Rainbow Book & Cassette series
Page created Monday 8th February 2010
Last update Saturday 27th February 2010
In the United Kingdom, two waves of four book and cassettes were released by Rainbow, who also released a number of other similar film and television tie-ins in the 1980s. The books were printed in West Germany, though may possibly have also been available in some other European countries.
The books were published by 'Moonbeam', Rainbow's book publishing division, and, for the first wave at least, were also available to buy separately (i.e.. without the cassette), and as a set of four. (I never saw this with the second wave, although that's not to say it didn't happen in some areas.)
Each book was written by one Ed Kelsey, had a 24 page story, and used a mixture of shots from the series, and drawings / paintings to illustrate the story. None of the illustrators were credited in the books.
The cassettes were in stereo, with each side running at approximately 8 minutes (making the overall story around 16 minutes, maths fans(!)), and the voices were provided by A-Team sound-alikes (or not-sound-alikes as the case was; in the first wave, Face in particular sounded like he was half asleep and / or on drugs!).
Note that these stories were produced for young fans, and so are hardly high quality tales! But they are fun pieces of 'A-Team' merchandise none-the-less.
NOTE TO 'RECREATE' THE READ ALONG EXPERIENCE: Set the tape going in the relevant box, then click on the cover to open the book in a new window, allowing you to "read along" with the story as if you were six years old again!! =) (I have included each story in two parts, not only in keeping with the original "when the music stops, turn your cassette over" format of the originals, but also to keep within the upload size limits of my webspace provider!)
More titles being added soon.
FIRST SET (1984)
Although new stories, this first wave of releases were noticeably influenced by several episodes, which are noted below.
In 'You Lose, Snake's Eyes' and 'Follow that Chicken', the paintings were of a watercolour style; in 'Bugs in the Box' and 'Room, Bath and Spider', the artwork is in more of a comic-book style.
The cassettes came with an orangey-red label, although some examples had a deeper red label. A few examples can be found with white labels (though this is much less common).
Although produced during the latter days of the second season, the stories feature neither Amy or Tawnia.
YOU LOSE, SNAKE EYES
As a child, my parents bought me this book first, before we realised that book & cassette versions were also available. As such, I have only very recently got a copy complete with cassette. Anyway, of the first wave, 'You Lose Snake's Eyes' is the title most obviously influenced by a TV episode - the second season's 'It's a Desert Out There'; dune buggies holding up buses in the desert, fixed gambling, Face being drugged... all of these elements can be found in both stories.
As I've only recently obtained the cassette version, I don't have the nostalgia associated with the other stories, but even so, I only find this a middling story, not as good as some of the other entries in the series.
NOW UP - USE PLAYER BELOW TO HEAR THE STORY, AND CLICK ON THE COVER TO READ ALONG IN THE BOOK (OPENS IN A NEW WINDOW)
SIDE 1 SIDE 2
BUGS IN THE BOX
'Bugs in the Box' is a pretty good story (well, by the mixed standards of these releases), possibly the best of the first wave, that sees the team trying to stop terrorists who have stolen a deadly virus.
Interesting to note is that the title seems to have been changed prior to release - on the cassette, when the reader introduces the story, if you listen carefully it is actually another voice suddenly cuts in with "Bugs in the Box", suggesting that it had been changed.
Although not a direct clone, there are faint elements of the second season episode 'Harder Than It Looks' - terrorists, being set by the sea, B.A. fighting a giant brute, an underwater explosion, and so forth.
NOW UP - USE PLAYER BELOW TO HEAR THE STORY, AND CLICK ON THE COVER TO READ ALONG IN THE BOOK (OPENS IN A NEW WINDOW)
SIDE 1 SIDE 2
FOLLOW THAT CHICKEN
The first release that I had with both book and cassette; a fair story, but takes ages to get going - the first few pages are little more than story padding. The bulk of the story sees the team (bar Face) trapped inside a cave by the villains of the story.
There are some elements of the second season episode 'Curtain Call', including B.A. carrying Murdock, and a thief being thrown from the passenger door of the A-Team van - clearly based on the M.P. suffering a similar fate in the episode. COMING SOON!
ROOM, BATH AND SPIDER
'Room, Bath and Spider' sees the A-Team called in to investigate after guests at a secluded hotel have supposedly been bitten by black widow spiders, and - would you believe it - they uncover another terrorist plot.
Another quite good story, with vague elements of both the first season's 'Holiday in the Hills' and the Pilot. COMING SOON!
Second SET (1985)
A second wave of four stories was released in 1985. I only ever saw these being sold with the cassettes, so I'm not sure if the books were ever also released alone as was the case with the first wave.
The cassettes themselves had labels that were a deeper red than of the first set, but otherwise were very similar.
The stories were arguably better than some of the first wave, and the artwork certainly was sharper (illustrators were again uncredited, but all four entries in this second set were illustrated by the same artist who did the weekly U.K. 'Look-In' comic strip; if anyone can give me the name of this artist, please get in touch). The voices were also better - although B.A. still sounded (unintentionally) hilarious.
Being produced in 1985, these stories have a very third / fourth season feel to them. Reflect that is - moving away from the terrorist-based stories of the first wave - this set involves stories in a wider setting, and a wider array of villains.
Unlike the first wave, they are not influenced by any particular episode(s).
NO STRINGS ATTACK!
This story sees the team hired to find a stolen Stradivarius violin. Maybe not the most exciting sounding of plots, but actually better than some of the first wave entries. COMING SOON!
COPS AND COPS
The only entry that I have neither the book or cassette of - if you have a copy that you would like to donate or loan to this site so that it can be included, please get in touch!
THE STAR AND THE BEAR
This one is a little bit more political-based, in my opinion this is the weakest of the eight Rainbow book & cassettes. In some ways, this one reminds me of the uncommonly dull fourth season TV episode 'The A-Team Is Coming, The A-Team Is Coming'. COMING SOON!
ANY OLD BONES!
I always quite liked this story, which involves the team dealing with an obsessed collector trying to get his hands on some valuable dinosaur bones. COMING SOON!
DISCLAIMER: These book and cassettes are presented here because they are no longer in publication, and the examples of the cassettes used here are not top quality recordings. The are intended for private, personal use only, and are strictly not to be used for profit.
If you wish to get your own copy, you might find them on ebay, or at second hand fairs or in collector shops.
DISCLAIMER / LEGAL STUFF
'The A-Team' was created by Frank Lupo & Stephen J. Cannell,
Copyright 1982-86, Universal / Stephen J. Cannell Productions
This site is intended as an unofficial fan tribute, and no breach of
copyright is intended. All featured photos, scanned material, etc., is intended
purely for illustrative and personal use only and not to be used for profit.
Please do not reproduce any material from this site, in whole or in part, without
first asking permission. Any questions, E-MAIL ME