Jazz in cartoons, etc. - then and now.
G. Jeffrey Gower
How about this for a silly thread:
When I was growing up (in the 60s), most of the cartoons and other
children's shows had jazz or jazzy music as theme songs and incidental
music. The examples are countless, but here are a few - the Charlie
Brown specials, Yogi Bear, Aristocats, Mr. Rogers, etc.. I remember how
all that music had swing, and my first exposure to jazz was through these
old kiddy shows. Even the sitcoms and such had jazz or
standards-material as their themes - Bewitched, Sanford and Son, etc..
And it was very prominent in movies as well at the time.
In other words, the swing and harmonies of jazz were all around us then, and
we couldn't help but be aware of the "jazz sound".
I don't watch much TV these days, but what I watch seems to have more pop
and rock as thematic materials. Perhaps this is an inane topic, and if
so, pardon my silliness. But do you folks think this may have any effect
at all on jazz appreciation by younger people? Hey, Walt, you're a
sociologist - what do you think? Haha. (Please pardon my gross
over-simplification of the term sociologist here, Walt!)
Bye,
Jeff
Joe Germuska
In article <Pine.OSF.3.91.961213...@mhc.mtholyoke.edu>,
"G. Jeffrey Gower" <jgo...@mtholyoke.edu> wrote:
>I don't watch much TV these days, but what I watch seems to have more pop
>and rock as thematic materials. Perhaps this is an inane topic, and if
>so, pardon my silliness. But do you folks think this may have any effect
>at all on jazz appreciation by younger people?
I don't think it's inane at all, although I don't have any theories...
but the new PC game "Neverhood" by SKG has a pretty nifty "jazzy"
soundtrack, along with very cute claymation animation...
The New Adventures of Felix the Cat was featuring great new music
performed specially for the show by the Clubfoot Orchestra -- it's
probably been cancelled by now :-S Ren and Stimpy had pretty good music
too.
Joe
(for more about Neverhood, see
<http://www.dreamworksgames.com/Games/Neverhood/>)
--
Joe Germuska * Learning Technologies Group * Northwestern University
j-ger...@nwu.edu * http://www.nwu.edu/people/j-germuska
"I felt so good I told my leaders how to follow..." - Sly Stone
Jeff Volkman
On Fri, 13 Dec 1996, G. Jeffrey Gower wrote:
> How about this for a silly thread:
> When I was growing up (in the 60s), most of the cartoons and other
> children's shows had jazz or jazzy music as theme songs and incidental
> music. The examples are countless, but here are a few - the Charlie
> Brown specials, Yogi Bear, Aristocats, Mr. Rogers, etc.. I remember how
> all that music had swing, and my first exposure to jazz was through these
> old kiddy shows. Even the sitcoms and such had jazz or
> standards-material as their themes - Bewitched, Sanford and Son, etc..
> And it was very prominent in movies as well at the time.
> In other words, the swing and harmonies of jazz were all around us then, and
> we couldn't help but be aware of the "jazz sound".
>
> I don't watch much TV these days, but what I watch seems to have more pop
> and rock as thematic materials. Perhaps this is an inane topic, and if
> so, pardon my silliness. But do you folks think this may have any effect
> at all on jazz appreciation by younger people? Hey, Walt, you're a
> sociologist - what do you think? Haha. (Please pardon my gross
> over-simplification of the term sociologist here, Walt!)
I from the 50s through the early 60s, a lot of the Hollywood
writers/arrangers as well as session players came from a jazz background.
I really like a lot of the TV music from that era. Some music that I
distinctly remember liking as a kid is the Hoyt Curtain big band stuff
from early 60s Hanna Barbera adventure cartoons like Johnny Quest.
I've seen (played) a published big band chart of the JQ theme (sounded
like a straight transcription of the original), can't remember the
publisher though. Underdog and Rocky and Bullwinkle also had some twisted,
quasi-jazz music. Also, for many years swing big band arrangments were a
standard form for TV theme songs, and lot's of them featured really great
writing and arranging. Neal Hefti's Odd Couple comes to mind, the Patty
Duke and Dick Van Dyke shows, the Tonight Show, Mannix. The McHale's Navy
theme is a cool "big band disguised as a military band" arrangement.
Anyone have other favorites?
