I’m also a fan of The Rockford Files intro… what couldn’t that Mike Post fella do back in the day?
And I love the way the video intro’s montage worked in something mundane stuff like Jim Rockford grocery shopping… great character building throwaway moments. I feel like watching some Rockford Files now.
Alright, I’m not sure Barney Miller is better than Rockford Files (and thanks for the reminder on how handsome James Garner was- I just realized where I subconsciously acquired an unrealistic expectation of men’s appearances), but I also have to add my fondness for the old Reading Rainbow theme song, as is here, and in tribute here.
It appears that I don’t have a life because I am also scouting out future hit TV theme songs, like this one, but let’s not forget that TV is moving to the internet, and theme songs may have to as well.
Oh Snap! I can’t believe I forgot this one from It’s Garry Shandling’s Show…one of my faves. (I used to really like the show too. Sonny from Grease was on it!)
rider, I think I downloaded the original Rockford Files theme from somewhere. I might have a copy laying about. I really love the theme to Taxi, it had a really nice, understated melancholy to it. I think the Cheers theme song was trying for a similar feel to the Taxi theme. I’m kind of tired of the Hill Street Blues theme songs — maybe I heard it too much as a youngun.
Kevin, Peter Gunn is indeed fantabulous. I first heard it in the arcade game Spyhunter, then later in The Blues Brothers. Like you, I have never seen the original show. Devo does a great cover of Secret Agent Man on their second album.
Freida B, Barney Miller is quite nice, too. The only thing that I remembered about the opening to Quincy was where you thought he had his hand on a corpse, but it turned out to be a babe in a bikini. What the?!!!
minijonb, I can’t remember the theme to CHiPs. I’ll haveta look it up.
Matty Boy, if I ever watch the movies in my Netflix queue, I’ll be watching The Wire. I’ll probably get around to it in 2019 or so.
Beckeye, what the hell was that? I have never seen it before. You and I definitely had different cartoons as wee ones.
Splotch, I never actually watched Prince Planet. I think my oldest brother may have come across that show at some point (he’s a cartoonist) and showed it to me.
Mathman, “fish don’t fry in the kitchen, beans don’t burn on the grill” are musical lyrics I love without having a clue as to what the hell it means. (To be honest, until double-checking the lyrics in writing this very comment, I always thought the line started “beans don’t burn in the kitchen” which I think is far superior to the fish line).
The theme to Gilligan’s Isle is part of my genetic makeup since I watched it so much as a kid, but I don’t like the song as much as others.
Freida B, way back in June of 2007 I had a hankering to hear the Land of the Lost theme, as I said then, “Just ’cause”. Groovy theme, with a lot of exposition in the lyrics!
The theme from Rockford Files is awesome, but I’ve always liked Taxi and Hill Street Blues just as much.
Beware of this theme on iTunes, though. I haven’t been able to locate the original one you hear on this YouTube clip.
Easy: the theme from Peter Gunn is about as cool as it gets. Never saw the show, though.
Regards,
Tengrain
Secret Agent Man doesn’t suck either.
Regards,
Tengrain
Barney Miller is my favorite, but my husband is partial to Quincy and Magnum P.I..
I’m sticking with Barney Miller. It’s funny that we just looked all these up as we had a conversation about these just the other day.
Nice choice. The theme from CHiPs was pretty damn good as well.
The Wire.
Written by Tom Waits. Recorded by Clarence Fountain and The Blind Boys of Alabama.
Prince Planet, he’s the best. The song even says so.
I’m also a fan of The Rockford Files intro… what couldn’t that Mike Post fella do back in the day?
And I love the way the video intro’s montage worked in something mundane stuff like Jim Rockford grocery shopping… great character building throwaway moments. I feel like watching some Rockford Files now.
Alright, I’m not sure Barney Miller is better than Rockford Files (and thanks for the reminder on how handsome James Garner was- I just realized where I subconsciously acquired an unrealistic expectation of men’s appearances), but I also have to add my fondness for the old Reading Rainbow theme song, as is here, and in tribute here.
It appears that I don’t have a life because I am also scouting out future hit TV theme songs, like this one, but let’s not forget that TV is moving to the internet, and theme songs may have to as well.
I’ll stop now. I think.
My dad loved that show. Angel was such a dickhead, though.
Oh Snap! I can’t believe I forgot this one from It’s Garry Shandling’s Show…one of my faves. (I used to really like the show too. Sonny from Grease was on it!)
rider, I think I downloaded the original Rockford Files theme from somewhere. I might have a copy laying about. I really love the theme to Taxi, it had a really nice, understated melancholy to it. I think the Cheers theme song was trying for a similar feel to the Taxi theme. I’m kind of tired of the Hill Street Blues theme songs — maybe I heard it too much as a youngun.
Kevin, Peter Gunn is indeed fantabulous. I first heard it in the arcade game Spyhunter, then later in The Blues Brothers. Like you, I have never seen the original show. Devo does a great cover of Secret Agent Man on their second album.
Freida B, Barney Miller is quite nice, too. The only thing that I remembered about the opening to Quincy was where you thought he had his hand on a corpse, but it turned out to be a babe in a bikini. What the?!!!
minijonb, I can’t remember the theme to CHiPs. I’ll haveta look it up.
Matty Boy, if I ever watch the movies in my Netflix queue, I’ll be watching The Wire. I’ll probably get around to it in 2019 or so.
Beckeye, what the hell was that? I have never seen it before. You and I definitely had different cartoons as wee ones.
McGone, from his Wikipedia entry I see he did the Law and Order theme as well. And the Who wrote a song about him!
Freida, I don’t know if I remember that Reading Rainbow song! I liked the other stuff you linked to.
Dr Z, well he had to balance out the sweetness of Rockford’s dad.
Beckeye, this is the theme that you hear as you watch the credits…
Splotch, I never actually watched Prince Planet. I think my oldest brother may have come across that show at some point (he’s a cartoonist) and showed it to me.
Love thatmusic, love that show!
I do like the Rockford theme but I heard a kid singing the Jeffersons today and what about Gilligan’s Island?
My husband’s going to have to get his own account for this particular thread.
He said to say he wants to play the Land of the Lost song fast in his next band.
Dr MVM, I’m glad to be of service to you!
Mathman, “fish don’t fry in the kitchen, beans don’t burn on the grill” are musical lyrics I love without having a clue as to what the hell it means. (To be honest, until double-checking the lyrics in writing this very comment, I always thought the line started “beans don’t burn in the kitchen” which I think is far superior to the fish line).
The theme to Gilligan’s Isle is part of my genetic makeup since I watched it so much as a kid, but I don’t like the song as much as others.
Freida B, way back in June of 2007 I had a hankering to hear the Land of the Lost theme, as I said then, “Just ’cause”. Groovy theme, with a lot of exposition in the lyrics!