The "real" theme from Magnum P.I.

none sound like the "real thing" to me either... they all seem to be orchestral re-arrangements made a later date.
I have the original 45rpm record by mike post - the composer - and if you want to listen to what that sounds like try this link:
http://www.imeem.com/tv-themes/music/AYJGEIxc/mike_post_theme_from_magnum_pi/

for the recording he added a cool saxaphone segment in the middle, so be warned about that... but the rest - to my ears anyways - is pure original Magnum

TV theme songs are often re-recorded by a myriad of orchestras and groups and such. They all end up getting the tune right but they also all add their own unique sound to it. Makes it hard finding the "real one".
Mike Post did a lot of TV back then. Still does, i believe... Law and Order is his as well.. The reverse side of my Magnum is the A-Team...

enjoy...

GT

 

I heard that Selleck was too tall for the 308 and so all the shot of him in the car are w/o the roof. True?

 

I have it from VERY relieable sources that after the cars were imported from Italy to Hawaii the seat cushions swelled up to twice their size do to the humidty (just kiddin)

 

Actually the original theme from the pilot was quite different from the one we're all used to. I think the second theme we all know is definitely better.

Here's the original on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNYDNtVs1PE

I also remember reading somewhere that the producers originally wanted to use a Porsche 928 as the featured car on the show. As the story went, they knew they would take lots of shots of the car from above, so they wanted to make the sunroof bigger. Porsche N. A. balked at the idea of putting a car on a TV show with a non-factory modification, so the producers went with the 308. And yes, I'm pretty sure his height was one of the main reasons the top was nearly always off, other that the fact that they were on Oahu, that is.

 

Regarding Selleck's height and the targa, and the 928, this topic has been discussed HEAVILY on this site, search around a bit!

I've always loved the theme, and yes, the original few episodes on season 1 featured a different theme, by Ian Freebairn-Smith, if memory serves. More jazzy than Mike Post's. I'm a professional musician, so I've always paid closer-than-normal attention to TV music themes!!

Greg

 

There were actually TWO themes, the first was by Ian Fairbairn Smith, both can be found here:
http://mythemes.tv/

 

You saw my previous post, right?


Greg