edit* I really liked the other thread with the poll.
However, I am afraid there are some really really great songs folks may not have ever heard of.
I have an absolute ton of TV theme songs. I think it would be cool if folks could download some of the great ones they have never heard before and then vote on the best.
Not a TV song, but as far as a Movie Song, "High Noon" by Tex Ritter is about as Universally loved by the older generation as we might feel about Star Wars, Jaws, or the latest John Williams movie theme. But, I doubt almost anyone under 30 has eve heard what is considered one of the greatest Movie songs of all times. Now, I am nto lobbying for any particular songs. My hope is you guys will load up your favorite P2P program and grab some of these gems. Heck I have a TON of them and maybe if it is legal some how for us to set up a private server, I will send them out to someone who knows how to set it up.
Absolute classics, have you all heard these?
The Prisoner
Hill Street Blues,
Simon and Simon,
Welcome Back Carter,
Happy Days,
Mission Impossible,
Dragnet,
H&R PuffnStuff
SpiderMan - Quintessential 60's, and there is also an amazing Ramon's cover of it
Batman - With Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin
of course ? Hawaii Five O.
I did not include Magnum PI, because while great, I think most folks know it.
Same with Sanford and Son - , that is one of the greats without a doubt, but we all know it.
I am just trying to round up stuff that is worthy of a listen to folks who may have not heard of it because they are younger, and the reruns are not out. Gilligan's Island is old as heck, but we have all seen it. Then there are songs I saw included, like ?Facts of Life? which maybe are nostalgic for some folks, but personally I think not only did the TV theme suck, the show sucked as well.
I am sure I will think of some more as soon as I hit reply.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/459/4220078.html
1. "Secret Agent" ("Secret Agent Man"): So what if it sounds like a ripoff of the James Bond theme? Johnny Rivers' version defines cool, steering millions of young people into careers as rock guitarists and international spies.
2. "Hawaii Five-O": There are actually lyrics to this Polynesian gem ("If you're feelin' lonely, you can come to me"), but they're best chucked into the ocean. Instead, groove to the Ventures' classic rendition while you marvel at the wonder that is Jack Lord's hair.
3. "The Andy Griffith Show": The best whistling song this side of the River Kwai. Co-author Earle Hagen, who also provided the puckered lips, claims it took only 15 minutes to write.
4. "The Dukes of Hazzard" ("Good Ol' Boys"): Waylon Jennings was more of an outlaw than Bo and Luke combined.
5. "The Roy Rogers Show" ("Happy Trails"): We've stretched the rules a bit, since Dale Evans really wrote this in 1950, less than an hour before hubby Roy Rogers and his band premiered it on a radio show, but the sunniest tune in the West became forever linked with their TV series, which launched just months later.
6. "Good Times": Scratchin' and survivin' never sounded so good. Hard to believe the composers -- Dave Grusin with Andrew and Marilyn Bergman -- also wrote the theme for "Tootsie."
7. "Peter Gunn": Henry Mancini's theme has been recorded by Jimi Hendrix, Duane Eddy, the Blues Brothers, Quincy Jones, the Tubes and the Art of Noise. A Dave Matthews cover is inevitable.
8. "Mission: Impossible": Lalo Schifrin's original theme was rejected by creator Bruce Geller, who preferred a melody the songwriter had set aside for a chase scene. This nugget of trivia will self-destruct in five seconds.
9. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" ("Love Is All Around"): It's so inspiring that singer/songwriter Sonny Curtis recorded the lyrics after the first season from "you might just make it . . . " to "you're gonna make it after all." You betcha.
10. "Hill Street Blues": With 60 theme songs to his credit, including "The Greatest American Hero" and "St. Elsewhere," Mike Post is TV's music man, but none of his compositions can quite match the touching, simple piano arrangement that so sharply contrasts with the gloomy opening credits of this landmark drama.
11. "The Jeffersons" ("Movin' On Up"): Ja'net DuBois, who played Willona on "Good Times," collaborated on this hand-clapping classic with Jeff Barry (co-writer of "Be My Baby" and other Phil Spector hits) and lent her voice, as well.
12. "The Monkees": The initial recording session with writers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart was called off when the boys got into a wrestling match. I hear they liked to monkey around.
13. "The Muppet Show": Nigel the Conductor claims to have written this theme, but the real credit goes to Jim Henson and Sam Pottle. The whole gang gets in on the vaudeville-like opening, except Beeker, who is strangely missing.
14. "Sanford & Son" ("The Streetbeater"): Quincy Jones also wrote the "Ironside" opener (which was the first synthesizer-based theme song) but this junkyard jam is his ultimate thriller.
15. "Moonlighting": Al Jarreau had just the right background -- a soaring voice and a degree in psychology -- to present the theme song to one of TV's oddest mystery/romance/comedy/surreal shows.
16. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson": Paul Anka made $200 every time Carson came out from behind the curtain to his tune. Hi-yo!
17. "Angie" ("Different Worlds"): Maureen McGovern's disco-flavored anthem was a lot snappier than this Robert Hays sitcom.
18. "Welcome Back, Kotter" ("Welcome Back"): The sitcom's name was originally "Kotter," but producers were so taken with John Sebastian's tune that they incorporated the song's title.
19. "Cheers": You may not know Judy Hart Angelo's and Gary Portnoy's names, but their song is as familiar as Budweiser beer.
20. "All in the Family" ("Those Were the Days"): Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton re-recorded their vocals every season, assuring that this nostalgic number never went out of style.
21. "Taxi" ("Angela"): Jazz pianst Bob James' melancholy tune was named after Alex's date in the second episode of the series.
22. "The Partridge Family ("Come On Get Happy"): The theme song didn't have lyrics until the second season, around the time they replaced the actor playing Chris. Guess he was holding them back.
23. "The Twilight Zone": The anthology series used several different themes in the first season before sticking with classical composer Marius Constant's contribution in the second year. Not that Constant was a sci-fi nut. He had never seen the show and submitted the number as part of a contest.
24. "Beverly Hillbillies" ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett"): Jerry Scroggins' bumpkin delivery is amusing, but it's the slick-as-moonshine instrumental coda by Earl Flatt and Lester Scruggs that makes this high-class.
25. "The Fall Guy" ("The Unknown Stuntman"): Lee Majors resurrects the cowboy drawl from his "Big Valley" days to recite this country tribute with references to Burt Reynolds, Bo Derek, Sally Field -- and ex-wife Farrah!
However, I am afraid there are some really really great songs folks may not have ever heard of.
I have an absolute ton of TV theme songs. I think it would be cool if folks could download some of the great ones they have never heard before and then vote on the best.
Not a TV song, but as far as a Movie Song, "High Noon" by Tex Ritter is about as Universally loved by the older generation as we might feel about Star Wars, Jaws, or the latest John Williams movie theme. But, I doubt almost anyone under 30 has eve heard what is considered one of the greatest Movie songs of all times. Now, I am nto lobbying for any particular songs. My hope is you guys will load up your favorite P2P program and grab some of these gems. Heck I have a TON of them and maybe if it is legal some how for us to set up a private server, I will send them out to someone who knows how to set it up.
Absolute classics, have you all heard these?
The Prisoner
Hill Street Blues,
Simon and Simon,
Welcome Back Carter,
Happy Days,
Mission Impossible,
Dragnet,
H&R PuffnStuff
SpiderMan - Quintessential 60's, and there is also an amazing Ramon's cover of it
Batman - With Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin
of course ? Hawaii Five O.
I did not include Magnum PI, because while great, I think most folks know it.
Same with Sanford and Son - , that is one of the greats without a doubt, but we all know it.
I am just trying to round up stuff that is worthy of a listen to folks who may have not heard of it because they are younger, and the reruns are not out. Gilligan's Island is old as heck, but we have all seen it. Then there are songs I saw included, like ?Facts of Life? which maybe are nostalgic for some folks, but personally I think not only did the TV theme suck, the show sucked as well.
I am sure I will think of some more as soon as I hit reply.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/459/4220078.html
1. "Secret Agent" ("Secret Agent Man"): So what if it sounds like a ripoff of the James Bond theme? Johnny Rivers' version defines cool, steering millions of young people into careers as rock guitarists and international spies.
2. "Hawaii Five-O": There are actually lyrics to this Polynesian gem ("If you're feelin' lonely, you can come to me"), but they're best chucked into the ocean. Instead, groove to the Ventures' classic rendition while you marvel at the wonder that is Jack Lord's hair.
