knowledge - Headless horseman claims new head

Solve the clues and fit the answers into the grid so that each of the coloured squares contains exactly four different letters.

1. Sahara desert capitals of historically African region in Germany (4)


2. Fifth Element: Besson's first and last is full of romance gold (5)


3. Second detective inside to secretly investigate Scottish river (4)


4. Animal with a bull's head, a dog's body and a panda's tail (3)


5. College-educated snake brings top backing to African tree (6)



6. In Shakespeare's time, has William's wife skipped away? (4)


7. Oscar director up front in car radio station's trailers (6)


8. Dick does not have a one-in-six chance serving object (4)


9. Leaders of kiwi islands banned Mount Cook TV company (4)


10. Kazakh reporter misses the last Aboriginal ceremony (4)


11. Semitic genitor from a leftist country, not extreme (3)


12. Winged beast goes about head hunting, makes money (4)


13. Enormous avalanche starting in front, hold fast (5)


14. Animal sound is ABBA's half-hearted arrangement (3)


15. YouTube singer stays clear of Nazi organization (3)



16. Headless horseman claims new head: a northerner (8)


17. Metal instrument openers beneath Texas capital (3)


18. Saw logs as sensitive about marathon finisher (5)


19. Head covering leaves to discuss head covering (3)


20. Raspy-voiced bassist takes off cap for award (4)


21. Briefly, Barbara's bar bars bar back baloney (4)


22. Blake's Adam is not the right side of Harlem (3)


23. Selection of divas at a Stockholm attraction (4)


24. Christianity contributing to Caribbean Dalma (3)


25. Bong from a medical device with no casings (4)



26. Intermediates and beginners, among others (2)


27. First signs of serious issue to not stand (3)


28. Knighted Oscar director left action star (6)


29. René Magritte's secret medical procedure (5)


30. A Thai sari entangling a Nobel laureate (9)


31. Cat's daughter is part of a master race (4)


32. Freeman returns to Morgan, for example (4)


33. Ooze to snooze without the head loose (4)


34. Back stabber cut in, as to talk back (4)


35. Food containers covered by bulletins (4)



36. Satellite is above the edge of space (3)


37. Extremely tiny insectivorous tweeter (3)


38. Wheat flour is not fully attainable (4)


39. Dumpling baron loses region borders (3)


40. Bonapartists lose leading painters (7)


41. TV friend's cross bar introduction (4)


42. Sailing organization in Casablanca (3)


43. Promise to despise without limits (4)


44. Spell within the best intentions (5)


45. Helps with passes to goal scorer (7)



46. Neck hair manner: cut near sides (4)


47. Old coins from gold compression (5)


48. Operatives eliminate SS dessert (3)


49. Pirate phrase from Broken Arrow (3)


50. Called out backer at card game (8)


51. Islamic veils service contract (3)


52. Star Alliance's Swedish front (3)


53. City manager plays top record (3)


54. Filleted maggot is hot stuff (4)


55. Dawn gate dweller's aircraft (5)



56. Private airline strike ends (4)


57. Raps about woodworking tool (4)


58. Pointer hastily cut short (6)


59. Corrupted Yemen adversary (5)


60. TV network's fundamentals (3)


61. Tatum's creative activity (3)


62. Beer's phonetic notation (3)


63. Paul trimmed incorrectly (3)


64. Almost menacing fellows (3)


65. California rodent unit (5)



66. LOL, decapitated king (3)


67. Which is the top hat? (4)


68. Falsely mean truly (4)


69. Charles's beamer (3)

Hint for #11:

"Leftist" is meant as a reversal indicator, although as it happens the country in question is indeed leftist.

Answer

Combination of all answers with credits

1. Sahara desert capitals of historically African region in Germany (4)

SAAR [SAHARA - capitals of 'Historically African' / Saar-region] [elias]

2. Fifth Element: Besson's first and last is full of romance gold (5)

B(ORO)N ("romance" = romance language) [Michael Siefert]

3. Second detective inside to secretly investigate Scottish river (4)

SPEY [SPY <- (d)E(tective)] [Rupert]

4. Animal with a bull's head, a dog's body and a panda's tail (3)

BOA (b+o+a)

5. College-educated snake brings top backing to African tree (6)

BAOBAB [BA <- (BOA<) + B(acking)] [Rupert]

6. In Shakespeare's time, has William's wife skipped away? (4)

HATH [Hathaway - away] [Rupert]

7. Oscar director up front in car radio station's trailers (6)

CABRON [directed by Sam Ainsworth] [why not 'goat' in clue?] [AmI]
CUARON [elias]

8. Dick does not have a one-in-six chance serving object (4)

TRAY [dice holder] [AmI]

9. Leaders of kiwi islands banned Mount Cook TV company (4)

AORA [Citra satellite pay TV] [elias]

10. Kazakh reporter misses the last Aboriginal ceremony (4)

BORA [BORA(t)] [Rupert]

11. Semitic genitor from a leftist country, not extreme (3)

ABU [Arabic meaning "father of", CUBA -C reversed] [Joe Lee-Moyet]

12. Winged beast goes about head hunting, makes money (4)

BAHT [Thai currency] [AmI]

13. Enormous avalanche starting in front, hold fast (5)

AVAST [AVAlanche + faST] [AmI]

