The Music of
The Benny Hill Show

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1. Married Life
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
2. Digger Blue (theme)
   Written by Benny Hill
   Performed by The Ladybirds
3. Orange Blossom Special
   Written by Ervin T. Rouse
   Performed by The Cotton Mill Boys
   Recorded by: The Cotton Mill Boys (1976, as part of a double-sided hit b/w "Raining In My Heart," released on [Irish] Hawk single #HASP 396); also by Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Chet Atkins, Apollo 100, Hoyt Axton, Roy Clark, Vassar Clements, The Charlie Daniels Band, Fairport Convention, Flatt & Scruggs, Percy Faith, The Flying Burrito Brothers, John Hartford, Jim & Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Johnnie & Jack, Al Hirt, Doug Kershaw, George Jones, James Last, Joe Maphis, Charlie McCoy, Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Osborne Brothers, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Del Reeves, Don Rich, The Rouse Brothers, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, The Smokey River Boys, Hank Snow, The Stanley Brothers, Donna Stoneman, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
   Notes: One of the few musical numbers to make it to the syndicated shows.
4. Spinning Wheel
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Notes: In character as "Mary O'Hairy," during "The South Blank Show" sketch.
5. Graffiti
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Recorded by: Benny Hill, on his 1992 CD Benny Hill . . . The Best Of
   Notes: Performed here in character as "Marvin Lebtisch" during "The South Blank Show" sketch.

1. Coconut Milk
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
2. Convoy (excerpt)
   Written by C.W. McCall, Bill Fries and Louis F. 'Chip' Davis, Jr.
   Performed by Benny Hill and The Ladybirds
   Recorded by: C.W. McCall (1975; Number One Country and Pop hit)
   Notes: Performed during the course of the Grand Wheelchair Rally sketch. "C.W. McCall" was a pseudonym of Omaha, Nebraska-based advertising executive William D. (Bill) Fries, Jr.; the songwriting for this number was co-credited under both his stage and real names. Mr. McCall's iconic recording, the most lasting legacy of the short-lived CB craze of the 1970's (and, later, the basis for a 1978 movie of the same name which was directed by Sam Peckinpah and starred Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw, Ernest Borgnine and Burt Young), had the dubious distinction of being the last Number One hit single for MGM Records, which in 1976 was de-emphasized by parent company PolyGram and what was left of its artist roster folded into sister label Polydor. The song's other co-writer, Chip Davis, later went on to form the music group Mannheim Steamroller.
3. The Clock
   Performed by Felicity Buirski
   Notes: If anybody has knowledge of who wrote this number and which other artists recorded it, please let us know.
4. Go 'Round Again
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Recorded by: Benny Hill, on his 1992 CD Benny Hill . . . The Best Of
   Notes: Performed here in character as Bob Dylan.
5. Rasputin (excerpts)
   Written by Frank Farian, George Reyam and Fred Jay
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Boney M (1978)
   Notes: Performed in an arrangement and tempo quite different from Boney M's original, in the disco-dancing scene of the "Friday Night Fever" sketch. Frank Farian would later become infamous for masterminding the dance group Milli Vanilli.

1. Benny's Place
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
2. Mother Machree (excerpt)
   Written by Ernest Ball, Chauncey Olcott and Rida Johnson Young
   Performed by Jackie Wright
   Notes: During the "Leprechaun T.V." sketch.
3. Supernature
   Written by Jean-Marc Cerrone
   Performed by The Ladybirds
   Recorded by: Cerrone (1977)
   Notes: Performed during the "Hot Gossamer" sketch; Cerrone's original version formed the basis for dance routines by the Hot Gossip dance troupe that was parodied here.
4. Casablanca
   Written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter
   Performed by Geraldine
   Recorded by: Geraldine (Coma [UK] single #CUT 002, 1979)
   Notes: Irish singer Geraldine was the last musical guest to perform a song on TBHS in a straight "variety show" context; all future musical numbers would be performed within Hill's Angels routines. Writers Martin and Coulter were possibly most famous for writing and producing the Bay City Rollers' international smash hit "Saturday Night" (1975).
5. The Flight of the Bumble Bee
   Written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Notes: Performed during the "Wondergran Meets Dracula" sketch; it would also be played during the Jan. 5, 1983 "Superteech" sketch.

1. Maria, Maria
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Notes: A&E's Complete & Unadulterated - Set 4 DVD listed this song's title as "Maria."
2. Love for Sale
   Written by Cole Porter
   Performed by The Ladybirds
   Notes: As performed here, during Pan's People's major dance number.

