I know the theme to 'Rockford Files' was a big hit in the 70's.
And you can't say 'Batman' in a crowded theatre without someone singing 'da da da da da da da da dat.......BATMAN!'

Not counting songs that were not specifically written for a TV show ('Who Are You' on CSI, for example), what are the most popular, or your most favorite, TV show songs?

Love Cheap Trick's version of the 'That 70's Show' theme, but I believe it's based on an actual song from the early 70's.



Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale.....

I've always loved the Andy Griffth theme. It's a great whistle that just bounces along, happy, entertaining, and easy to relate to --timeless, IMHO.

Tonight Show theme starring Johnny Carson.
Written by Paul Anka & Johnny Carson

WKRP in Cincinnati, because most radio people can relate to the lyric line "got tired of packing and unpacking, town to town and up and down the dial".

Hawaii 5-0

TV Guide Top 50 TV Themes at Amazon.com

Two personal faves are Peter Gunn (at the above link), and the original Bill Cosby Show that ran from '69-'71, titled Hickey Burr.

Knight Rider & The A Team

When Things Were Rotten.... 1976 Mel Brooks show....

email me if you need a copy of it

Once upon a time when things were rotten, not just food but also kings and cotton..........

also liked most of that Warner Brothers TV stuff..

Surfside 6......
77 Sunset Strip....
Hawaian Eye.......

Now that I think about it,
Theme from Have gun will travel was pretty good, also rawhide.

Mission: Impossible
The Outer Limits
Medical Center

Angela (Theme from Taxi) - Bob James. there's an 8 minute version of the song on his Touchdown album. I've always loved how it starts with that pretty little flute line and then branches off into like, 6 different directions from there.

The Muppet Show - It really does sound like what would happen if Puppets were trained musicians. Pure fun.

Barney Miller - Along the same lines as the Theme from Taxi. A little sleazier

Night Court - Which is along the same lines as Barney Miller, but with that more 80's twinge to it.

Battlestar Galactica - The new show has probably some of the best orchestral score in the past 10 years, but the old show's main titles are damn near perfect.

Hill Street Blues - The Piano works every time.

Handbags and Gladrags (The Office BBC) - sure, it's not an original piece of work, but the music fit the show so perfectly.

you can't miss with sing-a-longs!

the flintstones
the jeffersons
the brady bunch

CHiPs
The Fall Guy
Dukes of Hazzard
Miami Vice
The Courtship of Eddie's Father
The Greatest American Hero
Cheers
The Jeffersons
The Addams Family
Good Times
The Incredible Hulk
Six Million Dollar Man

Perhaps not the best, but memorable ones overlooked above:
The Avengers.
Northern Exposure.
Newhart (the 80s one).
Victory at Sea.

(The only part of the Tonight Show theme that Johnny wrote was his signature; he demanded half rights from Anka to use it.)

Yeah, the 70's Newhart theme was kinda bland.

But right before that:

'Who can turn the world on with her smile?
Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?'

(and at the end, the lady in the background watches Mary throw her hat in the air)

Alias Smith & Jones.

Wild, Wild West.

High Chapparal.

Hawaii Five-0.

Man from Uncle.

Uncle Croc's Block.

Herb

The Dukes of Hazzard... without a doubt!

Bumpity

I always like what "60 Minutes" uses as a 'theme song'..... easy to remember and no royalties ever need to be paid to the ticking stopwatch

Hello Larry.

Even though it's not the question asked, I get a little pumped at each beginning of Rescue Me with The Von Bondies' Come On, Come On. It's my favorite opening for a show right now.

But in keeping with the actual question, Alex, I'd say The Theme From Alice " There's a new girl in town." makes me cry from laughing so hard. It's so pathetic and full of false hope and denial. Really. Listen to it. I know you won't.

Seriously though, what was the question again? Oh yeah - " Best."

I like the nostalgia of " Land of the Lost " a lot. But BEST, best?

I happen to think Paul Shaffer's " Late Night " does it for me. With Carson's Tonight Show Theme being an extremely close second. It's just such a good fit for each of them. I mean, I have no idea what it would be like to have another song ingrained in me for their respective themes, but these seem to be a bit smarter than the usuals. Who knows? Not me.

Peter Gunn Theme
Henry Mancini

Geez, I can't believe no one has said Pinky and the Brain...and the Animaniacs theme wasn't bad either.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

"Peter Gunn Theme
Henry Mancini"

Now I know why you use that cut as a theme song, Tom!

The Green Hornet!!

Pee-Wee's playhouse. Either the spooky instrumental one or the one where Cindy Lauper sings about getting nutty and kookoo.

The 80's had the best tv show theme songs! You could sing along with them and were quite memerable.
Gowing pains- "SHOW ME THAT SMILE AGAIN.......
Full House, "WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO REALITY, THE MILK MAN, THE PAPERBOY EVEN MTV"
Family Ties "SHALALALA"
You just dont hear actual theme songs on tv show anymore, which is really sad. I wonder why not?

People can reach for the remote control and change stations long before the theme is over so they decided to get right into the show to avoid that situation. The theme from Cheers would have been a very big hit if it had been released after the show took off instead of before. I think it will be another hundred years before the William Tell Overature does not immediately make people think of the Lone Ranger.

How about "Happy Days" "The Mickey Mouse Club" the 3 Stooges (There was 3 blind mice and I can't remember the one they first used with Curly)Mr Rogers Neighborhood.

Those theme songs in the 80's were Really Catchy, i don't think people would turn them off Today if they were still done well. I don't think networks want to spend money on paying the actual artists money for the theme songs., thats why they no longer do them.
The Growing Pains theme song was Classic. I wonder if that was going to be an actual song before the show started or not? i miss those great Theme songs from Tv shows in the 80's. (Sniff sniff) They were fun and totally brought a level of excitement to the show(if that makes any sense). Other great 80's theme songs were
Silver Spoons
The Facts of life- (Tootie was Hot!)
Perfect strangers
Whos the bOss
The Hogan Family (formerly Valaries family)sniff sniff- i miss Sandy Duncan,

Lastminute entry...Doctor Who. I have the CD-5 by the Timelords (later known as The KLF) called doctorin' the Tardis...As you can see, I liked the instrumental themes.

When I was young, I used to love the BJ and the Bear theme..

Side note, the theme for Peewee's Playhouse was written by one of the Talking Heads (David Byrne if I remember correctly)

here's a catchy instumental:

"St Elsewhere"

another not so bad sing along:

"Welcome Back Kotter"

I'm a HUGE TV Theme collector. I've done research on the subject and their original performers. You might not be a where but there have been over a thousand different TV Themes released on 45 rpm's since the beginning. I have over 600 in my collection alone.

