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Listening to people today talking about this - Cheers VS Mash VS The Greatest American Hero etc got me thinking about it.
So I looked it up and found a listing already done of a top 40 theme songs and found that two of my favorites missed the cut - figures.
(look here for ideas if you forgot some of those old shows
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2008/11/the-20-best-tv-theme-songs-of-all-time.html
So I am curious what people would hold down as their favorite and maybe a runner up. I liked some of the picks in the listing like Doctor Who and the full version of Cheers in the link above.
I tend to be more of a Science Fiction music fan and two of my favorites not listed would be the original Battle Star Galactica And Star Trek Deep Space Nine.
Note you don't have to choose a TV show you like - you might hate the show but like the music.
Battlestar Galactica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHp9oZPqs8E
Star Trek Deep Space Nine (I'm cheating a bit by choosing the City of Prague Philharmonic version which I find wonderful).
Follow Ups:
May have already been mentioned, too many posts to read them all.
And second maybe "Last Of The Summer Wine" a British sitcom, shown on PBS.
That's one that can stick in your head for a long time. It reappears open in the show with interesting variations. The art deco credits are wonderful.
Joe
Paul Anka I believe.
Mission Impossible is probably my favorite.
I liked the later intro...... Didn't care for the earlier one.......
With the solo guitar, not the Randy Newman one.
May be derived from Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 17 (The Tempest) 1801/2, part of the B section of the Second Movement---how's that for a pedigree! I have also heard it as a killer Dixieland number. Runner-up: "Petticoat Junction" by Flatt and Scruggs.
Edits: 01/29/16
By Johnny Rivers. Spy shows were all the rage at the time, but this one (originally made in England as "Danger Man") with Patrick McGoohan was by far the most intelligent of the lot. And I suspect the song contributed to its American success.
"green acres is the place to be...
farm livin' is the life for me...
land spreadin' out so far and wide...
keep Manhattan just gimme the countryside..." etc.
The Beverly Hillbillies theme.
Which is actually a good song.
GREEN ACRES might have been the first psychedelic TV show.
Maybe not so much psychedelic as surreal, I would say.
nt
has to be the first season version only, as originally written by Jerry Goldsmith, played by an orchestra in 5/4 time. The tympanies in the intro still give me goose bumps 50 years later.
The tune was re-written in 4/4 time for the later seasons. Not nearly as good.There was a western that ran, as far as I know, for only one season called "Cimarron Strip" had a great theme song. That would probably be my No. 2.
Sorry no links...I'm at work and YouTube is blocked here (bandwidth issues), but you can easily find both theme songs, including UNCLE's original long and short intros.
___
The little old ladies wait in wild anticipation for the meetings of the Double-A-C-ASSN...
Edits: 01/29/16
all the best,
mrh
Episode 1, season 1. Not much Kuryakin in this one.
In fact, not much Illya until later in the first season.
One of our local channels was showing UNCLE in syndication last year and I was thrilled, but try as I might, I couldn't get Mrs. Olddude to understand time signatures.
Was really sad to see the old theme song go when I was a kid and tuned in for the first episode of Season 2.
I heard an interview with Jerry Goldsmith years ago and he talked about the UNCLE theme. Back in the day, the series production company (in this case Arena Productions) had to pay every season to have the theme song recorded. Arena didn't want to pony up for the full orchestra for Season 2, so they had a rock n roll combo record it. If I'm remembering correctly, Goldsmith said that Lalo Schifrin of "Mission Impossible" fame did the later arrangement. Ironic of course since the MI theme was in odd time signature.
___
The little old ladies wait in wild anticipation for the meetings of the Double-A-C-ASSN...
...
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
From "100 Greatest TV Themes"...
Great little Lalo Schiffrin tune, no? Already mentioned below, but here is the "live" version...
Edits: 01/29/16
Couldn't resist.
