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Music Monday: The Prisoner

by Scott Lydon


Happy Music Monday! In the late 1960s, ITV broadcast a TV show unlike any other. In the 1980s, it snuck over to America via PBS stations. Today, it's loved by those who know it, but still unknown to many. We're talking about The Prisoner, and you won't be surprised to know that Scott's found five songs all about it.

Iron Maiden - The Prisoner

 

1982 was a year when people were already doing a little bit of sampling, so nobody will ever claim Iron Maiden did that first. But how many metal bands were sampling? And how many of them were sampling shows that appeared on PBS? Even if you're not a Maiden fan, you still gotta respect them for knowing good TV, right?

What do we want? Your comments! Hopefully we'll get them after the next four songs...

The Clash - The Prisoner

 

Saying this song is about a TV show simplifies it just a touch, but the idea of someone trapped in his own village... well, you can see how someone could mistake it for such. In fact, word is that this song was inspired by McGoohan's masterwork, even if it took itself to different places. I'll leave it to a bigger Clash fan than I to tell me if that word is the truth.

The Times - I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape

 

The Prisoner captivated people in the 1960s, but the revival in the 1980s found a whole new batch of fans. This song was from the latter, though it captures the spirit of the former. Sadly the AMC version didn't really do the same. Ah, well, like they say, six of one...

Supergrass - Alright

 

This band started well and had a pretty decent his, but then turned on the powers that be because they didn't want to be just another packaged young band. Good on them for trying to be individuals! Also, let's take a look and see where they got by fighting the system... oh, really? Never heard of them since? Well, they're probably safe in The Village somewhere. Which, incidentally is where this video was filmed.

XTC - The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul

 

And this one too! The grand Portmeirion Village is the vacation land where they filmed The Prisoner and more than a few homages to The Prisoner. Although I've never been, it's supposed to be very nice. And from what I'm told, they're pretty happy to play up their history by selling Prisoner merch in the gift shop. No giant white growling spheres, though. At least that they'll admit to.

Let us just remind you: some images come from the corresponding Wikipedia page and are here under fair use. Be seeing you.