Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?

Subject: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 02:25 PM

Hi..

My wife has recently insisted i indulge her nostalgia whims
with a couple of DVD boxsets of early Beverly Hillbillies episodes..

..big disapointment..!!!

just same as current UK satellite TV reruns..
the vital origional theme song is missing and has been replaced
with generic banjo soundlibrary music..

I presume there must be some kind of legal rights / money conflict..
though cant find any explaination.

the song is a integral part of this classic comedy series..
and we justifiably feel downright cheated..

obviously, i've managed to download an mp3 for her..
but i'll be buggered if i rip the DVDs and re-edit every episode
to restore the origional theme song to its essential place..

so does anyone know the exact story and details
of why the song is being excluded..

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Dec 04 - 04:52 PM

A small segue here- Jerry Scoggins, the man who sang the song on the TV show, died at the age of 93 last Friday.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 08:50 AM

Come listen to my story bout a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed
The one day he was shootin' at some food
When up through the ground came a'bubblin' crude

Spoken:- Oil that is, black gold Texas tea.

Well next thing you know old Jed's a millionaire
An' his kinfolk said better move away from there
Said California's the place you ought to be
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly

Spoken:- Hills that is, swimmin' pools, movie stars.

Etc.

My favourite character was Miss Hathaway, and apropos of another thread there was a cat called Marmalade too.

Giok

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: InOBU
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 08:57 AM

Sorry I don't have info about the theam song, but for Giok... when I was a ween, at the Downtown Community School in New York, a wee communit school in New York, Miss Hathaway, was passing on the street, we were all HUGELY impressed and lined up to say hello to her. What a wonderful person, she realized how much it meant to us, the Beverly Hillbillys was in its first run and BIG, she went down the line and shook hands, spoke to each of us, and assured us, yes it was really her. I still remember it with such joy,
Cheers
Lorcan

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: InOBU
Date: 13 Dec 04 - 08:57 AM

that should read, wee communist school...

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 07:42 AM

The legal answer is lapsed copyright licenses. The show and the theme tune have separate copyrights and are licensed for use separately...

In common with a few other old TV series which have been revived, when the show wasn't being aired, the licences to use the material lapsed, and when they decided to renew the licenses it wasn't deemed commercially viable to renew the licenses for both the show and the theme tune...

Interesting, because it would involve a fair bit of post-production work to remove all traces of Messrs. Scruggs, Flatt and Scoggins!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 08:20 AM

Miss Hathway ran successfully for congress, did you know?

I think she died not long ago.

Does anybody have the parady lyrics that are about the 1,100 pund feral hog?

It's called:

The Ballad of Hogzilla

and is sung to the tune of Beverly Hillbillies or the Ballad of Jed Clampet as it is sometimes called.

I've heard it on the radio once or twice and would LOVE to have the lyrics.

I think it goes something like this...

Well listen to a story 'bout a piggie who was overfed...

something like that.

Maybe we can write our own. There's another Hogzilla parody out an about to the tune of Kentucky Moon keep on Shining.

Hogzilla is sooo kewl.

Nobody seems to believe he's for real BUT...carcasses of 900 pound feral hogs have been found frequently. The meat's no good to eat so they usually get shot, burned or buried.

I believe in Hogzilla..not Santy claus..but Hogzilla.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: Juan P-B
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 12:49 PM

And at the end...........

Well, now it's time to say "Goodbye" to Jed and all his kin
They would like to thank you folks for kindly dropping in
You're all invuted back next week to this locality
To have a heapin' helpin' of their hospitality

Hillbilly that is....

Set a spell....

Take your shoes off!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: Nerd
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 01:23 PM

Yes, we had this discussion about the "Robin Hood" TV show, too. Same deal: the theme song was not licensed for the DVD releases!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute.?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 01:33 PM

Y'll come back now.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:10 PM

There might be a copyright hangup on the theme song, as I seem to remember it being credited to Flatt & Scruggs. Extra points to anyone who remembers them doing a guest star appearance on one of the episodes.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Cluin
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:15 PM

I remember.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Once Famous
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:17 PM

So do I. Actually they did about one guest shot a season.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Bernard
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 05:58 PM

I remember, too! Dazzling white outfits and big hats!!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 06:11 PM

It says "Press here to hear theme": http://www.pcperspectives.com/hillbillies/
but it's the one at the *end* of the show, not the beginning.

There seems to be a CD:

        
The Beverly Hillbillies
by Original Soundtrack
Format:         Compact Disc - see all formats
Released:         09/28/1993
Label:         Fox
UPC:         078636631325

I found it on mysimon.com

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Hogzilla fan
Date: 14 Dec 04 - 09:36 PM

yes, all well and good but..what about Hogzilla?

