This fits much better than the Farnon job; just a little too over percussive. It has the right kind of claustrophobia. Also sounds abit like Shostakovich in places.
A disconcerted audience, who is watching the execution of a man, with twisted stomach feel each punch of his resignation. Their hero is lost, now to fight against them.
That's what this music sounds like.
We go from the first one, of a pompous ass, over-occupying the hero black and white role, to the second one, a dumbfounded and idiotic audience who do not comprehend the meaning of what is going on.
The third one, the one actually used, watch?v=PhnTMxHOWlY
we see a jokester devious character having one hell of a blast slyly rebelling, and with a taste of danger, too, because at any moment he could be snagged up and destroyed, and yet he isn't. So he sly's on.
This best tells the story of the rebel, which is essentially what this story is about. Mocks the entire thing, and yet knows that he is bound to their actions, just as must as they are on his.
bog standard intermediate 60s spy film music, nothing uplifting, Indistinguishable from the rest it would have bumed, and dragged the programe down with it
This has more of a spy movie feel, which the Prisoner was about spies and international intrigue. However, it would be the same without the series' signature electric guitar plinking.
The classic theme is the best of all but this alternative grows on me, and yes, you fragments of it in the early episodes. I like it...creepy, weird and classy.
Simply too complex for an opening sequence. It would be perfectly suited for an internal sequence, or for the opening sequence of a movie. For a multi-part tv series it's just too busy.
Not bad at all; works well with the tension of the opening - Number 6 knowing he needs to move quickly even before the knock out gas appears at the keyhole.
@mowriter Ya hadda be there. I well remember 1965 (when this was all done) and this piece of music beautifully captured that era's beginnings of society's unraveling and hence it's preference by McGoohan himslef.
@shivercanada Indeed. Although one should bear in mind that Joseph did write the title music for I, Claudius and The Great War, which are I think more memorable pieces than even The Prisoner's. The one that The Prisoner eventually used had the trashy 60s spy feel though, which helped set up its Avengers-through-a-mirror-darkly angle. Obv they should've used "Dem Bones" though. ;)
You can apply all the egghead notions you want to why this is "great" but in the end it is still Leonard Bernstein scores Hawaii 5-0...The winner and still champion is the theme we all know and love! Go take solace in your Edgard Varese LPs.
Nah, you're a peasant. This Wilfred Joseph's composition is far more complex rythmically and harmonically than Ron Grainer's simple singular melodic line. If you've an ear, it would be readily apparent that the chaos and and intonically yet masterfully creative (non) melodic lines perfectly suit the period and the Original Series. Remember, this is 45 years ago. Pop music was rightly considered "unsophisticated" back then you know. Further it was McGoohan's choice.
I love the Ron Grainer version, it is my favourite tv theme of all time and I think it goes perfectly with the opening titles.Thank God they didn't use this theme as it is totally forgetable.
I will defend this one all the way: Wilfred Josephs got it right. McGoohan felt as much, but the powers that be at ITV knew their audience. A simple Dangerman type melody-- Edwin Astley was asked to write a theme but backed out! There is most definitely a melodic line. It appears a jumbled chaos and takes a good ear to discern, but it does capture Patrick McGoohan's view of contemporary society rushing towards total self annihilation.
I can see where this falls down, never mind "commercially viable", theme music should have a theme, something that sticks in your head after you've heard it.
Boris eng: Why not try Honegger's Pacific 2-3-1 if you think this too "difficult." And to you all; LISTEN CAREFULLY and you will hear this piece as a recurring theme used throughout the entire series.
AS stated in this snippet: "Ron Grainer's theme could have been considered more 'commercially viable'." Seems many of you have "bought it!" 'Tis a pity, this is a fine work of Mmodern orchestral music.
This IS the theme of the Village, the entire premise of the show itself. Untethered, chaotic, ethereal, one just can't quite grasp it. Witness virtually all of the comments as posted here. It's EXACTLY what McGoohan was after, but those who knew, KNEW it was far too complex for the target market/ audience. WHY ELSE would it have been on those early test-release episodes? And it was there, in the control room. They did have Focus Groups back then you know. McGoohan did, HENCE THE SERIES!