I'll never forget a Gong Show act where a guy in a tux, with a light-dimmed piano accompaniment, was singing a laid-back jazz rendition of the "Flipper" theme song. The guy had a nice "Andy Williams" type voice..... But when he started the refrain, "They call him Flipper.... Flipper.... " After the second "Flipper", he got gonged......
...
Edits: 01/29/16
...Catchy tune. Also liked the working of Bach into "Davy and Goliath," the claymation kids' message show, back in the 60's.
all the best,
mrh
When you think of songs with lots of words and the best have lots of words AND are funny ...
Of course, Chuck Berry was the pioneer of rhythmic lyrics - not sure who came first - but many from Frank Zappa to Elvis Costello had to have enjoyed that song.
Great mention.
Tom Scott - 'Starsky and Hutch'
Jose Feliciano - 'Chico and the Man'
Edits: 01/28/16
All of my other faves are here, but this one belongs as well.
amongst the scores mentioned:
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
Regards,
Mike.
the "Petticoat Junction" theme is slyer, implying that the Shady Rest Hotel is a place where the 'daughters' are, um, available.
Edits: 01/29/16 01/29/16
Hockey Night in Canada from 89-99 - like hearing the bell to finish making that popcorn to watch the game.
Most of the time it started at the 42 second mark which is the part I remember most.
The Twin Peaks intro music (by Angelo Badalamenti) is also used at key points within the show, increasing its thematic impact.
It is happening again.
The Outer Limits exit theme - it must sound great live (i.e.,the old version).
I also liked the Night Court theme too...
used to scare the crap out of this six year old when it first aired.
Yes, the closing credits theme by Dominic Frontiere is great. I can still see the Daystar / UA graphics at the very end.
"used to scare the crap out of this six year old when it first aired."
Same here! I was 6 at the time too... the only thing I viewed as a kid that actually gave me a nightmare when I was a kid. The stories were *great*.
The music has kind of a Stravinsky feel to it; I love dissonance when it's well applied...
Telecaster... I believe.
8^)
Nice question, Rich!edit: I have two albums of it. :)
Edits: 01/28/16
Nt
For at least one season, the ST theme is accompanied by female voice. When we play old episodes, wifey loves to sing the part. :)
As for theremins, one of my favorite film scores is by Bernard Hermann for The Day The Earth Stood Still . Here is the power and awe of Gort the robot who can take a planet if you piss him off!
I was happy to attend the live symphony of all the Treks (except DS9 :( at a convention in Vegas a few years ago - my first time at any sort of convention. Too bad they amplified it! Argh.I did enjoy "Inner Light" which was from one of perhaps the best episodes of Star Trek TNG.
To come up with music for a series is one thing - to come up with it for just a one off episode seems even more impressive to me.
Instrument: Dixon Alu und Brass Tin Whistles in High D
Tempted to buy and learn this instrument can be bought here http://www.tinwhistle.de/tin-whistles/dixon-tin-whistles/
I was decent with the Oboe but it has been over 20 years. I always broke the damn reeds and back then they were pricey for me - as were Oboes so I gave up to my regret.
Edits: 01/28/16
I did enjoy "Inner Light" which was from one of perhaps the best episodes of Star Trek TNG
That was a fabulous episode along with The Offspring . The scene at the end where Riker hands Picard the wooden case with the recorder after he awakes (only fifteen minutes later!) and embraces it can still evoke a strong emotion in me.
I believe he borrowed from Mahler's 1st and 7th symphonies in the slow intro part, before the uptempo Beguine "begins."
JM
I'm glad to know someone else noticed...
The high String Pedal, perfect 4th in Tpts.
Ripe for the taking.
except for the absence of bongos and Star Trek singers. :)
and the Wordless Singer...
(nt)
Loved this one when I was a kid ...still sounds fun.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
nt
nt
all the best,
mrh
...this one.