3. "The Andy Griffith Show": The best whistling song this side of the River Kwai. Co-author Earle Hagen, who also provided the puckered lips, claims it took only 15 minutes to write.
4. "The Dukes of Hazzard" ("Good Ol' Boys"): Waylon Jennings was more of an outlaw than Bo and Luke combined.
5. "The Roy Rogers Show" ("Happy Trails"): We've stretched the rules a bit, since Dale Evans really wrote this in 1950, less than an hour before hubby Roy Rogers and his band premiered it on a radio show, but the sunniest tune in the West became forever linked with their TV series, which launched just months later.
6. "Good Times": Scratchin' and survivin' never sounded so good. Hard to believe the composers -- Dave Grusin with Andrew and Marilyn Bergman -- also wrote the theme for "Tootsie."
7. "Peter Gunn": Henry Mancini's theme has been recorded by Jimi Hendrix, Duane Eddy, the Blues Brothers, Quincy Jones, the Tubes and the Art of Noise. A Dave Matthews cover is inevitable.
8. "Mission: Impossible": Lalo Schifrin's original theme was rejected by creator Bruce Geller, who preferred a melody the songwriter had set aside for a chase scene. This nugget of trivia will self-destruct in five seconds.
9. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" ("Love Is All Around"): It's so inspiring that singer/songwriter Sonny Curtis recorded the lyrics after the first season from "you might just make it . . . " to "you're gonna make it after all." You betcha.
10. "Hill Street Blues": With 60 theme songs to his credit, including "The Greatest American Hero" and "St. Elsewhere," Mike Post is TV's music man, but none of his compositions can quite match the touching, simple piano arrangement that so sharply contrasts with the gloomy opening credits of this landmark drama.
11. "The Jeffersons" ("Movin' On Up"): Ja'net DuBois, who played Willona on "Good Times," collaborated on this hand-clapping classic with Jeff Barry (co-writer of "Be My Baby" and other Phil Spector hits) and lent her voice, as well.
12. "The Monkees": The initial recording session with writers Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart was called off when the boys got into a wrestling match. I hear they liked to monkey around.
13. "The Muppet Show": Nigel the Conductor claims to have written this theme, but the real credit goes to Jim Henson and Sam Pottle. The whole gang gets in on the vaudeville-like opening, except Beeker, who is strangely missing.
14. "Sanford & Son" ("The Streetbeater"): Quincy Jones also wrote the "Ironside" opener (which was the first synthesizer-based theme song) but this junkyard jam is his ultimate thriller.
15. "Moonlighting": Al Jarreau had just the right background -- a soaring voice and a degree in psychology -- to present the theme song to one of TV's oddest mystery/romance/comedy/surreal shows.
16. "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson": Paul Anka made $200 every time Carson came out from behind the curtain to his tune. Hi-yo!
17. "Angie" ("Different Worlds"): Maureen McGovern's disco-flavored anthem was a lot snappier than this Robert Hays sitcom.
18. "Welcome Back, Kotter" ("Welcome Back"): The sitcom's name was originally "Kotter," but producers were so taken with John Sebastian's tune that they incorporated the song's title.
19. "Cheers": You may not know Judy Hart Angelo's and Gary Portnoy's names, but their song is as familiar as Budweiser beer.
20. "All in the Family" ("Those Were the Days"): Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton re-recorded their vocals every season, assuring that this nostalgic number never went out of style.
21. "Taxi" ("Angela"): Jazz pianst Bob James' melancholy tune was named after Alex's date in the second episode of the series.
22. "The Partridge Family ("Come On Get Happy"): The theme song didn't have lyrics until the second season, around the time they replaced the actor playing Chris. Guess he was holding them back.
23. "The Twilight Zone": The anthology series used several different themes in the first season before sticking with classical composer Marius Constant's contribution in the second year. Not that Constant was a sci-fi nut. He had never seen the show and submitted the number as part of a contest.
24. "Beverly Hillbillies" ("The Ballad of Jed Clampett"): Jerry Scroggins' bumpkin delivery is amusing, but it's the slick-as-moonshine instrumental coda by Earl Flatt and Lester Scruggs that makes this high-class.
25. "The Fall Guy" ("The Unknown Stuntman"): Lee Majors resurrects the cowboy drawl from his "Big Valley" days to recite this country tribute with references to Burt Reynolds, Bo Derek, Sally Field -- and ex-wife Farrah!