I too agree. Probably better as incidental music. But even as incidental I think it's a tad too busy and overwhelming for The Prisoner. I think Wilfred Joseph's music needs to be turned down a notch or two to make it work as Prisoner incidental.
Woof! This mish-mash of unimaginative riffs and stale cues makes "Big Country" sound good, even if inappropraite for our great series. Ron Grainer's work, pure genius.
Yes and no. What it does succeed at is level of musical sophistication, commensurate with that of the series itself. DO NOT SELL THIS ONE SHORT -ALL OF YOU! My late father, once commented on Grainer's theme as "Simple, Crumby."
this is better than the 1st rejected theme, but may be better suited to a 20 - 30 second snippet or piece of action...its sounds a bit repetitive over 2minutes. I have to say Ron Grainer did a great job: 60's sound, optimistic, over bearing drums and a mischievous guitar a little bit like the over bearing Village and the runaway agent!
@siempra78 I'm with you - definitely better than Farnon's theme. I think it starts to get a little Hanna-Barbera-ish after #6 leaves Westminster, recovering as he starts packing his bags and the show title appears.
Snatches of Josephs' music, remixed, is used in the episodes "Arrival", "The Chimes Of Big Ben" and "Checkmate". While his theme was rejected as the main title music, Wilfred did leave his tonal signature upon parts of the series.
While I don't think it was right for the intro music, it definitely could have been used somewhere in the series. Probably during a failed, epic escape attempt.
Yuch, I hate it. It's way to light for my tastes. I'm going to be a real Prisoner expert when I'm done watching all these great posts, thank you! It's much more in depth then what is available on the complete DVD Prisoner set extra's I have!
I think they paired this theme to an unreleased version of Chimes of Big Ben. This is a good theme but not as good as the Grainer version.. IMHO.
I would like to see the POP shown at the end of Chimes That would explain the Penny Farthing symbol.
nipsu1053 1 week ago
This fits much better than the Farnon job; just a little too over percussive. It has the right kind of claustrophobia. Also sounds abit like Shostakovich in places.
pointreyes6 2 weeks ago
A disconcerted audience, who is watching the execution of a man, with twisted stomach feel each punch of his resignation. Their hero is lost, now to fight against them.
That's what this music sounds like.
We go from the first one, of a pompous ass, over-occupying the hero black and white role, to the second one, a dumbfounded and idiotic audience who do not comprehend the meaning of what is going on.
The third one, the one actually used, watch?v=PhnTMxHOWlY
SomethingSea1 4 months ago
@SomethingSea1
we see a jokester devious character having one hell of a blast slyly rebelling, and with a taste of danger, too, because at any moment he could be snagged up and destroyed, and yet he isn't. So he sly's on.
This best tells the story of the rebel, which is essentially what this story is about. Mocks the entire thing, and yet knows that he is bound to their actions, just as must as they are on his.
SomethingSea1 4 months ago
this is a prisoner song. i swear.
supash3 6 months ago
the tune just sounded lost, suitable for today in London without a sat nav
princeofdaftness 10 months ago
bog standard intermediate 60s spy film music, nothing uplifting, Indistinguishable from the rest it would have bumed, and dragged the programe down with it
Gail940 1 year ago
Thank heavens they used the 2nd. Very spyish, British and even Spy Hunter worthy.
CaptainBuckRogers 1 year ago
Way to dependant on the timpani IMO as said before much too busy, I wonder what would have happened if say Led Zepplin had taken a stab at it?
delwatts 1 year ago
starts at 2:08
Atominey 1 year ago
This has more of a spy movie feel, which the Prisoner was about spies and international intrigue. However, it would be the same without the series' signature electric guitar plinking.
kurtb8474 1 year ago
The classic theme is the best of all but this alternative grows on me, and yes, you fragments of it in the early episodes. I like it...creepy, weird and classy.
inglegt 1 year ago
Simply too complex for an opening sequence. It would be perfectly suited for an internal sequence, or for the opening sequence of a movie. For a multi-part tv series it's just too busy.
ryoushii 1 year ago
Thank God then didn't use this theme. I think those 'lugubrious gentleman' were right to be concerned.
