Tomorrow's World BBC Titles 1978

[AmsterdamnedMovie]

mmmmmm... jazz!

[Kelly14UK]

I used to pogo to this when I was 10

[peterpeterxxo]

so where are all our jet packs then..?, lol, and our clothes made out of intergalactic space fabric.

[menschemaschine]

thanks for the memory..i remember those picture titles and they still look bloody great

[digitalbroadcaster]

I entered a competition many many years ago, to answer a question on TW. The prize was a holographic CD with all the theme tracks used. Only a couple hundred thousand people won.

I still have that CD after all these years.

[Hirsute63]

I've been trying to remember how this went for ages, ta!

[midwichyouthclub]

I really miss this programme-it wasn't afraid to educate and inform-staple viewing for me as a child.

[rcallan]

One of the best them tunes EVER!!

[RetroCool73]

Great theme tune - those who call it "old fashioned" don't understand just how "modern" modular jazz was in the early 60's, it's certainly (as a composition) very advanced indeed. To my ears Mr Dankworth must have been influenced by the opening bars of Miles Davis' "Milestones", but it packs a lot into 30 seconds. As a small child I found the combination of the music & title visuals fascinating.

Having said that, its immediate successor (the Jarre-esque synth masterpiece) got everything spot-on

[fodsaks]

Incredible.

A prime-time televsion programme on a main TV channel, which actually set out to EDUCATE!

[Feisty1967]

Kieren Prendiville looked like my brother, but in a much better looking way.

[Feisty1967]

The images were futuristc, unfortunately the music was crap jazz not of my generation, we needed some synthesized music.

[deselmes]

@Feisty1967 Well, that synthesized music arrived when the 80s dawned.

Richard Denton and Martin Cook's composition was excellent - though I do have a slight preference for Dankworth's tune.

All the themes from 1986 onwards, however, were nowhere near as good as these two...

[Feisty1967]

@deselmes The early 80's synth tune was the best one ever, they should have stuck with it throughout the '80s and '90s, albeit with a few re-mixes along the way. In the '90's they could have had a Techno/Trance version. I think the Jazz theme tune sounded rather old-fashioned for a programme which is about the future.

[deselmes]

@Feisty1967 Can't disagree that the synth tune should have had a much longer go.

The trumpetty theme that replaced it - well, some say it was great, but others think it wasn't, and I'm afraid to say I'm one of the latter.

Alas, it had to come as part of a revamp that also saw big changes in the presenter line-up: out went Michael Rodd and Kieran Prendiville, and in came Peter McCann, Howard Stableford and Maggie Philbin.

[Feisty1967]

@deselmes Yeah, I hated that late '80s boring computer originated graphics accompanied by the equally boring trumpety theme tune, it just shouts out late '80s boring, Thatcherite Britain.

[Feisty1967]

As a child, I always hated the Jazz music opening titles, it always sounded so old-fashioned. I much preferred the synthesised intro of the early '80s it sounded much more futuristic! Which is how it should be!

[echo680]

John Dankworth R.I.P. - superb music

[LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1]

Its a great shame that the BBC don't put on a programme of this calibre anymore. Advances in science and engineering which made this country great has been dumbed down and does not get the coverage it should do on TV, no wonder we lag behind.

[bigwoolleypenguin]

@bertiedump Ive phoned my care team , there is nothing they can do . Its hopeless. If youd have bothered to read my comment properly youd see that I actually agree with you. I think this old title sequence was fabulous , and I liked the old tomorrows world programme very much ( good old Raymond Baxter and all ) What has given me shouty-bus stop-man syndrome is the " new " ( or later ) tomorrows world and the fact that they ruined it ( and other once-good shows ).

[JFredUK]

Science was seen as being more, 'interesting', back before the end of the 80's - early 90's. More and more inventors and the business which pioneered the inventions were becoming increasingly, 'churlish', in that they didn't want to give their ideas away on a publicly-viewed TV programme, and as a result, the Tomorrow's world programme was struggling to find things of interest, and eventually decided to call it a day sometime in the early 2000. Shame really.

[19bootsy68]

Why can't music be like this now?..

[bondmatty]

Thanks for posting this. Bring back happy memories of Raymond Baxter, Judith Hann, Michael Rodd and WIlliam Woolard. It used to crease me every time they demonstrated something new that didn't work - live TV! Thanks again.