-Jeff
Nils G. Jacobson
G. Jeffrey Gower (jgo...@mtholyoke.edu) wrote:
: How about this for a silly thread:
: When I was growing up (in the 60s), most of the cartoons and other
: children's shows had jazz or jazzy music as theme songs and incidental
: music.
<snip>
Yeah. On this subject:
1. Journey to Next. It's a recording released by a minor label which has
some tunes by Carter, Gillespie, and Q. Jones which were originally just
music before John and Faith Hubley came up with the illustrations. But
the music is AMAZING. It's cinematic, and always interesting. The last
thing by Quincy Jones is totally out of this world. You would not put the
name Jones on that if you heard it. Anyway, this is kind of cool because
it allows you to "see" the cartoons through your CD player. I'm not
usually one who enjoys big band much but this was a real treat.
2. Bill Frisell Quartet. This contains soundtrack tunes from the Far
Side and other stuff, and it's a different experience than JTN. More of a
folky twang and small group dynamic. Some intentional focus on
contrasting slow steady repetitive grooves with tinkly evolving overlays.
3. Carl Stalling. I think you can even get a couple Stalling discs from
BMG. This is the heart of the matter and where the whole concept of
cartoon music was really born. You can take your pick there.
4. John Zorn. You have film scores and you have the classic guide to
strategy and you have Spillane. Lots of stuff here that is visual in
nature and really lends itself well to a cartoon mindset though it may not
be in that category literally.
This is fun stuff. I know it's only tangentially related to your original
post, but it's worth listening.
-Nils
G. Jeffrey Gower
On Fri, 13 Dec 1996, Jeff Volkman wrote:
> Some music that I
> distinctly remember liking as a kid is the Hoyt Curtain big band stuff
> from early 60s Hanna Barbera adventure cartoons like Johnny Quest.
Same here, Jeff! Great stuff indeed, and some of it was quite complex at
times. These days, while my daughter watches those old cartoons, I just
sit back and listen. Must have been a blast for those musicians who
recorded that stuff.
> Underdog and Rocky and Bullwinkle also had some twisted, quasi-jazz
> music.
Yeah, as did the Jetsons and the Flintstones. I think ol' Danny Elfman and
John Zorn really dug those old 'toons for their music also. Definitely hear
it in what they write. The other day when my daughter was watching Mr.
Rogers, there was Branford, Ellis, and a few younger Marsalises on there,
jamming away at the Mr. Rogers theme song. They have this guitarist who
is a semi-regular on the show - he's pretty good - anyone know who he is?
And the pianist who provides the incidental music is nice to listen to, also.
> Also, for many years swing big band arrangments were a
> standard form for TV theme songs, and lot's of them featured really great
> writing and arranging. Neal Hefti's Odd Couple comes to mind, the Patty
> Duke and Dick Van Dyke shows, the Tonight Show, Mannix. The McHale's Navy
> theme is a cool "big band disguised as a military band" arrangement.
> Anyone have other favorites?
Did you know that Paul Anka wrote the Johnny Carson Tonight Show theme?
Yep. The same guy that wrote the worst song of all time, "Having My
Baby". Haha.
Jeff
CLAY MOORE
G. Jeffrey Gower wrote:
>
> Yeah, as did the Jetsons and the Flintstones. I think ol' Danny Elfman and
> John Zorn really dug those old 'toons for their music also. Definitely hear
> it in what they write. The other day when my daughter was watching Mr.
> Rogers, there was Branford, Ellis, and a few younger Marsalises on there,
> jamming away at the Mr. Rogers theme song. They have this guitarist who
> is a semi-regular on the show - he's pretty good - anyone know who he is?
> And the pianist who provides the incidental music is nice to listen to, also.
The guitarist for Mr. Rogers is Joe Negri. When I was living in Pittsburgh,
Pa (in Mr. Roger's neighborhood no less) Joe was teaching at one of the
Universities there, but I don't recall which one. One of his former
students has been mentioned here on RMB recently, Andy Fite.
Clay
CLAY MOORE
Joe Germuska wrote:
>
> In article <Pine.OSF.3.91.961213...@mhc.mtholyoke.edu>,
> "G. Jeffrey Gower" <jgo...@mtholyoke.edu> wrote:
>
> >and rock as thematic materials. Perhaps this is an inane topic, and if
> >so, pardon my silliness. But do you folks think this may have any effect
> >at all on jazz appreciation by younger people?
