Dragnet (theme music)

"Dragnet"

Label from original 78 rpm
Single by Ray Anthony and his Orchestra
B-side "Dancing in the Dark"
Released 1953 (1953)
Format 10-inch 78 rpm & 7-inch 45 rpm
Genre Theme song, instrumental, big band
Length 2:50
Label Capitol
Songwriter(s) Walter Schumann

"Dragnet" is an instrumental theme from the radio and television show of the same name. It was composed by Walter Schumann for the radio show, and was also used on the subsequent television series and later syndication of the TV series under the name "Badge 714". The theme is in two parts: an opening signature "Main Title" (the ominous "Dum - - - de - DUM - DUM") and the "Dragnet March" used over the end credits.

Popular chart hit versions were recorded by Ray Anthony and his Orchestra (1953) and The Art of Noise (1987).

Film and television composer Nathan Scott, who began orchestrating for Schumann beginning in 1952, later became Dragnet's second composer following Schumann's departure from the series.[1]

Songwriting controversy

After the theme became a chart hit, the publishers of the score for the 1946 film version of The Killers composed by Miklós Rózsa challenged the authorship of the copyright of the Dragnet "Main Title". They contended that Walter Schumann had visited the sound stage in 1946 when Miklós Rózsa was recording "The Killers", and so had picked up (perhaps subconsciously) the melody of a cue for that film known as "Danger Ahead". A settlement between publishers resolved the case by allowing both composers and publishers to share the royalties for the short opening signature "Main Title", which became known as "Danger Ahead" after that.[2] The "Dragnet March" remained the exclusive composition of Schumann.

Ray Anthony version

The 1953 recording by Ray Anthony and his Orchestra sold over 500,000 copies in the US and rocketed Ray Anthony to popularity.[3] It was available as both a 45 rpm 7-inch vinyl record and a 78 rpm 10-inch shellac record. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100[4] and spent two weeks in the UK chart (December 10, 1953 and January 14, 1954), peaking at number seven.[5]

The Art of Noise version

"Dragnet"

UK single picture sleeve
Single by The Art of Noise
from the album In No Sense? Nonsense!
B-side "Acton Art"
Released 1987 (1987)
Format 7-inch single, 12-inch single
Recorded 1987
Genre Theme song, instrumental, dance music
Length 2:59
Label China
Songwriter(s) Walter Schumann
Producer(s) Anne Dudley, J. J. Jeczalik
The Art of Noise singles chronology
"Legacy"
(1986)		 "Dragnet"
(1987)		 "Dragnet The '88 Mix"
(1988)

"Legacy"
(1986)		 "Dragnet"
(1987)		 "Dragnet The '88 Mix"
(1988)

The 1987 version by The Art of Noise was an international hit, and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.[6] It was used as the theme music for the 1987 film version of Dragnet based on the TV show.

A new version was released the following year, "Dragnet (The '88 Mix)".

Reception

Evan Cater for AllMusic describes the 12-inch single as "a catchy mesh of orchestral samples, synthesized noise and clips of dialogue from the film."[7]

Chart performance

The Art of Noise version was an international hit, reaching number 60 in the UK,[8] number 84 in the Netherlands,[9] number 25 in New Zealand[10] and number 29 in Switzerland.[11] "Dragnet (The '88 Mix)" reached number 90 in the UK.[8]

Other uses of the theme

A parody of the theme opened the 1967 Eric Burdon and The Animals hit "San Franciscan Nights". A sample of it was used in the 1973 song "Armed and Extremely Dangerous" by First Choice.

The 2003 Dick Wolf-produced version of Dragnet used a modified version of the "Danger Ahead" theme composed by Mike Post.

References

  1. ↑ Burlingame, Jon (2010-03-03). "Nathan Scott, 94, scored TV shows - Composer's credits included 'Dragnet,' 'Lassie'". Variety. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime Television. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 8. ISBN 0275988074. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  3. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1953-09-26). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  4. ↑ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1985-11-09). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  5. ↑ "RAY ANTHONY & HIS ORCHESTRA | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  6. ↑ "29th Grammy Awards – 1987". Rock on the Net. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Dragnet - The Art of Noise | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Art Of Noise". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Discografie The Art of Noise". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Discography The Art of Noise". charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Discographie The Art of Noise". swisscharts.com (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original (select "Charts" tab) on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
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