1. Let The Music Play
   Written by J.M. Reed and Simon Soussan
   Performed by The Ladybirds and George Chandler
   Recorded by: Arpeggio (1978)
   Notes: Performed during the first part of the Hill's Angels "Chez Ben Grand Gala" routine. Not to be confused with either Barry White's 1976 record or Shannon's 1983 dance-music hit, both of the same name.
2. Boogie Wonderland
   Written by Joe Lind and Allee Willis
   Performed by The Ladybirds and George Chandler
   Recorded by: Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions (1979)
   Notes: Performed during the second part of the Hill's Angels "Chez Ben Grand Gala" routine.
3. Theme From "Charlie's Angels"
   Written by Jack Elliott and Allyn Ferguson
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Notes: Performed within the "Charlene's Angels" segment of the "Women's Lib Television" sketch.

1. Poor Old Prunella
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Notes: In character as Anthony Newley, in the "A Host of Your Favourite Stars" opening; a musical recasting of his 1972 poem.
2. Johnnie Boy
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
3. Fashion Rap
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Notes: The opening song of the "Madame Louise Summer Collection" routine.
4. The Fashion Pack (Studio 54)
   Written by Amanda Lear and Anthony Monn
   Performed by Louise English and Sue Upton with The Ladybirds
   Recorded by: Amanda Lear (1979)
   Notes: Performed during the "Madame Louise Summer Collection" routine.
5. Resurrection Shuffle
   Written by Tony Ashton
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (US: Capitol 3060 / UK: Capitol CL15665, 1971), Tom Jones, Clarence Clemons, Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers, Eddie Hardin
   Notes: Performed during the "Madame Louise Summer Collection" routine. Tony Ashton would later co-write (with Florrie Palmer) The Heat Is On, which Louise English would perform (albeit off-camera) during Episode #49.
6. Cool Meditation
   Written by Michael Cooper
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich and his Orchestra with The Ladybirds, and accompanying narration by Helen Horton
   Recorded by: Third World (1978, on their album Journey to Addis)
   Notes: This reggae-flavoured number was heard in the part of the "Madame Louise Summer Collection" routine where the Angels, wearing only bikinis, are relaxing on chaise-lounge recliners of the type found on beaches in the summer.
7. Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head (excerpt)
   (From the motion picture "Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid" )
   Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
   Performed by Benny Hill
   Recorded by: B.J. Thomas (1969)
   Notes: Performed in the middle of the "Butch Cafferty & The Fundance Kid" parody.

1. The Wonderful Meaning of Love
   Written by Benny Hill
   Performed by Benny Hill and Pat Ashton
   Notes: The melody and chord structure of this song were featured in an instrumental scoring in Benny's 1970 auteur TV film, Eddie in August.
2. Drinking with the Boys
   Written by Benny Hill
   Performed by Benny Hill with Bob Todd, Jackie Wright and Roger Finch /
   Drinking with the Girls
   Written by Benny Hill
   Performed by Hill's Angels
   Notes: The melody and chord structure of this double-song were also featured in an instrumental scoring in Benny's Eddie in August.
3. Trois Gymnopédies (1st Movement)
   Written by Erik Satie
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969, as "Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie")
   Notes: Performed during the "T.V. Romania Te Rose" sketch. This tune will also be heard during the "Fred Marceau in The Statue" segment of the "Channel Surfing" sketch of Feb. 11, 1981, and the ballet sequence of "The Hot Shoe Show" parody of April 25, 1984.
4. Excerpts from Psycho (1960) Score
   Written and Scored by Bernard Herrmann
   Notes: "The Murder" (the song title applicable to the shrieking violins heard over the scene where Janet Leigh is stabbed to death in the shower in Alfred Hitchcock's original classic) is played twice in the "Station 007 New York Presents '1994'" sketch, where Sue Upton and newsstand dealer Bob Todd meet their respective ends.
5. R-E-T-O-L-R-A-M-S-O-C-K
   Written by Benny Hill
   Performed by Benny Hill, Henry McGee, Bob Todd, Jackie Wright and Roger Finch
   Notes: Performed during the "Women's Lib Television: The Kitty Everett Show" sketch.
6. Colonel Bogey (March) (excerpt)
   Written by Kenneth J. Alford
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Mitch Miller & His Orchestra (1957, in a medley with "March From The River Kwai"); also used for many years as the backing music to Getty Oil ads that ran in the U.S.
   Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody; it had also been heard briefly in the 1976 "Sale of the Half Century" sketch.
7. La Vie en Rose (excerpt)
   Written by Marcel Louiguy and Edith Piaf
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Edith Piaf (1946), Dean Martin (with English lyrics by Mack David)
   Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody; ironically, Louise English, who in this takeoff played one of the contestants, would perform this standard herself in the March 12, 1986 "Chez When" routine.
8. Rose Garden (excerpt)
   Written by Joe South
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Joe South, Lynn Anderson
   Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody.
9. What Kind of Fool Am I? (excerpt)
   Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: Sammy Davis, Jr. (1962)
   Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody.
10. White Christmas (excerpt)
    Written by Irving Berlin
    Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
    Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody.
11. Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) (excerpt)
    Written by Frederic E. Weatherly
    Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
    Notes: Heard briefly in the "Name That Tune?" parody.
12. New York, New York (So Good They Named It Twice)
    Written by Gerard W. Kenny
    Performed by The Ladybirds
    Recorded by: Gerard Kenny (1978)
    Notes: The first and last song performed in the "Hill's Angels: New York, New York" routine. The subtitle was added to distinguish from the "Theme from 'New York, New York'" which would be performed (in a medley with another song co-written by Gerard Kenny, ironically enough) in the April 27, 1988 "Club Chic-a-Go-Go" routine.
13. Rosie (excerpt)
    Written by Joan Armatrading
    Performed by The Ladybirds
    Recorded by: Joan Armatrading (1979)
    Notes: The second song performed in the "Hill's Angels: New York, New York" routine.
14. Way Down (excerpt)
    Written by Layng Martine, Jr.
    Performed by The Ladybirds
    Recorded by: Elvis Presley (his last hit prior to his death in 1977)
    Notes: The third song performed in the "Hill's Angels: New York, New York" routine, during the scene at the disco.

