Thunderbirds merchandise

This is a list of tie-in merchandise and non-televisual media associated with Thunderbirds, a British science-fiction series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson, filmed by their production company AP Films between 1964 and 1966, and distributed by ITC Entertainment.

Since the series' first appearance in 1965, more than 3,000 Thunderbirds tie-in products – including children's toys, print media and audio episodes – have been marketed.

Books

Between 1966 and 1967, eight original Thunderbirds novels were written by John William Jennison (four under the pseudonym "John Theydon") and Kevin McGarry; three focus on the character of Lady Penelope. In 1992, Corgi Books published four children's novelisations, all written by Dave Morris. In 2008, Minnesota-based FTL Publications, in association with Diamond Comic Distributors, launched a new series of original novels written by Joan Marie Verba with artwork by Steve Kyte. Verba had attempted to obtain the licence as early as 2004, while Carlton Television was in the process of merging with ITV Granada. After waiting several months, she contacted Granada, and after three years of discussions FTL Publications was finally granted the licence in 2007. It was the first licence for Thunderbirds titles to be given to an American publisher, and the books constitute the first new, official series of Thunderbirds novels to be written since the 1960s. Countdown to Action, published in June 2008, reveals the founding of International Rescue, exploring the establishment of the organisation and the construction of its machines. The other books highlight the individual Tracy brothers, as well as Brains.

Thunderbirds novels and novelisations:

Year	Title	Writer	Publisher	ISBN	Notes
1966	Thunderbirds	"John Theydon" (John W. Jennison)	Armada Books	Unknown	When a mysterious meteorite lands in the Gobi Desert, Scott Tracy and the Hood are overpowered by an extraterrestrial intelligence. Re-printed as Thunderbirds 1: Thunderbirds in 1989 (Titan Books, ISBN 978-1-85286-160-5).
1966	Calling Thunderbirds	"John Theydon"	Armada Books	Unknown	Lady Penelope and her cousin are kidnapped by a Peruvian explorer and the Hood, who are both seeking to recover ancient Inca treasure. Re-printed as Thunderbirds 2: Calling Thunderbirds in 1990 (Titan Books, ISBN 978-1-85286-161-2).
1966	Thunderbirds: Operation Asteroids	John W. Jennison	World Distributors	Unknown	A rescue mission to the Moon is hi-jacked by the Hood; he returns to Earth in Thunderbird 3, holding Lady Penelope, Brains and Tin-Tin hostage and plotting to attack major cities from orbit with nuclear devices.
1966	Thunderbirds: Lost World	John W. Jennison	World Distributors	Unknown	On New Guinea, Scott, Virgil, Gordon and Tin-Tin are abducted by descendants of a lost but scientifically advanced tribe allied with the Hood, who intends to wreak havoc with the natives' anti-gravity technology.
1966	Lady Penelope: Cool for Danger	Kevin McGarry	World Distributors	Unknown	Lady Penelope and Parker are embroiled in the initial stages of a coup d'état in the European state of Revonia, in part triggered by Penelope's arch-enemy Mr Steelman's desire for world domination.
1966	Lady Penelope: A Gallery of Thieves	Kevin McGarry	World Distributors	Unknown	Mr Steelman's latest scheme is to hold the galleries of the world to ransom by stealing unique works of art and replacing them with counterfeits.
1966	Thunderbirds: Ring of Fire	"John Theydon"	Armada Books	Unknown	Following a rescue at a disintegrating nuclear power station, Thunderbird 1 is caught in a volcanic eruption; the nuclear explosion has furthermore opened a fissure in the Earth's crust, threatening widespread destruction.
1966	Thunderbirds Are Go	Angus P. Allan	Armada Books	Unknown	Novelisation of the film Thunderbirds Are Go (1966)
1967	Lady Penelope: The Albanian Affair	"John Theydon"	Armada Books Century 21 Publishing	Unknown	Lady Penelope's mission to pursue a reporter who has photographed the Thunderbirds machines is complicated by the involvement of a criminal organisation intent on selling the images to a rogue Balkan state.
1992	Sun Probe	Dave Morris	Young Corgi	ISBN 978-0-552-52765-1	Novelisation of the TV episode "Sun Probe" (1965)
1992	The Uninvited	Dave Morris	Young Corgi	ISBN 978-0-552-52763-7	Novelisation of the TV episode "The Uninvited" (1965)
1992	Brink of Disaster	Dave Morris	Young Corgi	ISBN 978-0-552-52764-4	Novelisation of the TV episode "Brink of Disaster" (1965)
1992	Atlantic Inferno	Dave Morris	Young Corgi	ISBN 978-0-552-52766-8	Novelisation of the TV episode "Atlantic Inferno" (1966)
2008	Countdown To Action!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-0-9653575-7-9	The origins of International Rescue. Central character: Jeff Tracy.
2008	Action Alert!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-0-9653575-8-6	Central character: Scott Tracy
2009	Deadly Danger!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-0-9653575-9-3	Central character: Virgil Tracy
2010	Situation: Critical!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-0-9825232-2-3	Central character: John Tracy
2011	Extreme Hazard!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-1-936881-01-7	Central character: Gordon Tracy
2012	Danger Zone!	Joan Marie Verba	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-1-936881-08-6	Central character: Alan Tracy
2012	Arctic Adventure	Anthony Taylor	FTL Publications	ISBN 978-0-9825232-5-4	Central character: Brains

