Tolkien Theme - BBC Lord of the Rings Dramatisation

I love the Lord of the Rings BBC dramatisation it is an excellent adaptation of the book.

I first listened to it on the radio when it was first broadcast and was addicted from the first episode. I would avidly look forward to each episode every week.

It is relatively faithful to the books, as far as 13ish hours can be with a huge trilogy, and manages to convey a similar atmosphere and depth. Unlike the movies it does not try to be too action packed and thus the story develops in a very similar way to the books, allowing the listener to go on the same journey as the hobbits do in the books, starting off small and gradually getting bigger and bigger as you and the hobbits learn more details and the story expands. Like the movies the characters are very good and really do reflect how they are in the books, it has a very good cast. The music in general is very good, apart from the Eagles theme tune.

Wikipedia has some details about it.

And so does the LOTR wiki.

And also the Tolkien Gateway

Here is an excellent piece by Brian Sibley, the writer of the dramatisation.

And this article on his blog is all about the artist who did the art for the promotional poster.

The blog has a good write up.

This forum has some great information and includes some comments by Brian Sibley himself.

This site has a complete transcript of the whole series.

Reviews and Articles

https://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/i-didnt-know-what-i-was-getting-into/

https://luisperes.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/the-lord-of-the-rings-bbc-radio-adaptation-one-audio-book-to-rule-them-all/

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=14646

http://www.istad.org/tolkien/sibley.html

http://hubpages.com/literature/audiolotr

http://www.containsmoderateperil.com/blog/2015/11/24/the-lord-of-the-rings-bbc-radio-adaptation-1981

Releases

Original Tape release

Silver version

Tape covers and map are silver

Gold version

Tape covers and map are gold

card cover - some sets were issued with a card cover over the box

    

Centenary Limited Edition 
Includes booklet by Brian Sibley

Gold tape covers and map

    

    

Original Tape American

1989 Tape American (with the Hobbit)

alternate packaging

                   

1995 CD

Limited

Gold coloured discs

    

1999 CD

1999 CD German

2000 Tape Children's Edition

Includes Map and Freeze

Cover illustrations by Mark Hudson

    

2001 Tape

2001 CD Slipcase

2002 Tape (jewel case)

            

2002 Tape (plastic case)

         

2002 CD

2002 CD (with Hobbit)

All in one plastic case packaging

worldwide packaging

          

2002 Tape American

2002 CD American gift set (with Hobbit)

2003 CD Collectors Edition

2008 CD American

Release review: http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2008/10/07/30127-review-re-release-of-the-bbc-the-lord-of-the-rings/

Release review: http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/850-Lord-of-the-Rings-BBC-Dramatization.php

2009 CD Tolkien Collection (with Hobbit and Tales from the Perilous Realm)

alternative box

    

2011 CD (with Hobbit)

2014 CD

Collectables

As far as collectables go, unfortunately, apart from the different releases above, there is not that much.

Promo Poster

    

Large Poster

http://www.mds975.co.uk/archive/Content/radmem2.html

Large Poster

Re-release

    

Promo poster

Promo posters (with Star Wars)

LP of the Music

Tape of the Music

Sheet Music

Radio Times (March 1981)

This blog has a bit about the artist of the Radio times image http://buttes-chaumont.blogspot.co.uk/2007/07/eric-fraser-1902-1983.html

Postcard (2002)

Postcard

Promotional Buttons

    

SFX Magazine review (May 2009)

This SFX magazine has a very good interview with Brian Sibley, the writer, which is detailed on his website.

Infinity Magazine

Issue 42

    

    

    

    

Microphones in Middle Earth

This fanzine is dedicated to the BBC Dramatization.

Lord of the Rings Single Volume Book

This does not really exist, but was a computer mock up done as an April fools joke.

Still very cool.