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Russ (UK)
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 07:56 PM

I don't think they took too much time in re-editing these episodes to exclude the theme, they basically made a begining and end with generic music and just cut it on the begining and end (rather crudely too) you can hear just after the opening credits a crappy pop in the sound (not even a fade!) and then....strangley on a couple it follows with a brief instrumental of the theme tune as some episodes of tv programes start, but they couldn't cut this out as dialog starts before the music stops!. One thing i do remember about the begining though that's missing is that originally you say Jed shoot at the ground a Crude oil started a bubbling! (am i right?) but they just use a shot of them in the car driving through beverly hills with that awful generic music!
It's a Shame really as this was the main thing anyone remembers!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: pdq
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 08:15 PM

Actually, 'Miss Hathaway' did not win her bid for the U.S.House of Representatives. Buddy Ebsen did a political spot opposing her where he said "she's just too liberal!". She never spoke to Ebsen again. Here is some more from 'the net'...

"Nancy Kulp was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on August 28, 1922. She graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and continued her education at the University of Miami, but in 1951, she left Florida for Hollywood, where she had aspirations of a career in television journalism. After only three weeks, she was given a plum role in the movie, The Model and the Marriage Broker. Other acting jobs soon followed incluing parts on "I Love Lucy," "The Red Skelton Show," and "December Bride" to name a few. From 1955 to 1959, Kulp starred as pith-helmeted neighborhood bird-watcher, Pamela Livingston, in "Love That Bob," a popular 1950s sitcom starring comedian Bob Cummings. In 1962, she landed the role of Jane Hathaway, the sex-starved perennial spinster, on "The Beverly Hillbillies." She remained with the show until its cancellation in 1971. In 1967, she received an Emmy Award nomination for her role, but lost out to Shirley Booth for "Hazel."

Kulp, who changed the spelling of her last name from C-u-l-p so as not to be confused with fellow actor Robert Culp, didn't work much after the series ended in 1971. Following her success on the Hillbillies, Kulp could be seen as a guest star on a few television shows and performed on Broadway in Mornings at Seven. She appeared in the 1981 made-for-TV sequel, The Return of the Beverly Hillbillies, along with Ebsen and Donna Douglas. In 1984, she sunk her life savings into an unsuccessful political campaign to win the seat for the Ninth Congressional District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Reportedly, she and Buddy Ebson had a difference of political opinion over the election and neither spoke to the other afterwards. After her defeat, Kulp worked for Juniata College in Pennsylvania as an Artist in Residence. She was married at one time to Charles Dacus, but divorced him by the time she won her Hillbillies' role. At the age of 67, she reportedly admitted to being a lesbian saying in reponse to the question "Do you find that opposites attract?" ..."I find that birds of a feather flock together." Nancy Kulp died of cancer in 1991 at her home in Palm Desert, California."

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town poets
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 08:19 AM

When these Beverley Hillbillies shows were first shown on Granada TV in the North West of England in the early 60s, the opening theme was intact, but the end was very crudely cut off with a simple caption reading THE END. Granada used to employ this abrupt and unprofessional method of ending most imported shows. We never heard the closing theme (or even suspected its existence) until the shows were repeated years later.
I imagine the show sounds/looks very odd without that distinctive theme and incidental music.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Tom T
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 11:17 PM

The song was written by Paul Henning. As mentioned above, Jerry Scoggins sang the lyrics on the TV show. Lester Flatt sang on the record. Lyrically, the only significant difference on the recording was the spoken part at the very end, where Mr. Flatt says, "Beverly Hillbillies, that's what they call'em now. Nice folks. Y'all come back now, y'hear?"

Mr. Flatt was leery of the project at first, his concern being that the show would make fun of country people. One of the producers convinced him by explaining that the hillbillies would always end up outsmarting the city slickers.

Lester Flatt (guitar) and Earl Scruggs (banjo) were both veterans of Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys. Before Scruggs, no banjo player could play fast enough to keep up with Monroe's band, using the traditional frailing or "clawhammer" playing style. At home in North Carolina, Scruggs developed a unique three-finger style of playing that employed finger picks on his first two fingers and thumb. It made it sound like he was playing at a thousand miles and hour. That's what your hearing on the 'breakdown' portion of the song (the fast part with no lyrics.) Somebody brought Scruggs to audtion for Monroe, who immediately hired him, and the band turned Nashville on its ear.   

Bill Anderson tells the story that backstage at the Grand Old Opry, when Sam McGee heard Scruggs made his debut, he looked forelornly down at his banjo and said, "Well, I think I'll take mine home and build a hen's nest in it!"

Like many musicians over the years, Scruggs burned out from Monroe's ruthless tour schedule and left after about 18 months. Flatt also left a short time later, and convinced Scruggs that they should form their own band. Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985.

Earl Scruggs is still performing. He even made an impressive appearance on the David Letterman show a couple years ago, backed up by his son Randy, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, and commedian Steve Martin, who plays a pretty mean banjo!

Tom

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 08:56 AM

National Geographic Documentary Confirms Hogzilla's Existence
Only lyrics I ever found about Hogzilla were these and I can't say for certain these are the ones that were circulating back when the photos of him were first hit the web:

To the tune of Beverly Hillbillies:

Well, listen to a story 'bout a Piggy who was overfed
til' a farmer in Alalapha done shot that sucker dead
Hogzilla was his name and he weighed in at half a ton
but now his carcass is just a bunch of rottin' bacon
pork that is...
what a waste...

