Munsters episodes with original music on Amazon (1 Viewer)

For anyone wanting digital versions of the three Munsters episodes that had music replaced on the Universal DVDs, they're available on Amazon with the original music now intact. I bought them on the Amazon website and downloaded them via the Unbox player. On the season 1 DVD release, the three episodes with music replacement were "The Sleeping Cutie," "Dance With Me, Herman," and "Far Out Munsters" (I never noticed any episodes on season 2 with music replacements, although there may be). In "The Sleeping Cutie," an instrumental version of "Some Day My Prince Will Come" is played during a few scenes, which was replaced with generic soundalike music on the DVD. "Far Out Munsters" and "Dance With Me, Herman" both had music that characters played on phonographs replaced. Netflix had the episodes with the original music a few years ago, but now has the DVD versions. ITunes appears to have the DVD versions as well.


I'm also basing this on the original 2004 and 2005 (?) DVD releases, which I assume are the same as the more recent season rereleases and Complete Series set (although I'd love to know if they had reinstated the original music).

I just ordered the individual 2013 Reissues of both Seasons earlier today. Unfortunately, I was blissfully unaware of the Season 1 Music replacements! As "Dance With Me, Herman" and "Far Our Munsters" are among my fav episodes, I do hope these have the restored originals, but if they don't, at least I got these pretty dirt cheap on Canadian Amazon! "The Munsters: Two-Movie Fright Fest" DVD that I also ordered, actually cost almost as much ($14.99) as the two individual Season Sets combined (Under $19 pre tax!)!


Will post my own findings, and also if I find any concrete information about this beforehand!


CHEERS!

While I haven't been able to glean anything regarding any Music Replacement rectification for the Reissued Sets, at least no "live" vocals/dialogue appear to have been affected on the previous issues! More of the older Reviews were concerned (Rightfully!) about the necessary Replacement Discs for defective Season 1 Flippers, than a few replaced instrumentals.


As Music Replacement goes, a lot of TV Series have been far more adversely affected than THE MUNSTERS. Three episodes out of seventy, with no dialogue affected on any of the three shows is actually a very low number, though zero episodes affected would, of course, be ideal!


CHEERS!

Poring through Amazon Reviews for the 2008 DVD Reissues, the Music Replacements for the three Season 1 Episodes were unfortunately, still in place. I haven't yet been able to determine whether the same applies to the 2013 Season/Complete Series Editions.


My previous reference to the original music all being instrumentals wasn't entirely correct, as "Far Out Munster" had featured a non instrumental song by The Standells that played on a Phonograph. This is the one that I would really like to see rectified!


CHEERS!

My order for THE MUNSTERS 2013 Edition Season 1 & 2 DVD Sets should be arriving in today's Mail! Will check the opening segment of "Far Out Munster" to hear whether or not the song that plays on the Munster's dusty old Phonograph really is "The Standells", as Eddie Munster cheerfully proclaims?


CHEERS!

Joseph_G said:

For anyone wanting digital versions of the three Munsters episodes that had music replaced on the Universal DVDs, they're available on Amazon with the original music now intact. I bought them on the Amazon website and downloaded them via the Unbox player. On the season 1 DVD release, the three episodes with music replacement were "The Sleeping Cutie," "Dance With Me, Herman," and "Far Out Munsters" (I never noticed any episodes on season 2 with music replacements, although there may be). In "The Sleeping Cutie," an instrumental version of "Some Day My Prince Will Come" is played during a few scenes, which was replaced with generic soundalike music on the DVD. "Far Out Munsters" and "Dance With Me, Herman" both had music that characters played on phonographs replaced. Netflix had the episodes with the original music a few years ago, but now has the DVD versions. ITunes appears to have the DVD versions as well.


I'm also basing this on the original 2004 and 2005 (?) DVD releases, which I assume are the same as the more recent season rereleases and Complete Series set (although I'd love to know if they had reinstated the original music).

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Hi Joe!


On the 2013 Edition of THE MUNSTERS Season 1 Set, it is still the instrumental music replacement that plays in the "Far Out Munster" opening segment.


As an added curio, the stated within an Amazon Review "Just A Little Bit" by The Standells doesn't seem to turn up ANYWHERE online, and none of the Group's recordings appear to list this, either! This makes me wonder whether that song title is correct? If so, it certainly qualifies as an obscurity!


I may still have this Episode on a very old VHS Cassette? This On-Air Recording definitely featured actual vocals on the Record that Eddie played on the Phonograph! I'll have to do "Just A Little Bit" of searching sometime soon!


CHEERS!


Tony


Correction: While I have seen the above Episode a number of times over the decades, it is the Season 2 musically themed "Will Success Spoil Herman Munster?" that I have on VHS (Yes, I did do some digging tonight!), not "Far Out Munsters," unfortunately!


