RioStat - Posted - 11/05/2012:  09:39:25

Flipping thru the channels Saturday afternoon, trying to watch as much college football as possible, I came up on the RTV (Retro TV) channel. An OLD black & white Beverly Hillbillies episode was coming on, and it DID NOT have the "Ballad of Jed Clampett" for the theme. It had a banjo tune (that was very good!) but it was not BJC. I ended up watching 2 episodes, and they were like the "pilot" shows for the series. One episode was the oil company guys showing up at the Clampett's cabin to sign the oil rights, Jed figuring out he was rich, Jethro acting like an intelligent idiot, Ellie May looking good, Grannie running the still,etc.....

Anyways, the theme song was not Ballad of Jed Clampett, but this other song (which was just an instrumental).

Anybody know what song was used before "Jed Clampett" ?

Jim E. - Posted - 11/05/2012:  09:45:37

The song is 'Banjo Signal'. I'm not sure who the player on it is, but it is definitely not Earl. Nor is it Don Reno. If I had to guess, I'd say it's Doug Dillard since he was doing studio work in L.A. in those days, and in listening to the tune I hear elements of his touch.

RioStat - Posted - 11/05/2012:  09:56:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jim E.

The song is 'Banjo Signal'. I'm not sure who the player on it is, but it is definitely not Earl. Nor is it Don Reno. If I had to guess, I'd say it's Doug Dillard since he was doing studio work in L.A. in those days, and in listening to the tune I hear elements of his touch.

---

 Thanks, Jim!!  I didn't think it was Earl, but it was a well played, clean tune.

Edited by - RioStat on 11/05/2012 10:02:55

Fathand - Posted - 11/05/2012:  09:58:49

I have a DVD set of the first 4 Seasons ( $5, thankyou Walmart) and the original tune and credits are removed. The music played is not Banjo Signal either, ( something more bluesy or pentatonic )  although there are brief bits of the Jed Clampett theme played within the episodes. Anyone know what this might be?

Is it possible they didn't pay licensing for the theme to keep the cost of the DVD down?

moore030 - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:11:15

I found two versions of season 1 episode 1 on youtube. One had the usual theme song; the other had 'Banjo Signal' in its place.

The Pope - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:12:33

In my foggy memory, it seems that Don Parmley was involved with some of the Beverly Hillbilies tracks. YMMV...

The Old Timer - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:14:15

This topic has already been answered authoritatively, do a SEARCH on it. I simply can't remember, but the music on those DVDs was never BROADCAST by CBS as theme music.

dmiller - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:24:07

Here ya go.  Episode one, season one.

No credits for tune or pickers.

beegee - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:34:00

I don't remember them ever using Banjo Signal. I never heard that until they started re-releasing the series for syndication and assumed it was over-dubbed for copyright/royalty reasons.

Fathand - Posted - 11/05/2012:  10:43:34

At 25:03 this credits Flatt & Scruggs for theme and Music by Perry Botkin but it is not he Ballad Of Jed, I think it is Banjo Signal but it is not the same tune as on my DVDs.

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmiller

Here ya go.  Episode one, season one.

No credits for tune or pickers.

 

---

Edited by - Fathand on 11/05/2012 10:45:06

dmiller - Posted - 11/05/2012:  11:04:30

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fathand

At 25:03 this credits Flatt & Scruggs for theme and Music by Perry Botkin but it is not he Ballad Of Jed, I think it is Banjo Signal but it is not the same tune as on my DVDs.

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmiller

Here ya go.  Episode one, season one.

No credits for tune or pickers.

 

---

 

---

Fathand  - -  You're right.  I just got done watching the video myself,

and saw the credits at the end.  I think it's Banjo Signal too.

Joe W. - Posted - 11/05/2012:  11:08:51

The cut is from John Hickman's "Don't Mean Maybe" recording. It fades out as Byron Berline starts the fiddle ride...

jwoods - Posted - 11/05/2012:  11:17:46

quote:

---

Originally posted by Joe W.

The cut is from John Hickman's "Don't Mean Maybe" recording. It fades out as Byron Berline starts the fiddle ride...

---

That's correct...it is John Hickman playing Banjo Signal.

I have that album.

Edited by - jwoods on 11/05/2012 11:21:52

jwoods - Posted - 11/05/2012:  11:19:39

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Pope

In my foggy memory, it seems that Don Parmley was involved with some of the Beverly Hillbilies tracks. YMMV...

---

There's a name I haven't heard in a while...the Bluegrass Cardinals were a great band.

That's correct...Don was the studio banjo player for the Beverly Hillbillies on CBS for most of its run, according to a Bluegrass Today article I just read.

beegee - Posted - 11/05/2012:  16:15:06

The fact remains that the original series had the Ballad of jed Clampett. When they digitally remastered the DVDs the changed the soundtrack and I still contend it was over licensing and royalty issues. What you are seeing on some of these cable and satellite channels are the remastered dvds.

1935tb-11 - Posted - 11/05/2012:  18:10:00

i really miss those episodes,, that was comedy a its best,,,, makes you miss your youth.

terry m

RioStat - Posted - 11/07/2012:  09:44:52

So.... I started this thread just to find out the name of the tune I heard on the Beverly Hillbillies early shows. JimE stated it was "Banjo Signal". He is correct. I printed a tab for the song from the BHO Archives, and started playing around with it.