>
> but the new PC game "Neverhood" by SKG has a pretty nifty "jazzy"
> soundtrack, along with very cute claymation animation...
>
> The New Adventures of Felix the Cat was featuring great new music
> performed specially for the show by the Clubfoot Orchestra -- it's
> probably been cancelled by now :-S Ren and Stimpy had pretty good music
> too.
That Felix the Cat show was _very_ hip, the music and the animation
and storylines. Way too outside for mainstream America. Better to
have them watching G.I. Joe, right? I haven't seen it for a while, so
you're right; it probably has been cancelled.
Clay
Michael Fitzgerald
On Fri, 13 Dec 1996 17:24:21 -0600, CLAY MOORE <cmo...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
>>The other day when my daughter was watching Mr.
>> Rogers, there was Branford, Ellis, and a few younger Marsalises on there,
>> jamming away at the Mr. Rogers theme song. They have this guitarist who
>> is a semi-regular on the show - he's pretty good - anyone know who he is?
>> And the pianist who provides the incidental music is nice to listen to, also.
>
>The guitarist for Mr. Rogers is Joe Negri.
The pianist (at least as of 1989) is Johnny Costa - who is a monster.
Check out his 1955 Savoy album (it WAS on cd as ZDS 1190, not sure
whether the morons at Denon have put it out again). Originally called
"Introducing Johnny Costa" on 10" and "The Amazing Johnny Costa" on
12", it was called "Neighborhood" on cd. He also had 3 records on
Coral/MCA, 2 on Dot, and a privately released album "Johnny Costa
plays Mr. Roger's Neighborhood" from 1968. He started with the show at
its inception in 1965.
BTW, I also recall seeing the great Eric Kloss play on the show.
Mike
Jack Regan
fitz...@eclipse.net (Michael Fitzgerald) wrote:
>The pianist (at least as of 1989) is Johnny Costa - who is a monster.
Unfortunately, Johnny Costa passed away very recently.
I remember seeing Eric Kloss on Misterogers Neighborhood in the
mid-70's, too.
Keith L. Saunders
The Simpsons theme has alot of great jazz elements in it. Flatted
5th vamp at the beginning, and of course Lisa's Baritone break in the
middle of it. It's certainly one of the better, if not the best TV
themes going today.
Keith Saunders
Ken McCarthy
G. Jeffrey Gower (jgo...@mtholyoke.edu) wrote:
about jazz in cartoons...
I always like the theme from "The Woody Woodpecker Show",
a very fine bebop line.
Also, the *old* cartoons from before WWII had some
phenomenal music. I wonder if anybody's up on the
details?
Stephen Erickson
The incidental music for The Simpsons is arranged and conducted
by Alf Clausen (I believe that's the name...). I remember playing
some of his big band charts when I was in college, so there's a
definite jazz connection going on.
Yes, Danny Elfman's theme for the show is great, but the incidental
music (mostly satires of popular themes for movies, commercials,
songs, and other TV shows) is even better. The Simpsons has been
the most consistently funny show on TV for several years now, and
the music has a lot to do with that.
Stephen
Jeff Volkman
Yes, Clausen is brilliant. And it's always fun to hear what they do with
the closing credits music.
-Jeff
adam louis stephanides
eme...@netcom.com (Ken McCarthy) writes:
>Also, the *old* cartoons from before WWII had some
>phenomenal music. I wonder if anybody's up on the
>details?
I recall one cartoon (which may have bee from the 1940s),
in which the Big Bad Wolf, on the
gallows, defends himself by claiming that it was actually the
three little pigs who huffed and puffed and blew his house
down. Then we see his version of the story, in which he is
a sweet old music teacher, and the three little pigs are
unruly students who insist on jazzing up the scale he gives
them to play, and play so loud they do blow his house down.
I think it was by Walter Lantz's studio, and while I didn't get the
title I once tried to figure out what it could be and decided
it probably was "The Hams That Couldn't Be Cured." Can anyone
confirm or deny this?
--Adam
Kevin Bresnahan
G. Jeffrey Gower <jgo...@mtholyoke.edu> wrote in article
<Pine.OSF.3.91.961213...@mhc.mtholyoke.edu>...