Comics

Main articles: TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope (comic)

A comic strip featuring the characters of Lady Penelope and Parker, set prior to their joining International Rescue, debuted in the first weekly issues of AP Films Publishing's children's title TV Century 21 in early 1965, several months prior to the first broadcast of "Trapped in the Sky". A full-length "Thunderbirds" strip debuted in the comic's 51st issue, published in January 1966. Originally written by editor and Thunderbirds TV scriptwriter Alan Fennell, this mostly replaced the "Lady Penelope" strip, which moved to a sister comic of the same name. The "Thunderbirds" strip, illustrated by Frank Bellamy, was the centrepiece of TV Century 21 (re-branded TV 21 in January 1968) for 186 issues and 30 serials, until October 1969. At their peak, combined weekly sales of TV Century 21 and Lady Penelope in the 1960s numbered 1.3 million. In 1966, Thunderbirds featured as a strip in the Daily Mail.

A Thunderbirds Annual was published by Century 21 Publishing from 1966 to 1968, and a Lady Penelope version until 1969. Thunderbirds also appeared in the parent TV Century 21/TV 21 annual until 1969; the same year, a joint Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds annual was released. Starting in October 1991, the Bellamy-illustrated strips, as well as some that had first appeared in Lady Penelope, were re-printed in Fleetway Publications' fortnightly Thunderbirds: The Comic. Again edited by Fennell, this new title had a 30-month publication run and achieved peak sales of 100,000 copies. Re-prints had previously appeared in Polystyle Publications' Countdown (briefly titled TV Action + Countdown) and Thunderbirds Holiday Special series in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1992, Ravette Books re-printed 13 strips in a graphic album series.

Home video

The 1980s and 1990s saw a number of Thunderbirds VHS releases by PolyGram and its subsidiary, Channel 5 Video Distribution. These proved to be a significant commercial success for Channel 5. Due to rights concerns, not all episodes were released unedited; some were issued in the "Super Space Theater" format, for which pairs of thematically similar episodes had been combined to create double-length compilation films for US broadcast syndication. The compilations were: Thunderbirds to the Rescue (combining "Trapped in the Sky" and "Operation Crash-Dive"), Thunderbirds in Outer Space ("Sun Probe" and "Ricochet") and Countdown to Disaster ("Terror in New York City" and "Atlantic Inferno"). The videos opened with a brief introduction by Parker, informing the viewer of other Gerry Anderson video releases. Volume 12 contained a selection of Lyons Maid advertisements featuring characters from the Anderson productions, and Volume 14 a "Making of Thunderbirds" featurette.

Upon its acquisition of the brand in 1999, Carlton International Media commenced work on re-mastering Thunderbirds for the first Region 2 DVD releases. Dolby 5.1 surround sound was added, and the existing picture and mono sound cleaned up with the aid of digital restoration and noise reduction technology. In addition, the original soundtrack was enhanced with the insertion of new sound effects and background foley (mainly explosions, aircraft and other mechanical noise, and vocal echo) Anderson, who had received no royalties from the series' distribution since relinquishing his rights to it in the 1970s, was hired as re-mastering consultant.

Region 1 DVDs were released by North American distributor A&E Home Video in 2001, with a "Complete Series" box set following in 2002; it was re-released in slimmer packaging in 2008. The same year, Thunderbirds was released, both in instalments and as a box set, on Blu-ray Disc in the UK. The region-free version distributed in Region B presents episodes in a vertically panned and scanned, 16:9 aspect ratio; a Japanese set, released by Geneon Universal in 2013, restores the original 4:3 picture.

On June 9th, 2015, Timeless Media Group and Shout! Factory (through their deal with ITV) released the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray in the US (both formats presented in their original full screen ratio).

Thunderbirds UK home video releases (the following is not an exhaustive list):

