Since many on Audiogon are baby boomers television must have been a big part of your childhood. In grade school my mother allowed me to stay up until 10pm to watch Barnaby Jones. She knew I wouldn't make it past the great Jerry Goldsmith theme. My current favorite is the dark and haunting John Rubinstein composition for the ABC drama Family.
second version of the barney miller theme; about 40 seconds of some really cool stuff starting right off with the base intro. second all time would be the munsters theme
It would have to be the theme song from Sanford and Son.The Streebeater by Quincy Jones.It's as good as theme songs get.I smile every time I hear it,suited the show perfect.
What an entertaining thread! Great suggestions. I agree with Hawaii Five-O and Andy Griffith. How about going way back: Batman, The Monkees, Lost in space, and the Twilight Zone.
Emily Barker's song, Nostalgia, is used for the Kenneth Branagh series, Wallander. That song, and that entire CD, Despite the Snow, is just stunningly beautiful and not at all typical of what one might otherwise associate with a TV theme song. Other cuts from that CD are used throughout the series sparsely. It has been on frequent rotation for me for over a year now, and would probably make it to my desert-island disc status at this point. The series is very good as well. As far as the mainstream TV series from my childhood - some of them are wedged in my brain and I'd rather not have them there at all. I haven't had TV in my house for over 12 years now (just watch DVD's if there is a series that interests me).
"Peter Gun" "M*A*S*H" "The Avengers" "Perry Mason" "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" "The Saint" "Secret Squirrel" "Thriller", Boris Karloff "Felix the Cat" "Top Cat" "The Flintstones" "The Pink Panther" "Mod Squad" "Mr. Ed" "Mission Impossible" "Mannix" "The Streets of San Francisco"
There is a bunch of great vintage TV listed here . As TV goes.
As theme songs go some of these previously mentioned might ought not be listed here maybe. Great shows or series not too great theme songs.
The Thin Man? Avengers? The Man from UNCLE?
Maybe under the title of Most recognizable, but not great theme songs.
Under memorable and maybe good
3 blind Mice fit the 3 Stooges like a glove.
Dick Van Dyke theme song was always a favorite.
Route 66! Sheesh!
Moving on up!... the Jeffersons!
I seem to recall being intrigued by the I Dream Of Geanie theme.. or maybe it was just seeing Barbara Eden.
Happy Days! was always a favorite. Bill Haley? Cmon man!
And the spin off youd instantly notice, Schlemeel, schlamozzle,.. Hosenfefer incorporated . Laverne & Shirley.
Star Trek! Certainly.
Perry Mason absolutely.
Taxi!
Cheers was simply where everbody knew your name it was in the script, so of course they knew! Good tune though.
I also liked John Sebastians theme song for Gabe Kaplans show, Welcome Back Kotter! .juan, not Vinny, often stole that show.
Twilight Zone intro . Even if I get Alzheimers Ill remember that one.
course, lest we forget, Flatt & Scruggs Ballad of Jed Clampet was attached as the theme song for the Beverly Hillbilies.
Green Acres!, not great but memorable.
Oh, so many westerns!
Before TV, westerns had theme songs, they had song singers such as Gene Autry or Roy Rogers or The Singing Sherriff Faron young. I seem to recall Frankie Lane also did the theme song for the Western series hosted by Ronald Regan, Zane Grey Theater? High Noon ? if it wasnt Ronnies show.. it was someone else.
Bonanza who can forget that one! Not the words, the melody.
John Cashs singing of The Rebel starring Nick Adams, was a hit that got tacked onto a western then there was Cheyenne, High Chapparal. Laramie, Laredo, Wagon Train, Definitely Rawhide, Branded, yancy Derringer, Co-cheese, and of course Maverick . With Bart, Brett, and Bo. Another always comes to mind and the lead actor did a lot in Hwood, but after this TV series I simply never was interested . He wore a kane and derby hat, they called him Bat Bat Masterson.
Cop & Spy shows?
Car 54!
The orig M.I.F. was just killer.
S.W.A.T. and Hawaii 5-0 were super! Only S.W.A.T. made it onto the disco scene clubs dance floors as I recall.
Magnum P.I. & Hill Street Blues . Were quite unique.
N.Y.P.D. Blue ? Not sure about the song/tune but loved the show. You go Bocchco!
Boston Legal got sort of fancy, hip, and bluesy all at the same time following in the NYPD Blues footsteps.
Nearly 3 full decades of Doc Severenson playing intros for Ed McMahons Heres Johnny! on the Tonight Show.
and the current top fav Family Guy.
Music be they quality tracks or simply memorable melodies, always make the TV show, Film, etc., come alive engage . Adds texture and whet the appetite. The theme songs live on longer than the characters in the episodes.
Perry Mason theme song: http://www.televisiontunes.com/Perry_Mason.html Fred Steiner: Another of Steiner's famous works, "Park Avenue Beat", was used from 1957 to 1966 as the theme song to Perry Mason.
What is this TV thing? I remember getting very excited about hearing "The Lone Ranger" on the radio. I think my earliest memory was standing up in my crib listening to the Popeye theme on the radio. I guess I do remember, after a while, the radio came with pictures and they moved. Wow! I still listen to my Henry Mancini "Peter Gunn" music and I even remember Mr. Lucky. Now how lucky is that? I think my favorite theme from that CD is "Experiment in Terror", which was a movie, not a TV show. It was funny seeing the movie and realizing I already knew the theme music. Great!
Great version of Johnny Quest theme by Reverend Horton Heat on the "Saturday Morning Cartoons" CD. Nice transition into "Stop the Pigeon" from "Dastardly and Mutley in their Flying Machines". Classic baby boomer stuff!
That's a very good CD chock full of nice, energetic versions of old cartoon themes overall actually!
LEt's not forget the "Groovy Goulies". They're gonna do their thing for you!
Not exactly in same frame as most others but I love the current opener to "Meet the Press" the compositions triumphant close at opener is something I really like. While the show isnt my style the song to "True Blood" is pretty cool.
There are some really great themes on the list that I like but two from my childhood are : The Lone Ranger (William Tell Overture) and of course Roy Rogers "Happy Trails".
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