[Glenn1967ful]

Hosted by Squadron Leader Raymond Baxter and James Burke.

[capsule35]

Even after 35 years, this still = Thursday

[Feisty1967]

This used to scare me a little bit as a child.

[bigwoolleypenguin]

This was in the good old days before they ruined it. No bloody global warming , environmentally friendly bollocks brainwashing then. They ruined a lot of programmes like this . Top Gear is another one. Once a good interesting show with sensible objective reviews of different cars , etc. Now look at the mindless crap that goes by the same name today.

[Poltroon]

@bigwoolleypenguin : what the hell are you talking about? How did "bloody global warming" and "environmentally friendly bollocks brainwashing" (whatever that might be) ruin Tomorrow's World?

[staffsyeoman]

All that's missing there is the great Raymond Baxter saying 'Goood Eveening...'

[fergcurrie]

One of the great theme tunes of all time IMHO. We will miss Johnny Dankworth (the composer) who passed away in February. I remember waiting for this show just to hear the theme!

[Markjuk]

Bring back Tomorrow's World, we don't want wannabe programs such a Bang Goes The Theory, we want the original and best back on the box, are you listening BBC?

[ttrjw]

Thursday evening, after Top of The Pops, but before the Rockford Files?

[drpoxy]

Tomorrow's World was excellent. I can still (vaguely) remember an episode where they featured a strange invention called the "compact disc".

Perhaps the BBC should do a TW evening and feature some of the inventions that went on to greatness as well as those that, often surprisingly, failed to succeed.

Raymond Baxter always came across as genuinely enthusiastic & curious. Also whatever happened to Michael Rodd, William Wollard, Judith Hann & Maggie Philbin ?

[aduffield]

I remember that one - they had a CD and showed how you could scratch it and it would still play.

Funny though - now I take care of my CD's better than I ever did vinyl because one scratch and you're buggered

[swedeseed]

i just wish i could re-live all the tv I watched in the 1970's..raymond baxter was inspirational,intelligent and thought provoking..now in his place we get lowlife eastend types shouting at each other...

[merseymain]

RIP Johnny Dankworth

[pendoian]

For hours of TW memories go to the original makers, the "broken biscuit company" , (usual dot such and such) slash archive slash tomorrows world. Enjoy!

[888asd00]

All the best themes were from before the mid-80s. Modern stuff is awful, and many classic themes were ruined in the 90s by 'watering' the original down to try and update it. Terrible.

[barrysheenes]

888asd00 your not wrong.

[takharov]

@888asd00 How true. And how pertinent the points WheresEeeToThen.

Typical dumbed down BBC sacrificed this prgram with it's emphasis on science to a crummy soap.

Doubt Lord Reith would be pleased.

[kenfig]

Check out the end theme of 'Dee Time' (1968) featuring Simon Dee & Lorna McDonald driving off in the white E-Type Jag - Brilliant. Its Syd Lawrence orcherstra

[monsterbottom]

I think it was actually the Northern Dance Orchestra

[WheresEeeToThen]

Please name me one current TV theme which has such a distinctive catchy tune (yet you can't even sing it!), is played superbly by real musicians (with not a single sample within earshot) and has not been "sourced" from the depths of a bland, cheaply produced Library Music vault. Speaks volumes about the banal talentless music inflicted on TV audiences by producers now who want their theme to sound just like the rival programme on the other channel! Well done Dankworth, your music will live on!

[staggabob]

Well I'm quite partial to the Q.I theme myself.

[AnElephantsChild]

You are so right.

I own boxed sets of my favourite modern programmes such as, Heroes; Lost & House, which I watch repeatedly,yet I have no idea what their theme tunes sound like or even if they have one !

Before looking for this I hummed it to my friend & dispite not having heard it for well over twenty years I remembered every note !

[FetidToecheese]

An optimistic sounding tune - science was merrily going to save us back then

[StanPomeray]

This was when you could do a science program with actual science in it.  Now everyone is so thick they can't even understand the concept of a test tube. Unless its got "environmentally friendly" written on it.......

[xxxChrist]

@StanPomeray It would also have 'Caution, this product is made from glass which may shatter causing personal injury'.

Totally agree Stan, real science has been replaced by crap.

[swimages]

@StanPomeray Outstanding comment. So true and also made me laugh. Have a thumbs up from me.

