Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast"'We want Information...Information...Information.'
'Who are you?'
'The new Number Two.'
'Who is Number One?'
'You are Number Six.'
'I am not a number - I am a free Man!'
[laughter]" Secret Agent Man sung by Johnny RiversAlthough this is a "Danger Man/Secret Agent" song, written and recorded to replace the original theme music for the "Danger Man" USA release, it's worth noting here for the apparent Prisoner reference in the lyrics. Actually the song came a long time before The Prisoner and it's no more than a happy co-incidence. Secret Agents get a number just like other Law Enforcement officers!"There's a man who leads a life of danger To everyone he meets, he stays a stranger With every move he makes, another chance he takes Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow." "Secret Agent Man, Secret Agent Man They've given you a number and taken away your name." Written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri
Prisoner dialogue sampled into techno musicEdward Robert Champion writes: I got this information from the huge Sampling FAQ compiled by some folks on the alt.music.techno and alt.music.synthpop newsgroups. Thought it would help you out. 66. The Prisoner (TV Series) [16 points] (3 groups, 3 songs, 8 samples) "'Number Please'
'Haven't got a number.'
'What is your number, sir?'
'Haven't got a number.'
'No number, no call.'"
"Is your number six?" "'I am glad you could come' 'Where are you?' 'It won't make any difference' 'I want to see you! I've been dying to see you!' 'It doesn't matter' 'People who hide are afraid!'" "Society is a place where people exist together. That is civilization. A lone wolf belongs to the wilderness! You must not grow up to be a lone wolf! You must conform!" "'I'm a rat!' 'No, sir, I'm a fool. Not a rat.'" "'I didn't know you existed.' 'It is often the case with very important people. Anonymity is the best disguise' Death In June, She Said Destroy (1988 remix), 93 Dead Sunwheels TOP OF PAGEDREAM INTO DUST and "A PRISON FOR ONESELF"American dark music band DREAM INTO DUST released "A Prison For Oneself" on 29 Sept 1997, the 30th anniversary of the first airing of the show. The special package, inspired by the music and themes of THE PRISONER, is a limited edition of 500 copies direct metal mastered onto virgin vinyl, and black-shell high-bias cassette. The vinyl contains a:"Dance Of The Dead" b:"Once Upon A Time". The package also includes a separate cassette of bizarre music similar to the sounds that played in the series whenever someone was being hypnotised, drugged, or treated with electronic devices. There is also a custom numbered i.d. card, map of "your village", and text about the series and its relevance to the band. The music and overall design reflects that of the show, filtered through the vision of DREAM INTO DUST. No samples from the original soundtrack were used, although care was taken to choose similar instrumentation and sounds. The title is of course part of one of the village maxims ("Questions are a burden to others, answers a prison for oneself"). The songs composed use only instrumentation that suited both the original series and the somber style of the band. Bells, vibraphone, flutes, muted horns, odd percussion, bass and twangy guitars are combined in unusual fashion to produce a surreal overview of the show's musical interludes. The result, for sharp-eared fans of the show, should be a feeling of familiarity mixed with a sense of discovery. The decision to include a separate cassette had two sources. First, the otherworldly music and sounds that are heard during the hypnotic/drug/torture sequences seems completely separate from the rest of the score, and indeed is not present on "the prisoner" soundtrack CD released by Silvascreen. Second, designating the sides by letter brought the episode "a,b, and c" came to mind, so there had to be a third piece (without a title, since in the episode, "c" is unknown.) The members of the band are ever-changing with DEREK RUSH as the only constant.
