SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 38 Min.
Released by Rhino Records in 1995, this sixteen-track CD consists of vintage 1980’s TV theme songs by their original artists. These tunes are mostly expanded radio-length versions or later-season updates of the original theme. The CD includes a booklet providing synopsis information for each track. The tracks are:
1: WKRP in Cincinnati Steve Carlisle (2:55)
2: The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys) Waylon Jennings (2:10)
3: The Facts of Life Gloria Loring (0.55)
4: Dynasty Bill Conti (3:29)
5: The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) Joey Scarbury (3:15)
6: Hill Street Blues Mike Post (3:15)
7: Family Ties (Without Us) Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams (3:55)
8: Silver Spoons (Together) Bob Wirth & Ric Howard (1:02)
9: Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name) Gary Portnoy (2:35)
10: Miami Vice Jan Hammer (2:29)
11: Who’s the Boss? (Brand New Life) Larry Weiss (1:04)
12: Charles in Charge Shandi (1:01)
13: The Equalizer (Busy Equalizing) Stewart Copeland (3:19)
14: Growing Pains (As Long As We Got Each Other) B.J. Thomas & Dusty Springfield (4:23)
15: The Love Boat Dionne Warwick (1:46)
16: My Two Dads (You Can Count on Me) Greg Evigan (1:00)
REVIEW:
It’s best to group these tracks into categories to explain them.
- Tracks 1; 2; 4; 6; 7; 9; and 13.
These rare tracks are radio-length versions, especially as WKRP in Cincinnati; The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys); Family Ties (Without Us); and Cheers (Where Everybody Knows Your Name) include additional lyrics. Waylon Jennings and Gary Portnoy add some good-natured humor to their contributions.
- Tracks 5 and 10.
These standard, radio-length versions are still occasionally heard on the radio.
- Tracks 8; 12; and 16.
These sixty-second tracks are the original theme songs per its show’s opening credits. As the album’s shortest recording, My Two Dads (You Can Count on Me) dubiously pads its length with a canned laugh-track.
- Tracks 3; 11; 14; and 15.
These four sunny tunes were utilized as later-season updates and/or for its program’s final season. Growing Pains (As Long As We Got Each Other) is the only radio-length version in this bunch.
The accompanying booklet relates the tracks’ radio play history and related trivia notes. For instance, who knew that it took Gary Portnoy multiple tries to compose a theme song that finally satisfied the Cheers producers? Sporting solid audio quality, Tube Tunes, Vol. 3 – The ‘80s is a neat collection for TV nostalgia buffs that doesn’t wear out its welcome or, for that matter, pause for annoying commercials. Even with sixteen tracks, the inevitable downside is that album’s running time flies by fast.
PACKAGING:
The front cover image is a cartoony group caricature of featured stars: Loni Anderson; Ted Danson; Gavin MacLeod; Don Johnson; and Joan Collins, squeezed together on a couch watching TV. The back cover provides accurate product information.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
Note: As a recommendation, TVT Records released several 65-track TV theme song albums in the mid-1990’s, with the original artists. These tracks all reflect their original opening credits running time. Television’s Greatest Hits, Volumes 5-7 (which covers the span of the 1970’s into the 1990’s) would nicely supplement this Tube Tunes album.
