Sing Along! The Most Memorable TV Theme Songs of the Decades

Today, we're diving into the nostalgic world of TV show theme songs that made their mark on the Billboard charts. From the catchy tunes of the 60s to the pop culture phenomena of the 90s, these memorable songs not only introduced beloved series but also became hits in their own right. Gray Hair Dave shares his top 14 picks, including classics like "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" from The Beverly Hillbillies and the iconic "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" from Cheers. As we reminisce about these tunes, listeners are invited to reflect on their own memories associated with these songs and the shows they represent. Join us for a fun-filled exploration of music that not only entertained us but also left an indelible mark on television history.
The episode is a heartwarming homage to the theme songs from classic television shows that found immense success on the Billboard charts. Gray Hair Dave sets the stage with his signature charm, engaging listeners right from the start as he shares his passion for music and its connection to television history. The discussion covers a carefully curated list of 14 iconic theme songs, ranging from 'The Ballad of Jed Clampett' to 'I'll Be There for You' from Friends. Each song is not just an introduction to a show but a piece of cultural history that resonates with audiences of different generations. Dave's enthusiasm for these songs is palpable, and he invites listeners to join him in reflecting on their personal connections to these tunes.
Throughout the episode, Dave dives deep into the stories behind each theme song, offering insights into their creation and the shows they represent. He highlights how songs like 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' from Cheers encapsulated the essence of the series, making them synonymous with the characters and stories they introduced. His anecdotes about listening to these songs during his work and how they influence his mood add a personal touch, making the conversation relatable and engaging. The episode also explores the nostalgia associated with these songs, prompting listeners to recall their own memories of watching these shows during their formative years.
As the episode comes to a close, Gray Hair Dave emphasizes the importance of sharing these musical memories with others, encouraging listeners to introduce friends and family to the world of podcasts. His call to action is heartfelt, reminding everyone of the joy that comes from connecting over shared experiences. The episode is not just a trip down memory lane; it’s a celebration of the enduring impact of television theme songs and the way they shape our lives and memories, ultimately fostering a sense of community among listeners.
Takeaways:
- Theme songs from classic TV shows made a significant impact on Billboard charts during the 60s to 90s.
- Gray Hair Dave reminisces about memorable TV theme songs that evoke nostalgia and fond memories.
- The discussion includes iconic songs like 'The Ballad of Jed Clampett' and 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name'.
- Listeners are encouraged to explore these classic theme songs and their cultural significance.
- Dave reflects on how these songs were integral to the identity of their respective shows.
- He invites listeners to share the podcast with those unfamiliar with how to access podcasts.
Links referenced in this episode:
00:00 - None
00:09 - Transitioning to Boomer Podcasters
00:26 - The Evolution of TV Theme Songs
04:44 - Nostalgic TV Themes
06:06 - Nostalgic Theme Songs of Our Youth
08:23 - Reflections on M*A*S*H and Its Legacy
11:20 - A New Perspective on Life
Welcome back, welcome back.
Gray Hair Dave
Welcome back to five minutes of Gray Hair Dave.
Gray Hair Dave
That's right, it's me.
Gray Hair Dave
The intro wasn't there.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm leaving 11 labs voices to boomer podcasters for now.
Gray Hair Dave
Anyway, how are you today?
Gray Hair Dave
I hope you're doing very, very well.
Gray Hair Dave
Again, my name's Gray Hair Dave, if you don't already know that.
Gray Hair Dave
And we're going to talk today about theme songs from TV shows that hit the top Billboard charts back in the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, whatever, they come in.
Gray Hair Dave
And I think that this is a great idea.
Gray Hair Dave
I was, I was doing some work on Boomer podcasters earlier today, and I was.
Gray Hair Dave
I was editing a PDF for my website, boomerpodcasters.com talk because yesterday I talked about hosting platforms and I talked about website platforms and I also talked about some podcast player platforms and I wanted to put those into the website so people could click on them and make the links available to them.
Gray Hair Dave
And I was listening to Pandora and I was listening to a.
Gray Hair Dave
I was listening to a program I designed on there.
Gray Hair Dave
I added to that about.
Gray Hair Dave
It's called Believe it or not, and it's all about theme songs.
Gray Hair Dave
And they were playing as I was working.
Gray Hair Dave
And because I like music and that's not.
Gray Hair Dave
That's got me stupid here.
Gray Hair Dave
I like music.
Gray Hair Dave
And that gave me this idea today.
