The Bill 1988 - Full length theme

[skeletorphd]

The old episodes were great.

It got shit when it became an eastenderd style soap opera and stopped catching criminals.

[nette270]

good old bill

[Schlockenspiel]

seamlessly edited... lol

[RMDOTE7]

Classic!

[jimmyboyoboy]

Haha so cheesy, yet great!

[pib712thesecond]

Who else sings this whenever the bill arrives in a restaurant?

[OldSchoolPatriot2012]

I used to watch this with my Dad back when I was like 10 or 11 and I loved this music, it so catchy. Watching this show together is one of me favorite memories of my Dad.

[MrLeeComberOnline]

don beech was the best ever

[CheekyVimto08]

haha its in 7/4 thats amazing

[dljc1979]

@CheekyVimto08 | you been speaking to bill bailey then have ya?

[CheekyVimto08]

@dljc1979 yeah, but i'm always fascinated by odd time signatures. :)

[dljc1979]

@CheekyVimto08 | theme tunes to halloween and the exorcist...

[kimiwhoowhoos]

I can't believe they cancelled this! I didn't even watch it! I started watching older episodes and thought maybe i should start watching it but I didn't get the chance! :(

[Timmyboy505]

Somehow this reminds me alot of Top Gear, were James "Cray" was chased in the delivery fan by "Sir Sitg of the Yard"

[slrb30]

THIS WILL BE MY HOME MADE TITANIC MOVIE THEME LOL

[irreverentRhythms]

Can you let me know if there is a way to download the full quality version of this? Thanks.

[EnglanderUK]

Best era of the Bill imo, they used to catch and give them a good slapping, later ones were social workers in police uniforms.

[FRANKIESHANOWSKIY2K0]

moving the bill to 9pm was a bad move and they should

have kept it at 8pm when tv bossess moves great shows

like the bill from one time slot to another the shows ratings

slide right down and end but people has leant toward

detective shows like law and order ci/svu/uk and ncis/la

and cis/lv/miami/ new york has took over as the top cop shows

and most of them ecept law and order uk the rest are from america

and now adding rookie blue and the mentalist and lastley  castle

[k9kaos37]

I've always loved this theme tune! It's got the most unusual time signature. What is it, 7 / 8?

[mimkyodar]

@k9kaos37 Yeah, 7/8. Once i was at a Cat Empire show and they wanted to play the Bill theme "Overkill" And yes, it is called Overkill - but couldnt decide which version to play. the 7/8 or 4/4 version. 7/8 ftw!

[mikeyfd1988]

best theme tune other than the a-team of course

[knwurselfjizz]

Everytime i see a Police car, whizzing down the road....this tune comes into my head so i thank you criminals :D

[Hulk2k6]

This middle break would have gone down well in one of those 80s euro disco.

[bluejeckett]

Okay will you all give it a rest ffs, it says Overdrive in my book, Im not wrong, whoever published the book is, Ive not heard it callled Overkill once, go take it up with the BBC if you have an issue and dont have anyting other better to do.

[mattkaythetimelord]

@bluejeckett bbc? the bill is itv though? or was it bbc first?

[bluejeckett]

@mattkaythetimelord yeah sorry, yet another mistake Im sure everyone can jump all over me for, The Bill was ITV yes, not the BBC, though I'm from Australia so it was shown on the ABC which is why I was thinking BBC. We never had to put up with ads in ours.

[FRANKIESHANOWSKIY2K0]

@mattkaythetimelord

but i know that the bbc had thier own version of the bill

called juliette bravo but it was a short lived show

but i know one actor from the bill is not with us anymore

is kevin lloyd aka tosh lines he passed away sometime

in the 90's of liver cancer due to heavy drinking he died

few days later after he got fired from the show but the

bbc had a skit comedie of the bill called the thin blue line

both shows had joy brooke playing a cid officer.

