Rock 'n' Roll and Other Stories (Volume 10 in New Zealand) is a UK/AUS/NZ VHS featuring eight fourth series episodes narrated by Michael Angelis.
Episodes
Granpuff - Thomas tells his friends Toby, Percy and Duck, the story of how Duke won the name Granpuff. Duke also has a story to tell, of how a cheeky little engine called Smudger got too big for his rails.
Sleeping Beauty - Duke was left all alone in the shed after the mine closed down. Years later, a group of visitors to the Island of Sodor began an adventurous journey to find Duke and reunite him with his old friends Stuart and Falcon.
Bulldog - Percy is eager to rush out and show off his new coat of paint, but Thomas warns him to slow down by telling him the story of Duke and how he clung on to Falcon like a Bulldog and pulled him to safety when he came off the track and nearly fell down the mountainside.
Trucks - Sir Handel did not like working at the mine, he did not like the trucks and they did not like him. He tricks Peter Sam into doing all his work but things do not turn out the way Sir Handel expected.
Home at Last - Skarloey was delighted when he arrived home from the menders. Peter Sam told him all about Duncan and his Rock 'n' Rolling. Skarloey was called to the rescue and got to meet Duncan sooner than he thought.
Rock 'n' Roll - Rusty has been working on the line while Skarloey was away at the menders. Duncan ignores Rusty's warning about a broken section of line and he is soon rocking 'n' rolling along the rails!
Special Funnel - A strong wintery wind makes Peter Sam's funnel wobble. An icicle in the tunnel brings disaster, but Peter Sam is given a very special new funnel.
Trivia
All releases of this video in the UK include an early soundtrack that sometimes lacked certain music or sound effects present in later UK releases.
On the UK release, Michael Angelis' narration is different from later releases and broadcasts of these episodes in three ways:
He could be heard inhaling whilst recording the narration, giving it a "raw” sound. In later releases, these inhalations were edited out and are no longer present.
Some of his lines were heard earlier or later than in later releases and broadcasts.
Some lines were later re-recorded for later releases and broadcasts.
Later UK copies were re-released by VCI on 20 November 1995, the same day that Your Favourite Story Collection was released and Mind that Bike aired on Cartoon Network. However, the re-release still includes the early soundtrack and narration for the episodes.
This was the first UK Thomas VHS to feature the 1995 VCI Carnival Promo, although it is only seen on later prints.
The front cover of the UK and New Zealand release features an image from Four Little Engines.
The front cover of the Australian release features an image from Gallant Old Engine.
This was the first time that Michael Angelis' narrations were released in New Zealand, as the Series 3 VHS releases and the Shining Time Station airings on Channel 2 all used George Carlin's narrations for the episodes.
It is usually thought that the Australian and New Zealand releases were released six months before the actual date. This is due to an incorrect copyright date of 1995 printed on their back covers.
The New Zealand re-release colour bars read "Thomas the Tank Engine."
This is the only UK Thomas video to feature three different VCI children’s promos (the first time being an extremely rare promo, the second one with the promo originally from Thomas and Stepney, and the third one had the Carnival promo mostly known from Story and Song Collection).
This VHS was released before Four Little Engines was released on home video meaning the audience may not of known why Skarloey was being repaired.
