Best TV Theme Tunes of the 80s and late 70s

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  • edited February 2015
    And has nobody mentioned Bullseye yet? I loved the way they had "happy" and "sad" versions of the theme tune, depending on whether or not the poor sods won the speedboat.
    The comp.sys.sinclair crap games competition 2015
    "Let's not be childish. Let's play Spectrum games."
  • edited February 2015
    leespoons wrote: »
    FLYING SAUSAAAAAAGE! Please tell me it wasn't just me who used to shout that.

    Nope, I did that too. Almost bought a t-shirt of said sausage a while back. :grin:

    bbc_grange_hill_flying_sausage_shirt_tshirt-r1de1561112324c98a01c5822c10d399f_vxonn_324.jpg
  • edited February 2015
    Blake's 7 :)
  • edited February 2015
    GreenCard wrote: »
    Nope, I did that too. Almost bought a t-shirt of said sausage a while back. :grin:

    bbc_grange_hill_flying_sausage_shirt_tshirt-r1de1561112324c98a01c5822c10d399f_vxonn_324.jpg

    I think that comes from an early episode involving a telescopic fork and a fight in the canteen. It was too early for Rowland, but I do remember that character fondly. I think the 80s one were really good. Was watching one the other way on the links that came after the grange hill theme tune, and it basically ended with one sports teacher punching another in the face saying 'Aww slipped on the wet floor did you'. You'd never get that on kids telly now.
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • edited February 2015
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    I think that comes from an early episode involving a telescopic fork and a fight in the canteen. It was too early for Rowland, but I do remember that character fondly. I think the 80s one were really good. Was watching one the other way on the links that came after the grange hill theme tune, and it basically ended with one sports teacher punching another in the face saying 'Aww slipped on the wet floor did you'. You'd never get that on kids telly now.

    You'd certainly never get a storyline like Zammo hooked on smack these days either, or that kid disappearing only to then be found dead in Mr Bronson's car. It was actually quite hard-hitting at times.
  • It's always a bonus when the theme is sung by the star. Like The Fall Guy :)

    Cheeky Funster (53)
  • edited February 2015
    Am I missing something or has Doctor Who from the 80s Peter Davidson era not been mentioned ?

  • edited February 2015
    dmsmith wrote: »
    Am I missing something or has Dr. Who from the 80s Peter Davidson era not been mentioned ?


    Probably because its crap in comparison to the original 60s version
  • edited February 2015
    Here's them all side by side for comparison, I'd say Tom's one just before Davidson's is better, the later one just adds too many incidental effects and stuff.

  • edited February 2015
    Yeah if we are comparing the entire opening credits sequence they seem to have got a bit cheap on the visuals in the early 80s.

    The Peter Davidson theme is reminesicent of the earlier John Pertwee one 1973, it has that [up an octave] sequence following the familiar Dr. Who Bass intro.

    But the next one in the Joh Pertwee era (aired on Time Warrior) in terms of overall intro visuals and music is fantastic for its time.
  • edited February 2015
    I actually prefer the McCoy version, which ever so slightly outdoes the arrangement for the McGann movie.
  • edited February 2015
    Rockford Files was pretty cool.
  • edited February 2015
    Necros wrote: »
    No TV theme tune list is complete without...


    yup

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXLv7UosQXs
  • edited February 2015
    I always thought this science series from the 80s had a memorable theme.

    Been looking for it online for ages, the clip isn't great quality unfortunately.

  • edited February 2015
    A few decent ones I remember from back in the day..













  • edited February 2015
    For some reminiscing try this CITV junction playlist, lots of theme tunes and continuity.

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqE3P-LeRU7zyi3Fuh69cEa4nYrcAQ6T

    I'm running it on a spare screen whilst working. It's nice company and brings back so many memories.
    Calling all ASCII Art Architects Visit the WOS Wall of Text and contribute: https://www.yourworldoftext.com/wos
  • edited February 2015
    Scottie_uk wrote: »
    For some reminiscing try this CITV junction playlist, lots of theme tunes and continuity.

    https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyqE3P-LeRU7zyi3Fuh69cEa4nYrcAQ6T

    I'm running it on a spare screen whilst working. It's nice company and brings back so many memories.

    Watched the first bit of that. Sad to think that the girl who played Marmalade Atkins (Charlotte Colman) died of an asthma attack in 2001. She would only have been 46 or 47 now.. :(
  • edited February 2015
    If you listen to Give us a Clue's theme tune and listen for them saying "Give Us A Poo!" it's very hard not to hear it as that for ever more! :D

    Also has anyone else noticed how much Blockbusters sound's similar to the Knightmare intro?



