Suicide Is Painless
Encyclopedia
"Suicide Is Painless" is a song written by Johnny Mandel
(music) and Mike Altman (lyrics
), which is best known for being featured as the theme song for both the movie
and TV series M*A*S*H. The actual title is "Song from M*A*S*H" (Suicide is Painless)". Mike Altman is the son of the original film's director, Robert Altman
, and was 14 years old when he wrote the song's lyrics. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
in the 1980s, Robert Altman said that his son earned more than a million US dollars for co-writing the song while he only made US $70,000 for directing the movie.
The song is played during the film's opening credits, sung by uncredited session singers John Bahler
, Tom Bahler
, Ron Hicklin and Ian Freebairn-Smith (the vocals are sometimes misattributed to Johnny Mandel, due to his being the only name officially credited for the song). Additionally, the movie also features a scene that begins when Walter Koskiusko Waldowski, a dentist
nickname
d "The Painless Pole", declares his intention to commit suicide
, and the song is sung by Ken Prymus (playing Private Seidman) during the suicide scene. Several instrumental
versions of the song were used as the theme for the TV series. Credited to "The Mash" when it appeared on the film's soundtrack album
on Columbia/CBS Records
in 1970, it belatedly became a number one hit in the UK
in 1980 after being championed by BBC Radio 1
DJ Noel Edmonds
.
released a cover version of "Suicide Is Painless" in 1992. In the UK it was a double A-side charity single (to help The Spastics Society), with The Fatima Mansions' take on Bryan Adams
' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" as the other A-side. The 12" and CD versions of the UK single included "Sleeping with the NME" - an excerpt from a radio documentary recorded in the offices of the NME, capturing staff's reaction to photographs of guitarist Richey Edwards's self-mutilation. The single peaked at #7 in the UK Singles Chart
spending three weeks in the Top Ten. In other countries it was released as a Manic Street Preachers single, with different B-sides.
12" vinyl
CD
Johnny Mandel
Johnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn.-Life:...
(music) and Mike Altman (lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
), which is best known for being featured as the theme song for both the movie
MASH (film)
MASH is a 1970 American satirical dark comedy film directed by Robert Altman and written by Ring Lardner, Jr., based on Richard Hooker's novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. It is the only feature film in the M*A*S*H franchise...
and TV series M*A*S*H. The actual title is "Song from M*A*S*H" (Suicide is Painless)". Mike Altman is the son of the original film's director, Robert Altman
Robert Altman
Robert Bernard Altman was an American film director and screenwriter known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with a stylized perspective. In 2006, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognized his body of work with an Academy Honorary Award.His films MASH , McCabe and...
, and was 14 years old when he wrote the song's lyrics. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
in the 1980s, Robert Altman said that his son earned more than a million US dollars for co-writing the song while he only made US $70,000 for directing the movie.
The song is played during the film's opening credits, sung by uncredited session singers John Bahler
John Bahler
John Bähler is an American vocalist, arranger, conductor, composer and producer.John Bähler is brother of Tom Bähler and husband of Janet Lennon .-Early career:...
, Tom Bahler
Tom Bahler
Thomas Lee Bähler , is an American singer, composer, songwriter, arranger and producer.He is the brother of John Bähler.-Early career:...
, Ron Hicklin and Ian Freebairn-Smith (the vocals are sometimes misattributed to Johnny Mandel, due to his being the only name officially credited for the song). Additionally, the movie also features a scene that begins when Walter Koskiusko Waldowski, a dentist
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "The Painless Pole", declares his intention to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, and the song is sung by Ken Prymus (playing Private Seidman) during the suicide scene. Several instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
versions of the song were used as the theme for the TV series. Credited to "The Mash" when it appeared on the film's soundtrack album
Soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...
on Columbia/CBS Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1970, it belatedly became a number one hit in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1980 after being championed by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Noel Edmonds
Noel Edmonds
Noel Ernest Edmonds, is an English broadcaster and executive, who made his name as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He has presented many light entertainment television programmes, including Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, Top of the Pops, The Late, Late Breakfast Show, Telly Addicts, Noel's Saturday...
