Journey of the Sorcerer

The song was written by group member Bernie Leadon, and based around the banjo. For One of These Nights, the Eagles recorded it as a six-minute instrumental piece featuring an orchestra, with brief fiddle solos.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2007/05/why_the_eagles_are_the_best_ba.html|title=32 Reasons Why the Eagles Are the Best Band in the Universe|magazine=Vulture|date=May 2007|accessdate=4 November 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/earlybird-14-non-hits-that-show-the-eagles-are-better-1798239573|title=Earlybird: 14 non-hits that show the Eagles are better than you think|work=AV Club|date=24 July 2013|access-date=4 November 2020}} The rest of the group, particularly co-founders Don Henley and Glenn Frey, were not keen on it being included on the album, which contributed to the friction in the band and Leadon quitting.{{cite book|title=Heaven and Hell: My Life in the Eagles (1974–2001)|first=Don|last=Felder|page=135|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|year=2008|isbn=978-0-470-28906-8}} It was later described by Rolling Stone as "bluegrass psychedelia".{{cite book|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|page=267|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2004|isbn=978-0-743-20169-8}}

The Eagles' version of "Journey of the Sorcerer" was used as the theme tune to the original BBC Radio 4 Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy radio series in 1978.{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music: Kollington – Morphine : Volume 5 of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|page=132|first=Colin|last=Larkin|isbn=978-0-195-31373-4}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/78421261-1496-4f1d-aa04-55c339fdc644|title=12 musicians you didn't know had written famous TV themes|work=BBC Music|date=23 August 2018 |accessdate=4 November 2020}} Creator Douglas Adams was looking for a particular piece of music that would distinctively represent the series, that sounded "spacey" but not serious, such as a banjo. He looked through his collection of LPs, which included One of These Nights, and decided it was ideal, representing a feeling of alienation.{{cite book|title=The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|first=Jem|last=Roberts|page=95|publisher=Random House|year=2014|isbn=978-1-409-05235-7}}{{cite book | last = Adams | first =Douglas | authorlink = Douglas Adams | title = The Original Hitchhiker Radio Scripts | publisher = Harmony | date = 1985 | location = New York | pages = 32 | isbn = 0-517-55950-1}}

Tim Souster recorded a new version of the piece for the LP release of the first radio series.{{cite book|title=Hitchhiker: A Biography of Douglas Adams|first=M. J.|last=Simpson|page=143|publisher=Justin, Charles & Co.|year=2005|isbn=978-1-932-11235-1}} Later adaptations featured a recording of the theme by Doctor Who composer Paddy Kingsland.{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2016/06/08/15-tv-theme-tunes-you-didnt-know-were-already-songs-5931255/?ito=cbshare|title=15 TV theme tunes you didn't know were already songs|work=Metro|date=8 June 2016|accessdate=4 November 2020}} For the 2005 film, a new version was recorded by Joby Talbot.{{cite magazine|url=https://happymag.tv/here-are-10-the-best-movie-soundtracks-of-the-2000s/|title=Here are 10 the best movie soundtracks of the 2000s|magazine=Happy|date=5 November 2019|accessdate=4 November 2020}} It was used again for the continuation of the radio series in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/03/the-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy-returns-with-the-original-cast/|title=The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy returns—with the original cast|work=Ars Technica|date=8 March 2013|accessdate=4 November 2020}}

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Category:1970s instrumentals

Category:Eagles (band) songs