[divoff14]

It was released as an 7" single under Morgan Pask. And it's title was Overkill it's B Side was Rock Steady

[brueyh1976]

brings back good memories of watching this with my dad (he served in the police for 30 years). dad retired at the same time as sgt cryer - haven't watched it since

[JCiSwing2]

Where can I buy this? I would like to buy The Bill 1988 Overkill theme tune on CD.

[tjf4375]

Damn I love this tune! Seriously cool, they don't make them like this anymore :)

[Random22222y]

This would be good workout music!

[bhamlad678]

hi eberyone i loved the bill i miss it so much it was a very good show i was excited when it was due to come on the tv screens i wish they would do a brand new series

[kimiwhoowhoos]

I wanted to download this version on amazon, but it sounds different!

[88GTi]

I went passed the old Sunhill Police Station in Windsor Ave in Merton the other day...Very sad...The sign is covered up and it all looks empty...The end of an era!

This is my favourite version of the Theme Tune...From the Good Old Days!

Thanks for posting!!! :)

[bluejeckett]

@88GTi It was for the best 88, The Bill was an animal that shouldve been put down years ago somewhere around 1998

[johnmartin1097]

@bluejeckett Well it was called "Overkill" everywhere else I've seen it.

[Cazkumali]

@johnmartin1097 I wonder what the actuall bill song was called

[taylorbradshaw]

@bluejeckett It certainly is "Overkill"

[CHANNELMICHAEL]

@bluejeckett That is a mistake. PRS and KPM list all versions as Overkill, even the 7" I have says "Overkill"

[bluejeckett]

@CHANNELMICHAEL One hell of a misprint then to go from drive to kill, thats not just a typo

[David8693]

@bluejeckett No, it's definitely "Overkill". Don't ask me why.

[divoff14]

@bluejeckett It is called Overkill as it was released as an 7" single go to 45cat.com and type in Morgan Pask

[taylorbradshaw]

@bluejeckett It's overkill

[mattkaythetimelord]

@taylorbradshaw overdrive.

[FRANKIESHANOWSKIY2K0]

@mattkaythetimelord

overdrive it sounds like an ministry of sound club anthem

can somebody do a remixed version of the bill tune and upload it please

[taylorbradshaw]

@bluejeckett Your book must be wrong,. it is indeed Overkill. It doesn't need to be a saw movie. It is just the name the tune was given.

You need to learn to admit when majority proves you wrong. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

[SKnight2208]

@bluejeckett: get a life

[MattWindsor91]

@bluejeckett It's called Overkill on the vinyl, so I'm assuming it's called Overkill >~>

[bluejeckett]

I loved The Old Bill theme, well this was the second version, the first version sounded like a computer game. The name of the song was actually called "Overdrive" to anyone interested, so it was a song in it's own right. Don't think it was released on charts though.

My favourite bit was always the cylindrical sounding steel drums in the middle 8

[johnmartin1097]

@bluejeckett I believe it was called "Overkill" and not Overdrive as you said.

[JCiSwing2]

@bluejeckett it has always been called Overkill.

[TheStevieGee999]

@bluejeckett Your right, the first theme was called 'Overdrive' which the beginning was used from 1984-1987. The second (and more widely recognised) theme was called 'Overkill'.

[bluejeckett]

@TheStevieGee999 I posted that comment a year ago and still I get notifications about people carrying on, all I was going off was one of the old Bil annuals where its referred to as Overdrive, I didnt realise there were 2 names cos both versions of The Bill theme tune are essentially the same, just one is slower and has older synthetics

[12theunknownone]

where i here this i think of the getaway games geting chased i wish thayed keep making the bill but no it got cansold sorry dislixic 

[die9love]

still can't believe its gone :(

[lordcrumb07]

really catchy and memorable tune

[StanpyX]

The Bill finished tonight forever.