Some of my favorite themes are from shows I never liked or watched but would tune in just to hear the theme! Here's some of my picks:

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color / closing instrumental theme: "World of Color" performed by Buddy Baker.

Wild Wild West, performed by Richard Markowitz.

What Really Happened To The Class of '65? / theme: "The Class of '65" performed by Venice.

NBC Nightly News / theme: "The Mission" performed by John Williams.

Bonanza / themes: "Bonanza" & "Bonanza Billboard" theme performed by David Rose.

"Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea Main Title" performed by Paul Sawtell.

The Equalizer / theme: "The Equalizer Busy Equalizing" performed by Stewart Copeland.

Wagon Train / theme: "Wagons Ho!" performed by Jerome Moross.

Mod Squad, performed by Earle Hagen.

Police Squad!, performed by Ira Newborn, announcer: Marvin Miller.

The Waltons, performed by Jerry Goldsmith.

Riverboat, performed Elmer Bernstein.

The NBC Mystery Movie / theme: "Mystery Movie Theme" performed by Henry Mancini.

Route 66 Theme, performed by Nelson Riddle.

The Life & Times of Grizzly Adams / theme: "Maybe" performed by Thom Pace.

Highway Patrol, performed by David Rose.

Here Come The Brides, instrumental version performed by Hugo Montenegro.

The Outer Limits End Title, performed by Dominic Frontiere.

The Avengers, performed by Laurie Johnson.

The Rifleman, performed by Herschel Burke Gilbert.

Miami Vice Theme, performed by Jan Hammer.

Lassie Theme, whistle performed by Muzzy Marcellino, music conducted by Les Baxter.

Wanted: Dead Or Alive, performed by Herschel Burke Gilbert.

NBC Saturday Night At The Movies, performed by Ray Ellis.

Mannix, performed by Lalo Schifrin.

Trailmaster Theme performed by Stanley Wilson (abc daytime reruns of old NBC Wagon Train's with Ward Bond).

Adventures In Paradise, performed by Lionel Newman.

Riptide, performed by Mike Post.

The Virginian, performed by Stanley Wilson.

Hardcastle & McCormick / theme: "Drive" performed by David Morgan.

To Tell The Truth, performed by The Charles Fox Singers.

Cagney & Lacey, performed by Bill Conti

We are not worthy. Good list, Craig!

Agreed!

So what makes a theme great? For me it's how memorable it is, the musical elements it contains and how they speak to the program. Others?

I find myself walking down the street and singing the 'Love Boat' Theme, faaaar too often, nowadays.

Magnum PI...there was great lil' diddy, too.

OH!! The theme from 'American Bandstand'....sung by a Barry Manilow, I believe.

Welcome Back, theme from Welcome Back Kotter,

I may be completely off on this but I think the flip side of "Ringo" is Lorne Greene singing the Bonanza theme, complete with words. I know I've heard it somewhere.

"Chase" had one of the best ever! As Did "Adam-12", "EMERGENCY!" and "I Spy".
Don't forget about "The Six Million Dollar Man".

And how could I forget????

"The Green Hornet"

Bruce Lee kicking ass every week!

The Munsters !
show was dumb, but theme music good.
Does anyone know if the low note was a bass sax? tuba? what is it?

Jetsons

Love Boat
Fantasy Island
Star Trek
Facts of Life
The Magician
Incredible Hulk
Honeymooners
Ramblin' Rod
Quincy M.D.
Barnaby Jones
Columbo
It takes a Thief
Matlock
Perry Mason
Magnum PI
Mc Cloud
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew

"Suicide is Painless" (Theme from M*A*S*H)

and the theme from PBS Mystery

Semoochie: You are correct! The flip side of "Ringo" by Lorne Greene was "Bonanza". The Cartwright's sang the song once while on horse back, leaving Virginia City, at the end of the pilot episode. That was the only time the lyrics were ever used on the series.

Tdanner: I would've included "Suicide Is Painless" in my list but it was first used in the movie M*A*S*H. If we want to go that direction, I would've included:

The Lone Ranger / theme: "The William Tell Overture-Finale" performed by Daniel Castaneda with announcer: Fred Foy.

The Green Hornet / theme based on: "Flight of The Bumblebee" performed by Al Hirt with announcer William Dozier.

The Odd Couple / performed by Neal Hefti. Theme from the movie.

Here's another plug for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and a merciless plug for my website vttbots.com

Mike B

When I read these TV titles, the music starts playing in my head!
Aaaaaaaah!!


Anyway,
Didn't notice if it was mentioned, but...
Frasier ('tossed salads and scrambled eggs') -
featuring Kelsey Grammar on vocals.


Craig, I bow down (again) to your prowess, excellent list.
What were some of the highest charting/biggest selling TV theme song singles (okay, not counting movies turned into TV shows with the same theme)....ever?
(to loosely keep within the 'radio' framework)





The Godfather of TV themes....
The Twilight Zone.

My favorite is the theme from Mannix

I have a greatest hits of Duane Eddy cd which has the title "the ballad of Palladin" Which show was that from? That was a cool theme song.

Was it "PALLADIN"?
Just a guess.

Wayner...

Try Have Gun Will Travel from which the Sonics came up with Have Love Will Travel.

Angryman...

Bad guess.

ding ding ding ding! Who starred in it?

>>>Have Gun Will Travel from which the Sonics came up with Have Love Will Travel.

"Have Love Will Travel" was written by Richard "Louie Louie" Berry in 1959.

It was 1976, and I was at KGRL in Bend at the time...Our top 40 contained no less than four TV themes...and I want to say there was a fifth that was either bubbling under, or had just come off the chart. Can't remember them all, but I remember Cyndi Grecco's "Making Our Dreams Come True", and John Sebastian's "Welcome Back, Kotter" on there...perhaps Mike Post's "Rockford Files" was there at the same time...

Doggone it...my Whitburn Billboard book is lost under some crap in the den...just when I need it most!! (I may not sleep tonight from all the themes running through my head!)

And Craig, Cheers! Well done on the list! I think my fave would be the Avengers theme, but I was also a huge fan of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Was that Jerry Goldsmith or Hugo Montenegro?

Loved those 60s spy series! Patrick McGoohan starring in Secret Agent had a nice theme that Johnny Rivers had a hit with...

Oh...for those that don't make the connection:
"Making Our Dreams Come True" = Theme from "Laverne & Shirley"

SOMEBODY will get some sleep tonight... (but it ain't me!)

Okay...from which Richard "Louie Louie" Berry came up with Have Love Will Travel so the Sonics could have a regional hit with it.

