100 Greatest American TV Themes
This comprehensive, 4-disc set (divided into sequential chronological sequences), includes an extraordinary array of themes from American television series: from the sublime to the lighthearted, spanning the gamut of television productions from the 1950's to the present day.
For some, this collection will provide an opportunity to revel in pure and unadulterated nostalgia. For others, it represents an interesting overview of the different styles of television themes over the years, and the way in which TV theme composition has evolved.
For this listener, the collection is a healthy and hearty combination of nostalgia and musicology, as well as a veritable journey of discovery; after all, it's unlikely that any one listener will have heard absolutely every piece, or watched every television series represented in this compilation.
It's worth mentioning, that the original M.A.S.H. theme is included here, complete with the vocals to the song, Suicide is Painless, rather than the instrumental version used in the opening credits to the show. It's a nice enough theme, but the dark humour in the song is far more powerful, and encapsulates what the original premise of M.A.S.H. was all about.
100 Greatest American TV Themes is a rich anthology, and a must-have for anyone who loves TV, as well as any fan of screen music - and a great gift idea, too, for that matter.