> How about this for a silly thread:
> When I was growing up (in the 60s), most of the cartoons and other
> children's shows had jazz or jazzy music as theme songs and incidental
> Brown specials, Yogi Bear, Aristocats, Mr. Rogers, etc.. I remember how
> all that music had swing, and my first exposure to jazz was through these
> old kiddy shows. Even the sitcoms and such had jazz or
> standards-material as their themes - Bewitched, Sanford and Son, etc..
> And it was very prominent in movies as well at the time.
> In other words, the swing and harmonies of jazz were all around us then, and
> we couldn't help but be aware of the "jazz sound".
>
> and rock as thematic materials. Perhaps this is an inane topic, and if
> so, pardon my silliness. But do you folks think this may have any effect
> sociologist - what do you think? Haha. (Please pardon my gross
> over-simplification of the term sociologist here, Walt!)
>
God, I've followed this whole thread and no one mentioned The Pink Panther...
Dig that sax Daddy-O! The original beatnik cartoon.
Hey at least Cosby's new show has a Jazz theme. But then again, the last
time I saw some, so did most porn movies.
Kevin
P. Washington
Is it true that Phineas Newborn, Jr. performed music for the Mr. Magoo
cartoons?
Jim Fournier
Jeff Volkman wrote:
> Anyone have other favorites?
>
I posted a note a couple of weeks ago about what I perceived as
melodic similarities between Monk's "Ba-lue Bolivar Ba-lues-are"
and "Cruella deVil" from the original cartoon version of _101
Dalmations_, but didn't see any follow-up. Perhaps someone reading
this thread knows if there is a connection.
Jeff Volkman
I don't have a clue.
William Sakovich
In article
<Pine.PTX.3.95c.96121...@carson.u.washington.edu>,
Jeff Volkman <ve...@u.washington.edu> wrote:
> Neal Hefti's Odd Couple comes to mind, the Patty Duke and Dick Van
> Dyke shows, the Tonight Show, Mannix. The McHale's Navy theme is a
> cool "big band disguised as a military band" arrangement. Anyone
> have other favorites?
The Tonight Show theme was written by none other than Paul Anka, who
received royalties every time it was played. I read a magazine article
about him in the mid-70s that said he stopped working every year after
he had grossed a million dollars, which was usually July.
The McHale's Navy theme was played by Axel Stordahl, who also led the
band on some Sinatra recordings, I think.
It's been mentioned many times elsewhere that the changes to the
Flintstones theme song are identical to those of I Got Rhythm, which
made it easier for Dirty Dozen to include it in their repertoire.
Am surprised that no one has mentioned the theme music of a 50s cop
show starring Lee Marvin called "M-Squad". All of the music for the
show, incidental music included, was jazz, and if I'm not mistaken,
the band was Basie's.
Or is it that my age is catching up with me...
Quincy Jones wrote several of the theme songs for TV programs. I don't
remember them all, but one was definitely Ironside. Though I never saw
that show much and forget what it sounded like.
Speaking of Raymond Burr, the Perry Mason theme song had a jazz sound
to it. Could we say that the theme song to I Love Lucy was Latin Jazz?
The theme to Twilight Zone free jazz?
- Bill Sakovich (sako...@gol.com)
Michael Crutcher
Are we missing the elite of the genre? It seems that nobody has mentioned
Vince Guaraldi's work on Charles Schultz's "Peanuts." Especially in the
Christmas season, which is defined around my house by the playing of the
"Charlie Brown Christmas" CD. Some nice rearrangements of Christmas tunes,
IMHO. One of the best...
Mike C.
G. Jeffrey Gower
On Sat, 21 Dec 1996, Michael Crutcher wrote:
> Are we missing the elite of the genre? It seems that nobody has mentioned
> Vince Guaraldi's work on Charles Schultz's "Peanuts."
Actually, this was mentioned in the very first posting on this thread -
that is why no one bothered to mention it again.
Jeff
Mark Polis
eme...@netcom.com (Ken McCarthy) wrote:
¤G. Jeffrey Gower (jgo...@mtholyoke.edu) wrote:
¤about jazz in cartoons...
The Betty Boop cartoons had excellent jazz "soundtracks" - e.g., Cab
Calloway, Louis Armstrong, and lots of the best session men around in
those days...