:(

[thegg09gg09]

the last bill tonight :( nooo

[girlsgagme]

@thegg09gg09 IM GONA MISS IT STILL :-(

[bluetones83]

yeah I remember this. This had the two coppers walking slowly in time to it. quality.

[bogen1050]

theme tune starts at 0:14

i loved the bill. I Was born in '85 and had to go 2 bed at 8pm when i was that age, but my mum always tapedit 4 me!

[FRANKIESHANOWSKIY2K0]

the first ever episode of the bill originaly

titled woodentop aired in 83 and the actor

who played brownlow appeard in the film

an american werewolf in london playing

a policeman in nelsons column.

[FILABJBOY]

It was better when it was Woodentop......back in the day......

[deanokevin]

the Bill has lost it tho! was better in the 80's and 90's.

think they tried to Jass it up to much. i loved it but wont watch it now. :-(

[andymerrett]

Who composed this? Sounds a bit Wakeman-ish in those twiddly bits - like his Catherine of Aragon.

[andymerrett]

@andymerrett oops sorry, read the comments. Well, it's great anyway.

[FatManRedemption]

Man, Bill Bailey was right! This is awesome! I've never even seen this show, actually.

[ArmandKarlsen]

Reminds me of old 16-bit console games :D Sol Feace, for one

[Richiepookinshoo]

I walk down the street with this on my iPod. XD

[KayeChansu]

@Richiepookinshoo haha mee too XD

[belowbelow]

...I miss the lengh of the signature tunes more than anything-a very importatnt apect of any Drama especially if the muisc is as unusual as this. Amazing to think a peice of Music without even a traditional beat was even comissoned for such a series at all. Admiteadly this is the Full version but origionaly the opening and ending credits were far lenghier. Shortning signature tunes, then talking over them was the begining of the end for Drama full stop.

[JakenJragin]

What a corker of a tune! ^w^

[martman53]

The Bill at it's best in this era with this theme.

Shame they jazzed it up and it coincided with the show becoming toilet.

[FRANKIESHANOWSKIY2K0]

@martman53

they tried this experiment to the eastenders theme

tune but due to cdomplaints by eastenders viewers

the updated version of the shows tune got dropped

and went back to the old eastenders theme tune.

[james8789]

@craigdimucci

THANKYOU SO MUCH! SOME WHO AGREES WITH ME!!!!!

[britanniaairlines12]

I literally just got into the Bill, and started watching it.

And now they cancel it?!?!?!?!

[kimiwhoowhoos]

@britanniaairlines12 I know how you feel!

[mistaben2k]

It use to be fantastic with the alcoholic ginger nut and that other dude on it.

[knwurselfjizz]

Can't believe the Bill has been cancelled, Brookside, Byker Grove, Family Affairs, Grange Hill and now The Bill! :( Tragic...

[johnmartin1097]

No it never has!! It's on ITV1 at 9:00pm every Thursday. Pity it's only once in a week now and not twice like it used to be.

[theultimatekoopa2]

@johnmartin1097 No, the bill has been cancelled, and will officially end later this year.

[ChimpManZ1264]

@johnmartin1097 No it's been axed! Check the Website. It's finnito. Last episodes will be aired and that's it. Though you could join the petition on Facebook and prove to ITV that it isn't the ratings that are the problem but their decisions.

[goldsgym1244]

@johnmartin1097 no it has been axed mate. sorry to tell u

[CHANNELMICHAEL]

@johnmartin1097 It has been cancelled.

[KieranD212]

@johnmartin1097 they canned it in scotland lol

[scotlad1988]

@KieranD212 Aye STV canned it here while it was still decent and before it got pants. STV pulled it just at the right moment I think.....

[carlsondc]

@knwurselfjizz i used to love family affairs.. always wondered why they stopped it...

its a family affair , its a family affair hahah gt the tune in my head.. lol the bill is amazing.. they shudnt get rid of it .. fucking ITV twats

[davidn87]

Can't believe you're putting The Bill alongside those trainwrecks.....