[karadan100]

@StanPomeray There are good programmes out there but in this age of thousands of channels, instead of four, we're spoilt for choice. Unfortunately, these days the common denominator prefer to seek out tosh like X-factor and dancing on ice.. Yawn.

Oh, and braniac science abuse can suck my chode.

[StanPomeray]

@karadan100 "There are good programmes out there but in this age of thousands of channels, instead of four, we're spoilt for choice."

Well, there ARE good programmes out there, yes. Its just that none of them are even vaguely scientific!

[Glenn1967ful]

@StanPomeray

I could add a lot of television nowadays is dumbed down rubbish. How many decent shows like this have been killed off to make way for forgettable reality shows and extra episodes of soaps?

[gavmusic]

Thanks for posting this, always the best TW theme by a country mile IMHO. In fact, this original theme by John Dankworth always sounded far more futuristic to me than any of the synth offering of TW's later years.

[custardaghost]

I remember seeing this intro from the opener of TW's new series in 1978 and the hole family thinking it was almost impossibly sophisticated and technologically impressive.

[dunkiep]

This normally meant that Top of The Pops was just around the corner!!!! Loved that theme tune - sounded like someone trying to have a sneeze.

[cisco9x]

And the New Avengers or the Professionals were on ITV Thursdays I think or is that now ITV4 ??

[kenfig]

Thought this was on just after TOTP but you maybe right or possibly we both are as they often used to change the times for the pops

[nevwhile]

Yeah - I'm sure you are right - Thursday nights......

[echo680]

@dunkiep thats funny ! I TOTALLY see / hear what you mean, but never thought of it before - really made me laugh - thanks

[StephenHP62]

Perhaps my memory's playing tricks, but wasn't there a similar programme called "Tomorrow Today?"

[cisco9x]

There was a spoof version a few years ago called Look around you

[chatham43]

.....ah.....from a time when BBC viewers were assumed to possess a brain.....

[bluesugarmonkeys]

Accurate comment. Have you also noticed how most people who leave comments on programmes from this era, can spell?

[Penko83]

but not taste in music

[Shropshire67]

wow! just got all choked up listening to this as it was almost a daily thing for me watching this in the 70's

[CityYoungGuns]

I grew up in that decade. Don't know if I feel sentimental or a certain pathos. There was a huge enthusiasm for science which contrasts with today's abysmal focus on "faith" as a key to knowledge.

[SickOfObamaAlready]

Brilliant titles, music and memories, but sadly they weren't to know that tommorrow's world wasn't to be the exciting place this program suggested, but a world dominated by political correctness, health and safety, chavs and idiots, destruction of the countryside, crap music, shit TV, greed, selfishness and rudeness and an obsession with trading and the economy that has led to a world that is as dull and predictable as it is annoying.

Rant over, now back to the nostalgia

[dustytangerine]

Well said!

[chatham43]

....yup......you've just about said it all......so much for the Brave New World of Blair/Brown.........

[CityYoungGuns]

If you cast your mind back, this was the world of James Callaghan, Dennis Healey and Roy Hattersley - who look strangely humane and personable compared to everything post-1979.

[bsam20uk]

Indeed, at that time we thought the politicians left a lot to be desired, but compared with today's world of lies, spin, corruption and smarm they would be a breath of fresh air.

[pharbi1]

william wollard and michael rod rocked on tomorrows world lol

[Voxac100b]

and our Willie was doing Top Gear too!

[battyguy]

Chala nata!! this rocks

[kodkodkod]

Hellfire, where do all you guys pull this stuff from! I have been sat here listening to stuff from years ago. Hats off to all you guys for finding all this stuff, takes me right back, and has really cheered me up, memories!!!

[lorret90]

great theme tune loved tomorrows world with great raymond baxter. this used to come on at 7 oclock on thursday then it was top of the pops!! what a great nights telly!!

[BNCA70]

that's mad, was just looking at my watch here on Thursday at 7.35pm thinking that Top of The Pops used to be on around now. I forgot Tomorrow's World was on before. Those were the days eh?

[phoebus1966]

The BBC television monteurs have always been masters in moving titles - 3D but especially without 3D software.

[mistofoles]

A lot of stuff shown on this programme is now TODAY's world!