1. Gypsy Dance
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Recorded by: Benny Hill, on his 1992 CD Benny Hill . . . The Best Of
   Notes: Was mistitled "Maria" in (and the second Hill composition with that title, according to) A&E's Complete & Unadulterated - Set 4 DVD.
2. Runaway
   Written by Del Shannon and Max Crook
   Performed by The Ladybirds and George Chandler
   Recorded by: Del Shannon (1961), Bonnie Raitt (1979)
   Notes: Performed during the "Runaway with Hill's Angels" (a.k.a. "TV Workout") number.
3. We're Off To See The Wizard (excerpt)
   (From the motion picture "The Wizard Of Oz")
   Written by E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg and Harold Arlen
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Notes: Played in the scene from the "Wondergran Meets Dr. Jackal & Mr. Hide" sketch where Mr. Hide (Benny) and his henchmen (Jackie Wright, Henry McGee) were strolling down the park.

1. Down On The Farm
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
   Recorded by: Benny Hill, on his 1992 CD Benny Hill . . . The Best Of
2. The Stripper (excerpt)
   Written by David Rose
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   Recorded by: David Rose & His Orchestra (recorded 1958, Number One hit in 1962)
   Notes: Played in the final scene of "The Poster Girl" sketch; it would later be performed in the "Clown Striptease" (Feb. 10, 1982) and "Mahala, Balloon Dancer" (March 16, 1983) sketches.
3. Keep Young and Beautiful
   (From the motion picture "Roman Scandals" (1933), sung by Eddie Cantor)
   Music by Harry Warren
   Lyrics by Al Dubin
   Performed by The Ladybirds and Hill's Angels
   Recorded by: Eddie Cantor, Abe Lyman & His Orchestra, Annie Lennox
   Notes: The first song performed in the "Down the Road with Hill's Angels" series of vignettes.
4. An Occasional Man
   (From the motion picture "The Girl Rush" (1955), sung by Gloria DeHaven)
   Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
   Performed by The Ladybirds and Hill's Angels
   Recorded by: June Christy, The Tony Hatch Sound & Orchestra, Judy Holliday, Julie London, Ella Mae Morse, Anita O'Day, Jeri Sothern, Sarah Vaughan
   Notes: The second song performed in the "Down the Road with Hill's Angels" series of vignettes.
5. Ease On Down the Road
   (From the musical "The Wiz")
   Written by Charlie Smalls
   Performed by The Ladybirds and Hill's Angels
   Recorded by: Consumer Rapport (1975)
   Notes: The third song performed in the "Down the Road with Hill's Angels" series of vignettes.

1. The Lovely Girls from Crete
   Written and Performed by Benny Hill
2. Meadowland
   (Traditional Russian folk tune)
   Performed by Ronnie Aldrich & His Orchestra
   (with vocal backing by The Ladybirds)
   Recorded by: Benny Goodman, 101 Strings Orchestra, Pete Seeger, Gene Krupa
   Notes: Performed during "The Georgian Dancers" sketch.
3. I Will Survive
   Written by Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren
   Performed by The Ladybirds
   Recorded by: Gloria Gaynor (1978)
   Notes: Performed during the "Remote Control Hill's Angels" (a.k.a. "Street Dance") routine.
4. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
   Written by Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts
   Performed by The Ladybirds
   Recorded by: Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer (1979)
   Notes: Performed during the "Remote Control Hill's Angels" (a.k.a. "Street Dance") routine.

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© April 06, 2002.