WHAT A FUN LITTLE TUNE THIS IS!!! 

I had never fretted the 5th string much, occasionally reach over with my thumb to hit an A note or something simple like that, but this song actually helped me learn how to use the 5th string in a melody and lead type of way.

Anyway, if you are not familiar with playing this tune, get the tab and learn it. It is simple, fun, and effective!!

f5loar - Posted - 11/07/2012:  20:33:09

It was a nice autumn Wed. night on September 26, 1962 my family was glued to the 25' inch color Zenith Space Command TV console at 9:00PM Channel 3 Charlotte, NC when me and my brother heard the kick off to the theme song to the Beverly Hillbillies with the sound of Earl's Granada banjo.    The theme song (minus the 4th verse about the banker) was on the first show and remained on the show until the last episode (No. 274) ended on September 7, 1971.    The ones you are seeing on RTV did not pay the license to use the original theme song, hence the insert of just some banjo music.  

Fathand - Posted - 11/08/2012:  06:12:59

Who has the words to the 4th verse?

quote:

---

Originally posted by f5loar

 The theme song (minus the 4th verse about the banker) was on the first show and remained on the show until the last episode (No. 274) 

darylearl - Posted - 11/08/2012:  07:17:03

Ol' Jed bought a mansion, Lawdy, it was s****

Next door neighbour was pres'dent of the bank

Folks objected, but the banker found no fault

'Cause ol' Jed's millions was a layin' in the vault

Cash that is! Capital gains! Depletion money!

The end of the first line got "edited" but it rhymes with "bank"  

Edited by - darylearl on 11/08/2012 07:20:56

f5loar - Posted - 11/08/2012:  16:52:29

the word is "s****" .  What's wrong with that?  Means "real fancy" in hillbilly talk.

Wow it blanked me out too.  Just how far right is the hangout monitors?   Rhymes with "tank" too.

Edited by - f5loar on 11/08/2012 16:54:20

jwoods - Posted - 11/08/2012:  17:14:57

quote:

---

Originally posted by f5loar

the word is "s****" .  What's wrong with that?  Means "real fancy" in hillbilly talk.

Wow it blanked me out too.  Just how far right is the hangout monitors?   Rhymes with "tank" too.

---

The moderators aren't doing it...it's a feature of the "posting" software.

5stringJim - Posted - 11/08/2012:  21:46:12

quote:

---

Originally posted by f5loar

the word is "s****" .  What's wrong with that?  Means "real fancy" in hillbilly talk.

Wow it blanked me out too.  Just how far right is the hangout monitors?   Rhymes with "tank" too.

---

 Over this side of the Atlantic, the asterisked-out part means something that is usually done on your own. Rhymes with faster station

zoneboy - Posted - 11/08/2012:  22:20:43

55 BH episodes are in the public domain which is why you're hearing the generic music. This includes all 36 episodes of season 1. and 19 from season 2.



From Wikipedia:



Fifty-five episodes of the series are in the public domain, (all 36 season-one episodes and 19 season-two episodes), because Orion Television, successor to Filmways, neglected to renew their copyrights. As a result, these episodes have been released on home video and DVD on many low-budget labels and shown on low-power television stations and low-budget networks in 16-mm prints. In many video prints of the public domain episodes, the original theme music has been replaced by generic music due to copyright issues.

Edited by - zoneboy on 11/08/2012 22:22:12

lazlototh - Posted - 11/09/2012:  05:11:14

If you listen to the music, it switches to the middle of the Ballad of Jed Clampett as the music fades down and the announcer says something.

Seems like a licensing thing.

tom in maine

Fathand - Posted - 11/09/2012:  07:46:09

S w a n k???

s w a n k

¹    /swæŋk/ , adjective, s****·er, s****·est, verb

noun

1.

dashing smartness, as in dress or appearance; style.

2.

a swagger.

 

adjective

3.

stylish or elegant.

4.

pretentiously stylish.

quote:

---

Originally posted by f5loar



 

the word is "s****" .  What's wrong with that?  Means "real fancy" in hillbilly talk.

Wow it blanked me out too.  Just how far right is the hangout monitors?   Rhymes with "tank" too.

---

Bronx banjo - Posted - 11/09/2012:  09:23:41

Has anyone considered the idea that the audio portion of the intro was just missing and Banjo Signal was inserted to fill in the gap? If it were a copyright issue, why does the regular theme come back with  plenty of measures to assert copyright infringement?

WildJimbo - Posted - 11/09/2012:  12:22:24

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bronx banjo

Has anyone considered the idea that the audio portion of the intro was just missing and Banjo Signal was inserted to fill in the gap? If it were a copyright issue, why does the regular theme come back with  plenty of measures to assert copyright infringement?

---

Why?

I mean, why stick in Banjo Signal?  It's not like we've lost the recording of The Ballad of Jed Clampett...

pick1936 - Posted - 11/09/2012:  14:24:18

Don  Parmly did  all  the  banjo  work  on  that  show,  exept  the  opening  tune.  I  saw  Don,  and  David  Parmly   Don's  son  on  Renno  Revival.    probably  filmed  in  85?  Don's  banjo  playing  was  fabulous,  The  great  zonkin  sound   when  He  would  run  a  string  up  or  down  the  neck,  lead  ,and Back  up.   His  pickin  on  that  show was  like  (Poetry   In  Motion).

Nechville. In  Higginsville.

Lee  Kelso