Peter Gunn (song)

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

"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^[2] Mancini won an Emmy Award and two Grammys for Album of the Year and Best Arrangement.^[3]

Overview

In his 1989 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]

The wailing alto saxophone solo was played by big band veteran and Hollywood studio stalwart Ted Nash.

Mancini arranged the first single version of the song for trumpeter Ray Anthony in 1959. Recorded for Capitol Records and featuring tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the R&B chart.

Lyrics were added by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and first recorded in 1965 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]

Other versions

The song has been recorded by numerous artists, including a popular version by guitarist Duane Eddy. His rendition reached number six on the UK Singles Chart and number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. The song appeared on his 1959 album Especially for You. The song was produced by Lee Hazlewood and Lester Sill.

• RCA Victor also released the song as part of a Mancini EP in 1958.
• Pete Candoli and His Orchestra released the song as part of an EP in 1959 entitled "Peter Gunn Cha Cha".
• Ted Heath and His Music released the song as the B-side to his single "Sermonette" in 1959.
• Shelly Manne recorded a version on Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn which was released as a single in 1959.
• 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 number 20 on the dance chart, number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 96 on the R&B chart.
• 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.
• Aretha Franklin and The Blues Brothers released a version of the song as a medley with "Think" in 1980 which reached number 39 on the dance chart.
• Art of Noise released a version of the song featuring Eddy in 1986 which reached number two on the dance chart, number eight in the UK, number 14 in Canada,^[7] and number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was featured on their 1986 album In Visible Silence, and was awarded a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. A live version appears on their compilation album Reconstructed... For Your Listening Pleasure.^[8]
• A live version appears on Pulp's 2006 Peel Sessions album.
• The B-52's used part of the rhythm figure for their 1979 single "Planet Claire".

In addition to the above cover versions, the 1983 video game Spy Hunter uses an electronic arrangement of this work for its in-game background music.^[9]

References