"Suicide Is Painless" (also known as "Theme from M*A*S*H" or "Song from M*A*S*H") is a song written by Johnny Mandel (music) and Michael Altman (lyrics) for the 1970 film M*A*S*H. In addition to being performed by characters in the film, it plays during the title sequence as sung by The Ron Hicklin Singers. An instrumental version was used as the theme music for the TV series based on the film, playing over the opening and closing credits.
The song was written for Ken Prymus, the actor playing Private Seidman, to sing during the faux-suicide of Walter "Painless Pole" Waldowski (John Schuck) in the film's "Last Supper" scene.[1] Director Robert Altman had two stipulations about the song for composer Johnny Mandel: it had to be called "Suicide Is Painless" and it had to be the "stupidest song ever written".[2] Altman attempted to write the lyrics himself, but, upon finding it too difficult for his "45-year-old brain" to write something "stupid" enough,[3] he gave the task to his 15-year-old-son Michael, who reportedly wrote the lyrics in five minutes.[4][5]
Altman later decided that the song worked so well he would use it as the film's main theme. This more choral version was sung by uncredited session singers John Bahler, Tom Bahler, Ron Hicklin, and Ian Freebairn-Smith, and was released as a single attributed to "The Mash". Altman said that, while he made only $70,000 for directing the movie, his son had earned more than $1 million for co-writing the song.[6]
Several instrumental versions of the song were used as the theme for the TV series, but the lyrics were never used in the show.[7] The vocal version from the film's opening credits became a number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart in May 1980.[8] The song was ranked No. 66 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs.
Swedish group Small Town Singers released a version under the title "Song from M*A*S*H" in 1975.[25] The single peaked at 17th position in Sweden,[26] Top 100 chart in Australia.
"Suicide Is Painless" has been recorded by a number of jazz musicians, often under the title "Theme from M*A*S*H" and usually as an instrumental. Jazz interpretations have ranged from piano-trio versions to soul-jazz, jazz-funk and contemporary electric-jazz arrangements.
Al De Lory recorded "Song from M*A*S*H", an instrumental jazz piano version for his 1970 album Al De Lory Plays Song from M*A*S*H. This version peaked at No. 7 on the adult contemporary chart during the summer of 1970.[27]
Jazz drummer and vocalist Grady Tate released a version of "Suicide Is Painless" as a single on Skye Records in 1970.[28]
Ahmad Jamal recorded an early instrumental version, "M*A*S*H Theme", released as a single in 1973 and later included on his 1974 album Jamalca.[29] Jamal later recorded another version for his 1985 album Digital Works, with Jamal on piano, Larry Ball on bass guitar and Herlin Riley on drums.[30]
Paul Desmond recorded "Theme From M*A*S*H" during the sessions for Pure Desmond at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, in September 1974, with Ed Bickert on guitar, Ron Carter on bass and Connie Kay on drums. The track was not included on the original 1975 LP but appeared on later CD reissues.[32]
Bill Evans recorded "Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)" for his album You Must Believe in Spring, with Eddie Gómez on bass and Eliot Zigmund on drums. The album was recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood on August 23–25, 1977, and released posthumously in 1981.[33] Evans also performed the piece live, including a January 1978 Village Vanguard recording later issued on Getting Sentimental.[34]
A live version titled "Song From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)" was recorded by the J. J. Johnson–Nat Adderley Quintet in Yokohama, Japan, on April 20, 1977, and later issued on Yokohama Concert Vol. 2 – Chain Reaction.[35]
Jimmy Smith included "Theme From M*A*S*H" on his 1982 album Off the Top. The session featured Smith on organ and synthesizer, Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, George Benson on guitar, Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums; it was recorded at Generation Sound Studios in New York City on June 7, 1982.[36]
↑"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008. Bob said to me, 'You know, I need a song for the film. It's that Last Supper scene, after the guy says he'd going to do himself with a pill because his life is over, because couldn't get it up with the WAC the night before.'
↑"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008. Bob also said the song had to be called 'Suicide Is Painless'. 'Since [Capt.] Painless commits suicide with a pill, that would be a good title,' he said. Then he said, 'It's got to be the stupidest song ever written.'
↑"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008. Bob was going to take a shot at the lyrics. But he came back two days later and said, 'I'm sorry but there's just too much stuff in this 45-year-old brain. I can't write anything nearly as stupid as what we need.'
↑"Interview with Johnny Mandel". JazzWax.com. October 24, 2008. Bob said, "All is not lost. I've got a 15-year-old kid who's a total idiot." So Michael Altman, at age 15, wrote the lyrics, and then I wrote the music to them.
