The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (radio series)

The very first version of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was conceived as a science-fiction comedy series for radio. It was originally broadcast in the United Kingdom over the BBC, soon followed by global short wave broadcast over the BBC World Service, in 1978. Broadcasting by National Public Radio (one of their first to occur in stereo) in the USA followed in March, 1981, with a repeat broadcast in September.

Music used in the series

One of Adams' stated goals was to be experimental in the use of sound, thus the use of stereo sound (which he later said that before Hitchhiker's it was deemed impossible and after Hitchhiker's it was made compulsory in radio comedy). Being a fan of Pink Floyd and the Beatles (and especially the experimental albums both bands produced in the late 1960s and early 1970s) Adams also wanted to incorporate other bits of music from a variety of artists. This was only achieved during the first series. There were, naturally, some problems with copyrights (see the Trivia section below, for more). During the second series, Paddy Kingsland was commissioned to provide background music, and in the third through fifth series, that role has been given to Paul 'Wix' Wickens.

Related Topics:
Pink Floyd - Beatles - Paddy Kingsland - Paul 'Wix' Wickens

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The instrumental title theme, Journey of the Sorcerer, composed by Bernie Leadon and recorded by US rock band The Eagles, was re-interpreted by The Illegal Eagles, a tribute band, using an arrangement by Philip Pope. This was done for all of the CD releases of the Quandary and Quintessential Phases due to licensing reasons (though the original track was used for the original radio transmissions and the on-demand downloads).

Related Topics:
Bernie Leadon - The Eagles - The Illegal Eagles - Philip Pope

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the book ', excerpts from these other musical pieces are acknowledged (in order of use):

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• A Modern Mass for the Dead (Requiem) by György Ligeti
• A Rainbow in Curved Air by Terry Riley
• Volumina by György Ligeti
• Wind on water by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno
• Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band by Terry Riley
• Cachaca by Patrick Moraz
• Shine on You Crazy Diamond (intro) by Pink Floyd
• Rock and Roll Music by The Beatles
• Also sprach Zarathustra (intro) by Richard Strauss
• Katakomben by Gruppe Between
• Space Theme by Stomu Yamashta
• Oxygene by Jean-Michel Jarre
• That's Entertainment by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz
• Over Fire Island by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno
• Miracles of the Gods by Absolute Everywhere
• Mikrophoniet by Karlheinz Stockhausen
• Melodien by György Ligeti
• The Engulfed Cathedral by Isao Tomita
• Volkstanz by Gruppe Between
• What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong