Bet you didn't ever think of the banjo as a concert instrument.

There are Samisen concert bands in Japan, so why not a Banjo band here in the USA?

PS In 5.1 360watts.

WoW,my favvo album from E.

when was the last time you heard this on regular album rock radio

Didn't Radio Paradise favorite, RJD2 sample this in one track? Man, we could have a www.wefunkradio.com-style "sample moment" here!

This is the theme to "The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy" TV show (and recent movie) isn't it? Didn't know it was the Eagles...

alicewonderland wrote:

LOL! The major life lesson I got from HHG was "always know where your towel is" - it's served me well all these years :)

Cruithne3753 wrote:

I was thinking the same thing.

You know, I always knew the Eagles were a good band, and I knew they had a huge following. But I didn't know why until I heard this. That's some awesome depth. I'm a fan.

There's a bit on the soundtrack on the pilot episode of Firefly (when Serenity is "rabbitting" from the Alliance vessel) which I wonder might owe something to this, too.

kerr wrote:
Yes, I remember reading this in the book compilation of the original HHTTG radio scripts. Douglas Adams made notes at the end of every script for that collection. I believe he said they were looking for a twangy, on the road feel for a theme song -- he was delighted when this track was suggested, and said it was one of those deep cuts one doesn't think of out of context. He seemed tickled with the choice. This track always makes me laugh -- one of those tunes that is so associated with a context, it makes you smile.

"One's never alone with a rubber duck." HHGTTG

Its the same with me. I was waiting for the voice as well. :)

fredriley wrote:

Shut ma mouth! We don' get to hear them strings much on a Eagles cut, I reckon!

fredriley wrote:

42!

I'd not known that this was an Eagles number - I'd always assumed that the BBC Radiophonic Workshop had composed it specially as the theme tune for the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy. As soon as I hear the opening twangs I immediately expect to hear Peter Jones' voice as The Book... ;-)

A battle of wizards!

Ah, great song! Nice to hear it...haven't for a long time.

The_Seeker wrote:
You got that right!

It's always a pleasure on RP to hear a song for the first time from such a well-known band.

Says a lot for FM radio doesn't it?

chillynne wrote:

Agreed

UltraNurd wrote:

I have a recollection of hearing once that it was because they wanted the sound of a banjo played through a phaser. I don't think it was anything to do with it being the Eagles or the title... just it was the right sound.

whoaaa Sufjan Stevens' Jacksonville bears a suspicious resemblance to this song...

BBC Hitchikers Guide theme song...sweet.

trekhead wrote:

Hmm. Hadn't thought of that. I'd like to hear Nickel Creek cover this. They would surely do something extremely interesting with it. (Going to see them in concert tomorrow night in Denver. Can't wait!)

Baby_M wrote:

Maybe the song has "Don't Panic" printed on it in large, friendly letters?

lester wrote:
Of course. Father Time is always on the case.

kazuma wrote:Was in fact Joe Walsh himself the sole trigger? or did Father Time have a say?

plutodazed wrote:

Definitely their last hurrah, in terms of doing anything outside the box, before the dawn of the dumbed-down Joe Walsh version of the band.

I don't dislike Joe, but he pretty much did for the Eagles what adding Ronnie Wood did to the Stones: a brief flash of fleeting vigor, then the band dives into a decades-long decline from which it never recovers.

This is a magic set, Yoshida Bros., then El Condor, then JotS - now do we get to hear some Moody Blues? Something from In Search of the Lost Chord?

Kind of a NICKEL CREEK/SUFJAN STEVENS thing going on...in a good way.7.