Ah well, as it turns out, the original "Just A Little" tune that played off the Phonograph wasn't really The Standells (As cheerfully proclaimed by Eddie Munster!), either, but rather, the similar sounding Beau Brummels! Actually, in my opinion, the replacement instrumental music does sound like it rather fits in with the mid sixties period, anyway!

I was actually thinking of going the Amazon digital download route, but it's only available in the U.S. and its Territories!

Tony Bensley said:

...stated within an Amazon Review "Just A Little Bit" by The Standells doesn't seem to turn up ANYWHERE online, and none of the Group's recordings appear to list this, either! This makes me wonder whether that song title is correct? If so, it certainly qualifies as an obscurity!


I may still have this Episode on a very old VHS Cassette? This On-Air Recording definitely featured actual vocals on the Record that Eddie played on the Phonograph! I'll have to do "Just A Little Bit" of searching sometime soon!

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The Standells performed *two* songs on the episode, neither of which are part of their discography: "Come On and Ringo" and a version of The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." What I've found is they apparently recorded both of those in the studio just for that episode as they exist nowhere else. They never recorded a song called "Just a Little Bit" either. At that time there were a few possible songs that The Standells *could* have recorded a snipped of just for the episode. The most likely is The Beau Brummels' "Just a Little" as it fit their style and had been released just a few months prior to that episode airing. Dig out that tape and give it a listen. If it's there and you aren't familiar with the tune go to allmusic.com and give the Beau Brummels version a listen to see if it's a match.

BobO'Link said:

The Standells performed *two* songs on the episode, neither of which are part of their discography: "Come On and Ringo" and a version of The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." What I've found is they apparently recorded both of those in the studio just for that episode as they exist nowhere else. They never recorded a song called "Just a Little Bit" either. At that time there were a few possible songs that The Standells *could* have recorded a snipped of just for the episode. The most likely is The Beau Brummels' "Just a Little" as it fit their style and had been released just a few months prior to that episode airing. Dig out that tape and give it a listen. If it's there and you aren't familiar with the tune go to allmusic.com and give the Beau Brummels version a listen to see if it's a match.

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Hi Howie!


Not only am I familiar with The Beau Brummels' "Just A Little," I actually have a CD of their music! It's been so many years since I've played the aforementioned VHS Cassette, that my initial memory of the song that played on the Munster Family Phonograph was a bit hazy, but The Beau Brummels' "Just A Little" does seem to jibe in my mind!


Over the past several years, I've been paring down my VHS Tapes, but I think that I still have the one with the "Far Out Munsters" Episode. I just wish I had the option of accessing the Amazon Digital Download of the Episode! The U.S. and its territories only restriction really sucks, in my opinion, but so it goes!


CHEERS!


Tony

Isn't it interesting that within the DVD issues, a Beatles cover (Of one of their all time smashes, no less!) is included in the "Far Out Munsters" Episode, but Universal couldn't/wouldn't spring for the musical clearance of a Beau Brummels recording for these?


The above is not meant as any slight against The Beau Brummels, but let's get real here!


CHEERS!

I recently played "The Sleeping Cutie" episode. The generic replacement music does play 3 or 4 times, starting at approximately 8 1/2 minutes in. I don't believe I would have realized that the background music wasn't original had I not read about it within this topic, though in my opinion, "Someday, My Prince Will Come" would make for a better comedic counterpoint!


CHEERS!

Hi Tony, I finally had a chance to check the lyrics of the phonograph song in "Far Out Munsters." Here they are (as best as I can tell from listening):


"Come on and do the [turn?]

just a little bit

I really wanna see you [work?]

just a little bit

I wanna do the swim

just a little bit

oh, honey, come on in

just a little bit

yeah, it's alright

just a little bit

yeah, it's alright

just a little bit

come on, clap your hands"


Listening on YouTube, it's not the Beau Brummels song "Just A Little." It kind of sounds like the Standells song "The Swim" to me, but it's still different (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUv3Pa6W8uU). Perhaps it was just something custom they recorded for this episode.


The thing that bugs me about the Sleeping Cutie replacement music is that the instrumentation doesn't sound like something that would have been recorded for the show. But, it's understandable that Universal wasn't going to go out of its way to perfectly replace 60 seconds of music.

I may have gone completely off base silly here, but a thought has occurred to me regarding my inability to purchase digital downloads of the three episodes that have the original music restored:

What if I were to contact Universal, providing proof of my purchasing THE MUNSTERS Season sets, and letting them know of my desire to have the Digital Downloads of the three episodes with original music, for which replaced music is used on the DVDs? I mean, it's not exactly MY fault that these aren't available in Canada (Amazon.com still only allows DD purchasing for U.S. territory based customers, and Amazon.ca doesn't offer the service, at all!), and so far as I know, release rights restrictions SHOULDN'T apply to Canada in this case!

