Wagon Train (western, starring Ward Bond and Robert Horton)
(NBC Primetime, 1957 - 1962;
ABC Primetime, 1962 - 1965)
[Syndicated under the title: "Major Adams, Trailmaster";
When Ward Bond died in 1961, John McIntire was introduced
as the new wagonmaster. Robert Horton played the second
in command during the run of the series]
Theme 1 (1957 - 1958): "Wagon Train (Main Title
Theme)"
[aka: "Wagon Train Theme";
For a 1950s series, "Wagon Train" sure had a lot of different
THEME compositions, and this was its first which lasted only
one season]
Composers: Henri René (ASCAP)
[pseudonym of Harold M. Kirchstein], and
Sidney Keith ("Bob") Russell (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Marlen Music Co. (ASCAP)
1999 Publishers: Gordon Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP),
of Canoga Park, CA; and
Airdrome Music (ASCAP)
c/o International Music Services,
of Burbank, CA
Copyright Date: August 15, 1957; Ep 111 240.
Renewal Date: January 14, 1985; RE-242-522.
Recordings:
LP: "Wyatt Earp, Cheyenne, and other TV Favorites"
The Sons of the Pioneers
RCA Bluebird Records LBY-1004 (1958)
Theme 2 (1958 - 1959): "Roll Along, Wagon Train"
[aka: (Roll Along) Wagon Train;
aka: "Wagon Train";
aka: "Wagon Train Theme"]
Composers: music by Sammy Fain (ASCAP), and
lyrics by Jack Brooks (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: M C A Music (ASCAP),
a division of M C A, Inc.
1998 Publisher: MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP),
a division of Universal Studios, Inc., of
Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Date: October 17, 1958; Eu 546 930.
Renewal Date: December 30, 1986; RE-317-787.
Recordings:
LP: "TV Western Theme Songs"
Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra
with vocal group, "The Sparklers"
Coral CRL/CRL7-57267 (1959)
Theme 3 (1959 - 1965): "Wagons Ho! (from Wagon
Train)"
[aka: "Wagon Train Theme";
Verified as the THEME in TV Guide article "Looking
For A Lost Chord?" April 28, 1962, pp. 12-13;
As Jon Burlingame explains in his book "TV's Biggest Hits",
Moross originally composed this melody as a minor motif in
his score for a 1959 Paramount film called "The Jayhawkers".
He was embarassed to discover his unconscious plagiarism of
himself; and the studios worked out a tacet deal to ignore
it in case the situation was ever reversed;
Two years after the instrumental THEME was first used, a
set of lyrics was composed; and this THEME even lasted a
change of networks...]
Composers: music by Jerome Moross (ASCAP), with
lyrics added by Frederick Herbert (ASCAP)
Original Publisher: Alaska Music (ASCAP),
a division of M C A, Inc.
1998 Publisher: MCA Music Publishing (ASCAP),
a division of Universal Studios, Inc., of
Los Angeles, CA
Instrumental Copyright Date: Oct. 19, 1959; Eu 604 203.
Instrumental Renewal Date: Oct. 8, 1987; RE-351-339.
Vocal Copyright Date: May 8, 1961; Eu 670 728.
Vocal Renewal Date: Dec. 28, 1989; RE-460-557.
Recordings:
LP: "Original TV Music from Wagon Train"
Orchestra conducted by Stanley Wilson
Mercury MG 20502/SR 60179 (1959)
Syndicated Theme 4 (Major Adams, Trailmaster):
"Trailmaster Theme"
[This THEME composed by the venerable Stanley Wilson of
Universal Studios, was only used during the syndication
of the series]
Composer: Stanley J. Wilson (ASCAP/BMI)
Original Publisher: Hawaii Music (BMI),
c/o M C A, Inc.
division of Universal Studios
1998 Publisher: [not found listed in ASCAP or BMI]
Copyright Date: December 28, 1962; Eu 752 361.
Renewal Date: November 21, 1990; RE-497-540.
Recordings:
LP: "Themes to Remember:
Top TV Themes and Background Music"
Stanley Wilson and his Orchestra
Decca DL/DL7 4481 (1964)
Copyright 1960 - 2018 by The Media
Management Group. All Rights Reserved