Fuliginosus 1 year ago 3
Not bad at all; works well with the tension of the opening - Number 6 knowing he needs to move quickly even before the knock out gas appears at the keyhole.
mowriter 2 years ago
@mowriter Ya hadda be there. I well remember 1965 (when this was all done) and this piece of music beautifully captured that era's beginnings of society's unraveling and hence it's preference by McGoohan himslef.
paullubliner 1 year ago
is it just me or does this guy sound like Hannibal Lecter to you also?
You get the feeling maybe the producer was trying to get rid of this lunatic by sending him on a "Little Boxes" adventure? lol
inserto1000 2 years ago
"busy" would be an understatement in describing this piece! Hook? Hook? Whats a hook?
LOLLOLLOL!!!!
PaladinHludwig 2 years ago
Doesn't fit the video in many way's... BUT it's a good piece on it's own, considering especially this was made in the late 60's some time.
In many ways it fit the maddening life number 6 had.
Film scoring is a tough business I've been rejected like this guy many times in the past.
As i've learned also, simpler is usually better, you have to approach scoring very differently from pure composition.
shivercanada 2 years ago
@shivercanada Indeed. Although one should bear in mind that Joseph did write the title music for I, Claudius and The Great War, which are I think more memorable pieces than even The Prisoner's. The one that The Prisoner eventually used had the trashy 60s spy feel though, which helped set up its Avengers-through-a-mirror-darkly angle. Obv they should've used "Dem Bones" though. ;)
Rintin07 2 months ago
You can apply all the egghead notions you want to why this is "great" but in the end it is still Leonard Bernstein scores Hawaii 5-0...The winner and still champion is the theme we all know and love! Go take solace in your Edgard Varese LPs.
RingwoodLive 2 years ago
Try Pacific 231, it's also on one of my "Ionization" LP's.
paullubliner 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Nah, you're a peasant. This Wilfred Joseph's composition is far more complex rythmically and harmonically than Ron Grainer's simple singular melodic line. If you've an ear, it would be readily apparent that the chaos and and intonically yet masterfully creative (non) melodic lines perfectly suit the period and the Original Series. Remember, this is 45 years ago. Pop music was rightly considered "unsophisticated" back then you know. Further it was McGoohan's choice.
paullubliner 2 years ago
The sections where the strings sweep up an octave and then down seems to have crept into the incidental music. I know I've heard that before.
klaatu42 2 years ago
Yuck
Azanti 2 years ago
I love the Ron Grainer version, it is my favourite tv theme of all time and I think it goes perfectly with the opening titles.Thank God they didn't use this theme as it is totally forgetable.
larrydart13 2 years ago
This 2nd theme is just plain great! Although it doesn't fit with the Prisoner in the least. Shame it was wasted though...
thecollector1138 2 years ago
I will defend this one all the way: Wilfred Josephs got it right. McGoohan felt as much, but the powers that be at ITV knew their audience. A simple Dangerman type melody-- Edwin Astley was asked to write a theme but backed out! There is most definitely a melodic line. It appears a jumbled chaos and takes a good ear to discern, but it does capture Patrick McGoohan's view of contemporary society rushing towards total self annihilation.
paullubliner 2 years ago
I can see where this falls down, never mind "commercially viable", theme music should have a theme, something that sticks in your head after you've heard it.
boriseng 2 years ago
This stuck in McGoohan's head and mine. It is simply not simple enough for those with simple ears and minds.
paullubliner 2 years ago
Boris eng: Why not try Honegger's Pacific 2-3-1 if you think this too "difficult." And to you all; LISTEN CAREFULLY and you will hear this piece as a recurring theme used throughout the entire series.
AS stated in this snippet: "Ron Grainer's theme could have been considered more 'commercially viable'." Seems many of you have "bought it!" 'Tis a pity, this is a fine work of Mmodern orchestral music.
paullubliner 2 years ago
I'm sorry. The second theme is plain BAD, BAD, BAD.
