I didn't know "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" theme was an Eagles song
 

Am I the only one who didn't know that The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy theme song (both on the BCC radio program and the TV movie and the theatrical movie) was actually an Eagles song, off of their One of These Nights album from 1975? The tune is called Journey of the Sorcerer, and its the only instrumental on the album.

not really common knowledge.

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fcAa-rnulkw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fcAa-rnulkw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

I'm with The Dude in not really liking The Eagles, but I do love this one song of theirs (which is really just by one of The Eagles anyway) - probably because it works so well as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy theme.

Here's the version of the theme used for the old BBC TV mini-series (which is still a far superior adaptation over the film version despite having crappy effects):

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z9TYG9gTshU"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z9TYG9gTshU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Didn't they actually run into slight trouble because of this, as they couldn't for copyright reasons use the original track in any releases after the radio series? I think that even the LP release of the original radio series had to use a re-recorded version of the track.

I also remember reading something about Adams choosing the Eagles track because it had a banjo in it. :)

Being that it wasn't a Frey/Henley composition, I don't suppose getting permission was all that difficult. I have the radio series on tape, and its a match to what's on the Eagles record.

I think the original radio series is the only HHGTTG production to use the original. The way music copyright laws are, I suspect it was easier to use a re-recorded version for everything else afterwards because the rights to "cover a song" are far easier to deal with then getting the rights to an original artist's version. (In fact, I think to cover a song just requires paying a fee, no rights negotiations are needed.)

I grew up watching the BBC TV show and my father has always been a fan of the Eagles....so i have grown up with Journey of the Sorcerer. Whenever i hear that music i don't think of the Eagles though.....i think of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The music for some reason really fits that story. Its possibly my favourite track the Eagles ever did.