Again when tv meant three American networks and two Canadian ones, nearly everybody was conscious of every part on TV. Even when you didn’t like or watch a specific present, likelihood is you knew about it. And one of many issues which will have seeped into your thoughts was a present’s theme track.
Even when the variety of channels and packages expanded, TV theme songs had been ubiquitous, with lots of them changing into high 40 hits (Theme from SWAT, The Rockford Recordsdata, Biggest American Hero, Peter Gunn, Hawaii 5-O, Miami Vice, and many others.) that generated further consciousness and money.
There’s a subgenre of music followers who love the topic of TV themes, the sort who had been delighted when multi-volume collections just like the Tv’s Biggest Hits collection (through the Tee-Vee Toons label) began showing in 1985. I ponder if these aficionados know these tales.
The Twilight Zone
The unique theme from Rod Serling’s anthology collection has been lined many instances. You’re in all probability buzzing it proper now. It’s based mostly on 4 dissonant guitar notes that sign that what we’re about to see is unusual and disturbing.
The origin of the theme itself is just a little disturbing. In an try at union busting and saving cash, CBS determined to not fee a brand new composition for the present. As an alternative, it discovered two completely different items of inventory music from the CBS library and spliced them collectively. The composer of that inventory music, Marius Fixed, was paid nothing past the one-off fee he received for creating it.
This was the unique music for this system when it first appeared on Oct. 2, 1959, and used for the primary season. The composer was Bernard Herrmann, an Academy Award-winning orchestrator whose profession started within the ’40s and ended with Taxi Driver in 1976.
The spliced model that included Fixed’s work was used for the second season onwards. The guitarist is Howard Roberts, a jazz participant, utilizing a 1952 Fender Telecaster.
Gilligan’s Island
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If you happen to’re of a sure classic, you may in all probability sing the whole theme in regards to the SS Minnow and its doomed three-hour tour proper now. Written by producer Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle, it was carried out by a gaggle known as The Wellingtons (for the primary season) and The Eligibles (each season thereafter). However when Sherwood Schwartz received the go-ahead for the pilot in 1964, he started with a special strategy. He employed a younger TV composer named John Williams — sure, the Jaws/Star Wars/Shut Encounters/Harry Potter/and many others. man) to give you a gap quantity.
He went the calypso route — a bit odd, on condition that the SS Minnow sailed out of Hawaii and never anyplace within the Caribbean. The pilot was by no means aired and the unique theme track was forgotten — till the web got here alongside.
The Munsters
This theme, composed by Jack Marshal, was created by intentionally riffing off the Twilight Zone theme whereas including just a little Duane Eddy-inspired surf guitar. It was so common that it was nominated for a Grammy in 1965 (it didn’t win). And there are lyrics written by collection co-producer Bob Mosher. About the one place they are often heard is on a 1964 Munsters sing-along album.
Star Trek: The Unique Collection
One other basic. Creator Gene Roddenberry employed Alexander Braveness, a composer and orchestrator for movie, to give you one thing acceptable for a galaxy-spanning five-year mission. Formally known as The place No Man Has Gone Earlier than, it’s well-known for the William Shatner monologue declaring area to be the ultimate frontier.
Then Roddenberry received sneaky. To make sure that he was additionally paid for the theme (a theme he paid to fee), he, too, wrote some pointless lyrics — unbeknownst to Braveness. That manner, Roddenberry may very well be credited as a co-writer and obtain royalties each time the present aired. He might have been a visionary TV producer, however a lyricist he wasn’t.
Past
The rim of the star-light
My love
Is wand’ring in star-flight
I do know
He’ll discover in star-clustered reaches
Love,
Unusual love a star lady teaches.
I do know
His journey ends by no means
His star trek
Will go on ceaselessly.
However inform him
Whereas he wanders his starry sea
Bear in mind, bear in mind me.
Wow. Not good. To my data, a full model has by no means been launched, although Lt. Uhura sings this in a DC Comics concern of Star Trek.
Cheers
Each time I hear the opening theme from Cheers, I instantly shout out “NORM!” And hey, who doesn’t need to hang around at a spot the place everyone is aware of your identify? This iconic theme was the work of Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart-Angelo. It took some time to get it proper by way of association and instrumentation, however they ultimately got here up with one of the crucial beloved TV themes of all time. Right here’s the unique model.
Associates
In one other universe, fixed repeats of Associates are working with the producers’ unique alternative for the opening theme: Shiny Glad Folks by R.E.M. Michael Stipe, in all probability to his unending remorse, turned down the supply, shedding out on hundreds of thousands upon hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in royalties. That cash went to The Rembrandts as a substitute for I’ll Be There for You. Even then, The Rembrandts (who didn’t write the track) didn’t need the gig. However as a result of they had been the one band out there on Warner Bros. Information, they had been strong-armed into recording it. The enduring handclaps had been a last-second addition.
Attempt to think about this opening each episode of Associates.
Ridiculousness
The video blooper present appears to be the one factor working on MuchMusic nowadays. The limitless repeats are nice information to Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo. As a composer of music for movie and TV, he was requested to give you one thing fast for the present and determined to transform an outdated Devo track known as Uncontrollable Urge, the lead-off observe from their 1978 debut album, Q: Are We Not Males? A: We Are Devo!
Mothersbaugh now makes greater than US$1 million a yr from this little bit of, er, ridiculousness. He makes extra money from that than the rest. Good work if you may get it, proper?
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