14. Animal sound is ABBA's half-hearted arrangement (3)

BAA [Somebody]

15. YouTube singer stays clear of Nazi organization (3)

TAY [STAYS - SS] [Rupert]

16. Headless horseman claims new head: a northerner (8)

NORSEMAN (horseman-h+n)

17. Metal instrument openers beneath Texas capital (3)

TIN [Somebody]

18. Saw logs as sensitive about marathon finisher (5)

SNORE [AmI]

19. Head covering leaves to discuss head covering (3)

HAT [chat -c] [AmI]

20. Raspy-voiced bassist takes off cap for award (4)

EMMY - Lemmy minus the 'cap' - Award [CodeBoyCode & RemiHenry]

21. Briefly, Barbara's bar bars bar back baloney (4)

BABS [AmI]

22. Blake's Adam is not the right side of Harlem (3)

HAR (Blake) (NudgeNudge)

23. Selection of divas at a Stockholm attraction (4)

VASA [selection of "diVAS At" / the Vasa ship] [elias]

25. Bong from a medical device with no casings (4)

EPIPEN -> PIPE [SI.]

26. Intermediates and beginners, among others (2)

IA [Initial letters of "Intermediates and", Latin "inter alia" = "among others"] [AmI]

27. First signs of serious issue to not stand (3)

SIT [Somebody]

28. Knighted Oscar director left action star (6)

chuck NORRIS [Wilma Knight, mother] [AmI]

29. René Magritte's secret medical procedure (5)

ENEMA [r+ENE MA+gritte] [AmI] (with #16)

30. A Thai sari entangling a Nobel laureate (9)

AHTISAARI [laureate Martii, anagram AThaisari and sarong ahtisaari] [Joe Lee-Moyet]

31. Cat's daughter is part of a master race (4)

RYAN [Cat Stevens ..., aryan -a] ARYA (Catelyn Stark's daughter) [elias]

32. Freeman returns to Morgan, for example (4)

NAME [Freeman reversed: NAMEerf] [elias]

33. Ooze to snooze without the head loose (4)

SEEP (SLEEP - L) [Michael Siefert]

34. Back stabber cut in, as to talk back (4)

SASS ? [AmI]

35. Food containers covered by bulletins (4)

TINS [bulleTINS] [AmI]

36. Satellite is above the edge of space (3)

ISS: [IS + S(pace)] [Rupert]

37. Extremely tiny insectivorous tweeter (3)

TIT (tiny...tweeter initialism) grey-tit flycatcher [AmI]

38. Wheat flour is not fully attainable (4)

ATTA [wheat for flatbread] [AmI]

39. Dumpling baron loses region borders (3)

BAO [baron -r(egio)n] [AmI]

40. Bonapartists lose leading painters (7)

ARTISTS [bonapartists - bonap] [elias]

41. TV friend's cross bar introduction (4)

ROSS [cross -c] [AmI]

42. Sailing organization in Casablanca (3)

ASA, [Chris B]

43. Promise to despise without limits (4)

OATH [loathe -l,e] [Joe Lee-Moyet]

44. Spell within the best intentions (5)

STINT [beST INTentions] [AmI]

45. Helps with passes to goal scorer (7)

ASSISTS (2x def)

46. Neck hair manner: cut near sides (4)

MANE [manner -n(ea)r] [AmI]

48. Operatives eliminate SS (3)

PIE [spies - ss] [elias]

49. Pirate phrase from Broken Arrow (3)

ARR (ARROW - OW) [Michael Siefert]

50. Called out backer at card game (8)

BACCARAT (homonym) [Michael Siefert]

51. Islamic veils service contract (3)

SLA [service level agreement / iSLAmic] [elias]

52. Star Alliance's Swedish front (3)

Star Alliance's Swedish = SAS [RémiHenry]

53. City manager plays top record (3)

PEP - City Manager = Pep Guardiola / (P)lay Record (EP) [SI.]

54. Filleted maggot is hot stuff (4)

mag+ma -> LAVA [AmI] (gutted :)

55. Dawn gate dweller's aircraft (5)

PIPER [cub] [AmI]

57. Raps about woodworking tool (4)

RASP (anagram) [Michael Siefert]

58. Pointer hastily cut short (6)

CURSOR [CUt ShORt] [cursory -y ?]

59. Corrupted Yemen adversary (5)

ENEMY (anagram) [elias]

60. TV network's fundamentals (3)

ABC

61. Tatum's creative activity (3)

ART (Art Tatum) (NudgeNudge)

62. Beer's phonetic notation (3)

IPA (Beer / Phonetic) (NudgeNudge)

64. Almost menacing fellows (3)

LLW [fellows - foes = llw] [RémiHenry] [Wrong]
MEN [MEN(acing)] [Rupert] [Correct]

65. California rodent unit (5)

CARAT (CA + RAT, carat is a unit of mass) (NudgeNudge)

66. LOL, decapitated king (3)

HAH [shah -s] [Joe Lee-Moyet]

67. Which is the top hat? (4)

THAT [The (top) + HAT = which] [JonMark Perry]

68. Falsely mean truly (4)

AMEN (anagram of 'mean') [elias]

69. Charles's beamer (3)

RAY [Ray Charles / ray beam] [elias]

Filling these into the crossword: