I was born in 1947 so I have even a little more experience with some of the television themes. The Hawaii Five-O theme is a most interesting one because it did reach the "pop charts" I believe by the group called The Ventures. Very few television themes ever achieve this status. I purchased the original lp when it came out new on Capitol records and enjoyed the main theme as well as some of his fine underscore. I would assume it wasn't a soundtrack but recorded as a stand album using cues that he wrote for particular episodes. Has to be a top ten selection in my opinion for sure. An excellent theme that was well written for the main title sequence of a truly popular television show in its day. I believe if I remember correctly it was pretty much always in the top 10 year after year.
Another theme I liked but no one that I know other than my father could appreciate was the "New Naked City Theme" written by Nelson Riddle. While the competition was pretty stiff for Naked City, with the talents of Miklos Rozsa writing the original theme followed by Billy May doing the original Naked City TV Theme I enjoy this one the best. Nelson's forte when left to his own devices was to arrange!
Another theme I appreciated was the Walter Schumann composition to the tv series Dragnet. For those of you who don't know which is likely no one on this forum, the four note motif was used in the theme with the permission of Miklos Rozsa who created it for the scoring of the film "The Killers." A nice solid brass emphasized composition which I recall playing in swing band in high school.
Heh one more while I am on a role. I truly enjoy the short but extremely effective written original theme for Twilight Zone from Bernard Herrmann. A simple but effective composition.
Enough said
Tom
_________________ "There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance...that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
Herbert Spencer
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