I haven't watched regularly for years, put off by the Hollyoaks rejects!

[BEATHROKZ]

@knwurselfjizz exactly it will BE HOLBY CITY OR CASUALTY NEXT

[ScrewAttackEurope]

@knwurselfjizz and yet they still keep making series of Two Pints of Lager...

What a fucked up world we live in. :S

[macphersonleedsunite]

@knwurselfjizz. Ye i know aint it. Shame on them. Lose Big Brother, Celeberity one, Scrictly come dancing, Dancing on ice, X-factor, pop idle and them crap.

[billydeeuk]

@knwurselfjizz Maybe you just have shit taste in TV?

[TheCheekyWendy]

@knwurselfjizz i agree there taking most of our channels off soon we will be left with ceebies

[dafspeed]

@knwurselfjizz all programs which nobody watches....

[thispagesux]

@knwurselfjizz, family affairs.....dude you need a hobby

[knwurselfjizz]

@thispagesux Yhhh u got a problem with that?

[oliverjumelle]

@knwurselfjizz police drama will never be the same again.

[sabbathwho]

The Bill is finally being axed should have done it 13 years ago its been junk for years

[joflynn999]

Must admit this theme tune needs to be reinstated ASAP along with Graham Cole-brill bloke- return to 2wice a week and give it more respect!!!!!!!!!! The Bill is still brilliant now but it could b even better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sabbathwho]

Its being axed by ITV finally. Thank christ for that preferred the very early days

[Kuuloo]

goddamn i'll be damned if this ain't the tune i was looking for!!

[Dionysianfrenzy]

I want this as my ring tone

[rsgrievous10]

i wanna download this

[nahpop1]

this is a classic show, i wish they'd put the old episodes on itv4, and casualty too that was good back in day!!!

[BEATHROKZ]

alibi do eps from 1999 - 2001 i think

[nahpop1]

cheers mate!!!

[PCJoejoe]

oh my god i SO agree with you - would be PERFECT for itv4!

[Whacko34]

I wouldn't be surprised if the man who created the budget cuts to The Bill planned to get rid of the show.

[THEBILLepisodes1]

wish this was back

[Letcherism]

80's cheese.

[darklord20042002]

sonic the hedgehog 2 level 2 always reminds me of this tune lol wow bringing back memories with this tune lol

[wpinklady]

hahaha your right!!

[jujutay]

I should mention that the 2 bars of 3/4 are played like one bar of 6/8 - with the snare on the 1st beat of the the 2nd bar

[jujutay]

If anyone is interested, I transcribed this for my trio and I wrote the rhythm as 2 bars of 3/4 and 2 bars of 4/4

[tezza368]

It pissed me off when they took out that middle bit, you know the bit that went fast . I never forgave them after that. The bastards!

[Bruc3h]

Serious gaming music here.

[MaskOfGrief]

MW2 you know the score

[Richiepookinshoo]

@Bruc3h The Bill: The Game

That'd be awesome

[kimiwhoowhoos]

@Bruc3h I know it sounds like a crash bandicoot level!:D

[slicknik18]

i agree back in the day the bill was good but it's gone shit now

[18scene]

This is the best theme tune.

[negative38]

Tune!

[escobar684]

what a classic theme best one all new ones rubbish keep it old school

[Kingofcroboin]

this shud stil be used!! so much better than da new 1!!

[W34DDF]

This has to be one of the best bill themes ever! Love the keyboard solo...:)

[atmasp]

BEST BILL THEME EVER

[CHANNELMICHAEL]

The power in that theme is just awesome. It's actually moving.

[kisbie]

Bill Bailey: "They changed it because the jazzy 7-4 time signature was effectively a clarion cry for the decriminalisation of marijuana. And they thought that didn't sit right on a cop show."

