One of my most responded to columns was on the topic of iconic cars from TV and movies. I assumed it would be a hit, as when I broached the topic with a group of friends, the conversation went on for an hour. Let’s see if this one hits home, too.
Which TV theme songs are the most memorable for you? Of course, the answers will likely be tied to the decade you grew up in — but not necessarily. Think about the TV theme songs that make you smile when you hear them. The ones that make you turn up the volume knob. The songs you know every word to. The instrumentals you hum along with. The serious ones. The silly ones. The sitcoms. The cartoons. The kid shows. Nothing is off limits. Here are a few of my favorites to get the conversation rolling.
“Welcome Back” was the theme song of the 1970s sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter.” It was written and recorded by John Sebastian, the former lead singer of Lovin' Spoonful. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of 1976. Epstein. Barbarino. Washington. Horshack. They all made me smile, and this song still does.
“Meet George Jetson.” You know the rest. “The Jetsons” originally aired in prime time from 1962 to 1963, but most of us know the cartoon show from its reruns via syndication. His boy, Elroy. Daughter, Judy. Jane, his wife. And who could forget Astro? The theme song was composed by Hoyt Curtin, a musical director for the Hanna-Barbera animation studio from its beginnings. The song even became a pop hit in 1986. “Jane, stop this crazy thing!”
“Not getting hassled, not getting hustled.” “Good Times” aired for six seasons from 1974 to 1979. The Norman Lear production was television's first African American two-parent family sitcom. It was a spin-off of “Maude,” which was a spin-off of “All in the Family.” The gospel-styled theme song has lyrics that might be a challenge to understand, but I still sing along with whatever I think the words are. “Keeping your head above water, making a wave when you can.”
“Bonanza” ran from 1959 to 1973 for a whopping 14 seasons and 431 episodes, making it the second-longest-running western series behind “Gunsmoke.” The snappy musical theme was written by Jay Livingston and Raymond Evans and became a 1961 hit for Al Caiola and His Orchestra, whose instrumental recording reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. I didn’t particularly like watching the TV show, but my parents, and seemingly everyone their age, did. I did, however, like the theme song and even unsuccessfully attempted to make it my ringtone a few years back.
No words. All soul. And this one was my ringtone… for a while. "Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater)" is the theme to the 1970s sitcom named, you guessed it, “Sanford and Son.” Composed by Quincy Jones, “The Streetbeater” was first released on his 1973 album “You've Got It Bad Girl” and later on his “Greatest Hits” album. It did not chart on Billboard, but it did rank ninth in a Rolling Stone Reader Poll of Television Theme Songs.
And my last one to whet your musical appetite is the theme from “The Rockford Files.” The song is as iconic as the Pontiac Firebirds James Garner drove on the show. This 1975 instrumental by Mike Post features a blues harmonica solo, dobro guitar, an electric guitar solo heard in the bridges and a Minimoog synthesizer heard in the refrains. It spent four months on the charts and became a Top 10 hit in August of 1975 and even won a 1975 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement.
These tunes may get the ball rolling, but I clearly missed other great TV theme songs. Send me a note and let me know which ones are memorable to you.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com | 
