(OT) TV Themes - Previous chart hits
allenk...@hotmail.com
the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart prior to being used as a TV theme
(and sung either by the artist who charted with it or a different
artist). The list is by no means complete (especially regarding TV
shows whose themes charted prior to the rock era i.e. pre 1955).
Suggestions for TV themes that are not listed below but that might
qualify would be greatly appreciated.
NEW ENTRIES AND REVISIONS IN BOLD.
(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock -- Bill Haley and His Comets (#1),
(#118) and (#39) and Freddy Cannon (credited as ‘Freddie Cannon’)
(#121) (from Happy Days) (Bill Haley version re-charted twice,
including a re-entry due to its use on Happy Days)
Puttin’ on the Ritz – Harry Richman (#1) and Taco (#4) (from Top of
the Heap) (sung by Kenny Yarbrough for the TV series)
When You Wish Upon a Star – Glenn Miller (#1) and Dion and the
Belmonts (#1) (from the Wonderful World of Disney)
Swinging on A Star – Bing Crosby (#1) and Big Dee Irwin (with Little
Eva) (#38) (from Out of This World)
Sentimental Journey – Les Brown and his Band of Renown (#1), Doris Day
(#1), Hal McIntyre (#3) and the Merrymacs (#7) (from Garroway at
Large)
Singin’ the Blues – Guy Mitchell (#1) and Marty Robbins (#17) (from
the Guy Mitchell Show)
GEORGIA ON MY MIND – RAY CHARLES (#1), RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS (#62), WES
MONTGOMERY (#91), WILLIE NELSON (#84) AND MICHAEL BOLTON (#36) (FROM
DESIGNING WOMEN) (A DOC SEVERINSEN INSTRUMENTAL VERSION AND, LATER, A
NEWLY-RECORDED RAY CHARLES VERSION WERE USED FOR THE TV SERIES)
Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles (#1), Jerry Lee Lewis (#103) and the
Stampeders (#40) (from Unhappily Ever After)
Everybody Loves Somebody – Dean Martin (#1) (from the Dean Martin
Show)
Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones (#1) (from Tour of Duty)
Harper Valley PTA – Jeannie C. Riley (#1), King Curtis (#93) and Bobbi
Martin (#114)
TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) – MFSB featuring the Three Degrees
(#1) (from Soul Train)
I Am Woman – Helen Reddy (#1) (from the Helen Reddy Show)
Love Will Keep Us Together (#1) – The Captain and Tennille (from the
Captain and Tennille)
9 to 5 – Dolly Parton (#1)
Happy Together – The Turtles (#1), Hugo Montenegro (#112), Dawn (#79)
(as part of the medley Runaway / Happy Together), The Captain and
Tennille (#53) and the Nylons (#75) (from Live-In)
All Shook Up – Elvis Presley (#1), Suzi Quatro (#85), Billy Joel (#92)
and Nelson (#102) (from Elvis) (sung by Ronnie McDowell for the TV
series)
Sunshine On My Shoulders – John Denver (#1) (from Sunshine)
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics (#1) (from the
Apprentice: Martha Stewart)
Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) – Doris Day (#2), High
Keyes (#47) and Mary Hopkin (#77) (from the Doris Day Show)
Bread and Butter – The Newbeats (#2) and Robert John (#68) (from Baby
Talk)
Reflections – Diana Ross and the Supremes (#2) (from China Beach)
It’s Your Thing – The Isley Brothers (#2) (from Karen Sisco)
Soul Man – Sam & Dave (#2), Ramsey Lewis (#49) and the Blues Brothers
(#14)
Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller (#3), the Rivieras (#47) , Bobby
Vinton (#97) and Tuxedo Junction (#103) (from Glenn Miller Time)
My Life – Billy Joel (#3) (from Bosom Buddies)
Fame – Irene Cara (#4) (sung by Erica Gimpel for the TV series)
Lady Madonna – The Beatles (#4) and Fats Domino (#100) (from Grace
Under Fire) (sung by Aretha Franklin for the TV series)
Five O’ Clock World – The Vogues (#4) (from the Drew Carey show)
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (#4) and Bobby Womack (#51) (from the
Caroline Rhea Show)
Love and Marriage – Frank Sinatra (#5) and Dinah Shore (#20) (from
Married… With Children)
Something To Talk About – Bonnie Raitt (#5) (from Women of the House)
(sung by Shirley Eikhard for the TV series)
