(ABC Primetime, 1969 - 1974, as "The Brady Bunch"; ABC Saturday Mornings, as "The Brady Kids" -- cartoon; ABC Primetime, 1977, as "The Brady Bunch Hour" -- comedy-variety) [a sitcom derived from the new-to-the-60's notion of a "mixed family" -- two single parents merge families to create one big clan with a total of six kids. Playing the parents were Florence Henderson and Robert Reed (who had previously played a lawyer on "The Defenders") and who battled behind the scenes with producers over the light writing and the stereotypical "Dad" role that he was obliged to play; Despite the youth revolution of the 1960s, this was one TV series that stood firm for "traditional family values" (and was considered fondly, but a bit dated, even when it aired.) So it was particularly ironic when Robert Reed revealed later that he was gay and had to stay in the closet to protect his career and protect the series from a fatal scandal. Several spinoffs and sequels were mounted, including an animated "Brady Kids" series on Saturday Mornings, a short-lived variety show "The Brady Bunch Hour" in 1977, and "The Brady Brides" in 1981. In 1990 a short-lived sequel was attempted called "The Bradys"]
[Above is the title as filed for copyright; The ASCAP database title variations include: "Brady Bunch (Sig) (M & E)"; aka: "Theme from 'The Brady Bunch'"; and aka: "Brady Bunch Main Title Theme"; Producer Sherwood Schwartz, who claimed co-writer credit, said that this THEME song was an integral part of the show -- since it was a way of giving necessary exposition of the complicated merging-family plot backstory.] Composers: music by Frank Denny De Vol (ASCAP), and lyric by Sherwood Schwartz (ASCAP) 1978 Publisher: Addax Music Co., Inc. (ASCAP) 2000 Publisher: Addax Music Company, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Famous Music Corporation of Los Angeles, CA Copyright Date: March 14, 1969; Eu 111 143. Renewal Date: Jan. 6, 1997; RE-746-398. Recordings:
[above is title as filed for copyright; ASCAP title variations aka: "Sunshine Day"; This rather bland tune from a spin off record album became a secondary signature for this comparatively bland show -- it was featured during a couple of "Brady Bunch" movies, and in several retrospective tributes to the show. Perhaps it became more well known in retrospect, since the THEME song has some tricky rythmic offsets (added beats to fit Schwartz's expository lyric.)] Composer: Stephen R. McCarthy (ASCAP) 1978 Publishers: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP), and Language of Sound, Inc. (ASCAP) 2000 Publishers: Famous Music Corporation (ASCAP) of Los Angeles, CA; and Language of Sound, Inc. (ASCAP) c/o Fricout Music Company of Nashville, TN Copyright Date: Sep. 5, 1972; Eu 353 035. Renewal Date: Jan. 6, 2000; RE-821-696. Recordings: