Verses, Voices & Noises

? Although by no means a regular - or even normal - recording artist, the mighty PETER USTINOV nonetheless dabbled in the noble art many times over the years.

? A man impossible to categorise, he was perhaps equal parts actor, writer, dramatist, filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster, television presenter, raconteur, and the perfect TV chat show guest.

? This idiosyncratic tribute to his genius is drawn from three sources: (1) the wholly bizarre "The Grand Prix Of Gibraltar" LP (1959), presented here in its entirety; (2) side two of "Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite/Between Birthdays" LP (1961) by Andre Kostelanetz, Peter Ustinov and Ogden Nash (Ustinov only features on side two); and (3) "Phoney Folk-Lore", a long forgotten 1952 78rpm single, and one of his earliest recordings.

? The "Between Birthdays" suite, which features sixteen droll recitatives, has never previously been reissued in any format.