By the way, the Sonics version was horribly over-recorded and distorted and their performance was amateurish. It was great!

One of the best/worst sax solos in Rock & Roll history!

Whitburn sez:

"Welcome Back" entered chart 4-10-76
"Happy Days" Pratt & McClain 4-24-76
"Baretta's Theme (Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow)" 5-8-76 peaked at #20
L. & S. theme 6-12-76
"Rockford Files" 6-21-76

I guess I failed regional hit class. The only Sonics song I know is "The Witch". I remember when a local band set up a single amplifier on the southwest corner of SE 82nd at Rhone and entertained the neighborhood for hours. I think it was 1965. I lived across 82nd and thought it was great! I have no idea what the adults thought.

Also, "Believe It or Not" from "Greatest American Hero." I'd like to also thank everyone who got on "The Green Hornet" bandwagon.

Have Love Will Travel.
Wasn't that Paul Revere and the Raiders?

Started out with the organ.

I'll have to go through my stacks of 45's....

I have another record by the Sonics but don't remember the name right now.

As already mentioned, The Fall Guy was a great theme. But nothing can beat The Rockford Files.

---Top 20 TV Themes of All Time---

1. The Heights (How Do You Talk To An Angel) The Heights
2. Theme From S.W.A.T / Rhythm Heritage
3. Miami Vice Theme / Jan Hammer
4. Welcome Back Kotter / John Sebastian
5. Theme From The Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not) / Joey Scarbury (back up: Mike Post)
6. Dragnet / Ray Anthony
7. Secret Agent (Secret Agent Man) / Johnny Rivers
8. Hawaii Five-O / Ventures
9. Makin' It / David Naughton
10. Happy Days / Pratt & McCain
11. Theme From The Young & The Restless aka Nadia's Theme / Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr.
12. Cops (Bad Boys) / Inner Circle
13. Peter Gunn / Ray Anthony
14. Hill Street Blues / Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton
15. The Rockford Files / Mike Post
16. Dr. Kildare (Three Stars Will Shine Tonight) / Richard Chamberlain
17. Where The Action Is (Action) / Freddy Cannon
18. Friends (I'll Be There For You) / Rembrandts
19. Zorro / Chordettes
20. Batman Theme / Marketts


Mark: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was performed by Jerry Goldsmith.

Hey, Randy...thanks for comin' through! I had Baretta's theme confused with Rhythm Heritage's "Theme from S.W.A.T." (I gotta find my Whitburn book.)

And thanks again, Craig. I recall Jerry Goldsmith writing music and scoring several TV shows over the years. We did play a few Hugo Montenegro cuts at KYXI in the early 70s...easily confused with "this many" years between then and now!

How about this sub-set: Best local TV theme that was really just something ripped off from the music library?

My winners are the dueling Channel 12 late-night movie themes of the mid-60's.

Sugar Shack by either Hugo Montenegro or Montovani.. and Time to get Ready for Love by some other syrupy sweet orchestra. I heard those... I knew it was 11pm Saturday, and probably time for either Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Homes or some 40's noir thing that would scare the crap out me for the rest of the weekend.

"Time To Get Ready For Love": Do you mean "Wives And Lovers"?

One show I remember watching as a kid, mostly because of the theme song, was "Cimarron Strip".

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061241/


http://www.filmscorerundowns.net/other/cimarronstrip.pdf

How about Johnny Rivers, Midnight Special, from the TV show "Midnight Special", tat had to have charted.

For best local TV theme ripped off from music library I'll go for the obvious, Mancini's "Baby Elephant Walk" for Ramblin' Rod. They may have used an updated version in later years.

Still like the Sanford and Son theme myself!!

Mark: You're correct and not going crazy! The LP "The Original Music From The Man From U.N.C.L.E." RCA Victor 3475 and the follow up LP "More Music From The Man From U.N.C.L.E." RCA Victor 3574 were both conducted by Hugo Montenegro. These 2 albums have since been re-issued as CD's.

Nwokie: "The Midnight Special" by Johnny Rivers debuted on the Billboard chart February 6, 1965. Burt Sugarman's "The Midnight Special" debuted on NBC February 2, 1973 making the song not a true TV Theme because it was not written for the show.

"Sanford & Son" by Quincy Jones and "Chico & The Man" by Jose Feliciano both got some AC airplay in my neighborhood. The Chico & The Man series had one of the best casts and worst script writing of any show at the time.

Amus: Here's some "Cimarron Strip" trivia: The series was filmed at "CBS Studio Center" which was originally "Republic Studios" up until 1967 when CBS purchased the lot. CBS had leased the studios since 1959. Before that time Republic Studios had leased it's lot to Revue Productions since Revue's beginning 1952.

Randy: "Chico And The Man" by Jose Feliciano charted on Billboard to #96.

'Wives and Lovers' it is, Semoochie.

Damn... all those childhood years forced to listen to KXL and KYXI... now gone to waste.

RJ

Ok,

Admittedly, it's not Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, nor is it another cheap plug for my website http://www.vttbots.com, but just the same, the soundrtrack to "Checkmate" by Johnny (John) Williams was pretty good.

MB

The Ren & Stimpy theme song is great.

Jumping up a few hundred posts...the theme from that 70s show "In the Street" was originally done by Big Star. It was a little more subdued than the Cheap Trick version, which is also great.

IT'S TV THEME TRIVIA TIME! Below is a list of TV Theme songs. Some were also known as the name of the TV Series but had descriptive subtitles which have been used below instead. Some are closing themes (aka end title theme). The themes span the 50's, 60's, 70's & 80's mainly.

Your job is to come up with the title of the series. I will except a partial series title if the answer includes a "key word" in the name of the series. You will find some very easy and some very hard. Good Jim! This post will dissolve in 60 seconds! GO!!

AS LONG AS WE GOT EACH OTHER
BEST FRIEND
BLUE STAR
COUSINS
DREAM THEME
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK
GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST CLUBBERS
GOTCHA
HAPPY TRAILS
JOHNNY YUMA
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW
LONG LONESOME HIGHWAY
LOVE IS ALL AROUND
THE OLD TRAIL
PUFFIN' BILLY
SEATTLE
SONG OF THE HIGH SEAS
THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN
THIS IS IT
THE TOY PARADE
TWENTY MULE TRAIN
THE UNKNOWN STUNTMAN
WAITING
WHO NEEDS WINGS TO FLY
WITHOUT US
YO-O RINTY
YOU'RE MY GREATEST LOVE
YOU'RE THINKING RIGHT

Had to answer "Seattle" That came from "Here Come The Brides" on ABC. I was (still am) in love with Bridget Hanley. Oh, and "Keep Your Eye On The Sparrow is from "Baretta" Miss ya Sammy.