Title	Format	Region (Non-VHS only)	Release Year	No. of Discs (Non-VHS only)	Picture Format	Special Features
Countdown to Disaster	VHS	N/A	1986	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds in Outer Space	VHS	N/A	1986	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds to the Rescue	VHS	N/A	1986	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 1	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 (DVD) B (Blu-ray)	2000 (VHS/DVD) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Characters FAB Fact File Quiz with behind-the-scenes extra
Thunderbirds – Volume 2	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 B	2000 (VHS/DVD) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Machines FAB Fact File "Vehicles" featurette
Thunderbirds – Volume 3	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 B	2000 (VHS/DVD) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Tracy Island FAB Fact File "Characters" featurette
Thunderbirds – Volume 4	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 B	1986 (VHS) 2000 (VHS/DVD) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Gerry Anderson FAB Fact File "Lady Penelope and Parker" featurette
Thunderbirds – Volume 5	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 B	1987 (VHS) 2000 (DVD) 2001 (VHS) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) TV Century 21 Records and Mini Albums FAB Fact File Making-of featurette
Thunderbirds – Volume 6	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 B	1987 (VHS) 2000 (DVD) 2001 (VHS) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) TV Century 21 Comics FAB Fact File TV advertisements
Thunderbirds – Volume 7	VHS DVD	2	1987 (VHS) 2000 (DVD) 2001 (VHS) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Novels FAB Fact File TV advertisements
Thunderbirds – Volume 8	VHS DVD	2	1987 (VHS) 2000 (DVD) 2001 (VHS) 2004 (DVD re-issue)	1	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Production Crew FAB Fact File "Secrets" featurette
Thunderbirds – The Complete Series	VHS DVD Blu-ray	2 Free	2000 (VHS/DVD) 2004 (DVD re-issue) 2005 (DVD 40th-anniversary re-issue) 2008 (Blu-ray) 2015 (DVD and Blu-ray classic re-issue)	9 (DVD) 6 (Blu-ray)	4:3 (VHS/DVD) 16:9 (Blu-ray)	(DVD/Blu-ray only) "The Thunderbirds Companion" FAB Fact Files Printable CD-ROM cross-sections Featurettes, original artwork and memorabilia, TV advertisements
The Brains Behind Thunderbirds	VHS	N/A	2000	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 9	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 10	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 11	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 12	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	Lyons Maid advertisements (PolyGram/Channel 5 release only)
Thunderbirds – Volume 13	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 14	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	"Making of Thunderbirds featurette (PolyGram/Channel 5 release only)
Thunderbirds – Volume 15	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds – Volume 16	VHS	N/A	2001	N/A	4:3	N/A
Thunderbirds: 40th Anniversary – Episodes 1-3	UMD	Unknown	2006	1	Unknown	Unknown

Thunderbirds US home video releases (the following is not an exhaustive list):

Title	Format	Region (Non-VHS only)	Release Year	No. of Discs (Non-VHS only)	Picture Format	Special Features	Distributor
Countdown to Disaster	VHS	N/A	N/A	N/A	4:3	N/A	Family Home Entertainment
Thunderbirds in Outer Space	VHS	N/A	N/A	N/A	4:3	N/A	Family Home Entertainment
Thunderbirds to the Rescue	VHS	N/A	N/A	N/A	4:3	N/A	Family Home Entertainment
Thunderbirds – Volume 1	VHS DVD	1 (DVD)	2001 (VHS/DVD)	2	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) "The Making of Thunderbirds" vintage featurette Photo Gallery Production Credits	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Volume 2	VHS DVD	1	2001 (VHS/DVD)	2	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Photo Gallery Production Credits	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Set 3	VHS DVD	1	2001 (VHS/DVD)	2	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) "The Making of Thunderbirds" vintage featurette Photo Gallery Production Credits	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Set 4	VHS DVD	1	2001 (VHS/DVD)	2	4:3	(DVD/Blu-ray only) Photo Gallery Production Credits	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Set 5	DVD	1	2002	2	4:3	Photo Gallery Production Credits	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Set 6	DVD	1	2002	2	4:3	Photo Gallery Production Credits "The Brains Behind Thunderbirds" documentary "The Making of Thunderbirds" vintage featurette Character Biographies Gerry Anderson Biography "History of Thunderbirds" text "Thunderbird Stats" vehicle bios	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – Megaset	DVD	1	2002	12	4:3	2 "The Making of Thunderbirds" vintage featurettes Photo Gallery Production Credits "The Brains Behind Thunderbirds" documentary Character Biographies Gerry Anderson Biography "History of Thunderbirds" text "Thunderbird Stats" vehicle bios	A&E Home Video
The Best of Thunderbirds	DVD	1	2004	2	4:3	"Before Thunderbirds Were Go: A Profile Of Gerry Anderson" featurette Gerry Anderson Interview Pit of Peril with pop up trivia track "The Story Of Thunderbirds" text Character Autobiographies	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition Megaset	DVD	1	2008	12	4:3	2 "The Making of Thunderbirds" vintage featurettes Photo Gallery Production Credits Pit of Peril with pop up trivia track Exclusive interview with Gerry Anderson "The Brains Behind Thunderbirds" documentary	A&E Home Video
Thunderbirds – The Complete Series	DVD Blu-ray	1 A (Blu-ray)	2015 (DVD/Blu-ray)	8 (DVD) 6 (Blu-ray)	4:3	"Launching Thunderbirds" documentary DVD/BD-ROM Content: Vintage Publicity Brochure	Timeless Media Group/Shout! Factory

Music releases

The first Thunderbirds-exclusive music record was the mini-album Great Themes from Thunderbirds (MA 116; originally titled Requested Themes from Thunderbirds), published by Century 21 Records in 1967. Two soundtrack albums were released by Silva Screen Records, to favourable reviews on the AllMusic website and by Uncut magazine, in 2003 and 2004. A 40th-anniversary release – The Best of Thunderbirds, a double album featuring music from the first two CDs in addition to three previously unreleased tracks and exclusive CD-ROM content – was released in 2005. In 2015, Fanderson released a four-disc set for its members in celebration of the 50th anniversary; it contains music either written for, or used in, all but one episode (as "Cry Wolf" contains no original music, nor any music that was not used in other episodes, it is not included on the set).

