The UK charts seemed to be full of novelty songs and oddities growing up. A large number being theme tunes to TV shows. In the post x-factor/got talent world. Its a shame they don’t exist anymore.
Theme from Auf Wiedersehen Pet – That’s living alright – Joe Fagin
This was the theme tune for a tv show called auf wiedersehen pet about a bunch of builders from the UK who had to go and find work in Germany. I remember not being able to pronounce it back it 1983 when the show came out. Thats living alright was played over the closing credits and reached #3 in the charts
Theme from Boon – hi ho silver – Jim Diamond
Michael Elphick played Boon who drove around on a motorbike (BSA A65L Lightning 650, Wikipedia tells me) as a courier-minder-private investigator.
Next up the gold standard of theme tunes, Minder.
Minder Theme – I could be so good for you – Dennis Waterman.
Sir Dennis on Top of the Pops
This is currently the ring tone on my phone. Dennis Waterman took TV Theme tunes into orbit and so far has sung 4 theme tunes for shows he appeared in. He won’t appear in a show unless he can do it. The others are New Tricks, On the Up and Stay Lucky. Sadly YouTube force doesn’t come up with the goods for these.
The fact that these guys looked like they’d drink in your local pub adds to the appeal.
Alas there was an ugly side though to charting TV Theme tunes.
Eastenders Theme – Anyone can fall in love – Anita Dobson
The Eastenders theme was an instrumental for years before someone shoe horned in some lyrics and got Anita Dobson to sing them.
Heartbeat Theme – Heartbeat – Nick Berry
Great idea police drama set in the sixties in swinging London or lets get rid of the drama and move it to Yorkshire and have Bill Maynard steel some sheep each week. Genius.
Bah Nick Berry…The only reason Anita Dobson foghorned the Eastenders theme theme tune was because of this guy. Nick Berry was also in Eastenders and blackmailed the script writers into allowing him to sing “Every Looser Wins” for some contrived story line. This song went to number one for like eight years. Bastard.
