Hi everyone and welcome to part two of my favourite themes. Sorry for the delay but your patience will be richly rewarded with a selection of wonderful themes. Here we go - theme style!
TANGERINE DREAM – BEACH THEME (FROM THE ‘THIEF’ OST) (VIRGIN)
An absolute cracker from German legends Tangerine Dream. Taken from the 1981 Michael Mann film, ‘Beach Theme’ is a lush yet powerful ambient electronic number (well it is Tangerine Dream) that simply swells and reminds you of walks on the beach at sunset every time you hear it. Nice theme Tangerine Dream!
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DONNA SUMMER – THEME FROM THE DEEP (DEEP DOWN INSIDE) (CASABLANCA)
Ooo-err this is a bit of a saucy theme for you. I was originally recommended the John Barry’s instrumental score to the 1977 film ‘The Deep’ by our very own Alan Hilton, this spectacular theme had to be included. A summery, blissful disco-influenced track, ‘Theme From The Deep’ shares similarities with the Love Unlimited Orchestra’s ’Theme From King Kong’ as they are both disco scorchers soundtracking seventies blockbuster disaster movies. I opted to put the Donna Summer version on the list because it just adds a little spice, a little sex and is well rude. A theme so hot it will leave you swimming ‘In The Deep’. Sigh.
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HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR – HERCULES’ THEME (EMI)
With their debut album being strangley overlooked in those end of year polls in 2008, Hercules And Love Affair led the disco revival with imperious ease. Drawing on all those cool dance music influences and recognising the importance of having a theme in a title song, ‘Hercules’ Theme’ rightly deserves it’s place on my list. Recalling Paradise Garage grooves and West End Records’ panache this is modern disco belter of a theme.
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KALYANJI ANANDJI – THEME (SAD) (TAKEN FROM DHARMATMA OST) (EMI INDIA)
This theme should be familiar to all you J. Dilla and Bollywood fans as it’s rather famous and rather good. Taken from the 1975 Bollywood film ‘Dharmatma’ (with a groovy plot centering around gambling and gangsters), it has since gained cult status with the help of the fabulous score by legends Kalyanji Anandji. Anyway, this theme is simply fantastic. With funky breakbeats and Morricone flourishings (I’ve always wanted to write that), this is simply… well why don’t you have a listen theme fans?
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THE JIMI ENTLEY SOUND – CHARLIE’S THEME (ESPIONAGE DISK)
I remember picking this up a few years ago and not having a clue who The Jimi Entley Sound were. Were they a 60s freakbeat band? Were they Portishead’s Geoff and Adrian’s side project? To this day I haven’t got a clue but what I can tell you that this theme was the b-side to a limited 7″ cover of the Shadows classic ‘Apache’ and it’s a dirty, swaggering dance floor psych-funk bomb of a theme!
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and finally…….
Well I hoped you enjoyed this fun ride of themes and feel free to send in more suggestions and maybe we can start a lucrative trilogy or something but before I leave here’s one last theme ditty to round off the post. I don’t think I need to write anything about this theme as it’s famous, wonderful and it’s got the one and only Liza Minnelli. Smell ya later Theme-heads!
LIZA MINNELLI – THEME FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK (EMI)
(that’s Liza with Z y’know)
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