For more about this and other DREAM INTO DUST releases, contact A Prison For Oneself - Reviewed by Larry Hall
The package consists of a 45-RPM 7" single, a cassette, a map of "Your Village" which looks familiar but which turns out to be a map of hell, and an ID card bearing a number beside a mirror. Everything is done in stark black and white and uses the Village font. The disc has only "a" on one side and "b" on the other, while the cassette is unlabeled but wrapped in black with the letter "c" fixed to the outside. The outer wrapper of the disk identifies side "a" as "dance of the dead" and side "b" as "once upon a time". The cassette has no title apart from that enigmatic "c". On the reverse of the map of "Your Village" is an essay which encapsulates the essence of The Prisoner series.It's difficult to categorise the music of Dream Into Dust, it follows no easily recognised style or form. It's known as "Dark Music" and I can't better this description. It's atmospheric, bleak and distantly familiar, yet explores totally new areas of consciousness. It weaves a relentless path, sometimes sombre, sometimes uplifting. The listener is never allowed to rest, the pace is relentless and the form and texture constantly shift and change. It challenges the listener to put his or her own interpretation into it, providing clues but never the answer. It's definitely not music to dance to. Don't expect cheerful toe-tapping 4/4 rhythms or razor-sharp DJ hits. There are no stuttered voice samples or techno drum and bass bridges. It's simply the most original Prisoner-esque music to be conceived since the series itself. Your granny won't like it, it won't set your foot tapping but it WILL make you think - and it's worth the asking price for that alone. Get it while you can. TOP OF PAGEROY HARPER and "McGoohan's Blues"
Roy Harper's "McGoohan's Blues" from "Folkjokeopus" (Liberty 1969) was the first known piece of music to have "Prisoner" influences. Harper, a British songwriter eulogised the plight of Number 6 in the 15 minute song . The LP was re-issued in 1975 on Liberty/Sunset and again in 1986 on Awareness Records. A later Harper album "Work Of Heart" (Public 1982) contains a chorus of "I am not a number, I am a free woman" in the song "Woman". The original "Folkjokeopus" album was re-released in CD format in 2000 and continues to be available.'Folkjokeopus' Produced by Shel Talmy on the Liberty label appeared in 1969. It contains one of Harper's best songs, the Prisoner-influenced "McGoohans Blues", plus some delightfully quirky pieces. There is a sprawl of picture and writing on the back of the record to keep you occupied while listening to it. 
"I have it on confirmed rumor that a record shop in Minneapolis was named after my third record, 'Folkjokeopus'. The record features the epic 'McGoohans Blues' , inspired by actor Patrick McGoohan's depiction of the establishment rebel in his TV series, 'The Prisoner'. I am currently engaged with Opher Godwin in compounding the compleat Roy Harper, which at the time of writing has run to four volumes. The first of these will be released in 1996, with the second soon after this.""We have decided to run it chronologically, so that 'Folkjokeopus' will be included in vol.1. One of the stories of the recording of McGoohan's Blues will be included, among much else." In 1993, without a record company in the UK, Harper secured the rights back to all his albums and set up the label SCIENCE FRICTION which is run by Darren Crisp, who also manages Roy Harper, from his home in Brightside, Sheffield UK. Every Harper album is now available on CD. Write to Crisp Productions for more information and availability. Crisp Productions PO Box 979 Sheffield UK S8 8YW The album is also available on-line from http://www.royharper.com. TOP OF PAGE "THE GIRL WHO WAS ... DEATH" by Devil DollYear of release : 1985 This is an album from Devil Doll, an Italian/ ex-Yugoslavian band. Mr. Doctor, lead singer of the band and the mysterious man behind Devil Doll seems to work and live in Venice and Ljubljana. During the last 10 years he has on a very small scale released his work on a small but incredible loyal group of followers. They are unchanging album-concepts, a combination of classical and symphonic oriented rock music. He is also responsible for the art-work on the cover and in the small booklet with the CD's. Mr. Doctor himself has ritually burnt a whole bunch of their (debut) LP, just to keep the stock small. It seems that he wants us to search for his CD's. More information on the "Prisoner" connection can be found on their official fan website which says of this CD ... "Pierwsza plyta The Girls Who Was ... Death jest concept albumem bazujacym na popularnym w Wielkiej Brytani serialu The Prisoner, a dokladniej jednego epizodu tak wlasnie zatytulowanego." Unfortunately I don't speak Polish but you can get the gist of it I'm sure. Sounds like the mock foreign language PMG wrote for "Free For All", doesn't it? UPDATE: John Thelin sent the following update: "On the site you quote some polish text, but I can provide you with this quote from the liner notes, sent to me by a friend: "The Girl Who Was ... Death" celebrates "The Prisoner"'s 20th anniversary, a TV masterpiece conceived by Patrick McGoohan, a great man." Another Devil Doll album - "Eliogabalus", released in 1988 - has several Prisoner characters included in the cover art. Stefan Ulfberg writes that Devil Doll albums can be sourced online |
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