There simply HAS to be more verses than this! I 've also seen the first line quoted as : "this here's the story 'bout a piggy what was overfed" as well as a version where the farmer line has the actual farmer's name, Ken Holyoke or somesuch.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 08:57 PM

Dave's wife:

Needs a little attention to scansion if you want to sing it to the original.

Well, listen to a story 'bout a Piggy who was overfed
til' a farmer in Alalapha done shot that sucker dead
Hogzilla was his name and he weighed in at half a ton
but now his carcass is just a bunch of rottin' bacon
pork that is...
what a waste...


Now, listen to a story, 'bout a pig was overfed. (lose two syllables)
til' a farmer in Alalapha done shot that sucker dead
Hogzilla was his name and he weighed in at half a ton
But now he's been reduced to a pile of cheap bacon (lose two syllables)


Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 09:52 PM

Then there was Uncle Dave Macon's reaction to Scruggs' banjo style. (paraphrasing here, imperfect memory at work) "He plays the banjo pretty good, but he's not one damn bit funny."

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Gene
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 10:09 PM

the tune to the song is not original...

i ran across an old 30s tune that it was probably patterned after...

have it somewhere---but don't recall where at the moment...

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: kendall
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 09:21 AM

Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Bill,
A poor president barely kept his critics still
Then one day he was wondering what to do
In through the door come a bumbling crew
Kids, mostly, non smokers
Stephenopolis...

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 10:03 AM

Come and listen to my story 'bout a man named Jed
Couldn't find a toilet so he went behind the shed
Couldn't find no paper so he used some leaves and grass
Along came a bumblebee and stung him on the grass!!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 08:47 PM

re quotes about Earl:

Frank Profitt said, "I'd like to be able to play like him, and then not do it."

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: GUEST,Bookworm
Date: 08 May 07 - 08:24 PM

I don't know about the Beverly Hillbillies, but the Ballad of Hogzilla can be found at http://balladofhogzilla.zoomshare.com

Bookworm

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: oldhippie
Date: 08 May 07 - 09:09 PM

There is this parody:


The Killaloe Rastaman
Rick Reimer
(with gratitude and apologies to Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs)

Come, we tell you little story about a guy named Bob
A proud Rastaman, didn't want to steal nor rob
But he had to feed his family, things were getting hard
So he plants a little ganja in his backyard
Pot, that is, Acapulco Gold, Sensi tea

Well, the first thing you know, those plants are getting tall
The neighbours come and suss-suss-suss and look over the wall
They said "Hey, Bob! Growing ganja you can't do!"
He loaded up his seeds and he moved to Killaloe.
Hills, that is, swimming holes, shooting stars.

Well, the folks in the hills liked having Bob around
He grew the finest ganja from here to Wilno town
He lived in the woods, didn't do no-one no harm
And the buds on his plants grew as thick as your arm.

Well, there's just one little mix-up about life in Killaloe
There's way too much police, with not enough to do
When rastaman grows ganja it just takes a little time
Till Johnny Law comes to the scene of the crime
Felony, that is, helicopters, tazer guns.

Well the police find so much ganja, that they can hardly wait
They build a great big fire and begin to eradicate
They tell Bob: "You're lucky we don't charge you for your sin!"
Only trouble is, police are standing downwind
From the ganja fire, that is, second-hand smoke, munchies big-time.

Well, the police get high and they forget to look around
They get their lights a-flashing and they leave for Pembroke town
They eat all the food that Tim Horton's can provide
Every doughnut shop got a cruiser outside

Well, the folks in the hills, they smell the ganja fire
They look upon the burning field and cry and cry and cry
Says Bob: "I got a secret tucked up under my hat.
I got three more fields bigger than that!"

Well, the moral of the story is very plain to see
You needn't be an Einstein to fool the O.P.P.
If you are only conscious and prepared to stand tall
Babylon systems surely must fall!

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: M.Ted
Date: 08 May 07 - 09:31 PM

Since this thread has been dredged up again, it gives me a change to correct a statement from TomT's post above:

"Before Scruggs, no banjo player could play fast enough to keep up with Monroe's band, using the traditional frailing or "clawhammer" playing style."

Actually, Dave "Stringbean"Akeman, who played banjo with the Monroe band before Flatt, kept up pretty well. Different technique, though--and it is Scruggs 3-finger style that is the characteristic bluegrass sound.

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 May 07 - 09:47 PM

Great song!

Where does clawgrass fit into the banjo story?

Subject: RE: Beverly Hillbillies theme song dispute?
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 May 07 - 10:31 PM

Well my swinging slug song wasn't quite up to Killaloe Rastaman, but at one time I thought it had promise....

Mighty Hermaphroditey (to the tune from the Beverly Hillbillies)

Oh I'm mighty Hermaphroditey and I leave a slimey trail
And I don't know how to tell my horny head from little tail
But it doesn't really matter for each paramour I find,
Slip-sliding down the garden path is also gender blind.

Well that's the way we romp and play, yes, me and all my kin
So kindly spare the salt and beer it'll surely do us in
And remember in the garden, when you see that silver line,
Our speeds not slow, as swingers go, some think it's 69.