Since Billy Goldenberg is much discussed at the moment, I`d like to mention the music to KOJAK which features a terriffic main theme by Goldenberg and some great and quite diverse and memorable scores by John Cacavas. In my opinion another tv show that deserves a proper multi CD soundtrack release.
I almost instantly recall the theme music (must be getting old) and it was definitely iconic. I can't remember if that music was forever unchanging, or, were there several variants over the entire series? The split-screen titles were also a unique fingerprint.
The original theme is the one that registers with me at strength 10. The middle theme is the same as the original but with a noticeably heavier bass guitar anchoring it a little too heavily, I think, and with a very developed xylophone accompaniment, of all things. The number of players seems to have been drastically reduced for the second, or middle version. Could that have had something to do with re-use fees brought on by the success of the series up to that point?
That theme is melodic and full-bodied. Strangely, the Cacavas effort is more nondescript and generic in tone. I can't shake the feeling that over many years of catching the show, I only can only ever remember hearing the original theme music. I must have seen examples of the other series but that first theme is the one that got planted.
Funny that both themes, especially Goldenberg's, employ short motifs rather than fully developed theme tunes (like Star Trek and other 60s themes for example) They're heavily orchestrated and manipulated to resemble tunes, buy they're not really. I wonder if that was a trend from the 70s onwards. I've never thought about it before.
Funny that both themes, especially Goldenberg's, employ short motifs rather than fully developed theme tunes (like Star Trek and other 60s themes for example) They're heavily orchestrated and manipulated to resemble tunes, buy they're not really. I wonder if that was a trend from the 70s onwards. I've never thought about it before.
The same thought had actually crossed my mind. A signature tune in 30 seconds or less! The french horns are so very elemental to the Kojak vibe. The second refashioned version has no trumpets to sing out that rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-ta-ta. The thing is, I'm not too averted by the identical part that is taken up by the assumed xylophone - it's kind of rhythmically addictive!
Starting in 1977, a totally new theme by John Cacavas was used:
That Cacavas theme sounds a lot like Dominic Frontiere's theme for VEGA$. I much prefer Billy G's KOJAK theme. Glad that Shout Factory released the remainder of Kojak on dvd.
Interesting how the first half of the '70s was so much grittier than the Disco-drenched 1975 and on half of the decade.
Since Billy Goldenberg is much discussed at the moment, I`d like to mention the music to KOJAK which features a terriffic main theme by Goldenberg and some great and quite diverse and memorable scores by John Cacavas. In my opinion another tv show that deserves a proper multi CD soundtrack release.
I especially like the Cacavas scores which have his "Airport 1975" sound using the e-harpsichord.
Also worth mentioning are the early first season scores by Goldenberg and Richmond. Kim Richmond is not well known but his his score for the episode "One for the Morgue" is terrific.
Starting in 1977, a totally new theme by John Cacavas was used:
That Cacavas theme sounds a lot like Dominic Frontiere's theme for VEGA$. I much prefer Billy G's KOJAK theme. Glad that Shout Factory released the remainder of Kojak on dvd.
Interesting how the first half of the '70s was so much grittier than the Disco-drenched 1975 and on half of the decade.
You know this of course but the early 70's were like a mini depression with Civil discourse, Vietnam, Watergate, Gas Shortage and entertainment reflected the grim realities of the time. People just had enough of it and gravitated towards pure escapism. Thus came disco and Star Wars.
Interesting how the first half of the '70s was so much grittier than the Disco-drenched 1975 and on half of the decade.
You know this of course but the early 70's were like a mini depression with Civil discourse, Vietnam, Watergate, Gas Shortage and entertainment reflected the grim realities of the time. People just had enough of it and gravitated towards pure escapism. Thus came disco and Star Wars.
Those in my age group (early/mid 40s) recall the decade as the Spelling/Disco/Spielberg escapist stuff whereas those a bit longer in the tooth may tend to recall the earlier, grittier half of the decade. The latter is fascinating to me because I was busy being born when all that good junk was being made.
As for TV shows, some straddle the two periods, like, say, The Six Million Dollar Man. Lots of Watergate-era distrust but by that show's third season, that type of content had been toned down.
Bringing this back to Kojak themes, you can hear that evolution with each season's theme tune. Even Billy G's "amped up" rendition sounds more like what would come in the late '70s and by the time of the Cacavas theme, the transition was complete (and Kojak was kaput).