Beyond the TV series, composer Barry Gray's contributions to Thunderbirds included four original songs recorded exclusively for audio release: "Lady Penelope", "Parker", "Parker Well Done" and "The Abominable Snowman", all sung in character by Sylvia Anderson and David Graham.

Thunderbirds soundtrack releases:

Great Themes from Thunderbirds
EP by Barry Gray
Released	January 1967
Recorded	1 September 1966 Pye Studios, London
Genre	Television soundtrack
Language	English
Label	Century 21 Records
Century 21 Records chronology
Topo Gigio in London (MA 115) [1967]Topo Gigio in London Great Themes from Thunderbirds (MA 116) Space Age Nursery Rhymes (MA 117) [1967]Space Age Nursery Rhymes

All songs written and composed by Barry Gray. 

Side 1
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"That Dangerous Game"	From "The Cham-Cham"	Unknown
2.	"Joie de Vivre"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	Unknown
3.	"Let's Play Ad-Lib"	From "The Cham-Cham"	Unknown

Side 2
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"The Man from MI.5"	From "The Man from MI.5"	Unknown
2.	"San Martino"	From "Path of Destruction"	Unknown
3.	"Jeremiah"	From "The Impostors"	Unknown

Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 1
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released	24 February 2003 (UK) 25 March 2003 (US)
Recorded	8 December 1964 – 10 February 1967
Genre	Television soundtrack
Length	1:01:25
Language	English
Label	Silva Screen Records
Producer	Tim Mallett and Ralph Titterton
Barry Gray chronology
No Strings Attached: Themes from ATV Television Series (Original Television Soundtrack) [2002] Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 1 Captain Scarlet (Original Television Soundtrack) [2003]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic website
Uncut magazine

Track listing
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Main Titles"	Stock track	1:36
2.	"Sun Probe"	From "Sun Probe"	2:05
3.	"Tracy Island and International Rescue"	Stock track	1:10
4.	"Monorail to Disaster"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	2:10
5.	"Thunderbirds Are Go!"	Stock track	4:28
6.	"Dangerous Game – Latin Rhythm Instrumental"	From "The Cham-Cham"	2:08
7.	"Suite from 'Vault of Death'"	From "Vault of Death"	8:47
8.	"The Man from MI.5"	From "The Man from MI.5"	4:28
9.	"Suite from 'Desperate Intruder'"	From "Desperate Intruder"	7:27
10.	"Commercial Break"	(With stings and music to Thunderbirds-themed Lyons Maid advertisements)	2:46
11.	"Dangerous Game" (Lyrical)	From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope).	1:51
12.	"Let's Play Ad-Lib"	From "The Cham-Cham"	2:20
13.	"Lady Penelope on the Move/Suite from 'Pit of Peril'"	From Thunderbirds Are Go (1st part)	1:37
14.	"The Fate of the Sidewinder"	From "Pit of Peril"	2:01
15.	"Pit of Peril"	From "Pit of Peril"	2:49
16.	"Rescue!"	From "Pit of Peril"	2:04
17.	"Jeremiah and Lady Penelope"	From "The Impostors"	2:06
18.	"Deadly Plot – The Hood and the Fireflash"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	4:09
19.	"Fireflash Landing"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	1:15
20.	"FAB 1 Pursuit"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	1:00
21.	"The Tracy Lounge Piano"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	2:00
22.	"End Titles"	Stock track	1:09

Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 2
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released	10 August 2004 (US)
Recorded	8 December 1964 – 6 November 1965
Genre	Television soundtrack
Length	1:00:05
Language	English
Label	Silva Screen Records
Producer	Tim Mallett and Ralph Titterton
Barry Gray chronology
Captain Scarlet (Original Television Soundtrack) [2003] Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 2 The Best of Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) [2006]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic website
Starburst magazine
Uncut magazine

