I’ve always loved American TV series built around stories of police, special agents, private investigators and the F.B.I. One essential ingredient in vintage small-screen cop shows was identifiable theme tunes and in this bulletin, I’ve chosen a random selection of some of the
best from yesteryear.
The grandaddy of TV procedural cop shows was Jack Webb’s production DRAGNET in which
he starred and which had started out as a radio series in 1949. The dynamic orchestral opening played over a static shot of a Los Angeles police badge (see above illustration) and was accompanied by the voice-over: “Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true;
the names have been changed to protect the innocent”.
Here’s the theme…
DRAGNET
by Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
Pro: Lee Gillette
(Capitol: 1953)
From the police series “Dragnet” (NBC: 1952-1959).
The original NBC show starred Jack Webb as Sgt. Joe Friday. The series was revived in 1967
thru 1970 in which Jack Webb’s partner was portrayed by Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon. (Years later in 1987, Harry Morgan appeared as Gannon in a spoof film version of DRAGNET which starred Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks).
Original releases of Ray Anthony’s chart-topping version
of the DRAGNET Theme incorrectly credited Walter Schumann as its only composer.
This was challenged in court and as a result, it was and remains copyrighted as a medley
of two works namely DANGER AHEAD by Miklos Rozsa and DRAGNET MARCH by Walter Schumann. Rozsa’s portion was originally the opening notes from his score for the 1946
Universal film “The Killers” starring Burt Lancaster and Ava Gardner. Listen here to the prelude from “The Killers” and you can hear the four notes which were lifted for the DRAGNET opening:
Another influential musical main title was the
PETER GUNN THEME
(Henry Mancini)
by Ray Anthony & His Orchestra
Pro: Lee Gillette
(Capitol: 1958)
From the crime series “Peter Gunn” (NBC: 1958-1960 & ABC: 1960-1961)
starring Craig Stevens as private detective Peter Gunn with Lola Albright as singer Edie Hart.
Ray Anthony’s record climbed to #8 on the Hot 100 in March ’59. Mancini’s jazz-tinged PETER GUNN THEME was also widely recorded by a myriad of artists ranging from Shelly Manne, Quincy Jones, Bobby Hackett and Mundell Lowe to Duane Eddy, Deodato, King Curtis,
Jeff Beck and also Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Henry Mancini scored many other TV Themes including another successful
detective series “Remington Steele” starring Pierce Brosnan in ’82.
Following is a random selection of other memorable themes from the various
police and private eye series in the early years. In each case, I’ve listed the original
stars of each show; co-stars often changed as certain series progressed.
BURKE’S LAW
(Herschel Burke Gilbert)
by Al Caiola
Pro: Leroy Holmes
(United Artists: 1963)
From the police series “Burke’s Law”
(ABC: 1963-1966) starring Gene Barry as Captain Amos Burke, Gary Conway as detective
Tim Tilson and Regis Toomey as Detective Sergeant Les Hart. The show was briefly revived
in 1995 again with Gene Barry in the lead.
Theme From THE F.B.I.
(Bronislaw Kaper)
by Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra
Pro: Al Schmitt
(RCA: 1966)
From the drama series “The F.B.I.”
(ABC: 1965-1974) starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Inspector Lewis Erskine with Philip Abbott
as Arthur Ward, Stephen Brooks as Special Agent Jim Rhodes and Lynn Loring as Barbara Erskine. (Not to be confused with the current Dick Wolf-produced series “F.B.I.”)
HAWAII FIVE-O
(Mort Stevens)
by The Ventures
Pro: Joe Saraceno
Arr: George Tipton
(Liberty: 1968)
From the police series “Hawaii Five-O” (CBS: 1968-1980) starring Jack Lord as Det. Steve McGarrett with James MacArthur as Det. Danny Williams. The Ventures’ version reached #4
on the Hot 100 in May ’69. Mort Stevens’ other TV theme successes included “Police Woman” starring Angie Dickinson in ’74.
HAWAIIAN EYE
(Jerry Livingston/Mack David)
by Warren Barker & His Orchestra
Pro: Alvino Rey
(Warner Bros: 1959)
From the detective series “Hawaiian Eye” (ABC: 1959-1963) starring Bob Conrad as
Tom Lopaka, Anthony Eisley as Tracy Stele (replaced by Troy Donahue in ’62) and
Connie Stevens as Cricket Blake). Also in ’59, Jerry Livingston & Mack David composed
the Theme from another detective series “Bourbon Street Beat” starring Richard Long
and Andrew Duggan.
Theme from HILL STREET BLUES
(Mike Post)
by Mike Post feat. Larry Carlton
Arr & Pro: Mike Post
(Elektra: 1981)
From the police series “Hill Street Blues” (NBC: 1981-1987) starring Daniel J. Travanti as
Capt. Frank Furillo, Michael Conrad as Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, Michael Warren as Officer
Bobby Hill, Bruce Weitz as Det. Mick Belker, Charles Haid as Office Andy Renko &
Veronica Hamel as Joyce Davenport.
THE M SQUAD THEME
(Count Basie)
by Count Basie & His Orchestra
(Roulette: 1958)
From the police drama series “M Squad” (NBC: 1957-1960) starring Lee Marvin as
Lt. Frank Ballinger.
Theme From MAGNUM P.I.
