Henry Mancini: Theme From Peter Gunn (Mancini, 1958)

[The22on]

agreed! this is the BEST version! That sax solo is insane! the 'ripping' french horns are fantastic. soooooo driving. i read that john williams played piano on this session. yes... THE john williams of star wars fame.

[ronetteloverz]

This music plays when I walk...

[winewoogie]

I have the original album from Peter Gunn and yours is the same recording. Nice job.

[maplebar67]

you knew when the show peter gunn was on this song was the bomb, still is very lots of jazz with soft rock and roll just great

[supercrazyswan]

A CLASSIC! Got to hear this BLASTING. I miss my STEREO!

[NateLeePhillips]

According to Wikipedia, John Williams played in this score!

[goodtogonow3]

he axec and hey magy, you are so both right

[almo2001]

I listen to other Mancini stuff, and his ability to layer stuff up is really incredible. It is showcased well on this one. This version is the best because it had not yet become legendary. So it is not yet exaggerated.

[almo2001]

I listen to other Mancini stuff, and his ability to layer stuff up is really incredible. It is showcased well on this one.

[Kahalasama]

So this is where the song comes from. This original version is the best.

[lawnsausages]

My mom told me at three years old I knew, (probably from the show that was on before Peter Gunn) this song was coming on and that I wouldn't go to bed until the theme song was over.

[corilyx]

Love it.

[JoeRailfan]

I used to watch "Peter Gunn" just to hear this theme, the tune that made Mancini famous (he regarded it as one of his lesser efforts--"Never was so much made of so little" he said of it later). But Mike Post and everyone else who ever composed a TV theme owes a major debt to this one.

[courtneyfriel]

still cooooool, forever

[niamhblack]

REMEMBER THIS SONG FROM ROCK N ROLL RACING BACK IN THE DAY!

[expatted]

Great stuff. 

[jager18903]

The first T.V. show w/ a Jazz theme song.

[MagyckMama]

Still coooooool after all this time and used in countless movies and TV shows but you can't top the original!!!!!

[davidhertzberg]

@MagyckMama Right, that's why its called the "original"! :)

thanks for writing, david

[axecalibore]

There is only one good version of this tune, and this is it. The other ones, they can keep! It's something about the brass arrangement on this one that's far superior, and whoever is doing that solo on the tenor sax, or whatever that is. There is nothing like it.

[puglydoodle]

@axecalibore correctomundo!

[fromthesidelines]

In 1958, Blake Edwards wanted Henry Mancini to compose a theme and score appropriate for a series about a "gritty" private eye- and this was the result. It influenced several detective series over the next five years, with equally "jazzy" scores and attitude. "MIAMI VICE" would do the same for crime dramas in the mid-'80s...

[hellodoug2000]

Know who played the piano in the original recording of this theme, back in 1958? A guy named Johnny "Curley" Williams, who later morphed into John Williams.

[tubeswampy]

I just did this as an a capella piece for my Spring concert. We basses were having quite a time with it, but after breath was sorted out, it was fantastic. Thanks, Mr. Mancini, wherever you are.

[411guitarhero]

the bass line is on juicebox by the strokes

[jbjindra]

This was the first song Jimi Hendrix learned to play and it was on a one-stringed ukulele, before he could afford a guitar. The Hendrix article is what brought me here. I remember this song now even though I grew up in the 80's.

[spacepatrolman]

@jbjindra BB king couldnt afford a guitar so he attached a wire to his house besides all the music books mancini had published he wrote an autobiography and a text book on arrangeing Sounds and Scores

[Kousaburo]

I like the bit where it goes "Dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum, dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum . blaaaaaaaaaaaar blaaaaaaaaaaaarp!"

[davidhertzberg]

@Kousaburo I think that you have written probably the best comment i have ever received on any of my thousands of videos. :D

david (from my new channel)

[Kousaburo]

@davidhertzberg Is that a real photograph of you in your channel picture? Shouldn't yu be dead? Or is this a comment rom beyond the grave!? Wooooooooo!

[inspirewisdom]

This the ultimate Spy Jazz anthem for MI6,MI5,The CIA Mossad et al.

[7nordic]

elegant confronting a modern classic so adaptive to humour...

[pizza56065]

love it!!!!!!!!!! we play it in 6th grade band

[oboewizard]

Great horns and awesome sax solo!

[srlucado]

Great, iconic theme.