This is what it appears to be: a selection of Mike Post's themes for TV and
all apparently from the original soundtracks and, in that sense, fully authentic.
The range is wide. The memorably gnawing dawn drums, quiet elegies and menace
of NYPD Blue contrasts with the less likeable Blossom Street, Hardcastle
and McCormick, Hunter; Stingray (not the animation) and The White Shadow
- all the latter being examples of forgettably sleazy rock trivia. Strong
tracks include Hill Street Blues with its gloriously evocative spirit of
made-anew mornings. Also notable are the cool themes from L A Law, Law and
Order and Top of the Hill. Tale of the Gold Monkey has clear classical
influences: Copland and Stravinsky. Contrast this with Sonny Spoon with its
'down and dirty' harmonica. B L Stryker is all slouching urbane confidence
and a similar feeling pervades Hooperman (with prominent sax part), Doogie
Howser MD and Studio 5B (heartbeat at start). Commercial rock (and often
deeply unattractive) tracks include Magnum PI, The A-Team, Riptide and The
Rockford Files. Good to hear the icily amiable theme from Quantum Leap.
The medium (TV) is ephemeral and themes tend to be written to match. Post
(and a few others) confound low expectations with more memorable music than
average. Quantum Leap, Hill Street and NYPD Blue are classics to be enjoyed
in their original guise here. A great souvenir (though no notes).
Reviewer
Rob Barnett