Gary Persons
In article <592n4e$e...@camel2.mindspring.com>, From
jre...@atl.mindspring.com (Jack Regan), the following was written:
> Unfortunately, Johnny Costa passed away very recently.
What a loss. Costa (whose family name was Constanza, I believe) was a
friend of my high school chorus director, and played some Christmas
Concerts in the 1960's at Moon High School.
I happened to run into guitarist Joe Negri when I was home in the 'burgh
a few years ago. He was an idol of mine when I was a kid, and he was
playing in a club with no audience...just my wife and me. What a neat
guy.
I remember even earlier (late '50s?) the Josie Carey Hour on WQED with a
puppeteer name Fred Rogers, and I'm pretty sure that Negri and Costa
were on that show as well. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, ...." good theme song!
!^NavFont02F028B0008IG9EHI8C8A11
--
Gary Persons
Glendale, CA
gper...@earthlink.net
Using OUI PRO 1.5
Available from http://www.peaktopeak.com
tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
I can think of two TV show themes in 5/4 time. One of them is
still on the air. How many can anyone else name? (Take Five
doesn't count.)
Keith L. Saunders
tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu () wrote:
OK. One of them, obviously, is Mission Impossible. Don't know the
current one.
I've got one: Who can name a TV theme (from the 70's) in 7/4 time?
Keith
o/~==========================================o/~
Visit the N.Y. HardBop Quintet on the WWW!
http://www.interport.net/~commish/nyhbq.html
o/~==========================================o/~
GJuke
>>>>I can think of two TV show themes in 5/4 time. One of them is
still on the air. How many can anyone else name? (Take Five
doesn't count.)<<<<
Mission Impossible is one.
What's the other?
GJ
Chaput-Charlebois
I can tell you one: "Mission Impossible theme" from Lalo Schiffrin.
I just want to show you a thing you maybe not remarqued: the theme play in
the new film are in 4/4. It's why the sound is so inhabitual.
I don't know the second one.
Mathieu Charlebois
Quebec, Canada
P.S. I have no merit for that, I play that piece with the orchestra of my
school.
Robert Rawlins
GJuke (gj...@aol.com) wrote:
: >>>>I can think of two TV show themes in 5/4 time. One of them is
: GJ
I don't watch enough TV to be able to answer this, but I have a counter
riddle: Can you name the first documented use of 5/4 time in Western music?
Bob Rawlins
Lawson G. Stone
Don't know the answer on the 5/4 other than Mission Impossible, but I
think that the theme to "Mash" was based on the changes of "Autumn
Leaves."
--
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////
Lawson G. Stone-Asbury Theological Seminary-Wilmore, KY
////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Prediction is very difficult, especially of the future.
--Niels Bohr
JMG61
In addition to Lawson Stone's reply of "Mission Impossible," I'll take a
stab and say the theme from "Mannix".
John Galich
CLAY MOORE
Sorry, that one's in waltz time, 3/4.
Clay
Craig Matsumoto
Keith L. Saunders wrote:
>
> tomb...@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu () wrote:
>
> >I can think of two TV show themes in 5/4 time. One of them is
> >still on the air. How many can anyone else name? (Take Five
> >doesn't count.)
>
> current one.
>
> I've got one: Who can name a TV theme (from the 70's) in 7/4 time?
Can't think of the other 5/4 bit.....
The 7/4 one I wouldn't know, either, except i heard it on the radio (!)
the other day -- some college station was playing a bunch of TV themes.
It's Room 222, believe it or not.
-- Craig Matsumoto
cmat...@eet.cmp.com
Keith L. Saunders
Craig Matsumoto <cmat...@eet.cmp.comm> wrote:
>Keith L. Saunders wrote:
>> I've got one: Who can name a TV theme (from the 70's) in 7/4 time?
...
>The 7/4 one I wouldn't know, either, except i heard it on the radio (!)
>the other day -- some college station was playing a bunch of TV themes.
>It's Room 222, believe it or not.
*ding* give the man a cigar!
estes stephen
aA while back there was a thread that Quincy Jones' tune Hikky_do or
something like that was the theme to I Spy, Well I found an lp with that
title (the real one that I can't remember exactly )and it was in fact a
theme to another Bill Cosbey show but definetly not the theme to I
Spy,does anyone know the correct composer and title of the I spy
Theme???x
Jeff Volkman
The I Spy theme was written by Earle Hagen.