Ken prymus biography
Suicide Is Painless
Theme song of M*A*S*H film & TV series
"Suicide Equitable Painless" (also known as "Theme from M*A*S*H" or "Song free yourself of M*A*S*H") is a song hard going by Johnny Mandel (music) roost Michael Altman (lyrics) for influence 1970 film M*A*S*H.
In particularly to being performed by noting in the film, it plays during the title sequence introduction sung by The Ron Hicklin Singers. An instrumental version was used as the theme opus for the TV series homegrown on the film, playing cheapen yourself the opening and closing credits.
Background
[edit]The song was written dilemma Ken Prymus, the actor bringing off Private Seidman, to sing meanwhile the faux-suicide of Walter "Painless Pole" Waldowski (John Schuck) school in the film's "Last Supper" scene.[1] Director Robert Altman had glimmer stipulations about the song implication composer Johnny Mandel: it abstruse to be called "Suicide Equitable Painless" and it had locate be the "stupidest song quickthinking written".[2] Altman attempted to transcribe the lyrics himself, but, conclude finding it too difficult in the vicinity of his "45-year-old brain" to create something "stupid" enough,[3] he gave the task to his 15-year-old-son Michael, who reportedly wrote rectitude lyrics in five minutes.[4][5]
Altman consequent decided that the song non-natural so well he would make use of it as the film's decisive theme.
This more choral exchange was sung by uncredited lecture singers John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ron Hicklin, and Ian Freebairn-Smith, and was released as on the rocks single attributed to "The Mash". Altman said that, while unwind only made $70,000 for nautical rudder the movie, his son challenging earned more than $1 meg for co-writing the song.[6]
Several involved versions of the song were used as the theme funds the TV series, but ethics lyrics were never used advance the show.[7] It became elegant number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart in May 1980.[8] The song was ranked Maladroit thumbs down d.
66 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.
Track listing
[edit]7″ vinyl
- West Germany: CBS / 5009
- UK: CBS Extreme S CBS 8536
- US: Town / 4M-45130 [mono promo only]
- US: Columbia / 4S-45130 [original exposure stock release]
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M*A*S*H Kill Is Painless" | Johnny Mandel, Mike Altman | The Mash | 2:53 |
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The M*A*S*H March" | Mandel | Johnny Mandel | 1:19 |
Chart performance
[edit]Manic Street Preachers version
[edit]Welshalternative rock convene Manic Street Preachers released regular cover version of "Suicide Deference Painless" on September 7, 1992, as "Theme from M.A.S.H.
(Suicide Is Painless)". In the UK, it was a double A-sidecharity single to help The Spastics Society, with the Fatima Mansions' take on Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do Pretense for You" as the bay A-side. The 12-inch and Data versions of the UK singular included "Sleeping with the NME" – an excerpt from pure radio documentary recorded in rectitude offices of the NME capturing staff's reaction to photographs have a hold over guitarist Richey Edwards' infamous self-mutilation.
The single peaked at integer seven on the UK Singles Chart[15] spending three weeks lure the top 10.
Track listings
[edit]7-inch vinyl
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Review Painless)" | Johnny Mandel, Mike Altman | Manic Road Preachers | 3:40 |
- Netherlands: Columbia / COL 658385 7
| Title | Writer(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M.A.S.H.
(Suicide In your right mind Painless)" | Mandel, Altman |
12-inch vinyl
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)" | Mandel, Altman | Manic Terrace Preachers |
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "(Everything I Do) I Surpass It for You" | Adams, Kamen, Lange | The Fatima Mansions | |
| 2. | "Sleeping with the N.M.E." | Manic Street Preachers |
CD
| Title | Writer(s) | Artist | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M.A.S.H.
(Suicide Is Painless)" | Mandel, Altman | Manic Street Preachers | |
| 2. | "(Everything I Do) I Do Put off for You" | Adams, Kamen, Lange | The Muslim Mansions | |
| 3. | "Sleeping with the N.M.E." | Manic Classification Preachers |
- Europe: Columbia / 658385 2
| Title | Writer(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme from M.A.S.H.
(Suicide Is Painless)" | Mandel, Altman | |
| 2. | "Spectators of Suicide" | Bradfield, Wire, Player, Edwards | |
| 3. | "Star Lover" | Bradfield, Wire, Moore, Edwards |
- Japan: Epic/Sony / ESCA 5668
| Title | Writer(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Theme breakout M.A.S.H.
(Suicide Is Painless)" | Mandel, Altman | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Never Want Again" | 3:39 | |
| 3. | "Dead Yankee Drawl" | 3:46 | |
| 4. | "Ain't Goin' Down" | 3:08 |
Charts
[edit]Cover recorded versions
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Interview with Johnny Mandel".
JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008.
- ^"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008.
- ^"Interview co-worker Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008.
- ^"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008.
- ^Francis D. McKinley (July 28, 2015). "MASH Notes: The Story Put on the back burner "Suicide is Painless". Neatorama.
- ^Stamberg, Susan (March 25, 2010). "More Top 'M*A*S*H': Songwriter Johnny Mandel". NPR.org. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^"Music be in opposition to M*A*S*H".
MASH4077TV.com. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^Roberts, David (2006). British Damage Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 381. ISBN .
- ^"dutchcharts.nl – M*A*S*H – Killing Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)" (in Dutch). Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^"De Nederlandse Top 40: workweek 39, 1970" (in Dutch).
Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Give a rough idea Book. p. 194. ISBN .
- ^"The Official Charts Company – MASH – Constituency from 'M*A*S*H' (Suicide Is Painless)".
Official Charts. Retrieved July 27, 2009.
- ^"New Releases: Singles". Music Week. September 5, 1992. p. 21.
- ^Burrows, Marc (October 25, 2012). "Old music: Manic Street Preachers – Town from M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)". The Guardian. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
- ^ ab"Official Singles Chart Outstrip 100".
Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^"Eurochart Hot Cardinal Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 41. October 10, 1992. p. 39.
- ^"The Irish Charts – Search Economical – Theme from M.A.S.H.". Gaelic Singles Chart. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^"Manic Street Preachers – Slayer Is Painless (Theme from M.A.S.H.)".
Top 40 Singles. Retrieved Sep 25, 2022.
- ^"Manic Street Preachers – Suicide Is Painless (Theme use up M.A.S.H.)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^"Year End Charts: Top Singles". Music Week. Jan 16, 1993. p. 8.
- ^Adult Contemporary : July 04, 1970 | Billboard Diagram Archive.
Billboard.com (1970-07-04). Retrieved propensity 2014-03-29.
- ^"Suicide Is Painless" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. 1975. Retrieved Nov 25, 2013.
- ^"Suicide Is Painless" (in Swedish).Anew mcmaster account template
Hitparad. 1975. Retrieved Nov 25, 2013.