FOLN@NFan
01-13-2002, 10:05 PM
awhile ago, there was a pretty big topic on the theme song versions. I stopped posting stuff here cuz i made a website of it, but i didnt get the link out widely, so some ppl didnt come. This is a condensed version of my website( http://wekvn.tripod.com ) with most info on the theme song versions (SOUNDS). Actually, some of this is info is more up-to-date than my site. Also, links to SOUNDS and VIDEOS off most of these themes can be found on my site too. When I mention someone singing the HARMONY, it DOES NOT include the "Ah-ah's" during the "You wanna be where you can see..." part, just the first two lines of the refrain, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name; And they're always glad you came." Also, when I mention "Home Videos," I am talking about the Paramount Home Videos that they released 11 volumes of. They are available at SOME video stores still.
LYRIC GUIDE:
VERSE 1:
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
VERSE 2:
All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;
REFRAIN 1:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
VERSE 3:
Climbing the walls when no one calls;
You've lost at love again.
And the more you're down and out,
The more you need a friend.
When you long to hear a kind hello.
VERSE 4:
Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;
REFRAIN 2:
Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
OUTRO REFRAIN:
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came; <FADES OUT>
FULL REFRAIN:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
SHORT REFRAIN:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
Theme 1.1: Used on NBC for seasons 1-3. Had the first verse and the main refrain. The original version of the theme song. Recorded in MONO, because the show was in MONO. It had a strange instrument(PIANO??) starting with the line "Wouldn't you like to get away...". During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy(who sings the melody in ALL the versions), sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.2: Used on NBC for seasons 4-11 and on the Home Videos for seasons 1-5. Had the first verse and the main refrain. The most common version of the theme song. The song was rerecorded in STEREO for season 4 on NBC because the show was recorded in stereo starting that season 4. For the HOME VIDEOS, it was degraded to MONO for seasons 1-3, but in stereo for season 4 and 5. It doesn't have the strange instrument. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.3: Used on NBC when time was running short for seasons 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in STEREO. Seasons 1-3 never had a short theme on NBC. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It is in a slightly LOWER KEY than Themes 1.1 and 1.2 for some reason. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.4: Used on Syndication for seasons 1-3 and on the Home Videos for "I Do, Adieu", episode 26 of season 5. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in MONO, because the show was in MONO, except for "I Do, Adieu" on the Home Videos, where it was upgraded to STEREO for ONE episode. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, in a way, is the same as Theme 1.3, only in the "regular tone" as Themes 1.1 and 1.2. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.5: Used on Syndication for seasons 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in STEREO, because the show as in STEREO. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, also in a way, is the same as Theme 1.4, being in the same tone as it, but actually, it is RERECORDED. It sounds alot smoother and nicer. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track, though differently than Theme 1.1. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.6: Used on the Home Videos for "Home is the Sailor", episode 1 of season 6. Had the first verse and the main refrain. Recorded in STEREO, because the show as in STEREO. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, too in a way, is similar to Theme 1.5, being in the same tone as it and being RERECORDED, but it is the regular length. It, like Theme 1.5, sounds alot smoother and nicer. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track, though differently than Theme 1.1. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.7: Used on N@N for seasons 1-3. Had the first verse and the main refrain. When Paramount REMASTERED the show, they did ALL episodes in STEREO, even though seasons 1-3 were originally MONO. The show sounds clearer, but actually is missing some higher and lower frequencies. The theme, on the other hand, also sounds clearer, but the conversion from Mono to Stereo REALLY faded out the HARMONY, almost to the point where you can't hear it at all unless you have REALLY good speakers. It HAS the strange instrument. So technically, it is a 'clearer' Theme 1.1. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.8: Used on N@N for seasons 4-11. Had the first verse and the main refrain. Since these episodes were Already STEREO, when Paramount remastered, it actually DID make them better, so they sound brighter and crisper. So technically, it is a clearer Theme 1.2. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.9: Used on N@N when time is running short for season 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Since these episodes were Already STEREO, when Paramount remastered, it actually DID make them better, too, so they sound brighter and crisper. So technically, it is a clearer Theme 1.3. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.10: Used on N@N for "Diane's Nightmare", episode 5 of season 4. Had the first verse and the main refrain. This episode was mistakingly NOT Remastered. The show is in MONO, but the theme is in STEREO. The theme is actually the MONO Theme 1.1 converted to STEREO, like Theme 1.7, but Differently. (Why? See Below) The harmony is heard as clearly and easily as the melody, as is the strange instrument. It seems to have more bass. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.11: Used on N@N for "Birth, Death, Love, and Rice", episode 1 of season 4. Had the first verse and the main refrain. This episode was Also mistakingly NOT Remastered. The show is in MONO, but the theme is in STEREO. The theme is also the MONO Theme 1.1 converted to STEREO, like Theme 1.7 and 1.10, but Differently still. (Why? See Below) The harmony is heard as clearly and easily as the melody, as is the strange instrument, but has LESS bass. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 2: Used on ??. Had the first verse and the main refrain, an instrumental version of the first verse and the main refrain, then repeated the first verse and the main refrain with the vocals again. It is a totally different recording than anything before this, and no one knows where it's been aired or anything.
Theme 3: Used on 200th Anniversary Episode. Had the first verse, second verse, first refrain, FOURTH verse, second refrain, and the outro refrain. It is ANOTHER recording, which
has more guitar harmonies(ALL throughout the song, just not the refrains).
Theme 4: Used on ??. Had the first verse, second verse, first refrain, third verse, fourth verse, second refrain, and the outro refrain. It have not personally heard this one, but I heard it's on a CD someplace. It is the same recording as Theme 3.
*Why?:
How are Themes 1.10 and 1.11 the same as Themes 1.1 and 1.7? Yeah, they are. They were just converted to STEREO differently. It's a Cheers mystery...
If they were from seasons 1-3 on NBC, why are they played during Unremastered season FOUR episodes on N@N? Another Cheers mystery...
LYRIC GUIDE:
VERSE 1:
Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got;
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
VERSE 2:
All those night when you've got no lights,
The check is in the mail;
And your little angel
Hung the cat up by it's tail;
And your third fiance didn't show;
REFRAIN 1:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
VERSE 3:
Climbing the walls when no one calls;
You've lost at love again.
And the more you're down and out,
The more you need a friend.
When you long to hear a kind hello.
VERSE 4:
Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee's dead;
The morning's looking bright;
And your shrink ran off to Europe,
And didn't even write;
And your husband wants to be a girl;
REFRAIN 2:
Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
OUTRO REFRAIN:
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came; <FADES OUT>
FULL REFRAIN:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
SHORT REFRAIN:
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name.