Gray Hair Dave
So I thought we'd come today and we talk about that, see if these bring back any memories for you.
Gray Hair Dave
Now, these are just the top 14 because we've only got a few minutes to talk about this.
Gray Hair Dave
The Ballad of Jed Clampett.
Gray Hair Dave
This is from the Beverly hillbillies back in 1962 from.
Gray Hair Dave
It was made by Lester Flapp and Earl Scruggs.
Gray Hair Dave
Number two was welcome Back from the welcome Back Carter hit.
Gray Hair Dave
It was a.
Gray Hair Dave
The intro and the outro to welcome Back Carter.
Gray Hair Dave
Remember welcome Back.
Gray Hair Dave
Anyways, the next one was Number three was those Were the Days.
Gray Hair Dave
That was the intro.
Gray Hair Dave
Intro to all in the family in 72.
Gray Hair Dave
Number four was Rock around the Clock from Happy Days.
Gray Hair Dave
You gotta remember Happy Days.
Gray Hair Dave
First of all, Rock around the Clock was also in the movie Happy about that started Happy Days.
Gray Hair Dave
Can't remember the name of the movie right now.
Gray Hair Dave
Number five was Make Our Dreams Come True by Laverne and Shirley.
Gray Hair Dave
I love that one.
Gray Hair Dave
Making It.
Gray Hair Dave
Making it was the open credits.
Gray Hair Dave
It was from a show called Making It.
Gray Hair Dave
It was a sitcom ripoff of Saturday Night Fever.
Gray Hair Dave
It was fun by like the song that's Just Me.
Gray Hair Dave
Different Worlds.
Gray Hair Dave
Different Worlds comes from the show A Different world back in 79 was performed by Maureen McGovern, WKRP in Cincinnati.
Gray Hair Dave
Everybody should remember that.
Gray Hair Dave
It hit number 65 on the top 181.
Gray Hair Dave
Here's one you're going to love and everybody should know it, where everybody knows your name.
Gray Hair Dave
And that was from the TV show Cheers.
Gray Hair Dave
As Long as We Got each Other was from Growing Pains.
Gray Hair Dave
That went all the way up to number seven on top 100.
Gray Hair Dave
I'll be there for you was from you.
Gray Hair Dave
Can you guess that one?
Gray Hair Dave
Can you think about who it might be?
Gray Hair Dave
You ready?
Gray Hair Dave
That was from Friends.
Gray Hair Dave
Boss of Me was from Best of Both Worlds.
Gray Hair Dave
Here's one I have a hard time believing, but the best of both Worlds was from Hannah Montana.
Gray Hair Dave
Leave it all to me was the icarly theme song.
Gray Hair Dave
Okay, those are just 14 of them.
Gray Hair Dave
I.
Gray Hair Dave
I mean, there are so many, many more summer in.
Gray Hair Dave
And a lot of these were from back in the 70s.
Gray Hair Dave
But they're fun, you know, they're just fun.
Gray Hair Dave
And do you remember them?
Gray Hair Dave
Are you going to be going to Billboard or somebody like that and saying, you know, what are the top 50s?
Gray Hair Dave
You know, it's.
Gray Hair Dave
It's just.
Gray Hair Dave
It's a lot of fun.
Gray Hair Dave
As I am, as I'm going through some of these, I'm just thinking, you know, what were you doing back then?
Gray Hair Dave
You remember the theme song from Batman, the TV show, you know, or the theme song from Mission Impossible?
Gray Hair Dave
It was, you know, HI 50 was fun with, you know, Mr.
Gray Hair Dave
McGarrett, and then you got Dr.
Gray Hair Dave
Kildare, the Rockford Files.
Gray Hair Dave
What else we got here?
Gray Hair Dave
Happy Days again.
Gray Hair Dave
I think the most memorable one for me was welcome Back Carter.
Gray Hair Dave
And making it was.
Gray Hair Dave
They were just fun, uplifting songs.
Gray Hair Dave
And.
Gray Hair Dave
And here's one.
Gray Hair Dave
I don't know if you remember.
Gray Hair Dave
This one was a theme song from the Dukes of Hazzard.
Gray Hair Dave
It was called Good Old Boys.
Gray Hair Dave
The Love Boat was on in that list.
Gray Hair Dave
You know, it was fun to listen to, and it's fun to go back now.
Gray Hair Dave
And another one comes from that station that I created, Believe it or not, it comes from the greatest American hero.
Gray Hair Dave
That's the name of the song, Believe it or not by Joey Scarborough.
