Greatest TV Theme Songs
- Thread starter Red.Fans
- Start date
[quote="MainMan" post=356066]There’s the Magnum PI theme and the. there’s everything else.....[/quote]
I was about to say Magnum PI and The Andy Griffith Show (JohnnyFan mentioned the latter). Several of y'all (ie, Good Times, The White Shadow, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Addams Family), along with Paul's long list, hit on some good ones.
Did anyone mention Barney Miller or The Munsters?
I was about to say Magnum PI and The Andy Griffith Show (JohnnyFan mentioned the latter). Several of y'all (ie, Good Times, The White Shadow, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Addams Family), along with Paul's long list, hit on some good ones.
Did anyone mention Barney Miller or The Munsters?
[quote="Logen" post=356065][quote="SJU61982" post=356061][quote="Logen" post=356055]Maybe not the greatest but undoubtedly the most played was “Johnny’s Theme” for Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show, interestingly enough written by 50’s teen idol Paul Anka. Anka also wrote “My Way” which Sinatra obviously made his own.[/quote]
Of all the songs Paul Anka wrote, the one he made the most money on was actually "She's a Lady", which was a big hit for Tom Jones.
I saw him live in Atlantic City, sometime around the late 90s or early 00s. He put on a great show. Did all his old songs, and entertained a lot in between, too.[/quote]
True that, he also wrote a song that frequently makes “worst song” lists “(You’re) Having My Baby” a duet with a female singer whose last name was Coates, forget her first name. A hit in the early to mid 70’s. One note, I believe “She’s A Lady” sold the most records of all the songs he wrote but he got residuals every time “Johnny’s Theme” was played on the Tonight Show, which was multiple times a night forever. Far and away his biggest $maker. It actually was a re-write of a jazz song Anka had previously written that Carson liked. I am not sure if they were ever sung but Carson wrote lyrics to the tune at Anka’s suggestion so they shared the residuals as co-writers.[/quote]
Gene Roddenberry did the same thing with the original Star Trek theme. He wrote lyrics that were never used to collect money, and the composer, Alexander Courage, never forgave him for it.
The MASH theme also has words, which are featured in the movie, of course.
Of all the songs Paul Anka wrote, the one he made the most money on was actually "She's a Lady", which was a big hit for Tom Jones.
I saw him live in Atlantic City, sometime around the late 90s or early 00s. He put on a great show. Did all his old songs, and entertained a lot in between, too.[/quote]
True that, he also wrote a song that frequently makes “worst song” lists “(You’re) Having My Baby” a duet with a female singer whose last name was Coates, forget her first name. A hit in the early to mid 70’s. One note, I believe “She’s A Lady” sold the most records of all the songs he wrote but he got residuals every time “Johnny’s Theme” was played on the Tonight Show, which was multiple times a night forever. Far and away his biggest $maker. It actually was a re-write of a jazz song Anka had previously written that Carson liked. I am not sure if they were ever sung but Carson wrote lyrics to the tune at Anka’s suggestion so they shared the residuals as co-writers.[/quote]
Gene Roddenberry did the same thing with the original Star Trek theme. He wrote lyrics that were never used to collect money, and the composer, Alexander Courage, never forgave him for it.
The MASH theme also has words, which are featured in the movie, of course.
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[quote="SJU61982" post=356072][quote="Logen" post=356065][quote="SJU61982" post=356061][quote="Logen" post=356055]Maybe not the greatest but undoubtedly the most played was “Johnny’s Theme” for Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show, interestingly enough written by 50’s teen idol Paul Anka. Anka also wrote “My Way” which Sinatra obviously made his own.[/quote]
Of all the songs Paul Anka wrote, the one he made the most money on was actually "She's a Lady", which was a big hit for Tom Jones.
