While Henry Mancini’s exceptional theme music for the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie of the 1970s may be familiar to a majority of Americans over the age of 40, how many remember composer Quincy Jones’ theme for the NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie, which had only a two-year run, beginning in 1972? I can tell you right now, I didn’t--until I stumbled across it on the Web site MyThemes.TV.
I just wish I liked that piece of music more. Listen for yourself here. (At the front of the clip, there’s a teaser for Cool Million; the music doesn’t start until the 0:30 mark.)
The Wednesday Mystery Movie sought to capitalize on the popularity of NBC’s original, Sunday-night rotation of mystery series (McCloud, Columbo, and McMillan & Wife). The first version of the Wednesday rotation featured George Peppard’s Banacek, James Farentino’s Cool Million, and Richard Widmark’s Madigan. Of those three, only Banacek was renewed for a second season, joining Tenafly, The Snoop Sisters, and Faraday and Company. (In January 1974, this “wheel series” moved to Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.)
Mancini’s Mystery Movie theme bears a graceful, timeless quality, plus it has that ghostly whistle establishing a firm melody. Jones’ counterpart, on the other hand, seems ... well, quite dated, harder of tone and without its predecessor’s haunting edge. Jones was also responsible for the commanding themes familiar from Ironside and In the Heat of the Night. Those and his impressive non-television body of work make Quincy Jones a musical star. So maybe we can just forget that he was also responsible for this thoroughly unmemorable NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie opening theme.
By the way, while you’re visiting the MyThemes.TV site, do some exploring. You never know what obscurities you’re likely to turn up. In addition to the Mystery Movie music, you’ll find the opening title tunes from Bearcats!, The Blue Knight, Jack Palance’s Bronk, Checkmate, Wayne Rogers’ City of Angels, Delvecchio, 87th Precinct, Longstreet, The Feather & Father Gang, Jimmy Stewart’s Hawkins, Judd, for the Defense, The Delphi Bureau, The New Perry Mason (nothing like the classic version!), Petrocelli, Serpico, Thieves, Toma, Jack Warden’s Crazy Like a Fox, and the jazzy riffs from Buddy Faro. A time-wasting wonderland of musical memories.
READ MORE: “Strike Up the Band,” by J. Kingston Pierce
(The Rap Sheet).
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
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3 comments:
Now you shot my afternoon. Wouldn't have thought the theme from Ben Casey would striked such a note. He was my mother's favorite.
Jeff, I really enjoyed the shows Petrocelli, Banacek, Bearcats and City Of Angels (considered by Max Ciollins to be the Best P.I. show ever on t.v.). Usually, when I enjoy a short it lasts one or two seasons (Harry O, The Outsider, Man In A Suitcase, Banacek, Banyon, many more).
Yes, I am the Kiss of Death.
RJR
My favourite crime-related Quincy Jones music is the melody for the song 'On Days Like These' which accompanies the credits to 'The Italian Job'. Wonderfully evocative.
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