Obsession – Animotion (#6) (from Fashion Television and Saturday
Night’s Main Event)
Stand – REM (#6) (from Get A Life)
Tennessee – Arrested Development (#6) (from Here and Now)
You May Be Right – Billy Joel (#7) and the Chipmunks (#101) (from
Dave’s World) (sung by Southside Johnny for the TV series)
Low Rider – War (#7) (from George Lopez)
Primrose Lane -- Jerry Wallace (#8) and O.C. Smith (#86) (from the
Smith Family)
Nadia’s Theme (The Young and the Restless) (a.k.a. Cotton’s Dream) –
Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. (#8)
Working in the Coal Mine – Lee Dorsey (#8) and Devo (#43) and (from
Working)
For the Love of Money – The O’Jays (#9) and BulletBoys (#78) (from the
Apprentice)
Danny Boy (based on the tune Londonderry Air) – Conway Twitty (#10),
Sil Austin (#59), Andy Williams (#64), Patti LaBelle & Her Bluebells
(#76), Jackie Wilson (#94), Ray Price (#60) and Eric Clapton (B-side
to #5 hit ‘Change the World’) (from Make Room For Daddy)
I Don’t Want To Wait – Paula Cole (#11) (from Dawson’s Creek)
A Swingin’ Safari – Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra (#13) (from the 60s
version of Match Game) (performed by Bert Kaempfert for the TV
series)
FINISH WHAT YA STARTED – VAN HALEN (#13) (FROM SYDNEY)
Who Are You – the Who (#14) (from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
The Lion Sleeps Tonight (a.k.a. Wimoweh) – The Weavers (#14), The
Tokens (#1), Robert John (#3) and The Tokens (re-chart) (#51) (from
The Mighty Jungle)
Won’t Get Fooled Again – the Who (#15) (from CSI: Miami)
China Grove – the Doobie Brothers (#15) (from Don’t Forget the Lyrics)
(performed by Rickey Minor for the TV series)
The Mummer’s Dance – Loreena McKennitt (#18) (from Legacy)
Collide – Howie Day (#20) (from What About Brian)
I’m Every Woman– Chaka Khan (#21) and Whitney Houston (#4) (from the
Oprah Winfrey Show)
Thank You For Being A Friend – Andrew Gold (#25) (from The Golden
Girls) (sung by Cynthia Fee for the TV series)
Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone – the Manhattan Transfer (#30) (Twilight
Zone is from the TV series of the same name) (composed by Marius
Constant for the TV series)
Viva Las Vegas – Elvis Presley (#29) and (#94) (from Father of the
Pride) (sung by John Goodman for the TV series)
The Pink Panther Theme – Henry Mancini (#31)
Holding Out for a Hero – Bonnie Tyler (#34) (from Cover Up)
Where You Lead – Barbra Streisand (#40) and (#37) (as part of the
medley ‘Sweet Inspiration/Where You Lead’) (from Gilmore Girls) (sung
by Louise Goffin for the TV series)
Am I the Same Girl – Swing Out Sister (#45) (from Martha)
I’m a Survivor – Reba McEntire (#49) (from Reba)
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da – Arthur Conley (#51), Herb Alpert & the Tijuana
Brass (#118) and the Beatles (#49) (from Life Goes On) (sung by Patti
LuPone and the cast for the TV series)
Gentle on my Mind – Glen Campbell (#62) and (#39), Patti Page (#66),
Dean Martin (#103) and Aretha Franklin (#76) (from the Glen Campbell
Goodtime Hour)
With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker (#68) and the Beatles
(#71) (as part of the medley Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band /
With A Little Help From My Friends) (from the Wonder Years)
Song from M*A*S*H (a.k.a. Suicide is Painless) – Al DeLory (#70)
The Sound of Music – Patti Page (#90) (from The King Family Show)
(series theme may have been an instrumental version)
Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne (#106) (from the Osbournes) (sung by Pat
Boone for the TV series)
Teardrop – Massive Attack (#110) (from House)
Faith of the Heart – Rod Stewart (#117) (from Star Trek: Enterprise)
(sung by Russell Watson for the TV series and alternatively known as
‘Where My Heart Will Take Me’)
Short Skirt / Long Jacket – Cake (#119) (from Chuck)
and
BODIES – DROWNING POOL (#119) (FROM EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING)
--
Allen Kirshner
(the alt.music.lyrics TV theme guy)