A Question regarding Copyright

A question.

I own the first series of Only Fools and Horses on an old BBC VHS. Now the theme tune to the series is completely different to that which we all know. It is a jazzy number.

Yet I've noticed that the TV repeats of Season 1 have the same theme as the rest of the series. Even incidental music that sounded like the jazzy theme in these episodes has been replaced.

Now my question is, was the Series 1 VHS theme the actual original used on the first transmission, or was it something that replaced the classic theme for some other reason, perhaps copyright? And if not, why do the Series 1 repeats on TV have the classic theme on them, and replaced Instrumental music too?

IIRC correctly, the audience didn't understand the title 'Only Fools and Horses' and so the creator brought in a new theme tune from the second series which apparently explains it. I'm guessing the BBC have put the new theme on the original episodes for transmission so as not to confuse viewers.

A few years ago BBC One played out episode 1 with the original theme for the 21st aniversary (i think).

100% correct.

Ahh I see it all makes sense now.

By the way just incase anyone wants a copy of said theme, i have it Here

You can just imagine the wipe effect on the titles as each piano bit plays can't you!

On TV edits, the first episode always has the original theme intact, it's only the other episodes of season 1 which had it replaced.

I didn't realise that the video/DVD versions retained the original theme for all of the episodes though.

The DVD doesn't, it has the familiar theme on all the S1 episodes.

Really? That's interesting. It looks like i've got a rare find then

The give away is the sound edit between the laughter/applause at the end of the episodes and the music - it's subtle, but noticable

I'm glad they didn't use that one.

I've got an old Fawlty Towers VHS from 1984. The layout of it is quite bad. They have 1 opening and all episodes are joined together. Also, at the end of the video, the credits from every programme are shown. Sorry, I'm going a bit off-topic .

Yep, orginally that jazzy theme was the theme tune, however before Series 2 was aired, they decided to change it as people didn't understand the choice of the name "Only fools and horses" so the song explained it. Chaz and Dave were orginally lined up to sing the theme tune, but as they were unable to record it, John Sullivan had to sing it.

You can hear the full orginal theme in the first episode actually, ignoring the beginning and end sequences, in the middle of the episode is a kind of montage of Delboy trying to sell Suitcases, during this the orginal theme is played fully.

On DVD's and other showings of Series 1 the sequences (apart from the montage) have been redubbed to the more familar theme tune.

Also intresting to note, on the subject of copyright that one episode "The Jolly Boy's Outing" had to be edited before it could be sold on VHS/DVD as to remove one of the songs in the club, this has not been removed (as far as my knowledge) in the broadcast version, as IIRC the BBC have permission to broadcast the music, but not to sell it on VHS/DVD.