Theme From Hill Street Blues

Album: TV Theme Songs (1981)
Charted: 25 10
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Songfacts®:

  • Mike Post is one of the most prolific and successful writers of TV themes, and he already had a Top-10 hit under his belt with his theme for The Rockford Files when Steven Bochco asked him to write the theme for his new inner-city police drama Hill Street Blues. Speaking with the Archive of American Television, Post explained that when he screened the show with Bochco and discussed the music, they decided to forgo the typical hard-driving, street sound that was typical of these kind of shows in favor of something more poignant, but not too sentimental. This would play up the more human aspects of the show, letting the viewer know that there will be plenty of emotion to go along with the chase scenes and other police activity. Post went home and wrote the song in E flat on this piano in about 30 minutes. When he played it over the phone for Bochco, they both knew they had a winner.
  • Hill Street Blues lasted 7 seasons on NBC, and the full length version of the song was a hit for Post when it was released in 1981, during the show's first season. Post prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but he is the credited artist for his instrumental themes, and has three Top-40 hits to his name. In addition to Hill Street Blues and The Rockford Files, he also charted at #25 in 1982 with the theme from Magnum P.I..

Comments: 8

  • Jackie from Hpuston,texasI just loved this theme song every time I hear it I think of furillo and davenport wish they had a ringtone for it because it would be mine
  • Aeroplane from New York CityMy reaction every time I hear this song is exactly the same reaction when I chance upon seeing a glorious sunset. I just stop and manage to say Ohhhhhhhh . . . and stay quiet and soak in the brilliance of this song. Thank you for this sir.
  • Amy from Thomasville, Ga, UsaWow... This sends me back to my days working as an Emergency Room Tech who went on the be a Paramedic. Best career of my life ... Helping others. Our closest friends in both professions were our wonderful law enforcement officers. Some were dear close friends that thank the Lord still "live" good full healthy lives today in crazy 2021. Back in the '80s in the south officers rarely... rarely died in the line of duty. People were more civilized. Drugs weren't an issue in small town American YET... I miss the '80s. Times were so much slower. Your home was your go to and TV shows brought the Nation's families together still. I miss Steven Boscho's many great TV shows. You're greatly missed. TV today just stinks....
  • John Leos Iii from East Los Angeles, Ca Just as good if not better to listen to in 2020 as it was back in 1981. It hits all the right notes.
  • Denny Crane from Dana Point, Ca UsaWho were the musicians who played on it?
  • Jw Van Druenen from BelgiumThx Songfacts.com, a very interesting music website.
    I wondered if still known which specific Piano of Synthesizer was used for this Soundtrack. (Electric I Suppose?)
    Thx for your response.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 15th 1981, the police-themed series "Hill Street Blues" debut on the NBC-TV network...
    The series ran for seven seasons with a total of 146 episodes...
    Seven months and one day later on August 16th, 1981 "The Theme from Hill Street Blues" by Mike Post enters Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart...
    {See the next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 16th 1981, "The Theme from 'Hill Street Blues" by Mike Post (featuring Larry Carlton) entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on November 8th, 1981 it peaked at #10 {for 2 weeks} and spent 22 weeks on the Top 100...
    On February 24th, 1982 at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards it won for 'Best Instrumental Composition' and for 'Best Pop Instrumental Performance'...
    In 1975 he released "The Theme from The Rockford Files'"; and it also peaked at #10 on the Top 100...
    Mr. Post, born Leland Michael Postii, will celebrate his 70th birthday next month on September 29th, 2014 and Larry Eugene Carlton will turn 67 years old come next March 2nd, 2015.
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