(Mike Post/Pete Carpenter)
by Mike Post
Pro & Arr: Mike Post
(Elektra: 1982)
From the detective series “Magnum P.I” (CBS: 1980-1988) starring Tom Selleck as
Thomas Sullivan Magnum. Also starring John Hillerman as Jonathan Quayle Higgins,
Roger E. Mosley as T.C. and Larry Minetti as Rick.
MANNIX
(Lalo Schifrin)
by Lalo Shifrin
Pro: Tom Mack
(Paramount: 1969)
From the detective series “Mannix” (CBS: 1967-1975) starring Mike Connors as private eye Joe Mannix with Joseph Campanella as Lou Wickersham. The show was referenced by Quentin Tarantino in “One Upon A Time…In Hollywood”.
MIAMI VICE THEME
(Jan Hammer)
by Jan Hammer
Pro & Arr: Jan Hammer
(MCA: 1985)
From the police drama series “Miami Vice” (NBC: 1984-1989) starring Don Johnson as Det. James ‘Sonny’ Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Det. Ricardo Tubbs. This track hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in November ’85.
NAKED CITY THEME
(Billy May)
by Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Pro: Tom Morgan
(Capitol: 1962)
From the police drama series “Naked City” (ABC: 1960-1963) starring Paul Burke as Det. Adam Flint. With a lyric by Milton Raskin, Billy May’s theme became the song “Somewhere In The Night”. The show NAKED CITY actually began in 1958 when it starred John McIntire as Det. Lt. Dan Muldoon and James Franciscus as Det. Jim Holloran; the theme back then was by George Duning and Ned Washington.
RICHARD DIAMOND THEME
(Pete Rugolo)
by Pete Rugolo & His Orchestra
(Mercury: 1959)
The second theme from the detective series “Richard Diamond, Private Detective”
(CBS: 1957-1960) starring David Janssen private detective (and former cop) Richard Diamond.
THE ROCKFORD FILES
(Mike Post/Pete Carpenter)
by Mike Post
Pro: Mike Post
Arr: Mike Post & Pete Carpenter)
(MGM: 1974)
From the detective series “The Rockford Files” (NBC: 1974-1980) starring James Garner as private eye Jim Rockford. Both of Mike Post’s singles of THE ROCKFORD FILES and The Theme From HILL STREET BLUES were Top 10 charters on the Hot 100 in ’75 and ’81 respectively
.
77 SUNSET STRIP
(Jerry Livingston/Mack David)
by The Big Sound Of Don Ralke
(Warner Bros: 1959)
From the detective series “77 Sunset Strip” (ABC: 1958-1964) starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr. & Roger Smith as private detectives Stuart Bailey & Jeff Spencer along with Edd Byrnes as parking lot attendant Gerald Lloyd Kookson III aka Kookie. The Kookie character was immortalized on the record charts in ’59 with a duet single “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb” performed by Edd Byrnes with Connie Stevens in her character of Cricket from the series “Hawaiian Eye”.
STACCATO’S THEME
(Elmer Bernstein)
by Elmer Bernstein
Pro: Dave Cavanaugh
(Capitol: 1959)
From the series “Johnny Staccato” (NBC: 1959-1960 and ABC: 1960) starring John Cassavetes
as private eye & jazz pianist Johnny Staccato. Elmer Bernstein was among the most
accomplished composers of both TV and Film scores.
THEME FROM ‘S.W.A.T.’
(Barry DeVorzon)
by Rhythm Heritage
Pro: Steve Barri & Michael Omartian
Arr & Cond: Michael Omartian
(ABC: 1975)
From the police series “S.W.A.T.” (ABC: 1975-1976) starring Steve Forrest as Lt. Dan ‘Hondo’ Harrelson, Robert Urich as Office Jim Street and Rod Perry as Sgt. David ‘Deacon’ Kay.
The Rhythm Heritage recording topped the Hot 100 in February ’76.
THE UNTOUCHABLES
(Nelson Riddle)
By Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra
Pro: Lee Gillette
(Capitol: 1960)
From the crime series “The Untouchables” (ABC: 1959-1963) starring Robert Stack
as Special Agent Eliot Ness. It was narrated by Walter Winchell.
And finally, two memorable themes from classic spy shows:
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
(Lalo Schifrin)
by Lalo Schifrin
Arr & Cond: Lalo Schifrin
Pro: Tom Mack
(Dot: 1967)
From the series “Mission: Impossible” (CBS: 1966-1973) & ABC: 1988-1990) Originally starring
Steven Hill as Daniel Briggs and Barbara Bain as Cinnamon Carter and then starring
Peter Graves as James Phelps, Leonard Nimoy as Paris and Lesley Ann Warren as Dana.
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
(Jerry Goldsmith)
by Hugo Montenegro
Arr & Cond: Hugo Montenegro
Pro: Al Schmitt
(RCA Victor: 1966)
From the series “The Man from U.N.C.L.E” (NBC: 1964-1968) starring Robert Vaughn
as Napoleon Solo, David McCallum as Illya Kuryakin and Leo G. Carroll as
Alexander Waverly. David McCallum also became a recording artist and his
debut 1966 LP “Music: A Part Of Me” charted at #27 on Billboard’s album chart.
As in all my postings, the recordings listed and referenced above are
in no way intended as definitive collections.
Please send any comments or suggestions to
Rock on.
Alan Warner
© Alan Warner, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alan Warner with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.