Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Suddenly I'm up on top of the world (Mike Post) #313

Mike Post Theme from Hill Street Blues, Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not), Theme from White Shadow/ Theme from Magnum P.I., School's Out, Theme from The Rockfield Files (Elektra 12", E1 60028, 1982)

This one is a doozy! An extended play 12 inch by Mike Post, the guy who ruled the television theme song world in the seventies and early eighties.

A very canny operator, he was too. By securing the cream of jazz sessioners he gave his popular themes a deeper musical resonance; by hiring other arrangers and composers to write in his style for the shows he could cover a lot of ground.

He was everywhere. These songs are only the tip of the Post iceberg. But what a great sharp end.

Hill Street Blues was one of my favourite shows back in the day. The theme is so wistful and so against cop drama theme expectations that it retains a huge impact. 

For me, it's the best moment on this E.P., but the hit song to Greatest American Hero, The Beach Boys-esque School's Out and the driving Magnum P.I. theme (pun intended) are all mega achievements as well.

The man had it in spades! 

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