Customer Reviews

Six Million Dollar TV Themes

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great album of themes....most of them true to the originals. Gregory conducts a big band that infuses the jazziness of the originals with a strong funk-rock feel. Great themes,great arrangements and superb playing by the top session men in the UK
(the drummer was Ronnie Verrell,ex Ted Heath Orchestra and ex Jack Parnell Orchestra...a real star in the recording).

I don't think you'll be disappointed of you get this CD!

One of my favorite TV theme compilations of all time..and just about the only place you can find good versions of IT TAKES A THIEF and THE NAME OF THE GAME. Gregory's version of CANNON is pretty darn good, too.

Not only will the music bring back fond memories, but the band will knock you out! And the drummer is just unbelievable!!! Been a music lover and player for 34 years, so not easily impressed but that drummer...Only for the connaisseur and nostalgic:)

John Gregory is a name not known to me, probably because he is from the UK. This CD is a compilation of work he did in the 60's and 70's. There are 28 tv show themes, all from police shows and action dramas. The recording has a generous playing time of 75 minutes. Orchestra personnel are not listed, which is too bad, because the orchestra is just great. Instrumentation is about the same as a large jazz band. The dominating section is brass. They play some very demanding parts with expertise. There are a few cracked pitches here and there, but as a brass player myself, I can appreciate the challenge of the writing. (Trumpet parts are often up in the nether region.) Some of the themes have woodwind parts and they are also well played--soulful but not obnoxious. Several tracks have two percussionists. Their work is tasty, subtle, and really propels the band.

Then there are the themes themselves. Some, like "Mission Impossible" are available from any number of sources, but others--"Banacek","McMillan and Wife","Cannon"--are very hard to come by. The theme from "Banacek" is a gem. It has a Mancini-like feel though it was written by Billy Goldenberg. "Cannon" starred a horizontally-challenged policeman and the presence of tuba in the music
helps get across just the right lumbering quality.

Gregory's treatment of "The Untouchables" is quite different from the original. He gives it a James Bond flavor and also scores the woodwinds in imaginative colors. "The Avengers" here is the one Johnny Dankworth wrote for the series when Honor Blackman starred in it. It really is just as good as the later Laurie Johnson theme. It's more purely jazz, not as suave as Johnson, but there's a tough, aggressive swagger about it that's quite engaging.

Five of the 28 tracks--the ones from the earlier shows--are recorded in mono, but the sound is good. The others are all in excellent stereo.

Highly recommended both for old tv show viewers and big band jazz fans. This is an outstanding release. I haven't commented on all the themes present, but they are consistently enjoyable throughout the entire disc.

Bought the album for the Hawaii 5-O theme song, superbly done as are most of the other theme songs. Absolutley sensational music to cruise to in your big black Mercury --with windows down, the wind tossling your hair...you get the idea. Would love to see a live performance some day. The brass section of the orchestra in particular is on par with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and that's really saying something(!)

If you are looking for the original scores, look elsewhere. A handful of tracks are very well done,(Columbo and Cannon for example)so much so, that you'll probably enjoy these versions. But, some are just terrible (Rockford Files, Perry Mason). As always use the listen button before you buy.

I was expecting the original themes (such as Name of the Game, Mannix, and Banacek). What I got was remakes that sound like elevator music versions of the originals. Mission Impossible just about put me to sleep instead of ramping me up like the original does.

If you want fully orchestrated, put you to sleep, elevator music then this is the CD for you. [...].