Television Theme Songs

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:11 pm

As in: The Best and Most Memorable Ones

For me MASH and Taxi have had the best theme songs in the history of shows.

But I have a fondness for both Bewitched and I Dream Of Genie.

What do YOU think?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:16 pm

The Munsters had a cool theme song, sounded like a baritone guitar. Perry Mason also had a cool one.
People used to always ask me to play Barnie Miller

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Sep 12, 2007 3:45 pm

I'm partial to The Wonder Years... but that probably doesn't count. (Joe Cocker's "Little Help From My Friends.")

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:12 pm

Hogan's Heroes - great bass part! Heavily muted Rick with flats?

jojo99 · Post by **jojo99** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:33 pm

Carol Kaye may have played on some of these, usually using a fender with flats played with a pick. She did a lot of TV themes and incidental music...I'm pretty sure she did MASH. "Taxi" theme is a song called 'Angela' by Bob James, playing the Rhodes. Another great one is both versions of the theme from "The Bob Newhart Show" from the 70's. And the "Rockford Files"..that little tune runs the stylistic gamut from synth, harmonica, bitchin' guitar solo, and stately french horns all in less than a minute. And oh yeah...'Sanford and Son"...a very funky Quincy Jones tune.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:40 pm

Mission Impossible was always a cool theme.

jojo99 · Post by **jojo99** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:47 pm

Here's a challenge...name a great (or merely memorable) TV theme created in the last twenty years...

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:50 pm

I always liked Secret Agent by Johnny Rivers. In fact, I like it so much, it has become a standard in my sets. I figured out a way to play it finger style.

Another favorite is Henry Mancini's theme to Peter Gunn

JimK

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:56 pm

Don't forget the bass on "Barney Miller."

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:00 pm

Man, Jojo... Great posts and a great challenge... No one seems interested in hiring real songwriters for TV themes anymore, do they? Because I can't really think of one in the past 20 years that doesn't suck.

The best news for me, I haven't watched much TV in the last 20 years.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:14 pm

I always liked Hawaii Five-O.

Memorable in the last 20 years? Law and Order, Seinfeld, South Park, Cheers, Home Improvement, The Simpsons......

Not necessarily memorable but when you hear them you automatically think of the show.

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:25 pm

The ukulele music for Arrested Development is memorable and can't be mistaken for anything else. Oh yeah, The A-Team...classic.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:33 pm

Hawaii Five-O is a great one. Peter Gunn is classic also. The Simspsons is a fine theme also.

Here is a nifty resource:
http://www.televisiontunes.com/

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:51 pm

I liked the kinda zydeco theme to "Northern Exposure," the stirring theme to "West Wing," and the theme for "Star Trek Voyager."

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:54 pm

I like that hat that floats above people's heads when they want Arby's.