Track listing
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Main Titles"	Stock track	1:25
2.	"Danger At Ocean Deep"	Suite from "Danger At Ocean Deep"	2:17
3.	"Spoke City Jazz"	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	1:39
4.	"Easy Listening Radio Music"	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	1:17
5.	"Drama on the South East Asia Pass"	From "End of the Road"	5:22
6.	"Taking a Desperate Chance"	From "End of the Road"	3:25
7.	"Thunderbirds To The Rescue"	From "End of the Road"	2:40
8.	"Penelope in France"	From "The Perils of Penelope", "The Duchess Assignment" and "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	4:02
9.	"Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger"	From "The Perils of Penelope" and "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	2:52
10.	"Dangerous Game" (Lyrical)	From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Jack Clegg	1:39
11.	"Century 21 March"	Stock track	2:01
12.	"Space Observatory 3 Space FX"	From "The Impostors"	2:02
13.	"San Martino"	From "Path of Destruction"	2:47
14.	"The Noon Day Sun"	From "Move – And You're Dead"	1:15
15.	"New York City Lights"	From "The Duchess Assignment"	0:56
16.	"The Duchess"	From "The Duchess Assignment"	0:35
17.	"World Exclusive Foiled!"	From "Terror in New York City"	1:38
18.	"Moving the Empire State Building"	From "Terror in New York City"	3:31
19.	"The Rescue of Ned Cook"	From "Terror in New York City"	2:33
20.	"Dangerous Game" (Piano)	From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Barry Gray	2:08
21.	"Lady Penelope and the Mouse"	From "The Mighty Atom"	1:11
22.	"Journey of the Martian Space Probe"	From "Day of Disaster"	1:32
23.	"Coralville Surprise/The Bank Job"	From "Give or Take a Million"	3:41
24.	"Christmas on Tracy Island"	From "Give or Take a Million"	4:01
25.	"Sleepy Time"	From "Security Hazard"	0:46
26.	"End Titles"	Stock track	1:07
27.	"Flying High" (Bonus track)	Un-used, lyrical end titles theme. Performed by Gary Miller.	1:25

The Best of Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released	2005 (UK) 7 February 2006 (US)
Genre	Television soundtrack
Length	1:33:32
Language	English
Label	Silva Screen Records
Century 21 Records chronology
Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Volume 2 [2004] The Best of Thunderbirds (Original Television Soundtrack) Joe 90 (Original Television Soundtrack) [2006]

Disc 1
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Main Titles"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	1:31
2.	"Deadly Plot – The Hood and the Fireflash"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	3:45
3.	"Thunderbirds Are Go!"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	4:26
4.	"Fireflash Landing"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	1:14
5.	"FAB 1 Pursuit"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	0:59
6.	"The Tracy Lounge Piano"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	1:58
7.	"World Exclusive Foiled!"	From "Terror in New York City"	1:38
8.	"Moving the Empire State Building"	From "Terror in New York City"	3:32
9.	"The Rescue of Ned Cook"	From "Terror in New York City"	2:33
10.	"Spoke City Jazz"	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	1:39
11.	"Easy Listening Radio Music"	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	1:17
12.	"Suite from 'Desperate Intruder'"	From "Desperate Intruder"	7:29
13.	"Jeremiah's Theme" (Alternative)	From "The Impostors"	2:02
14.	"Martian Space Probe"	From "Day of Disaster"	1:32
15.	"Stand By For Lift Off"	From "Sun Probe"	1:59
16.	"Penelope in France"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	4:04
17.	"San Martino" (Stereo)	From "Path of Destruction"	2:48
18.	"Drama on the South East Asia Pass"	From "End of the Road"	5:22
19.	"Taking A Desperate Chance"	From "End of the Road"	3:25
20.	"Thunderbirds to the Rescue"	From "End of the Road"	2:39
21.	"Jazz Atlantica"	From "Atlantic Inferno"	1:01
22.	"Suite from 'Vault of Death'" (Edited)	From "Vault of Death"	5:28
23.	"The Red Arrow"	From "Edge of Impact"	3:18
24.	"The Voyage of Ocean Pioneer 1"	From "Danger At Ocean Deep"	2:17
25.	"Espionage on the French Riviera" (Edited)	From "The Man from MI.5"	2:49
26.	"The Fate of the Sidewinder"	From "Pit of Peril"	2:00
27.	"Pit of Peril"	From "Pit of Peril"	2:49
28.	"Rescue!"	From "Pit of Peril"	1:58
29.	"End Titles" (Revised)	From "Pit of Peril"	1:25

Disc 2
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Parker"	Originally included in Lady Penelope Themes (Century 21 Records, EP, MA 111, 1966). Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope).	3:16
2.	"Lady Penelope"	Originally included in Lady Penelope Themes. Performed by David Graham (as Parker).	2:58
3.	"Dangerous Game" (Lyrical, stereo)	From "The Cham-Cham". Performed by Sylvia Anderson (as Lady Penelope).	3:53
4.	"Let's Play Ad-Lib" (Stereo)		2:56
5.	"The Abominable Snowman"	From audio episode F.A.B. (Century 21 Records, EP, MA 107, 1966). Performed by Sylvia Anderson and David Graham (as Lady Penelope and Parker).	1:32

Thunderbirds
Soundtrack album by Barry Gray
Released	2015
Recorded	1964-65
Genre	Television soundtrack
Length	5:06:31
Language	English
Label	Fanderson
Producer	Tim Mallett and Ralph Titterton