.
Track listing
7" vinyl- Germany: CBS / 5009
- UK: CBS / S CBS 8536
- US: Columbia / JZSS 153321 [Promo only]
Chart performance
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Dutch GfK GfK The GfK Group, established in 1934 as Gesellschaft für Konsumforschung is Germany's largest market research institute, and the fourth largest market research organisation in the world, after Nielsen Company, Kantar Group, and IMS Health... chart |
3 |
| Dutch Top 40 Dutch Top 40 The Dutch Top 40 is a weekly music chart, which started as the "Veronica Top 40", because the offshore radio station Radio Veronica was the first to introduce it. It remained "The Veronica Top 40" until 1974, when the station was forced to stop broadcasting... |
4 |
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
1 |
Manic Street Preachers version
Manic Street PreachersManic Street Preachers
Manic Street Preachers are a Welsh alternative rock band, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire, Richey Edwards and Sean Moore. The band are part of the Cardiff music scene, and were at their most prominent during the 1990s...
released a cover version of "Suicide Is Painless" in 1992. In the UK it was a double A-side charity single (to help The Spastics Society), with The Fatima Mansions' take on Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
(Everything I Do) I Do It for You
" I Do It for You" is a power ballad performed by Bryan Adams and co-written with Michael Kamen and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, featured on the soundtrack album from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and on Adams' album Waking Up the Neighbours...
" as the other A-side. The 12" and CD versions of the UK single included "Sleeping with the NME" - an excerpt from a radio documentary recorded in the offices of the NME, capturing staff's reaction to photographs of guitarist Richey Edwards's self-mutilation. The single peaked at #7 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
spending three weeks in the Top Ten. In other countries it was released as a Manic Street Preachers single, with different B-sides.
Track listings
7" vinyl- UK: Columbia / 658382 7
- Netherlands: Columbia / COL 658385 7
12" vinyl
- UK: Columbia / 658382 6
CD
- UK: Columbia / 658382 2
- Europe: Columbia / 658385 2
- Japan: Epic/Sony / ESCA 5668
Chart performance
| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
7 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
12 |
| Swedish Singles Chart Sverigetopplistan Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association .... |
21 |
Cover versions
- Al De Lory recorded a jazz piano version of the tune (as "Song from MASH") that became an adult contemporaryHot Adult Contemporary TracksThe Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
hit a few months after the movie was released in 1970. - Henry ManciniHenry ManciniHenry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
recorded an easy listening version of the song for his 1970 album Mancini Plays the Theme from Love Story. - Ahmad JamalAhmad JamalAhmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker...
recorded an instrumental jazz-funk version of the song (as "Theme from M*A*S*H") on his 1974 release Jamalca. This version was included on some re-releases of the soundtrack album. Jamal recorded another version of the tune for his 1985 album Digital Works. - Roy AyersRoy AyersRoy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
recorded an instrumental version of the theme for his 1974 album Change Up the Groove. - Paul DesmondPaul DesmondPaul Desmond , born Paul Emil Breitenfeld, was a jazz alto saxophonist and composer born in San Francisco, best known for the work he did in the Dave Brubeck Quartet and for penning that group's greatest hit, "Take Five"...
(alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
) played together with Ed BickertEd BickertEdward Isaac "Ed" Bickert, CM is a Canadian jazz guitarist.-Early life:Second youngest of his family, Bickert was born in Hochfeld, Manitoba; his family moved shortly after he was born to Vernon, British Columbia...
(e-guitar), Ron CarterRon CarterRon Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
(bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) and Connie KayConnie KayConnie Kay was an American jazz drummer.Kay was a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet from 1955 until the group's dissolution in 1974...
(drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
) an instrumental version on his 1974 album Pure Desmond. - Kerstin Forslund and Small Town Singers released a version in 1975. The single made the Top 100 chart in Australia.