Steve17010 2 years ago
Expert opinion I take it?
paullubliner 2 years ago
This IS the theme of the Village, the entire premise of the show itself. Untethered, chaotic, ethereal, one just can't quite grasp it. Witness virtually all of the comments as posted here. It's EXACTLY what McGoohan was after, but those who knew, KNEW it was far too complex for the target market/ audience. WHY ELSE would it have been on those early test-release episodes? And it was there, in the control room. They did have Focus Groups back then you know. McGoohan did, HENCE THE SERIES!
paullubliner 2 years ago
sounds like it should have been the theme of i spy, not a sophisticated british television show
gaygeezer1949 2 years ago
The SFX are so loud you can just about hear the theme
L88BS 2 years ago
interesting how that seems to contain an extra scene [messing about with parking]
hartnell114 2 years ago
Better than the "first" rejected theme, but still not as good as what eventually was used.
altfactor 2 years ago
sounds too american :-/
Hamishtarah 2 years ago
I agree - it reminds me of Hanna-Barbera output from the mid- to late-70s and early 80s. Imagine Yogi Bear as the Prisoner...
histrion2 2 years ago
Let's pretend Number 2 talking to Number 6 played by Yogi...
Number 2:We want information...information....INFORMATION!
As Yogi Bear would say...Hey,hey,hey...you won't get it!!!
duncombepat 2 years ago
Like Aaron Copeland, huh?
paullubliner 2 years ago
Better suited to incidental music. I agree with the decision completely.
FTF96 3 years ago
I too agree. Probably better as incidental music. But even as incidental I think it's a tad too busy and overwhelming for The Prisoner. I think Wilfred Joseph's music needs to be turned down a notch or two to make it work as Prisoner incidental.
solord 3 years ago
Woof! This mish-mash of unimaginative riffs and stale cues makes "Big Country" sound good, even if inappropraite for our great series. Ron Grainer's work, pure genius.
51pogo 3 years ago
It's apparently over your head.
paullubliner 2 years ago
with respect to mr joseph thank god they blew this out .The "real"version " is maybe the best theme music ever IMHO.
helltopay1 3 years ago
This is a better piece of music really, scary and urgent, good rhythms.
But it's not at all hummable, how can you have a TV theme you can't whistle? It doesn't work as a TV theme...
mornnb 3 years ago
This sounds like a cross between one of Duke Ellington's more experimental pieces and An American In Paris!
knobstick 2 years ago
Yes and no. What it does succeed at is level of musical sophistication, commensurate with that of the series itself. DO NOT SELL THIS ONE SHORT -ALL OF YOU! My late father, once commented on Grainer's theme as "Simple, Crumby."
paullubliner 2 years ago
It's interesting to think how much impact the music had in making the series such a hit.
All this theme made me think of was calling it "Irwin Allen's The Prisoner"
Long live the Grainer theme!
georgiahoosier 3 years ago
this is better than the 1st rejected theme, but may be better suited to a 20 - 30 second snippet or piece of action...its sounds a bit repetitive over 2minutes. I have to say Ron Grainer did a great job: 60's sound, optimistic, over bearing drums and a mischievous guitar a little bit like the over bearing Village and the runaway agent!
siempra78 3 years ago 5
@siempra78 I'm with you - definitely better than Farnon's theme. I think it starts to get a little Hanna-Barbera-ish after #6 leaves Westminster, recovering as he starts packing his bags and the show title appears.
histrion2 1 year ago
Snatches of Josephs' music, remixed, is used in the episodes "Arrival", "The Chimes Of Big Ben" and "Checkmate". While his theme was rejected as the main title music, Wilfred did leave his tonal signature upon parts of the series.
LordZontar 3 years ago 5
@LordZontar It was the theme of the Village itself after all.
paullubliner 1 year ago
While I don't think it was right for the intro music, it definitely could have been used somewhere in the series. Probably during a failed, epic escape attempt.
Still, it's far, far superior to 12 tone jazz.
babymordred121 3 years ago
This sounds rubbish, no tune at all lol, just a mess
Bluestone365 3 years ago
i can see why this rejected a bad theme
cybermaxpower 3 years ago
Actually, the song 'Little Boxes' ended up making an outstanding opening for the Showtime series, 'Weeds'
ryoushii 3 years ago
They reused just a little bit of it in incidental music, must have been...sounded surprisingly familiar.
EdOscuro 3 years ago
Yuch, I hate it. It's way to light for my tastes. I'm going to be a real Prisoner expert when I'm done watching all these great posts, thank you! It's much more in depth then what is available on the complete DVD Prisoner set extra's I have!
verbusen 3 years ago 2
A hell of an improvement on the first but not a patch on the Ron Grainer one .
UnbelievableSandwich 3 years ago 2
Not a bad theme.....
geishasha 3 years ago