Won a Grammy...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4bISyBHDBY
Also Sports Night Theme (Great Horns)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miUEHr5wkyQ
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
Edits: 01/28/16
My wife and I used to watch Northern Exposure regularly, and our dog, Gemma, a Cairn terrier, was very interested in the opening sequence, barking when the moose appeared. After a few times, she started barking before the moose appeared, apparently responding to the music cue that signalled that the moose was about to make its appearence. Several years later, we played a video of Northern Exposure, and Gemma barked when she heard the "moose theme" before the moose appeared. The music clearly made a profound impression on her.
I know. I'm really old.
I never saw that show - but the music was also used in a popular video game in the 80s. Some sort of car racing game which was a James Bond sort of thing where you shoot oil slicks out back and shoot bad guy cars in front of you. Also sounds like it should be the theme to Dragnet (also a bit before my time).
Some of the shows can be found on streaming channels, but I can't offhand remember which. Shouldn't be hard to find. One features Shorty Rogers. Gunn hangs out at a jazz place.
Joe (really old timer, I saw them all when they orininally appeared)
.
Perry Mason
Twin Peaks
Going waaaaay back to the early 1950's, the opening theme from "Tales of Tomorrow"--though it originated somewhere else at the hands of the composer who was also drawn on for the opening to the old radio program, "The FBI in Peace and War".
Jim
http://jimtranr.com
Edits: 01/28/16 01/28/16
The theme from Soap,if you dig em up some of them are very hot studio musicians
Thanx Bill
Nt
My favorite scene is when the dummmy is looking down at Katherine Hellmans tits and sez ohhhhh big ones....
Thanx Bill
Billy Crystal's suicide scene and the dude who thought he could disappear .
Man you have a good memory
Thanx Bill
...Gilligan's Island.
"Gilligan's Island" also scans to the tune of "Amazing Grace" (and vice versa).
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
.
.
It's short
View on YouTube
on The Big Al's Polka Show.
I have to have one more--this great one from the Sixties by Dmitri Tiomkin (who also wrote the music for "The Magnificent Seven").
"Riverboat" starred Darren McGavin as the boat captain and Burt Reynolds.
Tiomkin did the Burt Lancaster/Kirk Douglas "Gunfight at the OK Corral."
Jim
http://jimtranr.com
Oooo, you're right! My other favorite Hollywood composer.
Their album "Parlour" is one of my favorite albums. A moody 80's ELO sound with a great female vocalist. Talented musicians. Shame they just had the one album and a couple of eps. I think they did a song for a "Buffy" episode as well.
Note: The instrumental "Angel" theme song only on the Angel soundtrack, which is mostly score as opposed to various artists.
Cheers!
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
The original Jonny Quest and Spiderman. Both around the mid 60's.
Theme song to "Peter Gunn" by Henry Mancini--hands down. I still have the album.
An interesting theme.Sorry can't embed with this tablet.
ET
The most special effect in the Voyage movie was Barbara Eden.
"To Learn Who Rules Over You, Simply Find Out Who You Are Not Allowed to Criticize."
-Voltaire
Lalo Schifrin's "Mission:Impossible" theme, original 1966 version. -- Hands down greatest (non comedy) theme TV theme of all time. --There should be those 2 categories, BTW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QlplayAjM4
Nt
Season one and two were different. I prefer one.
ET
I prefer season three.
There were only two seasons but you knew that
ET
Yup, just messin with your head. :-)
.
"To Learn Who Rules Over You, Simply Find Out Who You Are Not Allowed to Criticize."
-Voltaire
I liked the them song for "Cheyenne Autum".
Not in any order.......
The Rockford Files
The Big Valley (Two versions, link is the good one.)
St Elsewhere (Also the Dave Grusin version.)
The Avengers (1960s.... Song starts at 0:35 of the linked clip)
The Rat Patrol ( Intro and ending themes are hauntingly different.)
American Horror Story, The Addams Family, The Wire (as such - a TW song)...
There are a slew of great, catchy themes condensed into a strict time-frame.
