"Suicide Is Painless" Hook covers the MASH theme

[Hook]

1970- I find myself often unable to turn off an episode of MASH. I've wanted to do this tune for a while but have been somewhat intimidated by it. The lyrics were written by Robert Altman's (the director of the original MASH movie) then 14 year old son Mike. This was done over the last week entirely in Nissan Sentra Studios . Started off as a live Uke & vocal track, the guitar is my Martin Backpacker (it thru hiked the AT with me in 1996, still holds its tune) with a suction cup pick up through the moonage effect. Also used the back of it for some percussion, lots more going on, thumbjam strings, drums& garageband drums.

1 uke/vocal track (stereo)
1- guitar
1-bowed double bass (TJ) stereo
1-cello(TJ)
1-viola(TJ)
2-back up vocals
1-tambourine
1-guitussion
1-darbukka(TJ-drum)
1-djembe(TJ)
1-snare,ride & crash (GB) stereo
1 kick drum (TJ)

Suicide Is Painless

written by Johnny Mandel (music) & Mike Altman (lyrics)
performed by Hook

[Geir]

Now this was a nice surprice !!

Like you I can hardly ever go away from a mash episode when I stumble upon one on the TV.

This has your usual high standard from the Nissan studio productions, and must have taken quite a few sessions there !!

Excellent work Hook !!!

[Greeny]

Beautifully done. I've always liked this theme tune - even after all this time it never fails to move me. Lots of hard work here, but all worth it.

[Oldrottenhead]

gaun yersel hooky, fabulous.

[64Guitars]

Swell cover of this classic TV theme.

Keep on Truckin'

[Farrell Jackson]

Excellent cover hook! I've tackled this song a couple of times and finally gave up. You've done a bang up job with this.....kudos for staying with it because you've mastered this beast! I didn't know the lyric was written by a 14 year old. I wonder if he's written anything since?

Farrell

[bruno]

Great job Bro.
Very nice production and excellent performance.
B

[Gnasty]

This song hits home to me and yup i also cannot turn off a MASH episode.

This is one hell of a job on this song. An eerie yet brain catching song.

Love it bro and MASH on!

[Flash Harry]

There was a myth around this song back when MASH was on tv in the uk, that this song wouldn't be released because it encouraged suicide, then it was released and did really well, I have always liked it.

I really like this version too, it has a more sombre feel than the original and suits it very well. I like the instrumentation, is there a big bass drum thump in there? My cans are not the best and I can sense something.

Nice vox too.

[cuthbert]

Nice one, Hook! I'm also a big fan of the show, well at least up until Frank Burns got written out - then maybe less so.

Man, this is harmonically rich and complex - love all those instruments you added, and yet everything has its own space. Very cinematic!