherto unexploited elements of Stoker's novel. It has a glorious James Bernard score. I have a special personal connection to the Delia Lindsay scene. It looks stunning in 4K.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Scars of Dracula is the weakest of Hammer’s Dracula films, but it has saving graces. It delves into hitherto unexploited elements of Stoker's novel. It has a glorious James Bernard score. I have a special personal connection to the Delia Lindsay scene. It looks stunning in 4K.
Tell me. What kind of a home office doesn't have a gold USS Enterprise?
November 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Tell me. What kind of a home office doesn't have a gold USS Enterprise?
I just finished THE HOOK AND THE EYE by friend Raymond Benson. Terrific plot with friendships, betrayals, surprises, and moments of spectacular tension and violence. The fallible humanity comes through and, like Casino Royale, is rooted in a doomed love story. Excellent!
@raymondbenson.bsky.social
@raymondbenson.bsky.social
November 20, 2025 at 6:29 AM
I just finished THE HOOK AND THE EYE by friend Raymond Benson. Terrific plot with friendships, betrayals, surprises, and moments of spectacular tension and violence. The fallible humanity comes through and, like Casino Royale, is rooted in a doomed love story. Excellent!
@raymondbenson.bsky.social
@raymondbenson.bsky.social
Now, here are two particularly interesting soundtrack releases from yesterday. I love Hamlisch’s SOPHIE’S CHOICE and the scores on this Lalo Schifrin set are very exciting.
November 13, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Now, here are two particularly interesting soundtrack releases from yesterday. I love Hamlisch’s SOPHIE’S CHOICE and the scores on this Lalo Schifrin set are very exciting.
Before somebody says, “But Steve, they're on this CD (pictured),” actually, they're not. This CD is of the original recordings, not the 1980 digital recordings. Two tracks have the same name, but they're not even the same music, never mind the same recording.
November 12, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Before somebody says, “But Steve, they're on this CD (pictured),” actually, they're not. This CD is of the original recordings, not the 1980 digital recordings. Two tracks have the same name, but they're not even the same music, never mind the same recording.
In 1980, Laurie Johnson conducted new digital recordings of his film and TV music, released on vynil LP. The US LPs are pictured top. Varese Sarabande released these recordings on CD (bottom), but incomplete. The tracks from The Professionals have still not surfaced on CD. I'd love them to.
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
In 1980, Laurie Johnson conducted new digital recordings of his film and TV music, released on vynil LP. The US LPs are pictured top. Varese Sarabande released these recordings on CD (bottom), but incomplete. The tracks from The Professionals have still not surfaced on CD. I'd love them to.
Arrived today. There was much hoopla about the price, but it was £50 less than initially advertised in the end.
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Arrived today. There was much hoopla about the price, but it was £50 less than initially advertised in the end.
Four fabulous scores by John Barry that illuminate one of his greatest strengths. They all get into the romance, glitz, and glamour of bygone American showbiz periods while simultaneously touching the tragedy, pain, and loss that was hidden behind the veil.
It's something he was especially good at.
It's something he was especially good at.
November 6, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Four fabulous scores by John Barry that illuminate one of his greatest strengths. They all get into the romance, glitz, and glamour of bygone American showbiz periods while simultaneously touching the tragedy, pain, and loss that was hidden behind the veil.
It's something he was especially good at.
It's something he was especially good at.
I always enjoyed The Seeds of Doom, but it always struck me as out of character for Doctor Who. The Doctor neck cracking thugs? Jumping through glass? Holding people up with a gun?
When the info text reminded me this story started as an unmade episode of The Avengers, the style suddenly made sense!
When the info text reminded me this story started as an unmade episode of The Avengers, the style suddenly made sense!
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I always enjoyed The Seeds of Doom, but it always struck me as out of character for Doctor Who. The Doctor neck cracking thugs? Jumping through glass? Holding people up with a gun?
When the info text reminded me this story started as an unmade episode of The Avengers, the style suddenly made sense!
When the info text reminded me this story started as an unmade episode of The Avengers, the style suddenly made sense!
I'm 32 years late to the party, but I've finally acquired this rerecording of lost music from the first two years of Tom Baker’s Doctor Who. It was arguably the show’s best years. Considering the music was done on a shoestring budget, it ended up remarkably memorable and effective. Dudley Simpson!
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I'm 32 years late to the party, but I've finally acquired this rerecording of lost music from the first two years of Tom Baker’s Doctor Who. It was arguably the show’s best years. Considering the music was done on a shoestring budget, it ended up remarkably memorable and effective. Dudley Simpson!
