"(Theme from) Magnum P.I." by Mike Post

Song#:  0909
Date:  02/06/1982
Debut:  80
Peak:  25
Weeks:  17
Genre:  Pop, Soundtrack, Instrumental



Pop Bits:  After the Top 10 success of his "Theme from Hill Street Blues" (#10), Post followed it up with another of his TV theme songs, one of several that were running at the time. Serving as the theme to Tom Selleck's hit detective series "Magnum P.I.," this rockier song did well enough to get into the Top 30. Although Post would continue to write many memorable TV show themes, such as from "The A-Team," "Quantum Leap," and "Law & Order," this would be Post's last single to reach the pop chart.

ReduxReview:  Post certainly had a knack for composing memorable themes. These days, most shows barely even have a theme. I think the heyday of TV show songs are long gone. But we do have ones like this leftover that can still resonate and immediately bring back memories of the time and the shows. I thought this was a solid TV theme and even expanded it made for a pretty good single. It doesn't rank up there with the best, but it's a good composition. Plus anything that conjures up images of young Tom Selleck in a speedo is always a bonus!

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  How popular and influential was Post's theme work? So much so that Pete Townshend of The Who wrote a song called "Mike Post Theme" for their 2006 album "Endless Wire." Around this time, a couple of Who songs were being used as TV themes and it reminded Townshend of how he liked Post's themes and how TV shows can give folks a break from any troubles or rough times they may be having. This and other thoughts are explored in the song.

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