It is my opinion that, as a purchaser of these sets, I should at least have the option of buying these in some way or shape! This isn't being unreasonable, is it?

Any thoughts regarding the above?

CHEERS!

I've recently noticed a yet another new DVD series set release. My guess is it's very likely just another repackaging, but then Universal has quietly made revisions before, so I can't help but wonder whether the original music has been restored in the three instances in which they had been replaced on prior DVD releases?

Interestingly, I've only been able to find this new packaging on Canadian based sites. Of course, in Canada, we are unable to access the Digital download versions of THE MUNSTERS episodes, which include those with the original music restored! Hmmm: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01HE7PKBU...ProductDesc=1#product-description_feature_div

CHEERS!

In a more recent example (and I mentioned this in another thread), a cover of Prince's Little Red Corvette that was recorded for Knight Rider was kept only on the Netflix version of two episodes (White Line Warriors and Knight of the Drones) of that show. Though oddly enough, When Doves Cry is missing on all versions of Dead of Knight.

Vahan_Nisanain said:

In a more recent example (and I mentioned this in another thread), a cover of Prince's Little Red Corvette that was recorded for Knight Rider was kept only on the Netflix version of two episodes (White Line Warriors and Knight of the Drones) of that show. Though oddly enough, When Doves Cry is missing on all versions of Dead of Knight.

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My guess is that's because "When Doves Cry" is more expensive, as it was Prince's biggest number 1 hit single, whereas, "Little Red Corvette" only reached number 6; plus "Doves" is also part of a Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Getting back to THE MUNSTERS, it's too bad that Amazon.ca STILL doesn't offer up Digital Downloads of individual episodes, as I would pay the premium for the episodes that have the original music restored!

While I probably wouldn't bother double dipping for it, I would like to know whether the recently reissued series set includes the reinstated original music for "Dance With Me, Herman," "The Sleeping Cutie" and "Far Out Munster?"

CHEERS!

Hi guys, this is an interesting thread. I grew up watching The Munsters. I'm not a super fan but I have always liked it. I picked up the DVD complete series set a couple of years ago and I still haven't seen it all yet.

COZI TV is airing episodes now that I occasionally tune into if I happen to find it. I was surprised to see Far Out Munster! last night. I have no memory of it. Also surprised to see The Standells sing a Beatles song. I'll have no check the DVD now to see what you guys refer to for the replacement music. I have seen Sleeping Cutie before and I remember the music you mention. On COZI, I remember hearing the right music.

I'll be curious to know how to buy the digital versions of these episodes for the intact music. Didn't know Amazon offers it.

Nelson Au said:

Hi guys, this is an interesting thread. I grew up watching The Munsters. I'm not a super fan but I have always liked it. I picked up the DVD complete series set a couple of years ago and I still haven't seen it all yet.

COZI TV is airing episodes now that I occasionally tune into if I happen to find it. I was surprised to see Far Out Munster! last night. I have no memory of it. Also surprised to see The Standells sing a Beatles song. I'll have no check the DVD now to see what you guys refer to for the replacement music. I have seen Sleeping Cutie before and I remember the music you mention. On COZI, I remember hearing the right music.

I'll be curious to know how to buy the digital versions of these episodes for the intact music. Didn't know Amazon offers it.

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Provided you live in US territory, it should be as easy as ordering anything else from Amazon. It's living in Canada that disqualifies me from using the US Amazon digital download service due to potential copyright issues.

CHEERS!

Thanks a Tony, It looks like the entire first season has to be purchased as far as I can see on my mobile device. Upon checking from my desktop, I see individual episodes are available. Hope they still contain the original music.

The following doesn't relate to THE MUNSTERS series proper, and music is but one of several issues affecting THE MUNSTERS AT MARINELAND April 19, 1965 Television Special.

There is a section in which Herman Munster meets a pair of "Singing" Seals, except that the entire singing is muted. No attempt to replace whatever song was apparently deemed unviable for music clearance! Does anyone know what song was sung?

Here is where I seriously digress from the intended topic. The (presumably) complete special, as presented on YouTube, is a real hot mess. Apart from the not entirely unexpected dramatic downgrade in visual quality, due to it being derived from a kinescope, I was shocked to see a ton of what appears to be the type of disintegration that's common with nitrate film stock. I had assumed that was no longer in use by 1965! This is quite extreme in the special's opening minutes, and during all but the last of the several New Christy Minstrels' musical performances.

Parts of this aforementioned special are at least of passing interest, and the footage was apparently thought lost at one time. It's too bad that the visuals are so rough looking, even for kinescope.

Here is the YouTube presentation:


CHEERS!