    Here's some more!

    Mysterious Cities Of Gold!



    Dungeons & Dragons!



    Bullseye!



    Dogtanian & The Three Muskahounds!



    Jamie & The Magic Torch!

  • edited February 2015
    And now I've just instantly thought of even more!

    The Incredible Hulk!



    The Incredible Hulk!





    Spiderman & His Amazing Friends!



    The Littlest Hobo!



    The Box Of Delights!

  • edited February 2015
    Grunaki wrote: »
    Watched the first bit of that. Sad to think that the girl who played Marmalade Atkins (Charlotte Colman) died of an asthma attack in 2001. She would only have been 46 or 47 now.. :(

    remember watching that, had no idea she died so young :(

    deadpan666 wrote: »

    The Littlest Hobo!

    I can barely remember anything about this programme except thinking it was 'wrong' that the theme tune was just some random song that didn't have "the littlest hobo" anywhere in the words, lol.
  • edited February 2015
    Some of my favs would have to be

    THE TRIPODS


    STAR COPS


    SPACE 1999
  • edited February 2015
    def chris wrote: »
    I can barely remember anything about this programme except thinking it was 'wrong' that the theme tune was just some random song that didn't have "the littlest hobo" anywhere in the words, lol.

    Yeah but the lyrics were all about him travelling from place to place, meeting people, getting into adventures. Like Caine in Kung Fu.

    More great 70s/80s kids TV themes...







    Has anyone mentioned the "Lonely Man" theme from The Incredible Hulk series? Classic!



    (Can't actually listen to these at the mo, so no idea if they're actually correct!)
  • edited February 2015
    GreenCard wrote: »
    Yeah but the lyrics were all about him travelling from place to place, meeting people, getting into adventures.

    I think that probably flew over my head a bit when I was 5. guess I wanted something more along the lines of 'Da-naaaahhh...The Littlest Hobo!!! ...dah-nah-naaaaahh!!!' :-P


    don't think this ones been posted yet



    remember one episode of this frightening me...
  • edited February 2015
    GreenCard wrote: »



    Just posted that a page back, but it's so awesome it deserves to be posted at least another 17 times! ;)

    I just remembered a couple more...

    Not the main theme, but probably the more remembered theme from the show...Meggie's theme from The Thorn Birds




    Hammer House Of Horror!

  • edited February 2015
    def chris wrote: »
    I think that probably flew over my head a bit when I was 5. guess I wanted something more along the lines of 'Da-naaaahhh...The Littlest Hobo!!! ...dah-nah-naaaaahh!!!' :-P

    ha! The title confused me as well, I thought a "hobo" was a type of dog and wondered how big The Biggest Hobo would be!

    And speaking of pets who don't seem to have names of their own:

    The comp.sys.sinclair crap games competition 2015
    "Let's not be childish. Let's play Spectrum games."
  • edited February 2015
    deadpan666 wrote: »
    Just posted that a page back, but it's so awesome it deserves to be posted at least another 17 times! ;)

    Hehe! Yep, I remembered just after posting, so I edited it out. You must've caught the quote just in time. ;)
  • edited February 2015
    daveykins wrote: »
    If it hasn't already been mentioned, Le Parc, theme from Street Hawk. Written by Tangerine Dream.

    http://youtu.be/CCItnKrXvMM

    http://youtu.be/UolPb4z5618

    +1 for Streethawk.
  • edited February 2015
    My vote goes to Mr Rossi, a cartoon that was shown on Qatar State TV back in the Eighties.
    Originally Brazilian, I understand, but translated to English.

    http://youtu.be/prRc7p9NO9o
  • edited February 2015
    I don't think anyone's mentioned Roobarb yet.

  • edited February 2015
    My vote goes to Mr Rossi, a cartoon that was shown on Qatar State TV back in the Eighties.
    Originally Brazilian, I understand, but translated to English.


    It was Italian.... was shown on UK TV occasionally. I hadn't thought about it since about 1985, but somebody posted it on their facebook about a week ago. Sp:o:ok!

    I see your Mr Rossi and raise you an Aubrey:



    and a Noseybonk:

    The comp.sys.sinclair crap games competition 2015
    "Let's not be childish. Let's play Spectrum games."
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