Disc 1
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Thunderbirds Main Titles – 'Trapped in the Sky' Version"	Used only on this episode	1:33
2.	"The Maiden Flight"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	4:33
3.	"The First Rescue Mission"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	4:37
4.	"The Elevator Cars"	From "Trapped in the Sky"	6:43
5.	"The Radiation Cloud" (Contains cues from "Pit of Peril" and "Vault of Death")	From "The Mighty Atom"	3:03
6.	"The Power of the Atom" (Contains a cue from "Edge of Impact")	From "The Mighty Atom"	1:54
7.	"Paris In The Springtime" (Contains an excerpt from "Terror In New York City")	From "The Perils of Penelope"	7:24
8.	"The Road To Anderbad"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	1:28
9.	"The Anderbad Tunnel"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	3:26
10.	"Let The Fireworks Begin"	From "The Perils of Penelope"	5:29
11.	"Driving Home"	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	2:29
12.	"Room 1972" (Contains a cue from Stingray's "Loch Ness Monster")	From "30 Minutes After Noon"	1:57
13.	"Chasing The News"	From "Terror In New York City"	3:33
14.	"The Fall of the Empire State"	From "Terror In New York City"	5:00
15.	"Voyage To New York"	From "Terror In New York City"	1:39
16.	"Swim For Your Life" (Contains cues from Stingray's "The Golden Sea" and "Hostages of the Deep")	From "Terror In New York City"	6:33
17.	"San Martino"	From "Path of Destruction"	2:47
18.	"The Ocean Pioneer" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Danger At Ocean Deep"	4:23
19.	"Home And Dry" (Contains a cue from Stingray's "The Big Gun")	From "Danger At Ocean Deep"	0:32
20.	"An Explosive Combination" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Danger At Ocean Deep"	2:36
21.	"Into the Mist" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Danger At Ocean Deep"	5:21
22.	"End Titles – 'Trapped In The Sky' Version"	Used only on this episode	1:09

Disc 2
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Thunderbirds Main Titles"	Standard version	1:32
2.	"Jungle Invader"	From "Pit of Peril"	5:36
3.	"Mission To Hell"	From "Pit of Peril"	1:32
4.	"The Danger Zone"	From "Pit of Peril"	4:07
5.	"The Recovery Vehicles"	From "Pit of Peril"	5:42
6.	"Cops And Robbers" (Stock music from Supercar)	From "City of Fire"	0:37
7.	"Bang on Schedule"	From "End of the Road"	6:15
8.	"Eddie's Monsoon"	From "End of the Road"	4:32
9.	"On The Edge"	From "End of the Road"	3:55
10.	"Roadside Recovery"	From "End of the Road"	5:54
11.	"Monte Bianco" (Stock music from Supercar and Stingray)	From "Lord Parker's 'Oliday"	2:04
12.	"Thunderbirds Are Go" (Recorded for commercial release as a 7" single)	From "Lord Parker's 'Oliday"	2:32
13.	"The Red Arrow" (Contains brief material from "End of the Road" and "The Perils of Penelope")	From "Edge of Impact"	5:29
14.	"Collision Course" (Includes a cue from "End of the Road")	From "Edge of Impact"	2:06
15.	"Tower of Terror" (Includes a cue from "End of the Road")	From "Edge of Impact"	1:23
16.	"Down To Earth"	From "Edge of Impact"	3:10
17.	"Braquasso's Blue Period" (Includes cues from "What Goes Up" [Supercar] and "Count Down" [Stingray])	From "The Duchess Assignment"	0:41
18.	"Caravan To Anasta"	From "Desperate Intruder"	4:49
19.	"The Lost Temple of Anasta"	From "Desperate Intruder"	4:28
20.	"Commercial Break" (Recorded during the sessions for "Desperate Intruder")	Used for 1965-1980 UK TV broadcasts	0:06
21.	"A Veritable Swarm"	From "Desperate Intruder"	1:55
22.	"The Treasure of the Kings" (Includes a cue from Stingray's "Hostages of the Deep")	From "Desperate Intruder"	8:41
23.	"Thunderbirds End Titles"	standard version	1:22

Disc 3
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Thunderbirds Main Titles (Stereo FX)"		1:33
2.	"The Bank Job"	From "Vault of Death"	7:01
3.	"The Road To Nowhere"	From "Vault of Death"	3:11
4.	"Thunderbirds Launch"	From "Vault of Death"	4:40
5.	"Going Underground" (Contains cues from "Terror In New York City" and "End of the Road")	From "Vault of Death"	7:07
6.	"The Pyramid of Khamandides" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "The Uninvited"	2:48
7.	"Countdown" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope")	From "Sun Probe"	2:14
8.	"Heading for the Sun" (Contains cues from "Terror In New York City" and "Edge of Impact," and electronic effects from Fireball XL5)	From "Sun Probe"	1:42
9.	"The Safety Room" (Contains cues from "Terror In New York City" and "Edge of Impact," and new electronic effects)	From "Sun Probe"	2:36
10.	"The Wrong Box" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope" and "Desperate Intruder")	From "Sun Probe"	1:03
11.	"The Test Crew" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Four Feather Falls)	From "Operation Crash-Dive"	5:26
12.	"Under The Wing" (Stock music from Thunderbirds, Stingray and Four Feather Falls)	From "Operation Crash-Dive"	1:34
13.	"Christmas Preparations" (Stock music from Thunderbirds, Stingray and Supercar)	From "Give or Take a Million"	1:47
14.	"The Santa Claus Bank Robbery" (Includes cues from "Trapped In The Sky," "Calling Charlie Queen" [Supercar] and "The Golden Sea" [Stingray])	From "Give or Take a Million"	3:36
15.	"Agent 47" (Contains cues from "Desperate Intruder," "End of the Road," Stingray's "The Golden Sea" and "City Lights Theme" (Supercar))	From "The Impostors"	4:20
16.	"Spacewalk"	From "The Impostors"	2:11
17.	"Forward Thrust" (Contains a cue from "End of the Road")	From "The Impostors"	4:52
18.	"Back In Business" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope" and Stingray's "The Golden Sea")	From "The Impostors"	5:46
19.	"Rogue Gyropedo" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Atlantic Inferno"	2:01
20.	"The Monte Carlo Affair"	From "The Man from MI.5"	5:43
21.	"The Girl from FAB"	From "The Man from MI.5"	2:00
22.	"The Property of a Lady"	From "The Man from MI.5"	0:52
23.	"Second Rendezvous" (Contains a cue from Stingray's "Treasure Down Below")	From "The Man from MI.5"	1:56
24.	"Flying High (Thunderbirds End Titles Song)" (Performed by Gary Miller)	unused	1:16

