"Cop Show Themes" from Henry Mancini comes to mind. A top drawer recording featuring many great players such as Lee Ritenour and Abe Laborier.

Another recording that kicks into high gear "TV's Greatest Detective Hits" (John Gregory Orchestra) makes proud use of many early 70's television themes.

An extension of the "TV Action Jazz" craze of the late 50's!

Quality composers did their bit for those shows I agree! Which is more than can be said for many of the boring hacks slapping together ignorant sound for much of the trash on TV today.

The "Baretta" theme from Dave Grusin can be heard on the Mancini recording.

"All all like dat!"

Speaking of "Quincy"... I was employed at a market/delicatessen in L.A. when that series aired. Jack Klugman would come in maybe twice a week. One time during the actors strike the owner of the market kidded with Jack Klugman and asked him "When the hell are you bums going to get back to work?".



victoravalentine, August 2, 2006; 5:52 PM

In 1996, edel issued several compilation CDs with many, many original TV main themes. Vol.
3 features the cop shows. Once offered for 10 German Marks, some of the CDs are hard to
find today (or had to pay, as you like it).

But if I gather it right, Serifiot is interested in the scores rather than the main themes of
those cop shows, so my proposal and Mancini's re-recordings may not be what he is looking
for.

So what about Prometheus' Police Story?
http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/catalog/soundtrackdetail.php?movieid=10475

Cheers
Quignon

Christian.Quatremain, August 2, 2006; 7:01 PM

Hi guys!...

Yeah, I was thinkinking more in terms of music scoring from various 70's cop episodes than simply the opening theme music which a lot of it can be easily tracked down.

Thanks for the input and album info... well appreciated nevertheless!

Thank you cdrost, it completely escaped my memory.

Jerry Goldsmith's complete score for the pilot episode with additional Richard Shores arrangements of Goldsmith's music that were used throughout many of the episodes as 'library music' is most likely the only such release of its kind.
Frankly... I do not recall ever watching this series.
I do have this Prometheus limited cd release though (of course... Jerry Goldsmith) which is lovely!
Brief samples tracks for the curious are available in the buysoundtrax website.

phileroach... you are absolutely correct!

After all this time, only today I just realized that the word 'sitcom' is actually an acronym for SITuation COMedy. I had no idea!
I'll make the necessary corrections.

Indeed a lot of the television episodes from those eras are now classic television.
The overall production was top notch with great performances and great music to complement them as well.

Talking about Jack Klugman, "The Odd Couple" was one my favorite television laughters growing up along with "Maude" and the original "Saturday Night Live" crowd like Jane Curtin... you ignorant slut!, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner (Baba Wawa), Loraine Newman... imitating a chicken possessed by the devil as a tribute to the recently then released blockbuster of a movie and now a true horror masterpiece "The Exorcist" by William Friedkin...

"PLUCK ME!... PLUCK ME!!... PLUUUCK ME!!!"

I hope these one day will be fully released on DVD.
I believe highlights of original SNL episodes are/were available.
For those interested, Time Life has recently announced that the first season of "The Odd Couple" will be soon released on DVD which unfortunately cannot be shipped outside the U.S.

Even though I was not enthusiastic in watching "Knight Rider" I still did purchase the FSM soundtrack which of course is great!
Perhaps Prometheus again, FSM, Intrada or even GNP Crescendo might consider releasing the music we're discussing.
The reason I mentioned GNP Crescendo is because of the music they have released for the many Star Trek television episodes including the original 60's episodes which in my opinion were the best and with wonderful music scoring.
I believe Varese has released music from these 60's Star Trek as well.
I know they released some music from the original Twilight Zone episodes which again is... wow!

Since Intrada is unearthing unopened vaults by releasing the first ever soundtracks with music from the 80's Amazing Stories episodes they just might consider, once this impressive production is completed, to just go a little back in time and release music soundtracks from various 70's television crime series episodes.
Hopefully good sales from the Amazing Stories soundtracks will be an incentive to keep digging and unearthing lost treasures.



PLUCK ME!... PLUCK ME!!... PLUUUUUUCK ME!!! (not really, thank you!...)

;- )

serifiot, August 2, 2006; 10:58 PM

Actually I do not, it's all from memory. What is this?

serifiot, August 2, 2006; 10:52 PM

...now this is absolutely something else! I never thought these would exist. Thanks coma!!
I don't remember the exact year but I'll check it out.

serifiot, August 2, 2006; 11:04 PM

Hi Quignon... I didn't realize it was you until just now. I was too busy writing and making changes.

I'll explain in a little while.

:- )

serifiot, August 2, 2006; 11:16 PM

Hi, I'm desespertly searching for these kind of scores. Specially two shows scored by Richard Shores : "Hunter" (starring James Franciscus and Linda Evans) ans "The Quest" (a western tv series starring Kurt Russel & Tim Matheson. I know that Shores composed them for Columbia but I don't know who owns the rights today...
the "Police story" cd is exactly what i'd like to buy for other shows.
Remember "Matt helm", "Kung Fu", the streets of san francisco", "kojak", "baretta"? argh !

elio3, August 7, 2006; 10:23 PM

"Columbo" was another great one but of course uncle Theo Kojak... *THE KING*!

:- )

serifiot, August 14, 2006; 4:28 AM

[quote]Remember "Matt helm", "Kung Fu", the streets of san francisco", "kojak", "baretta"?
argh ![/quote]

Well, for Jim Helm's Kung Fu I bet, there are sill some LPs somewhere out there. But, to be
true, I don't think the material is very interesting. Somehow it loses its impact without the
images.

As for Matt Helm, I didn't know there was a TV series. I only know the movies starring Dean
Martin. Once in a while I like to listen to The Silencers and Murderers' Row.

Christian.Quatremain, August 16, 2006; 4:27 PM