For many years I have been asking the question of who sang the ballad of GI and never got the answer. In the first season I know it was the Wellingtons and have known that for quite sometime. But I always wondered who sang the ballad in the 2nd and 3rd season's as it was never credited. I know Sherwood Shwartz and George Wyle wrote the ballad, and I used to think that either Sherwood or George sang it. Deep down inside I knew I was wrong and now I know I am. I just found out on Wikpedia that according to Russel Johnson's book (Here On Gilligans Island) That it was a group called the Eligibles. Although I have never heard of The Eligibles, it is nice to finally have the long awaited answer to my question. Now I can finally rest in peace.

I've never heard of The Eligibles either.I think the theme used in the black and white first season episodes by The Wellingtons,was FAR better and more tropical-sounding than the military march-type sounding theme by The Eligibles

I've never heard of The Eligibles either.I think the theme used in the black and white first season episodes by The Wellingtons,was FAR better and more tropical-sounding than the military march-type sounding theme by The EligiblesAnd I forgot to add:In all of the(with all of the original series cast except for Tina Louise)TV-movies of "Gilligan's Island"-NBC's "Rescue from Gilligan's Island","The Castaways on Gilligan's Island","The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island",they used the theme by The Eligibles,NOT(I wonder why)The Wellingtons.

And I forgot to add:In all of the(with all of the original series cast except for Tina Louise)TV-movies of "Gilligan's Island"-NBC's "Rescue from Gilligan's Island","The Castaways on Gilligan's Island","The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island",they used the theme by The Eligibles,NOT(I wonder why)The Wellingtons.

It's possible that they used the 2nd and 3rd season theme because it was the most known. By the 2nd season GI was getting more popular. They could have chosen to use the Wellngtons version in the 3rd season again, but elected to use the Eligible's version instead. There could have been other issues like copyright or even something to do with the Wellingtons who may have wanted more money if it was used, or could have been any number of other reasons. I myself like the Eligible's version better than the Wellingtons.

You guys are missing the obvious: the song's lyrics were changed for the second season, giving equal billing to the Professor and Mary Ann -who in the original Wellington's version were simply "and the rest." The billing had been questioned by the cast at the very beginning of the series, but it was deemed to expensive to rerecord and reshoot the opening sequence. Later, when the show moved from B&W to color the sequence had to be reshot anyway, so a new version of the theme was recorded.

Like some of you, I much prefer the sound and style of the Wellington's version, but as a performer I know how much billing matters, so I can see why they'd stick with the later Eligibles version for later shows.

Also, The Wellingtons were a real performing group (although they made a specialty of recording TV show themes). Since The Eligibles are uncredited in the series (unlike The Wellingtons) it leads me to believe they were not, in fact, a real group but merely session singers who were "eligible" to do the recording on the date in question. Their performance is not as polished, and the harmonies not as tight as the original, which suggests that it was a rushed job. Remember, the network hated the show even though it was a ratings winner. They considered it an embarrassment, and were not likely to spend any more money on it than they had to...

And I forgot to add:In all of the(with all of the original series cast except for Tina Louise)TV-movies of "Gilligan's Island"-NBC's "Rescue from Gilligan's Island","The Castaways on Gilligan's Island","The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan's Island",they used the theme by The Eligibles,NOT(I wonder why)The Wellingtons.

They used the Eligibles second-season opening and closing themes for 'Rescue' and their opening only for 'Castaways' with an updated closing sung by who-knows-who. 'Harlem Globetrotters' had an updated opening theme and the closing was, I think, the same one from the second movie.

As much as I loved the Mosquitos (who were played by the Wellingtons plus another actor), I prefer the later version used in the 2nd and 3rd seasons. It had more of a tropical/sea-shanty feel. (Sixteen men on a dead man's chest/ Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum). I used to think the first version souned like it was sung by Gilligan, while the latter sounded more like the Skipper. Like it was sung by an old sailor.

Since The Eligibles are uncredited in the series (unlike The Wellingtons) it leads me to believe they were not, in fact, a real group but merely session singers who were "eligible" to do the recording on the date in question.
Is this them? Sounds like them.

http://youtu.be/sr9CG3jPRq8

Is this them? Sounds like them.

http://youtu.be/sr9CG3jPRq8

That does sound very much like them. I listened to the later version of GI theme, and then this one. Very similar voices.

I also agree that these could have been sessions singers who were brought together by a TV or music producers for a few recordings. Kind of like the Monkees. But you never know.

Here are the songs from the episode from the second season featuring the fictional band the Mosquitos, who were credited as Les Brown Jr and the Wellingtons, I believe. Their voices definitely sound like the GI season 1 theme song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rfU1sC5vK8

You might wanna check this out. It's about Les Browne and Les Browne JR who was a member of the fictional Rock group, Mosquitos on GI. He has really made quite a name for himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Brown_(bandleader)

Here he is today.