Peter Gunn (song)

For more information on Mancini's original music for the TV show, see Peter Gunn and The Music from Peter Gunn.

Original soundtrack album

"Peter Gunn" is the theme music composed by Henry Mancini for the television show of the same name.^[1] The song was the opening track on the original soundtrack album, The Music from Peter Gunn, released in 1959 as RCA Victor LPM/LSP-1956.^[2] Mancini won an Emmy Award and two Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Arrangement.^[3]

In his autobiography Did They Mention the Music? Mancini states:

The "Peter Gunn" title theme actually derives more from rock and roll than from jazz. I used guitar and piano in unison, playing what is known in music as an ostinato, which means obstinate. It was sustained throughout the piece, giving it a sinister effect, with some frightened saxophone sounds and some shouting brass. The piece has one chord throughout and a super-simple top line.^[4]

Lyrics were added by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and first recorded in 1964 by Sarah Vaughan in an arrangement by Bill Holman on her album Sarah Vaughan Sings the Mancini Songbook.^[5] Mancini also recorded a vocal version titled "Bye Bye" that is on his 1967 soundtrack album Gunn...Number One!.^[6]

Trumpeter Ray Anthony released the first single version of the song on Capitol Records in 1959. Arranged by Mancini and featuring tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, it reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on the R&B chart.^[7]

Other versions

The song has been recorded by numerous artists including a popular version by guitarist Duane Eddy. His recording of the song reached #2 in Australia, #6 on the UK Singles Chart, and #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.^[8] The song appeared on his 1959 album, Especially for You.^[9] The song was produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill.^[10]

• RCA Victor also released the song as part of a Mancini EP in 1958.^[11]
• Pete Candoli and His Orchestra released the song as part of an EP in 1959 entitled "Peter Gunn Cha Cha".^[12]
• Ted Heath and His Music released the song as the B-side to his single "Sermonette" in 1959.^[13]
• Shelly Manne recorded a version on Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn which was released as a single in 1959.^[14]
• The Kingsmen included a version on the 1965 The Kingsmen On Campus LP, Wand LP 670.
• Deodato released a version of the song in 1976 which reached #20 on the dance chart, #84 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #96 on the R&B chart.^[15]
• Emerson, Lake & Palmer released a version on their 1979 live album, In Concert. A slightly shortened edit was released as a single in some countries.^[16]
• Aretha Franklin and The Blues Brothers released a version of the song as a medley with "Think" in 1980 which reached #39 on the dance chart.^[17]
• Art of Noise released a version of the song featuring Eddy in 1986 which reached #2 on the dance chart, #8 in the UK, #14 in Canada,^[18] and #50 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[19] It was featured on their 1986 album, In Visible Silence.^[20]
• Isabel Rose recorded a version on her 2014 album Trouble in Paradise.^[21]

In popular culture

• The song was featured in the popular arcade game Spy Hunter in 1983, when developer Midway was unable to secure the rights to the James Bond theme. The Peter Gunn theme is still featured in most re-releases of the game today.^[22]
• The song was also used in Monty Python's The Bishop sketch in season 2, episode 17 of their TV show, Monty Python's Flying Circus.^[23]
• In the TV series How I Met Your Mother a version of the song is featured in season 5 episode "The Rough Patch".^[24]
• The tune was the inspiration for the track "The Man From MI.5" in the episode of the same name of the TV series Thunderbirds.^[25]

References