Theme 1.1: Used on NBC for seasons 1-3. Had the first verse and the main refrain. The original version of the theme song. Recorded in MONO, because the show was in MONO. It had a strange instrument(PIANO??) starting with the line "Wouldn't you like to get away...". During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy(who sings the melody in ALL the versions), sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.2: Used on NBC for seasons 4-11 and on the Home Videos for seasons 1-5. Had the first verse and the main refrain. The most common version of the theme song. The song was rerecorded in STEREO for season 4 on NBC because the show was recorded in stereo starting that season 4. For the HOME VIDEOS, it was degraded to MONO for seasons 1-3, but in stereo for season 4 and 5. It doesn't have the strange instrument. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.3: Used on NBC when time was running short for seasons 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in STEREO. Seasons 1-3 never had a short theme on NBC. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It is in a slightly LOWER KEY than Themes 1.1 and 1.2 for some reason. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.4: Used on Syndication for seasons 1-3 and on the Home Videos for "I Do, Adieu", episode 26 of season 5. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in MONO, because the show was in MONO, except for "I Do, Adieu" on the Home Videos, where it was upgraded to STEREO for ONE episode. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, in a way, is the same as Theme 1.3, only in the "regular tone" as Themes 1.1 and 1.2. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.5: Used on Syndication for seasons 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Recorded in STEREO, because the show as in STEREO. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, also in a way, is the same as Theme 1.4, being in the same tone as it, but actually, it is RERECORDED. It sounds alot smoother and nicer. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track, though differently than Theme 1.1. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.6: Used on the Home Videos for "Home is the Sailor", episode 1 of season 6. Had the first verse and the main refrain. Recorded in STEREO, because the show as in STEREO. It doesn't have the strange instrument. It, too in a way, is similar to Theme 1.5, being in the same tone as it and being RERECORDED, but it is the regular length. It, like Theme 1.5, sounds alot smoother and nicer. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track, though differently than Theme 1.1. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.7: Used on N@N for seasons 1-3. Had the first verse and the main refrain. When Paramount REMASTERED the show, they did ALL episodes in STEREO, even though seasons 1-3 were originally MONO. The show sounds clearer, but actually is missing some higher and lower frequencies. The theme, on the other hand, also sounds clearer, but the conversion from Mono to Stereo REALLY faded out the HARMONY, almost to the point where you can't hear it at all unless you have REALLY good speakers. It HAS the strange instrument. So technically, it is a 'clearer' Theme 1.1. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.8: Used on N@N for seasons 4-11. Had the first verse and the main refrain. Since these episodes were Already STEREO, when Paramount remastered, it actually DID make them better, so they sound brighter and crisper. So technically, it is a clearer Theme 1.2. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.9: Used on N@N when time is running short for season 4-11. Had the opening notes and the short refrain. Since these episodes were Already STEREO, when Paramount remastered, it actually DID make them better, too, so they sound brighter and crisper. So technically, it is a clearer Theme 1.3. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear TWO vocal tracks. It DOES sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.10: Used on N@N for "Diane's Nightmare", episode 5 of season 4. Had the first verse and the main refrain. This episode was mistakingly NOT Remastered. The show is in MONO, but the theme is in STEREO. The theme is actually the MONO Theme 1.1 converted to STEREO, like Theme 1.7, but Differently. (Why? See Below) The harmony is heard as clearly and easily as the melody, as is the strange instrument. It seems to have more bass. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 1.11: Used on N@N for "Birth, Death, Love, and Rice", episode 1 of season 4. Had the first verse and the main refrain. This episode was Also mistakingly NOT Remastered. The show is in MONO, but the theme is in STEREO. The theme is also the MONO Theme 1.1 converted to STEREO, like Theme 1.7 and 1.10, but Differently still. (Why? See Below) The harmony is heard as clearly and easily as the melody, as is the strange instrument, but has LESS bass. During the line "Sometimes You Wanna Go", you hear only one vocal track. It DOESN'T sound like Gary Portnoy sings the harmony here.
Theme 2: Used on ??. Had the first verse and the main refrain, an instrumental version of the first verse and the main refrain, then repeated the first verse and the main refrain with the vocals again. It is a totally different recording than anything before this, and no one knows where it's been aired or anything.
Theme 3: Used on 200th Anniversary Episode. Had the first verse, second verse, first refrain, FOURTH verse, second refrain, and the outro refrain. It is ANOTHER recording, which
has more guitar harmonies(ALL throughout the song, just not the refrains).
Theme 4: Used on ??. Had the first verse, second verse, first refrain, third verse, fourth verse, second refrain, and the outro refrain. It have not personally heard this one, but I heard it's on a CD someplace. It is the same recording as Theme 3.
*Why?:
How are Themes 1.10 and 1.11 the same as Themes 1.1 and 1.7? Yeah, they are. They were just converted to STEREO differently. It's a Cheers mystery...
If they were from seasons 1-3 on NBC, why are they played during Unremastered season FOUR episodes on N@N? Another Cheers mystery...