Correct Tommy! Had a thing for "Candy" myself.

Happy trails... Roy rogers....
Love is all around... MTM show

Cousins....Patty Duke Show Scareier still, I KNOW THE FREAKIN WORDS TO IT!

Meet Kathy who's lived most everywhere, from Zanzibar to Barkley square.
But Patty's only seen the sights a girl can see from Brooklyn heights............


Now answer this one........

There's a hold up in the Bronx, Brooklyn's broken Out in fights........
There's a traffic jam in Harlem that's backed up to Jackson Heights......
There's a scout troop short a child, Kruschev's due at Idylwild...............

Car 54 Where Are You?????

Leave it to Beaver
Gilligan's Island
Taxi
ER
Dragnet
Match Game
World at War
Monday Night Football

This is it was the theme song used on the "Bugs Bunny show" that was put out around the early 60's. I thought that was a cool sounding theme song.

Best TV Theme??

Without a doubt... I Spy or the Banana Splits.

I'd have to think long and hard to give you my answer on this question. There have been so many great TV show themes.

But I will certainly agree that Henry Mancini was a genius when it came to TV and movie themes. Off topic, but Bernard Hermann (spelling?) would likely top my list of best movie theme composers. Hitchcock loved to use him for his movies. I actually own a couple of BH's soundtracks on CD, including Vertigo.

LanceLot Link Secret Chimp

BEST FRIEND
Courtship of Eddies Father

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW
Kojack

LONG LONESOME HIGHWAY
Then Came Bronson

LOVE IS ALL AROUND
Mary Tyler Moore


THIS IS IT
One Day at a Time

Eight is Enough
Different Strokes
The Man from U.N.C.L.E
The FBI
Combat
Land of the Lost

LANCELOT LINK SECRET CHIMP! I LOVED THAT SHOW!

Anyone have the theme song from the show?

THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN
Theme from Alice

THE UNKNOWN STUNTMAN
The Fall Guy??



Am I close, Craig?

Rogertoo, where else but YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkHnF8OurKk

Enjoy,

KSKD.

Edit:

Lyrics for this great parody show:

Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp!
He stands for justice.He has no fear.
He's the agent to call when trouble is near.
Lance Link, ya gotta come through.
Everybody at APE is countin' on you!

Here's Marta Hairi, an agent and friend.
She sticks by his side right to the end.
Darwin is the leader on the side of good.
He traps CHUMP agents like a good ape should.
Lance Link, whatcha gonna do?
You've gotta stop CHUMP now. It's up to you.

Here's Baron Von Butcher. You better beware.
He's evil and he's cunning and he don't play fair.
He's got an evil chauffer. Creto's his name.
Dragon Woman's lovely, but she's wicked all the same!
Lance Link, whatcha gonna do
When mad Dr.Strangemind comes up to you?

There's Ali Assassin, Wicked Wang Foo
And the Duchess whose looks can really fool you.
Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp!
He stands for justice, he has no fear,
He's the agent to call when trouble is near.
Lance Link, whatcha gonna do?

Want an ADDICTIVE web site?

http://mythemes.tv

I've relived my entire childhood on that site!

We may have 2 winners for "This is it." It may have been used on "One day at a time" but I know the "Bugs Bunny show" also had that as its theme. It probably was a different song.

Yo yo Rinty was Rin Tin Tin I bet! That shows you how old I am.

Rogertoo: All correct! Yes HAPPY TRAILS was the closing theme to "The Roy Rogers Show", but need more than MTM Productions for LOVE IS ALL AROUND, MTM also produced "W.K.R.P. In Cincinnati" and I don't think you mean that one.

Wayne: Yes! THIS IS IT was the theme to "The Bugs Bunny Show". Correct! YO-O RINTY was the theme to "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin".

Amus: "Kojak" & "One Day At A Time" are wrong. The rest are all correct! Yes LONG LONESOME HIGHWAY was the closing theme to "Then Came Bronson"

Matt Jones: All Correct! A+

KSKD: The "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp" theme was performed by The Evolution Revolution. The Soundtrack Album was called "Lancelot Link & The Evolution Revolution" abc Records 715. It's a very collectable album!

MArY Tyler More Show!

THX for the Chimp lyrics!

It's a great theme. Thanks for the vinyl tip!

Rogertoo: Correct! LOVE IS ALL AROUND was the theme to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". I hope you didn't cheat by looking at Amus's answers on the desk next to yours!

That's kind of spooky.
I was working from home today!

OK so Eye on the Sparrow must have been Baretta then.

And "This is It" are the first words in the theme song for One Day at a Time, which is also named "One Day at a Time".

Amus: Yes! KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW was the theme to "Baretta" but Tommy answered that correctly first at 4:34am this morning in the first posted answer. Yes "This Is It" is in the lyrics of the theme ONE DAY AT A TIME but it's officially called ONE DAY AT A TIME with no subtitle.

The count is now 11 themes answered correctly and 17 themes still go unanswered.

As Long as We've Got Each Other is from the show with Alan Thicke and Tracy Gold that I can't remember the name of.

Best Friend is from The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Johnny Yuma was The Rebel.

Twenty Mule Train is from that western series that was hosted by Ronald Reagan. I want to say Death Valley Days. Is that right?

Onetimeradioguy: Correct! AS LONG AS WE GOT EACH OTHER was the theme to "Growing Pains" starring Alan Thicke and was a top 10 hit on Billboard's A.C. chart by B.J. Thomas & Dusty Springfield although on the series it was sung by B.J. Thomas & Jennifer Warnes and the first season solo by B.J.

Yes! JOHNNY YUMA aka THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY YUMA aka THE REBEL-JOHNNY YUMA sung by The Man In Black himself, Johnny Cash but also recorded on a 45rpm by the Star, Nick Adams (no relation).

Yes! Death Valley Days theme was called TWENT MULE TRAIN performed by Marlin Skiles. Great instrumental theme! Brought to you by U.S. Borax.

I'm surprised no fomer KINKers have gotten "GOTCHA," the Starsky & Hutch Theme. Tom Scott wrote it and a version appears on his "Blow It Out" LP from 1977.

Correct Randy!

13 more themes to go.

I'm taking a stab on "Good Morning, Breakfast Clubbers": Don McNeil's Breakfast Club

Which ones are we missing?

I was intrigued by your answer to "Good Morning, Breakfast Clubbers," a radio show from before my time, so I cheated and looked it up. Sure enough, the Breakfast Club was simulcast on ABC TV, 1954-55.