[maidenaust]

Baking the letter W? Dont think so

[bambean36]

Man I love this music - heard on Radio 5 Live today and the memories flooded back. As others have said, it's amazing that a 30 second piece of music can have such impact and I love the combination of sounds without really understanding why! Paulwwells description is almost poetic - brilliant! Baxter and Rodd were perfect, but like most things this showed started to dumb down towards the end and I lost interest. That reminds me - must catch Panorama....

[Voxac100b]

Wish I could do an egg yoke like that! Great titles and music.

[barrettpj62]

Ah Tomorrows World. Like many teenagers in the seventies I had to sit through this on a Thursday to make sure I didn't miss Top Of The Pops which was always on directly afterwards.

[GovernorFrontbottom]

They said that by now we would all have personal jetpacks!!!

Bloody liars....

[mistofoles]

What do you mean? I'm very proud of my jetpack, saves me a ton on bus fares!

[markygoo]

wonderful, brings back memories !!!

[mistofoles]

Supermarket music

[gordonbleedinbennet]

TW was crap once raymond baxter and james burke left.....talk about dumbed down.

[shakeyphil]

If they brought this back and give it a kick up the arse like Top Gear - ratings winner.

[mutinyonthekitkat]

After all these years I still remember that fried egg.

So many inventions never took off as expected: rocket trousers, the C5, the funny shaped egg.

[ATVmidlands5581]

good grief this took me way back - thank you. im back in the 70's with auntie beeb!

cheers

atv midlands uk

[FEZW1CK9]

It was one of the best theme tunes on telly at the time. I also loved the Tales of the Unexpected music and the Grange Hill theme tune. The old snooker music was good too, before the BBC fucked about with it. The seventies and early eighties was the best time for telly music.

[Joshmcfee]

Bravo,well said.

[vidsearcher814]

Amazing. It's funny how you remember theme tunes but you were so young when you first heard them you don't remember what you (or your parents) were watching or listening to.

I used to sing this tune to myself with no idea why I was singing it. And now, 30 years on, I know that my parents were watching Tomorrow's World while I was sat there on the sofa probably playing with my stick-a-brix or Etch-a-sketch.

Classic.

[cloverfield911]

Same here. I remember the tune, but would never have put it with Tomorrow's World. At the least the early 80s one with the Brain Globe.

[troublemaker1973]

That's one hell of a song! It was such a great piece of music that I too remember it and loved it although I was only four or five at the time. I don't think little kids would admire someone like the great Raymond Baxter now!

[Voxac100b]

They might wasn't he a Spitfire Pilot during the WW2?

[Joshmcfee]

Superb.

[tomtomstuff]

Aah memories!

[Voxac100b]

Wish I could do a fry as good as that. Raymond Baxter was ace.

[popitinpete]

Yeah. This is a top nostalgia nudge!! Does anyone have the slightly older one? Same music but fearures a slow motion coin flip and, if memory serves, a Boeing jet test crash?

[Voxac100b]

Its on this site a b/w clip I think from the 1969 opening.

[LeamingtonSteve]

My God! when were these titles replaced? watching it it all came back- Thursday evenings(I think)! This was part of my childhood and seeing it makes me nostalgic!

[pendoian]

Many thanks for this, I've been waiting for then to turn up. Memories of Raymond Baxter and Michael Rodd on a Thursday night after Nationwide.. Before thes titles were replaced they held a competition (quite rare in those days) for viewers to explain the process behind the formation of each letter. Postcards to the usual address "BBC Television Centre,Wood Lane,London W12 8QT"! Can anyone remember the answers? One involved mercury. Off to look for the Great Egg Race now...

[paulwwells]

The piece is in C Major, but we don't actually hear C Major until over 3/4 of the way through then once again at the very end, when we hear an arpeggiated C Major triad.

The theme phrases are played with the trumpet leading and the flute playing a 3rd or 4th below which produces the perfect balance between the melody and accompaniment.

[paulwwells]

Some comments on the music:

The second phrase is the same as the first phrase, just a tone higher.

The instruments playing on the original sound to be just drums, trumpet, flute, double base, and clarinet.

It packs an enormouse degree of musical variation into less than 30 seconds, but still has time to establish a theme, modulate, have a bridge section, return to theme then finish on a cadenza.

[peggymount]

Oh that takes me back. Fab theme tune and titles.

[titanb15]

Absolute class, think these titles started in 1976.