Talk:Out of Limits

Cite this source
How do I cite this source? — Preceding unsigned comment added by MyFriendRabbitFTWJakersSucks (talk • contribs) 22:24, 16 April 2019 (UTC)

makes no sense
First of all, changing the title of the song didn't change the fact that is was based on the Twilight Zone theme. So how did that satisfy Serling's objection?

Second, if the song had been named "The Twilight Zone," then I could understand a name change. But it wasn't...it was named after a different show. It was like using the Dragnet motif and calling the song "Highway Patrol."

In other words, nothing about this story makes any sense. 74.104.189.176 (talk) 15:46, 27 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia goes by verifiability. see WP:V. Find other sources if you have an issue with the article. MartinezMD (talk) 17:22, 27 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Billboard Magazine Dec 28 1963 says the name was changed so as not to conflict with the TV series The Outer Limits. It had nothing to do with The Twilight Zone.


 * https://books.google.com/books?id=SwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=%22out+of+limits%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEnJSPhNP1AhVNiOAKHWL5AesQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=%22out%20of%20limits%22&f=false

74.104.189.176 (talk) 23:00, 27 January 2022 (UTC)


 * You mean other than the fact that the song's main riff is the same as Twilight Zone? I would think both are possible - name of one show and tune from another, both in similar genre. I would like to see a more expansive Outer Limits explanation. The source is fairly bare in detail but might be worth a mention. MartinezMD (talk) 23:53, 27 January 2022 (UTC)

And I would like to see an explanation as to how changing the song's title satisfied Rod Serling's objection that the tune was used without his approval...especially since they didn't change the tune, and the title did not mention The Twilight Zone in the first place. And further, since he was not the composer, did he even have standing to "sue"? A source can be wrong, and good clue to that is when it makes no sense. None of the alleged facts tie together. Urban legend? 74.104.189.176 (talk) 00:16, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

And now that I think about it, the Marketts didn't need anybody's approval. Just pay the standard royalty fee to the music publisher and you're good to go. 74.104.189.176 (talk) 00:28, 28 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Again, refer back to WP:V. And if you look up the Dick Clark source, the rationale attributed was this: "It seems that the opening bars were virtually identical to those of the "Twilight Zone" theme. That was bad enough, but linking the tune with 'Twilight Zone's" biggest television competitor was too much for Serling. All reissues of the single were retitled "Out of Limits" MartinezMD (talk) 01:34, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

OK, check out this article...and down a ways, it quotes Michael Z. Gordon, the song's composer as saying "the TV program made us change it" without saying specifically which program, The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone. But what was changed? The name of the song (Outer Llimits), but not the music itself (Twilight Zone)...in fact, as far as I know, Twilight Zone theme composer Marius Constant has never been credited with writing Out of Limits. This article itself says Gordon wrote it. 74.104.189.176 (talk) 02:40, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

https://estreetshuffle.com/index.php/2021/10/14/cover-me-out-of-limits/

Found it...Michael Z. Gordon himself posted this song on Youtube and in the comments he says “It was Outer Limits but the tv program made us change it to Out Of Limits.” Pretty obvious he means The Outer Limits made them change the name, not The Twilight Zone. Bye bye Rod Serling. 74.104.189.176 (talk) 02:40, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDz1m7ZMq3g


 * We need a clearer source. We can't guess here. MartinezMD (talk) 03:06, 28 January 2022 (UTC)

A contemporary industry publication and the author of the song himself say the name was changed because of the TV show The Outer Limits, and do not mention either The Twilight Zone or Rod Serling. I'm satisfied his connection is spurious. 74.104.189.176 (talk) 12:58, 28 January 2022 (UTC)


 * Yes, I'm in agreement. Rod Serling would have no reason to sue -- he didn't compose or own the music to The Twilight Zone.  It was actually stock music composed for CBS in the 1950s, and later used as the show's theme. So if anyone would sue, it would be CBS ... but the "four note" theme in the Marketts song actually is composed of different notes, in a different ascending/descending pattern!  (Twilight Zone theme:  E, F, E, C.  Marketts' "Out Of Limits": F-sharp, A, A-sharp, A.)  So there's no basis for a suit on that front either.
 * But the Outer Limits show raising a ruckus, and getting the title changed? That makes sense. 24.251.5.213 (talk) 17:32, 22 July 2022 (UTC)