The musical soundscape created by Barry Gray for Fireball XL5 features a rich tapestry of themes and playful instrumentation. Much like his previous work for AP Films, Supercar, Barry Gray leans upon the Jazzy musical language of Hollywood to bring to life the vivid marionettes and miniature craft, with compositions ranging from brassy heroic percussion to playful humorous cues. The unique nature of the series’ otherworldly premise, however, allowed the composer to balance his silver screen classicism with a progressive use of electronically augmented instruments, namely the Ondes Martenot.

Invented in the 1920s by French cellist Maurice Martenot, Barry Gary studied the keyboard-like instrument with its creator in Paris. The “wavering” sound the Ondes Martenot made was perfect for bringing to life the various alien and mysterious situations encountered by the World Space Patrol . These minimalist alien vignettes perfectly conveyed the emptiness of space and could be suitably unsettling when employed to set a scene of peril. This contrast of detached electronic music with the familiar anchor of Jazz served the series well.

To further add warmth to proceedings, each episode would close with an undeniable pop song, in the charming Fireball. The gentle love song featured the dulcet croon of Don Spencer and would be one of Barry Gray’s finest pop moments – ensuring that the series lingered in viewers heads. -SILVA SCREEN

Fireball XL5 Main Theme 1:28

Planet 46
The Mystery Of Planet 46 4:32

The Doomed Planet
Formula 5 1:23
Rogue Planet 4:51

The Hypnotic Sphere
Exploring The Tanker 2:11
Hypnotised 5:15

Space Vacation
Travelling Light 1:19

A Day In The Life Of A Space General
Ninety's Dream 1:14
Zero G (Single Version) 1:19

Plant Man From Space
The Cholorphon 2:45

Ghosts Of Space
Spectre Of Electon 1:40
End Titles: Fireball 1:11

Flying Zodiac
Circus Dreams 5:03

Planet Of Platonia
Platonia Treachery 4:04

Flight To Danger
Flat Jazz 0:49

Space Monster
Trapped 4:27
This Is The Twist 1:43

Space City Special
Fireball End Titles: Instrumental 1:12

Drama At Space City
Ice Skating Waltz 2:33

Prisoner On The Lost Planet
Aphros Theme 1:31

XL5 To H2O
Aquaphibian 3:05
Foiled! 1:50

1875
Back To The Past 3:12
Fireball (Single Version) 2:14