Gray Hair Dave
And it's just fun to watch, you know, the theme song from Dallas.
Gray Hair Dave
There are so many out there that are just.
Gray Hair Dave
They hit the charts.
Gray Hair Dave
They did well.
Gray Hair Dave
But, you know, they're a theme song.
Gray Hair Dave
They're going to live on and on and on in the sitcom world.
Gray Hair Dave
So I don't know if you get all these things, but I do.
Gray Hair Dave
I love them.
Gray Hair Dave
I think they're great.
Gray Hair Dave
I think that they're worthwhile looking back into.
Gray Hair Dave
Go to YouTube now.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm not going to link these in my, in my show notes at all because I don't.
Gray Hair Dave
That's a lot to worry about.
Gray Hair Dave
Here's one, the theme song from mash.m a s H.
Gray Hair Dave
Do you remember that one?
Gray Hair Dave
Suicide Ain't Easy or Suicide no Suicide is Painless.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm sorry.
Gray Hair Dave
That show went on for, I believe, 18 or 20 years.
Gray Hair Dave
And yeah, there was some cast changes, but that show really, really, really went on for a long, long time and it was a good show.
Gray Hair Dave
Not many shows when they end have a two hour finale, which MASH did, and for a half an hour show, a two hour finale, it was pretty amazing, it was pretty poignant.
Gray Hair Dave
And a lot of it rings true today for some of our are returning heroes from the military, whether you're in the US or anywhere.
Gray Hair Dave
And you know, they're having to deal with all these things to do with the strife and everything that goes with war.
Gray Hair Dave
What they see, what they've done, what they've had to do, what they've experienced cannot be easy on their mind.
Gray Hair Dave
So that's what I got for today for you folks.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm sorry it's not long or longer, but you know, here's what you know, this is what it is today and that's where it ended.
Gray Hair Dave
So I hope you have a great week.
Gray Hair Dave
I want you to remember one thing.
Gray Hair Dave
If you know somebody who doesn't know what a podcast is, doesn't know how to find one, doesn't know what genre to listen to, do me a favor, show them for me.
Gray Hair Dave
Tell them how to do it.
Gray Hair Dave
Show them how to, how to follow, how to subscribe.
Gray Hair Dave
It's going to make me very, very happy and all those other podcasters happy that somebody's out there listening.
Gray Hair Dave
Also folks, if you need somebody to edit your podcast, if you have a podcast or your video, let me know.
Gray Hair Dave
Leave me a message on Five Minutes with Gray Hair Dave.
Gray Hair Dave
That's the number.
Gray Hair Dave
Five Minutes with Gray Hair Dave.
Gray Hair Dave
Go to the Contact Me page.
Gray Hair Dave
Or you can go to the little microphone in the bottom right hand corner of every page.
Gray Hair Dave
Click on that.
Gray Hair Dave
All you have to do is put in your email address, which I'm going to need, but I don't sell.
Gray Hair Dave
I don't believe it's a good idea to give your stuff away if you don't want me to.
Gray Hair Dave
Just like I wouldn't want you to give my stuff away now.
Gray Hair Dave
I want you to tell people about my podcast.
Gray Hair Dave
Yes, but that's what this is here for.
Gray Hair Dave
Your email address is private.
Gray Hair Dave
I don't sell it.
Gray Hair Dave
Just wanted you to know that.
Gray Hair Dave
So don't forget.
Gray Hair Dave
Let me know what you think.
Gray Hair Dave
If you got any questions or concerns.
Gray Hair Dave
Let me know.
Gray Hair Dave
If you got any ideas on things you want to hear about, let me know.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm happy to hear.
Gray Hair Dave
I get these emails every once in a while from people who want to change my website or help me with my marketing, you know, or, you know, I've got a bazillion dollars from a, you know, an Iranian prince that he left me in his will, which, you know, I've got to go get.
Gray Hair Dave
I don't get those emails anymore.
Gray Hair Dave
I don't know if you do, but you believe that crap anyway.
Gray Hair Dave
I'm so sorry, folks.
Gray Hair Dave
I be right off.
Gray Hair Dave
Do me a favor.
Gray Hair Dave
Smile at somebody you don't know today while you're out and about.
Gray Hair Dave
You're going to make their day, they're going to make yours.
Gray Hair Dave
So on behalf of all the goofballs up in my head, this is Gray Hair Dave saying, you all have a great day and I will talk to you next week.
Gray Hair Dave
Bye.