Disc 4
No.	Title	Notes	Length
1.	"Thunderbirds Main Titles (Music Only)"		1:23
2.	"The Bridge of San Miguel" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope," "Edge of Impact," "Trapped In The Sky" and "Vault of Death")	From "Move – And You're Dead"	2:36
3.	"Parola Sands" (Contains cues from "Terror In New York City" and Stingray's "Star of the East")	From "Move – And You're Dead"	0:43
4.	"Target: Alan Tracy" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope," "Edge of Impact" and Stingray's "Hostages of the Deep")	From "Move – And You're Dead"	1:20
5.	"Holding On" (Contains cues from "30 Minutes After Noon" and "End of the Road")	From "Move – And You're Dead"	1:59
6.	"The Jewel Thieves" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Brink of Disaster"	0:48
7.	"The Boatman and the Swamp Monsters" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Attack of the Alligators!"	2:48
8.	"Invaders From Mars" (Stock music)	From "Martian Invasion"	2:28
9.	"Flight of the Hood" (Stock music from Supercar)	From "Martian Invasion"	1:01
10.	"Live from Paradise Peaks" (Contains cues from "End of the Road" and "Vault of Death," "An Echo of Danger," "Hostages of the Deep" and "Raptures of the Deep" [Stingray] and "What Goes Up" [Supercar])	From "The Cham-Cham"	5:58
11.	"Dangerous Liaisons" (Contains cues from "End of the Road" and Stingray's "Hostages of the Deep," and source cue "Let's Play Ad-Lib")	From "The Cham-Cham"	6:05
12.	"Happy Skiing" (Contains cues from "Jail Break" (Supercar) and Stingray's "Hostages of the Deep," and Supercar library track "Happy Flying")	From "The Cham-Cham"	2:01
13.	"Dangerous Game" (Contains Sylvia Anderson performing "Dangerous Game," cues from Stingray's "Hostages of the Deep" and "Raptures of the Deep," and Supercar library track "Mitch Marching")	From "The Cham-Cham"	6:34
14.	"Penelope's Secret" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope")	From "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	1:33
15.	"After A Fashion" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope")	From "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	2:46
16.	"The Penelon Collection" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	3:34
17.	"A Revolutionary Invention" (Stock music)	From "Alias Mr. Hackenbacker"	1:27
18.	"All the Way with KLA (Shram Shram/Flying High)" (Instrumental version of "I've Got Something To Shout About" from Stingray; "Flying High" performed by Gary Miller, entirely different from version on Disc 3)	From "Ricochet"	2:35
19.	"March of the Probe Rocket" (Contains cues from "The Perils of Penelope," "End of the Road," "Terror In New York City" and "Trapped In The Sky," and Stingray's "Secret of the Giant Oyster" and "The Big Gun")	From "Day of Disaster"	10:15
20.	"Brains to the Rescue" (Contains cues from "End of the Road" and Stingray's "The Golden Sea")	From "Day of Disaster"	0:36
21.	"The Dock Cranes" (Contains cues from "Terror In New York City")	From "Day of Disaster"	3:59
22.	"Cutting It Fine" (Stock music from Thunderbirds and Stingray)	From "Day of Disaster"	6:13
23.	"Bedtime for Chip"	From "Security Hazard"	1:07
24.	"Thunderbirds End Titles"		1:16

Toys

When Thunderbirds was first broadcast, AP Films Merchandising awarded licences to companies such as Matchbox and Dinky to manufacture plastic and die-cast metal Thunderbirds vehicle toys. The subsidiary issued approximately 120 such licences, even buying a company (J. Rosenthal) to keep up with demand. Among the first items released by Dinky were a blue (rather than green) Thunderbird 2 and a six-inch-long (15 cm) FAB 1, of which more than two million were manufactured. By 1966, British commentators had dubbed the end-of-year shopping season "Thunderbirds Christmas" in the light of the series' popularity. Themed birthday cards for children, for ages 6 to 10, were available in Australia in the mid-1960s.

