The Andy Griffith Show [Soundtrack]

Herbert W. Spencer (Composer), Earle Hagen (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 4, 2000)
• Original Release Date: October 3, 1960
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: EMI-Capitol Music Special Products
• ASIN: B00004TGYD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,883 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Andy Griffith Theme

2. Jack, The Giant Killer

3. Flop Eared Mule

4. Ellie's Theme

5. Sourwood Mountain

6. The Man Hunt

7. The Fishin' Hole

8. Aunt Bee

9. The New River Train

10. Mayberry March

11. Cindy

12. Barney's Hoe Down

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word: Ouuut-STANDING!, February 22, 2002

By 

Kevin Cook "Darlin' Boy" (McDonough, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Andy Griffith Show (Audio CD)

This album, the long-awaited reissue of the highly collectible 1961 vinyl original, should be required listening for every egomaniacal TV star who suddenly decides to add "recording star" to his resume. Simply put, this is one of the best - if not THE best - TV show-inspired albums ever made. The album brilliantly underscores the importance of music to the success of "The Andy Griffith Show." After all, the show had perhaps television's all-time catchiest theme (included here in all its carefree glory) and embraced an amazing variety of musical genres.

Andy belts out four folk chestnuts heard on the show ("The New River Train," "Cindy," "Flop Eared Mule" and "Sourwood Mountain"), backed up by the Country Boys, a wonderful bluegrass band who made two brief appearances on the show (before The Dillards made their indelible mark as the Darlings). Ange also sings "The Fishin' Hole" (with words by Everett Sloane, ornery Jubal Foster from "The Keeper of the Flame" episode) in the happy-go-luckiest way imaginable!

Best of all are the extended versions of composer-conductor Earle Hagen's character themes and incidental music, masterful compositions that enriched the program immeasurably. They are just as enjoyable, and more fully appreciated, outside the show's context. "Ellie's Theme" is sprightly and playful, in contrast to "Aunt Bee," which is much more wistful and melancholy than the program version, but both are beautiful. The urgent martial beat of "Manhunt" (unmistakably, Barney's theme) makes you want to take that bullet out of your pocket and go looking for jaywalkers. "Mayberry March" (later the theme to "Mayberry R.F.D.") gets the full John Philip Sousa treatment. Finally, there's "Barney's Hoe Down" (often heard as background music on the show), featured here in a big, proud, sprawling, all-American arrangement that Aaron Copland would heartily approve.

The only misstep is Andy's tedious retelling of "Jack and the Beanstalk." The album's producer (and Andy, too) should have realized that the comedian was at his best playing off the reactions of a live audience. This overproduced studio bit is uncomfortably humorless. (For the best of Andy's comedy monologues, check out either "Andy Griffith - American Originals" or "The Wit and Wisdom of Andy Griffith.")

Trivia note: The original album cover was used as a prop in Episode 19, "Mayberry on Record."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MMMMM-MMMMM! GOOOOOOD ALBUM!, October 26, 2005

By 

Jukebox Dave (RECORD TOWN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Andy Griffith Show (Audio CD)

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW was quite possibly the best sitcom to ever mosey onto the airwaves (who wouldn't wanna live in a town just like Mayberry?), and homespun music was as integral a part of its success as its gentle backwoods humor. From the snappy, whistled theme song (also available here with lyrics warbled by Andy as THE FISHIN' HOLE) to Griffith's good timey renditions of bluegrass traditionals such as SOURWOOD MOUNTAIN, FLOP EARED MULE, and CINDY, this album is an audio photograph of a simpler, more carefree time when a neighbor was also a friend, and a man's word still meant something. Thrown in for extra good measure is Griffith's own unique spin on fairy tale JACK, THE GIANT KILLER and familiar incidental instrumentals with titles like BARNEY'S HOEDOWN and MAYBERRY MARCH. This here's the next best thing to watchin' the reruns for the one hundredth time.

RATING: FIVE FISH ON THE LINE

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Childhood memories, August 19, 2005

By 

K. M. Mork (Sandusky, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Andy Griffith Show (Audio CD)

My father bought this album when I was a child, and I remember listening to it often. Our family especially loved the story about Jack the Giant Killer. There is a variety of material on the album, including some bluegrass tunes and instrumental themes for different characters from the show. If you watch(ed) the show a lot, you would probably enjoy the CD.