I saw him live in Atlantic City, sometime around the late 90s or early 00s. He put on a great show. Did all his old songs, and entertained a lot in between, too.[/quote]
True that, he also wrote a song that frequently makes “worst song” lists “(You’re) Having My Baby” a duet with a female singer whose last name was Coates, forget her first name. A hit in the early to mid 70’s. One note, I believe “She’s A Lady” sold the most records of all the songs he wrote but he got residuals every time “Johnny’s Theme” was played on the Tonight Show, which was multiple times a night forever. Far and away his biggest $maker. It actually was a re-write of a jazz song Anka had previously written that Carson liked. I am not sure if they were ever sung but Carson wrote lyrics to the tune at Anka’s suggestion so they shared the residuals as co-writers.[/quote]
Gene Roddenberry did the same thing with the original Star Trek theme. He wrote lyrics that were never used to collect money, and the composer, Alexander Courage, never forgave him for it.
The MASH theme also has words, which are featured in the movie, of course.[/quote]
I knew about MASH but not Star Trek. Sleazy on Roddenberry’s part for sure.
Of all the songs Paul Anka wrote, the one he made the most money on was actually "She's a Lady", which was a big hit for Tom Jones.
I saw him live in Atlantic City, sometime around the late 90s or early 00s. He put on a great show. Did all his old songs, and entertained a lot in between, too.[/quote]
True that, he also wrote a song that frequently makes “worst song” lists “(You’re) Having My Baby” a duet with a female singer whose last name was Coates, forget her first name. A hit in the early to mid 70’s. One note, I believe “She’s A Lady” sold the most records of all the songs he wrote but he got residuals every time “Johnny’s Theme” was played on the Tonight Show, which was multiple times a night forever. Far and away his biggest $maker. It actually was a re-write of a jazz song Anka had previously written that Carson liked. I am not sure if they were ever sung but Carson wrote lyrics to the tune at Anka’s suggestion so they shared the residuals as co-writers.[/quote]
Gene Roddenberry did the same thing with the original Star Trek theme. He wrote lyrics that were never used to collect money, and the composer, Alexander Courage, never forgave him for it.
The MASH theme also has words, which are featured in the movie, of course.[/quote]
I knew about MASH but not Star Trek. Sleazy on Roddenberry’s part for sure.
[quote="Logen" post=356094][quote="Knight" post=356093]Mike Hammer Theme was cool.
[/quote]
Can’t see John Lurie without mentioning my favorite movie Down By Law. Jim Jarmusch flick starring Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni.[/quote]
You ever see "Fishing with John" ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_with_John
[/quote]
Can’t see John Lurie without mentioning my favorite movie Down By Law. Jim Jarmusch flick starring Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni.[/quote]
You ever see "Fishing with John" ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_with_John
Hawaii 5-0, Batman, S.W.A.T, Mission Impssible, The Munsters, Happy Days, Good Times, Twilight Zone, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Monkees, The Greatest American Hero, and of course The Honeymooners.
The first two are my favorite, and I feel are the most iconic.
The first two are my favorite, and I feel are the most iconic.
the greatest american hero, believe or not im walking on air!
[quote="Paul Massell" post=356095][quote="Logen" post=356094][quote="Knight" post=356093]Mike Hammer Theme was cool.
[/quote]
Can’t see John Lurie without mentioning my favorite movie Down By Law. Jim Jarmusch flick starring Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni.[/quote]
You ever see "Fishing with John" ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_with_John[/quote]
I saw the one with Tom Waits; I am a crazy Waits fan.
[/quote]
Can’t see John Lurie without mentioning my favorite movie Down By Law. Jim Jarmusch flick starring Lurie, Tom Waits and Roberto Benigni.[/quote]
You ever see "Fishing with John" ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_with_John[/quote]
I saw the one with Tom Waits; I am a crazy Waits fan.
Spocky Ramone
Well-known member
A lot of great tunes, but only the Star Trek theme was played when the space shuttle was wheeled out way back to when.
And of course “Batman”, a song comprised of Neil Hefti’s 2 great loves, the Caped Crusader and sodium.
Nobody mentioned The Heights. The theme song, “How do you talk to an angel” was probably on the charts longer than the show was on the air.
And of course “Batman”, a song comprised of Neil Hefti’s 2 great loves, the Caped Crusader and sodium.
Nobody mentioned The Heights. The theme song, “How do you talk to an angel” was probably on the charts longer than the show was on the air.
Spocky Ramone
Well-known member
Almost forgot to add the theme song from the Spider-man cartoon from the 60’s.
ESPN sport center theme song is Iconic!