This recent release (SANCD092) is a lavishly produced musical representation of one of Britain’s most entertaining ’70s cop shows. The Sweeney was not only a massive success in the UK, but the series has proved a huge success in over 50 other countries. The series turned its star John Thaw (later to play Inspector Morse) into a cultural icon, and also immortalized the beloved phrase ’shut it!’ which was frequently snarled by Thaw throughout the series.

In the series, Thaw and Denis Waterman play two of Britain’s roughest and toughest cops (the legendary Regan and Carter) and are regularly seen slamming lowlife scum into iron railings whilst battling monumental hangovers. The main theme, written by pianist Harry South (an important British pioneer of jazz rock fusion), is one of the catchiest and most famous tv themes in history, and just the opening bars of thumping rock percussion, twangy electric guitars and sleazy sax are enough to bring back heady memories of bushy sideburns, sheepskin jackets and battered Ford Cortinas.

This album is remarkable and invaluable for all Sweeney fans for a number of reasons. Firstly, the booklet is jam-packed with photos and anecdotes from the making of the series, with comments about cast members and the composers and band leaders who contributed music to the series. Secondly, this isn’t just a compilation of background music used in the series, this isn’t the usual dramatic score soundtrack album which is often padded out with acres of meandering and musically pointless tedium and repetition. No, this is a carefully constructed compilation of music written specifically for The Sweeney by a variety of composers but which went well beyond dramatic score without actually being source music. Each track on the album is a self-contained pocket of music with a beginning, middle and end - but all are unified by being firmly rooted in the wonderful musical idiom of funk.

And thirdly, the album brilliantly incorporates some of the immortal lines and phrases from the series delivered in John Thaw’s inimitable grouchy but deadpan manner. And yes, we even get to hear him say - ’Shut it!’. Without wanting to ruin all of the fun, some of the choice phrases on offer include, ’Get your trousers on - you’re nicked.’ and ’Someone put something in my drink last night’ - ’What?’ - ’Alcohol’ and ’I sometimes hate this bastard place...Try and protect the public and all they do is call you fascist.’

And then there’s the music. The album begins with a nostalgic rendition of the old Thames TV logo ditty before launching into the ferocious Shaft-esque main titles theme with its blistering electric guitars, blasting horns and thumping rock percussion. And from then on it only gets better with Brian Bennett’s crushing ’Flying Squad’, a raucous musical delight with wailing wah wah guitars and pounding piano ending fittingly with the sound of a police chase and ultimately an automobile pileup before Regan spouts in typically ’disgusted’ manner ’where’s the ambulance’.

The album continues in the same vein mixing funktastic music tracks (which are genuine stand-alone pieces and not dramatic score) with some great lines of dialogue. Although the music frequently incorporates full orchestra, the emphasis on slick funk is never compromised, with bongos, organ, flutes and strings adding to the standard rock ensemble.

Every track on this CD is a sheer delight - I cannot recommend this album highly enough, whether you’re a fan of the series or not.

The beautiful and haunting closing rendition of the main theme led by mournful oboe and backed by warm brass and gentle keyboards rounds off the album in the best possible way. One cannot hear this final track and not be moved as images of the recently deceased John Thaw naturally spring to one’s mind.