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
NT
Nice selection, musetap! :-)
May I add the theme from:
The Man from U.N.C.L.E
Jonny Quest
Vbr,
Sam
All In The Family.
Boy the way Glenn Miller played....
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
Edith's delivery of the and you knew who you were then is priceless.
ET
That was a helluva note she hit. I don't know what note it was, but she hit the hell out of it.
Meat; It's the right thing to do. Romans 14:2
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
First thing I played after remounting a Decca cart, which played to the strengths of that one. A great LP.
hard to beat a Jazz Legend
"The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there is no cat" - Confucius
.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
n/t
Just one reason why I stopped paying attention to TV themes a long, long time ago...
...Danny Elfman...
The universe is made of electrons, protons, neutrons, and morons.
this one wins hands down.
If it was from Gore Vidal show you would've hated it.
ET
I do recall both men debating each other on national television over the course of several evenings during the riotous Democratic convention of 1968. My favorite exchange from that week is toward the end when a tipsy Vidal calls WFB a "crypto-Nazi" and Buckley responds by saying, "Now look you little queer, if you call me that again I'll punch you in your goddamn face and you'll stay plastered."
My brother lives in the very politically-correct town of Davis (CA), and my wife and I, along with other families, were over at his house back in the 90's during the heyday of the original X-Files. My brother had the TV on in the background and it came time for that show to be on. The theme music started, and panic ensued as a couple of the parents frantically began running around screaming, "Mute the sound! Mute the sound! The music is scaring the children!"
BTW, I also like a couple of Ron Grainer's TV themes (The Prisoner, Dr. Who, etc.), Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek TNG (originally the movie theme), lots of others.
...as usual.
The Prisoner (I have the DVD set) and the X-Files are a couple of my favorites.
That is funny!
Hawaii Five-O; Miami Vice
I think the Hawaii Five-O theme would be a close second to the Barney Miller theme for me.
----------------------------
"Use adjectives instead of numbers, and you'll never be wrong again." ~ The Wizard of Audio
You and I just listen. Audiophiles "get involved". Learn from these people.
Barney Miller theme. Truly inspired bass line.
----------------------------
"Use adjectives instead of numbers, and you'll never be wrong again." ~ The Wizard of Audio
You and I just listen. Audiophiles "get involved". Learn from these people.
Edits: 01/28/16
the Bat :)
For some reason, the theme from "Bonanza" is indelibly etched into my noggin. Prolly, from sitting in front of TV watching reruns --- during my formative years.
same here - in fact that was the first one I searched for, but then saw Batman (thanks to alphabetical order on YouTube)...
I wish I had kept my black Batman sneakers from 1966, as well as the vinyl...
.
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"
Edits: 01/28/16
Nt
A sung by the Blues Brothers.
I also like the theme song from "Mission Impossible".
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
it's the ringtone on my phone
Excellent call. I had a friend in college who argued that "Green Acres" was the perfect allegory for modern life: you're just a good-natured guy trying to enjoy your dream life, and you're surrounded by all these irrationally irritating people getting in your way. The older I get, the more I think he was right.
Happy listening,
Jim
"The passage of my life is measured out in shirts."
- Brian Eno
One of my favorite comedies.
.
I saw an episode the other day and learned it was Mike Post that did that tube.
ET
Yeah, that's right. I'd forgotten that. It's wild how many them songs Mr. Post composed.
Gotta love the Waitresses!
all the best,
mrh
View on YouTube
aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I have to go with Greatest America Hero. Not because it's a great song. But it always brings memories of my then 2-3 year old son going through the house singing "Be WEAVE it or not....."
rlindsa
.
...
nt
The greatest impediment to advancing an audiophile system is the audiophile.
Quincy Jones
all the best,
mrh
...
Themes from 'The Odd Couple' and 'The Persuaders' which I assume you know and from 'Signor Rossi' (linky).
Peter Gunn is my runner up.
-reub
Dark energy? Ridiculous!
We live in an electric universe.
.
nt
all the best,
mrh
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