AS LONG AS WE GOT EACH OTHER
BEST FRIEND
BLUE STAR
COUSINS
DREAM THEME
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK
GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST CLUBBERS
GOTCHA
HAPPY TRAILS
JOHNNY YUMA
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPARROW
LONG LONESOME HIGHWAY
LOVE IS ALL AROUND
THE OLD TRAIL
PUFFIN' BILLY
SEATTLE
SONG OF THE HIGH SEAS
THERE'S A NEW GIRL IN TOWN
THIS IS IT
THE TOY PARADE
TWENTY MULE TRAIN
THE UNKNOWN STUNTMAN
WAITING
WHO NEEDS WINGS TO FLY
WITHOUT US
YO-O RINTY
YOU'RE MY GREATEST LOVE
YOU'RE THINKING RIGHT

http://mythemes.tv is a gas. Snag 'em while it lasts, folks.

Is that Paul Frees narrating the intro to Rescue 8?

Down at the bottom is Freberg's immortal "Great American Soups."

Hey Randy That Is COOL!!

Semoochie Is Correct As Usual! Leave it to him to find my radio connection in all this. The theme was first used on radio for Don McNeill's Breakfast Club. GOOD MORNING BREAKFAST CLUBBERS was the main opening theme with SO LONG, YOU BREAKFAST CLUBBERS as the closing theme, both performed by Eddie Ballantine.

Is it just my computer? I can't get anything on that TV Theme website posted except the main page with the TV screen. I clicked on it above and it seems to work but nothing ever happens. I've tried 3 times.

Ooh! Bonus points for spiffy formatting!

Agreed on mythemes.tv --lots of fun and good memories.

Do I hear the Tracy Ullman show (where the simpsons where born) in that last one?

KSKD: Correct! YOU'RE THINKING RIGHT was the theme to "The Tracey Ullman Show".

>>I can't get anything on that TV Theme website

Just below the TV screen is a chooser-bar-thingy with a down arrow to the right. Click on the down arrow and scroll through the long menu. When your choice comes up on the screen you have to manually start the audio, which sometimes requires scrolling within the TV screen down to expose the play button.

Randy: My computer only shows me the top part of the TV screen. It won't let me scroll down to the bottom of the TV, as though I'm seeing everything there is to see on the page. Very Strange because it's looks like there is more to see.

Try hitting the F11 button.

Semoochie: You're A Genius!! Now, would you mind explaining to me why my computer has this problem and how did you know F11 would work?

It opens up more of the screen. There's a name for the adjustment you want and sometime when it isn't 2 in the morning, I'll have to think about it.

Teacher! Teacher! Pick me!!

BLUE STAR: Medic
DREAM THEME: Merv Griffin
EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK: Full House
THE OLD TRAIL: Gunsmoke
PUFFIN' BILLY: Captain Kangaroo
SONG OF THE HIGH SEAS: Victory at Sea
THE TOY PARADE: Leave It To Beaver
WAITING: Father Knows Best
WHO NEEDS WINGS TO FLY: The Flying Nun
WITHOUT US: Family Ties
YOU'RE MY GREATEST LOVE: The Honeymooners

I love buying those term papers online...

Well Little Tommy Parker! I Must Say, I'm Impressed! Your Parents should be very proud! Every Answer on your term paper is CORRECT and they were the HARDEST to Crack!! You may play an extra 5 minutes out side on the Merry-go-round!

Class Dismissed! Game Over. All themes have been answered.

We now return you to Radioland....

Didn't Tom pretty much admit he got all of them by going online?

you tube site is down.

Missing_kskd
you rock, I haven't heard to the Lancelot ling show in years and couldn't remember the lyrics....used to laugh my a** off when I was a kid when the show would come on...

Run For Your Life...great theme that could still work today, maybe underneath the next terrorist threat level announcement.

Wonder Woman
Davey Crockett
Dynasty
HR pufnstuf

"The Pruitts of Southhampton"

"Camp Runamuck"

"Hank"

"Holmes and Yoyo"

"The Texas Wheelers"

"You're in the Picture"

"I'm Dickens, He's Fenster"

That "My Themes TV" web link above sure has some great themes not available on CD. Here's some of my faves not on disc but at the site:

Daniel Boone (recreation is on CD).

The Mothers-In-Law (love it! Not on CD).

Here Come The Brides (instrumental version not on CD).

Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (end credit instrumental not on CD).

Bonanza (David Rose written theme used one season not on CD).

Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp (much better sounding recording than the earlier link and not on CD).

The Waltons (recreation on CD).

Angie (45 recording used on CD, this is the original! Much better than the hit single I think).

Wild Wild West (recreation on CD).

Dragnet 1967 ("Dragnet End Credits" theme, Lyn Murray's great ending used in the first 2 seasons only. Not on CD).

Then Came Bronson (Main instrumental theme not on CD).

I knew you folks would like that web site! It's great fun...

Craig... nice list! How about the closing theme from 12 O'Clock High?

Does anyone remember the song "Long lonesome highway" by Michael Parks? That was from "then came Bronson" and made the charts! I think that would be a cool forgotten oldie, Stoner!

Brooks: Oh My! How could I have skipped over "12 O'Clock High" on my lists! One of my all time favorites! I've been looking for the original recording for years.

It's another great theme from Dominic Frontiere who wrote the themes for: The Outer Limits, That Girl (2nd theme), The Rat Patrol, Iron Horse, The Invaders, Branded, Stoney Burke, The Immortal, Vega$, The Flying Nun and that great John Wayne movie theme Chisum.

A recreation of the 12 O'Clock High theme is on CD only. I ran back to that website thinking I might have missed it but they don't have it. By the way, the announcer on "12 O'Clock High"s theme was Marvin Miller.

Hee Haw

"By the way, the announcer on '12 O'Clock High's theme was Marvin Miller."

Miller also starred as "Michael Anthony" on "The Millionaire."

Anyone remember that show?

"“It's about time, it's about space,
About two men in the strangest place.

It's about time, it's about flight -
Traveling faster than the speed of light.

This is the tale of the brave crew
As through the barrier of time they flew."

Kq4: "The Millionaire" theme was called WHIRLWIND and was performed by Stanley Wilson who was also Revue Productions Musical Director.

Amus: The "It's About Time" theme was sung by Gene Merlino & Ian Freebairn-Smith. Music conducted by Gerald Fried.

"Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp"

Craig: Did you know about this? It came out 2 months ago...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F4TMI2/sr=1-1/qid=1155712076/ref=pd_bbs_1/1 03-5510947-3449436?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

Amus,

I remember that song, what was that from?

WOW Mrs M.! I'll be able to see all my favorite Stars again!