- Ray ConniffRay ConniffJoseph Raymond Conniff was an American bandleader and arranger best known for his Ray Conniff Singers during the 1960s.-Biography:...
recorded an easy listening version on his 1976 album Theme from S.W.A.T. and Other TV Themes. - Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
recorded a jazz piano trio version of the song for You Must Believe in SpringYou Must Believe in SpringYou Must Believe in Spring is the title of an album by jazz pianist Bill Evans, recorded by Evans, bassist Eddie Gomez, and drummer Eliot Zigmund in August 1977 and released after Evans' death in September 1980. It was Evans's last recording sessions done with Gomez on bass, who left after eleven...
, an album posthumously released in 1981, having made it a staple of his live sets for some years. Evans version modulates through all 12 keys. The song is also recorded in a jazz piano trio version on the CD Bill Evans Trio, recorded live in Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1979. - Cal TjaderCal TjaderCallen Radcliffe Tjader, Jr. a.k.a. Cal Tjader was a Latin jazz musician, though he also explored various other jazz idioms. Unlike other American jazz musicians who experimented with the music from Cuba, the Caribbean, and Latin America, he never abandoned it, performing it until his...
recorded a version on his album The Shining Sea (1981). - Jimmy SmithJimmy Smith (musician)Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
recorded a version on his album Off the Top (1982). - Art Of Noise perform a short instrumental interpolationInterpolation (music)Interpolation in music refers to an abrupt change in musical elements from the main theme.-In classical music:In music and musical composition, especially 20th century and later, interpolation is an abrupt change of elements, with continuation of the first idea...
on their 1984 track "A Time for Fear (Who's Afraid)", featured on both Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise?The Art of Noise! was Art of Noise's debut full-length album, released in 1984, and featured the UK hit singles "Close " which reached No 8 in the UK chart in November 1984 and the double-A sided "Moments in Love"/"Beat Box," which made it to no. 51 during April 1985 in the UK.-Track listing:All...
and DaftDaft (album)Daft is a compilation collecting Art of Noise LP Who's Afraid of the Art Of Noise? , along with portions of the Into Battle with the Art of Noise EP and "Moments in Love" remix single...
. - Royal TruxRoyal TruxRoyal Trux was an American alternative rock band from 1987 to 2001, founded by Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema .-History:...
recorded a version for the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
John PeelJohn PeelJohn Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
radio show in 1993. It was released in 1997 on a Royal Trux compilation called Singles, Live, UnreleasedSingles, Live, UnreleasedSingles Live Unreleased is a compilation album by Royal Trux. It was released in 1997 by Drag City as a triple LP box set and a double CD.Track listingSide one-#"Esso Dame" – 1:51#"Mercury" – 3:50#"No Fixed Address" – 3:29#"Red Tiger" – 5:12...
. On the compilation the song is titled "Theme from M.A.S.H." - KillarmyKillarmyKillarmy is a hip hop group, also known through its affiliation with the Wu-Tang Clan It is one of the earliest and most successful of the many Wu-Tang affiliates along with Sunz of Man....
sampled the music for their 1997 track "5 Stars" from the Silent Weapons for Quiet WarsSilent Weapons For Quiet WarsSilent Weapons for Quiet Wars is the debut from Wu-Tang affiliate Killarmy. The group consists of six MCs: Killa Sin, Beretta 9, Islord, 9th Prince, P.R. Terrorist , and ShoGun Assasson; and one producer, 4th Disciple, who produced the majority of the album...
album. - Ryan Kallok, singer-songwriter from Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, OhioYoungstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, USA covered the song live and recorded a verion in 2008. - Edgar CruzEdgar CruzEdgar Cruz is an independent classical and fingerstyle guitarist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Having recorded over a sixteen CDs in styles ranging from classical to flamenco to pop to jazz, Cruz is perhaps best known for his fingerstyle arrangement of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"...
recorded an instrumental cover of the song for his 1997 album Reminiscence titled "M*A*S*H Theme". - Jay-Jay JohansonJay-Jay JohansonJay-Jay Johanson is a Swedish musician and singer-songwriter, known for his melancolic vocals. His music has integrated the trip-hop genre until he switched his sound to a more electroclash-oriented direction with the 2003 release Antenna, which featured "On The Radio"...
