Audio CD review
AudioGo
Release date Out now

The Doctor is sent on a mission by the Time Lords to strangle the Daleks at birth…

With its lurid pop art collage cover, the Genesis of the Daleks soundtrack LP (oh yes, this was originally released on vinyl) was one of the must-have items of Doctor Who merchandise of the late 1970s.

An abridged version of the six-part TV story, its breakneck speed removes much of the padding of the source text, making for a very pleasing hour.

Tom Baker narrates with a sense of gravitas that betrays the fact that he recorded the narration while his performance on TV was at its most flippant. It’s a haunting, rich performance that makes you wish this had been the first in a series.

The sound has been beautifully restored: it’s crisp and clean, with the usual attention to detail on these releases extended to including the end-of-side cliffhanger.

The only minor gripe is that it might have been nice for this CD to have been issued in a cardboard sleeve. But putting aside that small moan, this is an essential purchase for any self-respecting fan. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT: 10/10
A lot of care and attention has obviously gone into this re-issue, and it’s a must-buy.