Mata Hairi
Darwin (the head of A.P.E. = Agency for Prevention of Evil)
Creto
Dr. Strangemind
Wang Fu
The Baron (boss of C.H.U.M.P. = Criminal Headquarters for Underworld Master Plan)

Themes from "Run For Your Life" and "Angie" were not by the Beatles and Rolling Stones, respectively. I left an opening for another one. "It's About Time" starred Car 54 Where Are You's Joe E Ross,(ooh, ooh, ooh)who I once talked to at the Comedy Club in Hollywood.

Craig, Try this for your screen: Control Panel, Display, Settings, Screen Resolution slide to 1024 by 768 pixels. If it's slid all the way to the left and the picture is enormous, that could be the problem. If it's already at my suggested setting or further right, it must be something else. No, I'm not a genius; I just play one on the radio board.

From mythemes.tv I snagged a clean enough copy of "Rawhide" so I could finally drag Frankie's voice out of the resonant muck at 200hz:
http://jeffkopp.home.att.net/rawhide.m3u (Winamp; *.mp3 to d/l)

Share it with your neighbors tonight ;)

moo!

Semoochie: I'm afraid to try what you suggest...I might Bend Time or start The China Syndrome!

Jeff: WOW! That does sound a better. Good job!

I'd given up on that clip after about two four-hour sessions; got lucky tonight. Just kept digging around 180-220 hz on multiple passes. After taking out the hiss, I could really push the top of what was there (7kHz).

(The secret to clarifying the voice was finding an Adobe Audition Dynamic Delay preset called "HollowSpace." I don't know how it works. Magic!)

I was loath to mention "Hogan's Heroes," a series whose premise and characters I detested, but it was sixties sitcom intro (get the "laughing trombones") polished to a high gloss. (Note the producer.) Similarly, the theme from McHale's Navy was probably the best part of the show.

Someone else mentioned "Cimarron Strip," which I hadn't, thinking it was too obscure, and perhaps a bit cliche Western Symphonic. On hearing it again it is basically Gunsmoke Redux, but indeed very lively and updated. (Note the folk-rock rapid strumming in the first bars.) Combined with the dizzying climbing helicopter shot it was majestic.

Nobody's yet mentioned the "Kids in the Hall" theme, a great, rolling "Train Crossing the Plains North of 49" sound, and perhaps an aural signature of pure CanCon. Version used on-air is livelier than the CD version it was derived from.

Here 'tis; off-air: http://jeffkopp.home.att.net/kidsinthehall.m3u (Winamp; *.mp3 for QuickTime plugin or right-click to download)

You can hear those phone poles whizzing by.

Clip from CD: http://www.kithaa.com/smsp/savvy/weekend.wav or http://www.kithaa.com/smsp/savvy/ra/average.weekend.rm

(whoops to d/l the equalized Rawhide or hear it in QuickTime plug-in use http://jeffkopp.home.att.net/rawhide-eq.mp3 Yes, the string bass is about gone but it was beyond salvaging)

CRAP CRAP CRAP! Can't download Lance Link! keep getting a windows media player error Beginning of tape or partition was encountered.

also tried to save the surfside 6 theme (got an idea, and want to cut it up.... can't get it into cool edit.......

That sucks.

(dons uber-geek cape)

Ok, the videos presented by YouTube are wrapped in both a script and the macromedia video player. This is not always a good thing.

If you want to capture a local copy of a video, you can either install some kind of dangerous stuff for browser side scripting (not recommended), or find somebody providing that service. (recommended)

This is a decent one:

http://www.videodl.org/

You will download a file called [something].php

Rename this to [something].flv

Now you have the video.

Install a player for it. There is one here:

http://www.martijndevisser.com/blog/article/flv-player-updated

When it's all done, click on your video.

Enjoy!

(Roger, a Lance Link quick fix kit is on it's way! Check 'yer inbox.)

Mrs. M.

"It's About Time" was a sitcom I barely remember as a Kid.
It was basically Gilligan's Island in space.

Joe E. Ross & Imogene Coca played the "Cavemen".

Mostly I remember:
"It's about time, it's about space,
It's about time to slap your face".


Jeffreykopp,

Did you find a place to listen to the Cimerron Strip theme?

http://www.tvparty.com/itsabout.html

FIREBALL XL-5

How about Fraggle Rock?

The "Fireball XL-5" theme was called FIREBALL and was sung by Don Spencer. It was released on a 45rpm (20th Century-Fox 440). The closing theme was called XL-5 and appears on the flip side. It's one of my favorite TV theme 45's.

Craig: it's time for another trip to the casino, my friend. We gotta get you OUT more often

Link direct to Cimarron Strip at mythemes.tv: http://mythemes.tv/series/themes/opening/cimarron.mp3

Surfide Six:
http://mythemes.tv/series/themes/opening/surfsid6.mp3

Right-click on these and select "save as"

What do you mean Mike? I was out tonight! Found some great stuff at the Multnomah County Library!

Have you and your lovely wife circled a Casino Night we can get together yet?

Craig,
You are the first person I have run into that knows FIREBALL XL-5. You are right, it was a great theme.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but my personal favorite is "The Wild Wild West".

The WILD WILD WEST THEME from the first season was written & performed by Richard Markowitz. The 2nd & 3rd seasons version was performed by CBS Productions Musical Director, Mort Stevens who wrote and performed the Hawaii Five-O theme. Wild Wild West is only available as a recreation on CD but you can hear the two original versions on that link above. It's to bad they don't have the closing versions which I love more.

OK, what do Fireball XL-5 and Space: 1999 have in common?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Gray (composer) and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Anderson (executive producer).

A restoration of Gray's work from discovered recordings is underway; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbirds_%28TV_series%29#Music

I just bought the first season of Wild Wild West on DVD and judging from a casual listen, the opening and closing themes sound like they're in good enough shape to dub off. The transfers of the b&w film are very nice. Never looked better!

I have the first season of "Happy Days" on DVD and I understand that the second season will be coming out soon!

Baby Elephant Walk..May not be a TV show theme. or was it?...Lloyd Thaxton comes to mind..

Val: The only thing I can connect BABY ELEPHANT WALK with is the TV theme to "Popeye's Pier 12" and the movie "Hatari".

Hey, I know I'm showing my age but not only do I dig the Baby Elephant Walk, but the Patti Duke show theme and It's About Time, It's About Space (Imogene Coca) run a close 2nd and 3rd!

I hate the Baby Elephant walk! Ramblin Rod used it on tv.

