Billboard country charts. Known to most as an adaptation of the
The Beverly Hillbillies theme, the tune highlights the inimitable bluegrass stylings of country legends Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. (Guitarist Flatt also sang the single version, although the TV theme features vocalist Jerry Scoggins.)
Anyone who s seen even one episode of the show
The Beverly Hillbillies knows the song s premise: It follows the titular character, who s out hunting when he discovers bubbling crude coming up from the ground ( Oil, that is, the song intones. Black gold, Texas tea ). Newly rich, he packs up his family and heads to Beverly Hills, Calif. (