The beginning of the Hill Street Blue opening credits always reminded me of Adam-12 intro. You get the VO of the police dispatcher listing occuring crimes, but instead of the driving forceful music that you expect from a police show (and what you got from the Adam-12 intro), you get his mellow tune that completely messes with my expectations.
The theme tune was written by Mike Post and features Larry Carlton on guitar. The song was popular enough that it reached #10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 music chart. Post is a prolific tv tunesmith composing well know music for shows like as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files, LA Law, Quantum Leap and site favorite Magnum, P.I.
I loved Hill Street Blues. At the time it was a ground breaking cop show. Gritty and realistic with great characters living imperfect lives. I can remember the theme song playing on the radio when it charted and it was on one of the K-Tel compilations I owned. Good stuff… and let’s be careful out there!
I never knew that Mr. Post was so prolific. What a great resume!