[capncoolio]

God Bless Bill Bailey. :P

[xCholliex]

I agree with all the comments below, The best theme for The Bill! :D

[thossey]

Nothing can beat this great theme, nothing at all. It was the best one it ever had.

[crblindis]

Brings back childhood memories! My grand father always watched this. A real blast from the past!

[donsscotland123]

i'm gutted its not on in scotland

[scottishwildcat]

It is on in Scotland: ITV3, late Monday (I think) nights. It's crap since the relaunch though, stupid grainy film effect, rubbish theme tune and dire background music throughout.

[GreaseLightning02]

yeah better than the one now. didn't like the messing around with the arrangement tho. some parts didn't work and were distracting.

[dannyisso]

This is far better than the stupid sounding new one! xD

[SegaMegadriveMic]

The best version of The Bill theme tune.

[rogerthehat]

bill bailey was right

[bus131]

Dear god the producers of ITV are really stupid. The new revamped Bill is rubbish, then today I've learnt that Tony Stamp (Graham Cole) is leaving in November, this being the official statment "Producers feel that Tony Stamp 'doesn't fit' the show's 'new dynamic', and so the character has been axed". Maybe Tony isn't everyones fav character but he carries the history of The Bill after Tony there will be only one of the "old school" left in the Bill. Jack Meadows! Wot are ITV doin 2this show?

[wizardofswitch]

I know! I have just watched 30 mins of the "new" version and had to pull out early because it was so crap. I don't want some generic American style drama. The Bill is/was The Bill. it had it's own style, now that's gone. ITV have a LOT of explaining to do! Oh yes and the new theme tune is rubbish!

[thossey]

The new theme of the bill on ITV is rubbish compared to this great theme.

[TheMasterIsAWhovian]

totally agreeing with you,  thossey

[cole003f]

the bill has to b 1 of the most popular theme songs for a tv programme

[thossey]

This theme song sounds quite a lot different to 2009s.

[SegaMegadriveMic]

I think it sounds better.

[StooeyC]

SICK

[cjgodman]

MEH! It's just not the same without the area car pulling up with screeching brakes.

[rikstan87]

between 0:45 and 0:59 is similar to a part in MGMT Kids???????

[rynobu]

It actually sounds like it! hmmm...

[edy216]

i follow the community support officer around all the time playin this off my n95. Best one was when he was stood havin a coffee with the local shop assistant, i wasn't even buyin anythin jus stood there playin the bill. How embarrassin, its always worth it thou 2 mek ppl laugh.

[CHANNELMICHAEL]

I did it to one and he threatened to have me arrested under Section 4 of the Public Order Act. :S

[kanenkitten]

Next time, try "The Thin Blue Line" or "The Laughing Policeman"

[sr19]

the current ones arent so good, but i watch the ones from 2007. theyre much better

[Smillsoid]

7/4 time!

[UnmarkedVan]

i mustbe out my tree, theme tunes are better than real tunes

[mustafiz247]

tru tru

[jamodude000]

it is not, its alsaloty awsome.. smithy got stabbed like 3 episodes ago :(

[TheLegendOfRenegade]

this is a sick beat

better than most of shit out today lol

[kieranmay]

I was gutted when they axed this theme tune. it sounds like music from a sega megadrive game lol makes me nastoulgic

[TheLegendOfRenegade]

yeah bro lol

if the time signature wasnt so strange I would make a mashup with it!

[kieranmay]

sounds cool, I'm sure you'd figure a way round it though if you did one.

[semiflex]

its in 5/4 aint it :S

[AVRILSBEAN]

It has to be!

[extreme601]

isnt it 7/4?

[5lipStream]

I reckon it's in 7/4 and then 4/4 for the steel drummy bit.

[thecircleisperfect]

its that bassline man! sounds like some midi thing haha!

now you mention it, i can see sonic spinning through pipes and jumping on robots! O_O

[kieranmay]

yeah "scrap yard zone off the original sonic game LOLS