A Tribute to BBC Composer Ronnie Hazlehurst

[brotherbosco]

someone posted a video on youtube of a slideshow of behind the scenes pics of the BBC in the 60s and 70s, and the soundtrack was a faster version of the "are you being served" theme, with no vocals. whoever uploaded it took it down out of nowhere. i wish to God i could find that...

[pikupstix56]

In so many of his theme tunes the syllables of the show's title are built into the rhythm of the tune. Try singing "the-last-of, the-summer-wine" to that show's harmonica theme....fits perfectly......Again the flugelhorn/trumpet theme fits under "are, you, being-served" on that show's tune. Again "The rise, and fall-of re-gi-nald pe-rrin" fits that show's main french horn melody. Such a simple technique but genius results.

[iosnick]

Ronnie made the BBC. So clever too that Some mothers tune is actualy morse code

[Jennyferrrary]

where can i download the wogan music?

[culttelevision]

He didn't compose Wogan. That first theme from 1985 was written by B.A. Robertson

[johnmartin1097]

@culttelevision Didn't he. Perhaps he only arranged it then?

[culttelevision]

@johnmartin1097 No, this is definitely a B.A. Robertson composition and arrangement as you can tell from the excessive use of Simmons electronic drums and the LinnDrum which he used in every track of this era (See the Saturday SuperStore theme as a prime example from 1982!). Robertson did two theme mixes - one for summer (with the Orange title cards and a drumless synth intro) and one for the winter (blue background titles and the familiar swing hi-hat pattern which is the one you have here).

[culttelevision]

@johnmartin1097 I think Ronnie Hazlehurst composed the theme from 1987 which was a big band / Hammond organ theme arranged by Harry Stoneham who was the show's musical director from that year until it finished. This is far more characteristic of Hazlehurst.

[culttelevision]

@culttelevision No he wrote the later theme from 1988 onwards which ditched the 80s synth sounds for jazzy big band, arranged and played by Harry Stoneham and his band.

[TheMusicman12ize]

a genius bushwacka i couldent av said it better the tv themes this great man has done is a credit to him and to tv industry r.i.p ronnie these r all the best tv themes of all time here

[davelounder]

Very talented man! Especially love "The Two Ronnies" theme song! Brit comedy certainly has it all over American "comedy"!!! Thanks for sharing, and many thanks to Mr. Hazlehurst! Dave Lounder (USA)

[killingjokefan1]

Sorry!?

[lexo30]

Ronnie Hazlehurst was a genius. His best music brings out elements in the shows that are otherwise unspoken; OK, the Blankety Blank music is hackwork but the Reggie Perrin music has a yearning quality that's just right for Reggie's existential angst, the Are You Being Served music anticipates Pink Floyd's 'Money' and is a lot wittier, and the Some Mothers Do Ave Em music spells the title in morse code while at the same time being an amazingly catchy tune. That is brilliance.

[GuanoLad]

That Wogan theme is a bit crap

[AustinSomerset]

Was "Terry & June/Happy Ever" After one of his too?

[AustinSomerset]

Practically all Great Saturday Night Viewing! What a talent!

[bouncelectric303]

I always liked that music he made... sounded like porno music.. plus the chick in that show was sexy as hell...

[leolodreamland]

i think it's criminal BBC still haven't released a best of CD

[cisco9x]

Instrumental version of AYBS watch?v=GB0F74zpqZk

[oldskoolmacboy]

There is something absolutely brilliant about Ronnie Hazlehurst's work. Unfortunately you missed out one of his best pieces of work, the theme tune to Sorry.

[milkbluemilk]

the 'some mother's do ave em' tune features a piccolo spelling out the title in morse code. how amazing is that!!

[misterjack97]

I think he also worked on Terry and June.

[MrBooojangles]

He lived in Guernsey where I live.

[drcoxcentral]

LOTSW and AYBS? is my top favorites from this legendary composer. Didn't know he died a couple of years ago, :( R.I.P. Ronnie Hazlehurst.

[GazzTheFunkadelic]

How could you miss out Sorry.Great tune. RIP Ronnie. Check out Matt Berry`s version of the Sorry theme...brilliant.

[aaronb01]

someone watches screenwipe!

[cuuldude1]

Great vid!

PS. Where is the theme for 'The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'? It's my favourite!

[gnrrules123454321]

R.I.P Ron

[LeftovaCrack]

Hey,

Does anyone know where I can find the theme song for "Are you being served?" without the voices and the cash register stuff?

[whilegordonburns]

There's one on here titled BBC tv studios Ronnie Hazelhurst funky instrumental - sounds like it anyway.

[chandlerbrujo]

Ronnie Hazelhurst funky instrumental is it

[sibeliandrift]

Yeah, I'd like that...

[SoupWOW]

Truly of the best arrangers that music has ever known, with a brilliant group of instrumentalists who performed his work.

A man who wrote many pieces of music with an effortless sounding perfection. Every instrument performing it's part in a beautiful recipe of sound, feeling and time.

There is a brilliant album out there, which shows off Ronnie's best work (in my opinion), and it's hard to get hold of.

Last of the Summer Wine. 1997 RH Records. Bar code = 5 020679 112120.

[Sadukar7thLegion]

I agree with TheEqualizer1972, he was a hero, but not unsung, his legacy goes on, how could it not, thank you johnmartin1097 for posting this. I know a John Martin from Alness, doubt it's the same one though. x

[TheEqualizer1972]

RIP Ronnie, unsung hero and all that. Some of us appreciated u.

[1wirewool]

Hi,What a great talent he had. No other words can do him justice..great mind and talent. P.

[Ampex196]

Many thanks for this. Ronnie Hazlehurst (the third Ronnie) was one of the nicest people you could ever meet - he'll be sadly missed !

[billboy]

Excellent Hazelhurst BBC themes montage - if you are very lucky to get hold of the BBC tv themes 7" and LP records then most will be by Hazelhurst and of course the extra bonus is that the BBC mostly, if not always recorded the original tv versions on these records.

[mrmalade]

You can safely skip the first minute of the vid

[NameNotaNumber]

The Some Mothers Do Ave Em is an extraordinary piece of music, as are the themes to the Two Ronnies and Sorry. Totally original!

[Hoddersrevenge]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to my knowledge the Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em theme tune is literally the programme name in morse code.

[johnmartin1097]

That is quite correct Hoddersrevenge

[gilhams]

I remember reading that they had no money left for the music for this show. Ronnie was only allowed to use two piccolos and was paid the princely sum of £30 for his trouble!

[gilhams]

I meant to say - I'm talking about Some Mothers do 'ave 'em!

[steviemusic1]

Absolutely; and when he gets to the V in "'Ave" he quotes Beethoven's fifth!! Complete genius.

[alanmartin18]

great tunes great video

[syrett76]

Some great tunes to that really remind me of my childhood. RIP

[bushwacka1980]

ABSOLUTE BLOODY GENIUS!

[anjerson]

He was a master at catching the mood of whatever programme he was working on - sadly missed . . .

[SimonWhovian]

Couldn't agree more! It's amazing to think that, as well as the vast number of themes and music he composed and/ or arranged, he worked tirelessly for over 30 years on 'Last of the Summer Wine.' Apparently, it took ten hours to record the incidental music for just one half hour episode, and with ovewr 250 episodes under his belt, that ain't half bad!

[robthemod58]

A groove legend.......

Opening theme of 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Are You Being Served'....The bollox!

RtheM.