performed a version of this song on France Inter in 1997, later released on a promotional CD. In 2011 it appeared on his CD "Spellbound". - Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson (band)Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
did a version for the soundtrack of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 is the 2000 American horror film and the sequel to the film The Blair Witch Project, directed by Joe Berlinger...
in 2000. - Barði JóhannssonBarði JóhannssonBardi Johannsson is an Icelandic rock musician, film composer, writer, TV show host , author, clothing designer, film director and more...
and Keren AnnKeren AnnKeren Ann Zeidel is a singer-songwriter-composer-producer and engineer based largely in Paris, Tel Aviv and New York City. She plays guitar, piano and clarinet, engineers and writes choir and musical arrangements.-Life and career:...
recorded a version on their album Lady and BirdLady and BirdLady and Bird is an album from the collaboration of singer/songwriter Keren Ann and Barði Jóhannson, lead singer of Icelandic band Bang Gang.-Track listing:# "Do What I Do"# "Shepard's Song"# "Stephanie Says"...
(2003). - Stewie GriffinStewie GriffinStewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
sang a part of it on Stewie Griffin: The Untold StoryStewie Griffin: The Untold StoryStewie Griffin: The Untold Story is a 2005 direct-to-DVD animated comedy film set in the Family Guy fictional universe. Released on September 27, 2005, the film's main plot point concerns Stewie Griffin trying to find his real father...
in 2005. - Matt CostaMatt CostaMatthew Albert Costa is a singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach, California.He has five independent releases: two self-recorded EPs, and three full-length CDs released via Brushfire Records.-Life:...
, singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, USA covered the song on his six-track The Elasmosaurus EPThe Elasmosaurus EPThe Elasmosaurus EP was a collection of songs that were recorded during the Songs We Sing sessions that ultimately did not end up on Matt Costa's debut LP. These songs were released in a limited print as an EP.-Track listing:...
in 2005. - KelisKelisKelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
does her own interpretation of the song in her single "Lil StarLil Star"Lil Star" is the second international single from Kelis' Grammy Award-nominated fourth studio album, Kelis Was Here . Released outside US , the single features Cee-Lo, who is known for being a half of the duo Gnarls Barkley...
" (with Cee-LoCee-LoThomas DeCarlo Callaway , better known by his stage name Cee Lo Green, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor...
), released in 2007. - The DronesThe DronesThe Drones are an Australian rock group who rose to prominence during the early 2000s. They are influenced by a variety of bands and soloists including Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, Bad Brains, Suicide, Green on Red, The Birthday Party, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone.- The Sound...
performed an acoustic version in 2008 on Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. - Ania Dąbrowska recorded a version of this song on her album Ania MovieAnia MovieAnia Movie - the fourth studio album by Polish singer Ania, released in 2010.- Background :The album consists of cover versions of Ania's favourite movie and TV series themes, including music from MASH, About a Boy, Across 110th Street or Deep Throat II...
(2010). - Amanda LearAmanda LearAmanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
recorded an acoustic and a dance version of this song on her 2009's cd Brief EncountersBrief EncountersFor the 1945 film, see Brief Encounter.For the 1967 film, see Brief Encounters .Brief Encounters is the fourteenth studio album by French singer Amanda Lear. The album was released in Italy on October 16, 2009 as a double CD set containing twenty five new recordings sung in both English and French,...
. - Jay-Jay JohansonJay-Jay JohansonJay-Jay Johanson is a Swedish musician and singer-songwriter, known for his melancolic vocals. His music has integrated the trip-hop genre until he switched his sound to a more electroclash-oriented direction with the 2003 release Antenna, which featured "On The Radio"...
has a version of this song on his 2011 album SpellboundSpellbound- Film and television :* Spellbound , with Lois Meredith* Spellbound , directed by John Harlow* Spellbound , directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck...
. - Tripod (band)Tripod (band)Tripod is an Australian musical comedy act, specialising in improv, parody and satire. As its name suggests, the band is a trio; it comprises Scod , Yon and Gatesy...
did a short acoustic rendition of the theme in the song "Lingering Dad" (additionally, portions of the theme were later used in the song "Theme from Mash Guy" - a song about acquiring the rights to play the theme from M*A*S*H).