File:Matchbox Thunderbirds Commercial Screengrab.png

Matchbox Thunderbirds TV advertisement featuring its Tracy Island toy, which experienced high consumer demand in the UK in the early 1990s when BBC Two repeated the series

Japanese model kits of the vehicles continued to be marketed into the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Matchbox launched a new range of toys to coincide with the BBC's Thunderbirds revival. Despite poor sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas 1991, when demand overwhelmed supply, by the following December the series had provided manufacturers and retailers with the most successful British tie-in merchandising campaign since Star Wars. Matchbox's Tracy Island playset quickly became the UK's most sought-after toy, resulting in stock shortages, fights between customers in shops, and a rising black market surrounding the item; the story was reported in the national press.

The 1991 Matchbox range included:

• Tracy Island Electronic Playset – with electronic sounds and moveable palm trees, swimming pool and Thunderbird 2 launch pad. So rare was the item in the run-up to Christmas 1991 in the UK, that the shortage was reported on BBC News.
• Electronic Thunderbird 1 – with mechanised opening wings, electronic firing light and sound
• Electronic Thunderbird 2 – holds two action figures, and with electronic sounds and miniature Thunderbird 4
• Die-cast Thunderbirds 1–4 and FAB 1 – available separately, as a rescue pack, or in commemorative packaging (Radio Times exclusive)
• Pullback-action Thunderbirds 1, 2 and 4
• Thunderbird 2 Pod Vehicles – Mole, Firefly and Recovery Vehicle; all compatible with electronic Thunderbird 2
• Action figures – Tracy brothers, Jeff Tracy, Brains, Hood, Lady Penelope and Parker (Alan initially with cream sash, later white)
• 10-inch dolls – Tracy brothers

Following the success of the Thunderbirds repeats and merchandise, the BBC scheduled Stingray for repeats, for which Matchbox again issued a small line. In 1993, the children's programme Blue Peter broadcast a "making-of" showing viewers how to build a Tracy Island of their own using – as described by the show's publicity – "old newspaper, pipe cleaners, yoghurt pots, cereal packets and bits of sponge". So high was demand for a free instruction sheet detailing the process that the BBC was forced to withdraw its giveaway offer and release Anthea Turner's demonstration, Blue Peter Makes a Thunderbirds Tracy Island, on home video. When the BBC repeated Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons in the early 2000s, the Thunderbirds toy licence was re-issued to Vivid Imaginations, who later produced a similar range of Thunderbirds products for the series' second BBC revival in 2000.

File:Vivid Imaginations Thunderbirds Tracy Island Electronic Playset Screengrab.png

Vivid Imaginations' Tracy Island electronic playset TV advertisement

The 2000 Vivid Imaginations range included:

• Tracy Island Soundtech Electronic Playset – similar to Matchbox design, capable of holding Thunderbirds vehicles, and with 12 sounds
• Tracy Island Powertech Transforming Playset – miniature containing vehicle hangar interiors with various sounds and features
• Action Adventure Set – to scale with Thunderbird 2 playset, featuring Mole, Firefly, Hood's submarine (from episode "Desperate Intruder") and six figures
• Thunderbirds 1–4 Soundtech Electronic Playsets – with miniature figures and sounds
• Thunderbirds 1 and 4, FAB 1 and Mole – available separately or together, made of plastic and larger than Matchbox's
• Thunderbird 5 – withdrawn due to unsuitable electronic sounds, later re-issued but no longer capable of docking with Thunderbird 3
• Action figures and dolls

A limited-edition Thunderbird 2 by Virgin Group was also available, albeit in red as opposed to green. Some items from the Vivid Imaginations collection were re-released in different packaging for the series' 40th anniversary in 2005, with the Tracy Island playset being advertised as having "new, interactive launch stations".

Bandai manufactured toys to coincide with the release of the live-action film in 2004, and fellow Japanese companies Aoshima, Konami and Takara continue to manufacture Thunderbirds toys today from the original schematics – for example, Takara's Thunderbird 2 (with functioning lights and landing struts). Vivid Imaginations will market a line for the series' 2015 re-make.

Video games

In 1985, the first Thunderbirds video game was released for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum; the title required the player to pilot Thunderbird 1 and Thunderbird 2 and explore an Egyptian-style labyrinth. In 1989, Grandslam Entertainment released a title for the Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MSX and ZX Spectrum; Activision released a NES version the following year. In 1993, a title by Super Famicom, subtitled Kokusou Kyuujotai Shutsudou Seyo!, was released in Japan only. SCi Games published a Game Boy Color title in 2000. The following year, it released a collection of Microsoft Windows themes and screensavers titled "F.A.B Action Pack", as well as Thunderbirds: International Rescue for Game Boy Advance. In 2004, a second Game Boy Advance title was released by Vivendi Universal Games. A new Thunderbirds video game was released in Europe for the PlayStation 2 in July 2007; the North American release was cancelled.

See also

• List of Thunderbirds episodes#Audio episodes

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

External links

• List of Thunderbirds Merchandise
• Thunderbirds Comics History