Although the Kung-Fu wasn’t that great and the philosophy a bit hokie, I loved this show. I'd love to see a hi-def remaster, with all episodes in the correct aspect ratio. I'd also love a proper release of music for this show. We got music-and-dialogue album, but more please! Jim Helms!
November 4, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Although the Kung-Fu wasn’t that great and the philosophy a bit hokie, I loved this show. I'd love to see a hi-def remaster, with all episodes in the correct aspect ratio. I'd also love a proper release of music for this show. We got music-and-dialogue album, but more please! Jim Helms!
My favourite voice in film music, born this day in 1933.
He didn’t write the most complex music out there, but there is an extraordinary musical and cinematic intelligence to his music, as well as a certain stylishness, which makes his work consistently first class for me.
He didn’t write the most complex music out there, but there is an extraordinary musical and cinematic intelligence to his music, as well as a certain stylishness, which makes his work consistently first class for me.
November 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
My favourite voice in film music, born this day in 1933.
He didn’t write the most complex music out there, but there is an extraordinary musical and cinematic intelligence to his music, as well as a certain stylishness, which makes his work consistently first class for me.
He didn’t write the most complex music out there, but there is an extraordinary musical and cinematic intelligence to his music, as well as a certain stylishness, which makes his work consistently first class for me.
Tonight's Halloween double bill.
October 31, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Tonight's Halloween double bill.
Last Saturday, it was 50 years since episode one of Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars was broadcast. Today, it’s 50 years since the big ITV premiere of Doctor No. I know I watched both. I know I was thrilled by both. What a week of television that was!
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Last Saturday, it was 50 years since episode one of Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars was broadcast. Today, it’s 50 years since the big ITV premiere of Doctor No. I know I watched both. I know I was thrilled by both. What a week of television that was!
This evening’s viewing. One of my favourites. Episode one was first broadcast on October 25, 1975. Yes, 50 years ago yesterday.
#DoctorWho #PyramidsOfMars
#DoctorWho #PyramidsOfMars
October 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This evening’s viewing. One of my favourites. Episode one was first broadcast on October 25, 1975. Yes, 50 years ago yesterday.
#DoctorWho #PyramidsOfMars
#DoctorWho #PyramidsOfMars
I’m hearing that many Doctor Who fans are appalled at the new Season 13 Blu-Ray box set for excessive use of AI to smooth the video and “enhance” facial details.
I won’t get a chance to see for myself till Thursday. Any thoughts from my mates?
#DoctorWho
I won’t get a chance to see for myself till Thursday. Any thoughts from my mates?
#DoctorWho
October 21, 2025 at 5:29 AM
I’m hearing that many Doctor Who fans are appalled at the new Season 13 Blu-Ray box set for excessive use of AI to smooth the video and “enhance” facial details.
I won’t get a chance to see for myself till Thursday. Any thoughts from my mates?
#DoctorWho
I won’t get a chance to see for myself till Thursday. Any thoughts from my mates?
#DoctorWho
What a lot of fans miss about the ending of The Curse of Frankstenstein. An appreciation I wrote in celebration of the new 4K UHD release from Hammer Film Holdings.
#Frankenstein #TheCurseofFrankenstein #HammerFilms #HammerHorror
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
#Frankenstein #TheCurseofFrankenstein #HammerFilms #HammerHorror
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
October 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
What a lot of fans miss about the ending of The Curse of Frankstenstein. An appreciation I wrote in celebration of the new 4K UHD release from Hammer Film Holdings.
#Frankenstein #TheCurseofFrankenstein #HammerFilms #HammerHorror
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
#Frankenstein #TheCurseofFrankenstein #HammerFilms #HammerHorror
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/stephenw...
A little more spinny disc therapy.
October 17, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A little more spinny disc therapy.
These deluxe hammer box sets are beautiful, but I really don’t have the space for too many like this! I want Dracula like this. For others, I hope we get 4K editions with special features, but I'd be content for them to be 2-disc slim case editions. My shelves can’t take it otherwise!
October 17, 2025 at 9:05 AM
These deluxe hammer box sets are beautiful, but I really don’t have the space for too many like this! I want Dracula like this. For others, I hope we get 4K editions with special features, but I'd be content for them to be 2-disc slim case editions. My shelves can’t take it otherwise!
The spinny disc delight of the day, with apologies to Mrs W.
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
#Frankenstein #TheCurseOfFrankenstein
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
#Frankenstein #TheCurseOfFrankenstein
October 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
The spinny disc delight of the day, with apologies to Mrs W.
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
#Frankenstein #TheCurseOfFrankenstein
@hammerfilms.bsky.social
#Frankenstein #TheCurseOfFrankenstein