Thanks Jeff,
great info on FIREBALL XL-5

Val: THE PATTY DUKE THEME aka COUSINS was sung by Marilyn Jackson, Kevin Gavin, Dick Williams & Sandy Stewart with Sid Ramin conducting music on the first season. Same singers in the last season version with Harry Geller as music conductor.

Both versions are available on the CD "The Best of Patty Duke - Just Patty" EMI Legends Series E2-29787

Are you saying someone other than the Ventures did Hawaii Five-O?

On the TV series Hawaii Five-O was performed by Morton Stevens and he released a soundtrack album in 1970 on Capitol 410.

The Theme HAWAII FIVE-O was also recorded by: Henry Mancini, 101 Strings, Jack Parnell, Pop Orchestra, Rockets, Sounds Orch., Ventures & Newton Wayland.

Did the Ventures do the theme song on the series itself or did someone else do it?

Wayne: Mort Stevens wrote a performed the "Hawaii Five-O" Theme on the series. The Ventures recorded a similar version and had the big hit.

"Similar" is the word for it; I cannot tell the difference!

Mort Stevens version is a little faster paced.

The 5-0 theme was performed to synchronize with the flashing blue gumball in front of the camera, though I'd presume the film was cranked to puts its rotation as close to the desired tempo as they could get.

"Lastminute entry...Doctor Who. I have the CD-5 by the Timelords (later known as The KLF) called doctorin' the Tardis...As you can see, I liked the instrumental themes. "

Wow! and here I thought I was the only person on "This side of the pond" to even know about The Timelords/The KLF/The Orb/etc.

So far I only have "The White Room" album (pretty impressive music,considering the limited equipment they used to make it),and a few other cuts I managed to find online.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF

Oh,yea..themes..
Uhm,how about Three's Company?
(only because it's stuck in my head at the moment!) Oh,or maybe The X-Files.

I'm glad someone besides me remembers this version:

"It's about time, it's about space,
It's about time to slap your face".

There are some great ones that have already been mentioned.

Being a fan of Herb Alpert, I always liked the theme to "The Newlywed Game."

The Cowsills "Love, American Style" was also a favorite.

Here's one for you Craig. What college march was used for years as the opening music on "Portland Wrestling?"

Thatonedude: I must have missed the earlier post on Doctor Who. I've got The Timelords 45rpm of DOCTORIN' THE TARDIS backed with another Doctor Who version called GARY AND THE TARDIS on TVT 4025. It came with a picture sleeve of that bashed up police car.

Also have on a 45, DOCTOR WHO by Peter Howell & The BBC Radiophonic Workshop on BBC 451 backed with "The Astronauts" with a picture sleeve of Doctor Who from 1980.

Rich: You've got me on the "Portland Wrestling" theme. I can hear it in my head but don't know what it is? [brought to you by Friendly Chevorlet].

Rich: Gotta set you and everybody else strait on The Dating Game & The Newlywed Game themes. Yes the original Dating Game Main Theme was SPANISH FLEA by Herb Alpert & The T.J.B. Additional T.J.B. songs were used for the men's enterance "Whipped Cream". Womens enterance "Lolliops And Roses" and the ending, blowing kisses, starting midway through the song "Butterball".

For Chuck Barris next series The Newlywed Game he hired Frank Jaffe to record the NEWLYWED GAME THEME. This was to sound similar to T.J.B. music on The Dating Game. A year later Barris had new themes written for The Dating Game. They were called THE DATING GAME THEME and THE DATING GAME CLOSING THEME aka LITTLE ROSE. These themes were also performed by Frank Jaffe to sound like the T.J.B. They were written by Chuck Barris & David Mook.

Love American Style had a similar story. The theme music was written by Charles Fox with lyrics by Arnold Margolin. In the first season Fox had The Cowsills record the vocals with Fox's music backing. A year later Fox re-recorded the theme with studio vocalists, calling themselves The Charles Fox Singers. This is the version people remember most.

Did you know that Chuck Baris wrote "Palasades Park" for Freddie Cannon?

I didn't say that Herb Alpert performed "The Newlywed Game" theme, just that I liked his sound, so I like the theme.

Arnold Margolin: Any relation to Stuart and Janet? Stuart was in a lot of the blackout sketches.

That I don't know.

He's Stuart's brother. I could swear that Janet was his sister but I can't find anything about it. She died in 1993.

http://imdb.com/name/nm0546765/bio

"Biography for Stuart Margolin -
*Brother of Arnold Margolin.
*Brother of Janet Margolin."

Thanks for the confirmation!

and after all this time not a mention of "Lost In Space"....

Lame theme....... Great Robot!

"Lost In Space" had two themes written and performed by Johnny Williams, later known as John Williams. Both themes were called LOST IN SPACE MAIN TITLE. The later theme has been also known as LOST IN SPACE II.

... And then, because it is never mentioned or seen, The greek show long before My Big Fat Greek Wedding......


Arnie..............

Fiddler on the Roof? Never on Sunday?

There were two albums that had the music from the Man from Uncle! I don't remember the music much but the photos were cool.

Wayne: For U.N.C.L.E. albums. See my post of August 7th at 1:35am.

Wow! This thread has certainly hit a nerve.

A couple of observations:

"Seattle" the blue-est skies you ever saw (for about 75 days a year)...the theme for ABC's"Here Comes the Brides", was also a Perry Como Billboard hit that peaked at #38 in the summer of '69.

The Mary Tyler Moore theme was one of the best, but after the first couple of seasons, the "Love is All Around" theme sung by Sonny Curtis was presented with no vocals, just an instrumental on the opening.

The Brady Bunch theme was sung by the kids for most seasons, but the first season was done by studio singers.

OK, I'm a TV geek. I admit it.

TV Land is featuring a "Daniel Boone" marathon this weekend. Saw the two part pilot episode. Remembered watching it when the series premiered on NBC. Trouble is they have replaced the Imperials first season vocal version of the theme song with the later Ken Darby Singers which was used on all the other seasons. I remember liking the Ken Darby version better. They stepped up the beat a little and in the first season Daniel didn't spit that tree with his flying ax but I'd still like to here the original. Why can't they just leave things alone!

TV Theme Tunes Fall Victim To Tough Times.

AP, New York story:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=77286

Tonight Show Theme

Little off subject, the Oregon ran an article on Fess Parker last week, after Daniel Boone, he worked movies a couple of years, then got out of the business, put his money in a winery, and real estate, hes done pretty well for an old country boy, sort of like that other country boy, Jimmy Dean.

"Just Two good-ole boys, never meanin' no harm, beats all you ever saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born."

Dukes of Hazzard!!! YEEEEEHHHHHAAAAWWWWWWWW

Peticoat junction, theme wasnt that great, but the openiong scenes of the 3 girls skinny dipping in the tower, always got my attention.

A-Team.

Regarding the article, how is anyone going to know the actors' names if they aren't shown during the credits?

"Side note, the theme for Peewee's Playhouse was written by one of the Talking Heads (David Byrne if I remember correctly)"

the theme was by DEVO's Mark Mothersbaugh. also the Residents provided music for an episode - how creepy is that !!!

not to change the subject too much ... but the most pathetic TV theme song was the old Dick Van Dyke show song (da,da,da - da,da,da - da,da,da,da,da,da,da ......)

It was a long time ago. They didn't exactly use rock music for TV themes in 1961. I think it had something to do with offending everyone over the age of 17!

What I want to know, sinc dick and laura had to use twin beds, how did Richie happen?

Oh yeau theres still the dining room table.

I always have liked the "Bonanza" theme song. That was a big hit for Al Caiola in 1961. He had one other hit too. It was used in a cigarette commercial.

Twin beds were very trendy at that time and Dick Van Dyke's was a pretty cutting edge show.

http://www.reelradio.com/comment/comment.cgi?siday~Identitones+Demo,+1968~../mpf /index.html#siday
is a very interesting discussion of Identitones, especially how scary some people find some of them. They were used on both Radio and TV commercials and imaging.

Adiant...

Huh?

I tie the two together. Theme music played during the credits at the end of a TV show (like the Monkees Show talked about in the reelradio discussion thread) followed immediately by the studio's logo, which often had the Identitones. To me, the theme music and studio logo audio imaging was all one package that runs together in the mind.

If I haven't answered your question, please elaborate on your "Huh?".

As for twin beds in sitcoms...

The general rule in the 50's was never show a couple in the same bed together. Then there was the "one foot on the floor" policy if shown in bed.

The first couple shown in bed together is a great trivia question. Many people believe it was Herman and Lilly Munster, others believe it was Samantha and Darrin Stevens in Bewitched. Both date from about 1964. But the real answer is a show from the very early years of TV, called Mary Kay and Johnny (1947). However, they were a real married couple off the air.

Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first cartoon characters to share a bed.

Adiant...

What are identitones? Never heard the term before. Is it possibly something Canadian?

Paulwalker...

Lucy and Desi were a real married couple but Lucy and Ricky had twin beds...and Lucy still got pregnant.

You'll find more details at
http://www.reelradio.com/mpf/index.html#siday
but Identitones were Eric Siday's musical logos based on the early use of Moog, filters, reverse taping and recording off speed to produce such famous imaging as the ABC Radio News (audio) logo. Screen Gems used them on TV, and many sponsors used them so people would immediately identity their commercials on both TV and Radio.

Kind of like the way that Sears used the same tones heard in their stores to page their staff, on their radio commercials in the U.S. in the 1960s. I have a 1969 WLS-Chicago recording that I made from Vancouver that has a Sears commercial. Very effective, I found, at even the subconscious level.

Onetimeradioguy...

Funny. This has got me thinking how much our culture has changed in the past 40 years. We have gone from twin beds to "Sex in the City".

From no sex between heterosexual married couples, to sex between gay couples (Will & Grace).

Is it also interesting that couples in bed together started becoming the norm in 1964...the year after JFK's assasination, and the year of the The Beatles. What a pivotal year for our culture.

In the sixties, the fanfare played over the production company's logo gave way from symphonic to the earliest use of the Moog most people ever heard. I guess these were or have become known as "Identitones." The Screen Gems' tag is widely noted on the Web as having been scary to children, due to its swirly abstract eyeball graphic and freaky notes (though it was the CBS "eye"--when shown full-screen--and Conelrad tests--bzzt-bzzt-beeeeeeeeep--that alarmed me more as a kid).

This usage may have been inspired to some extent by the 50s-60s use of overlapped, edited MF tones (operator long-distance dialing tones, not the more familiar DTMF or Touch-Tone) in the famous NBC Monitor radio sounder. It implied urgent or instant communication, which was appropriate as well as distinctive, though many disliked it (including some in the network), finding it harsh-sounding.

Then in the later 60s Moog sounds became a convenient aural shorthand for "space-age" or "computerized" (when we were still on our way to the Moon, computers still weighed a ton and did almost nothing in real-time yet, and synthesized music remained rare), employed to give an impression of modernity, while also being more economical.

The Moog's innovative sound propelled many a TV commercial, which, toward the end of the 60-second spot era, were often intriguingly abstract and colorful, approaching psychedelic in the very early 70s (from slow-mo spills in a paper towel commercial to the astonishing Peter Max 7up campaign).

ISTR the Bonanza theme was scorned by some for being so heavily electric (it first aired in 1959), but then, the show wasn't what I ever considered a real Western, but rather a period saga, more than halfway to a family sitcom.

I hadn't heard of Eric Siday's "Identitones" prior to this thread, but former big band leader, Raymond Scott was another early tape and synthisizer innovator (with help from Robert Moog) who created similar "Audio Logos."

"What college march was used for years as the opening music on 'Portland Wrestling?'"

Never did see an answer, but if you want to hear it I found it on Dutch Savage's site:

Portland Wrestling Open and other goodies

The Flying Dutchman was just plain COOL!

I liked "Jimmy Super-Fly Snooka"

Does the Stoner have Stan Freberg's satire version of Lawrence Welks' show? That would be fun to hear some time. The Lennon Sisters are actually on the record and the other voices are by Daws Butler and June Foray who did quite a bit of cartoon voices. I heard Stan in an interview say that Lawrence really got a kick out of it and he didn't think he had an accent!

I don't know Wayne but I'll bet Stoner or Dirty Dave has "Testify" by Beauegarde!

were playing the L Welk parody today!

Thanks Stoner!

Break it Stoner its a terrible record.

Isn't that just like a listener! You get a request. You go the extra mile to play it. The requester doesn't like it!

Or, missed hearing it and want You to play it again! Or, that was not the song I requested. Or, I wanted the long version. Or, I wanted the short version. Or, etc.........

Do you like "Muskrat Love" by the Capt & Tenile, Craig? I wonder why K-Hits never plays that.

Maybe because it sucks?


Now go back to your 8 tracks.

or your PlayTapes. (If you have to ask, then you're under 50.)

I don't believe I'm familiar with PlayTapes and thanks for the complement!

I'm under 50 but I do remember the PlayTape format even though it was very forgettable and short-lived.

http://www.8trackheaven.com/playtape.html

Now that I see the picture, I certainly do remember but didn't know what it was called. Frank Stanton as in the #2 man at CBS, that Frank Stanton? He's still alive at 98!