Theme From Hawaii Five

Theme From Hawaii Five-0

Leonard Freeman stated "The value of a great one minute theme to any television series is inestimable." His prior show Route 66 and its 'Get your Kicks..' mantra was so successful that when planning Hawaii Five-0 he knew there was only one person who could pull off such a quality theme-Morton Stevens. Freeman contacted him and the rest is as they say history. The Theme From Hawaii Five-0 is THE most recognizable television theme ever.

The song was composed by Morton Stevens and performed by the CBS Orchestra. A later variation of it was recorded by The Ventures and reached #3 on the Billboard record charts. (Would that be a 'Number 3 with a Bullet') The copyrights to THAT version is owned by April Music.

Throughout his tenure Stevens used a variety of styles and formats. The instruments varied from a flute to sappy violins and loud pianos. Its sad that today's producers fail to recognize the benefits of background music. Are there even any current shows which have a theme song let alone background music?

Popular music made its way into the series as well. Tommy Sands, Sterling Mossman and Jimmy Borges made appearances. The orange shorts clad Alli'is danced in the pilot episode. Can we ever forget Gavin McLeod's towel clad rendition of "Tain't no big thing bruddah when there aint no coffee to fill the cup. Good times comin' let'em roll.....". Sally (Melveen Leed) sings "My little grass shack" in her nightclub. Even McGarrett gets into the act with his guitar. The entire cast sings Happy Birthday in one episode. In Season 11 disco makes its appearance.

Music and musicians were regular subject matter as well:

singer Bobby George was kidnapped in Tiger By The Tail
a night club singer moonlights as a cat burglar in No More Blue Skies
in King Kamehameha Blues the kids sing "Aloha Oink!"
a Soviet violinist performs in The Guarnerius Caper
Ray Danton plays a lounge singer accused of murder/arson in The Last Eden
Nancy Wilson plays a heroin addicted jazz singer in Trouble In Mind Bit of Trivia here: Morton Stevens plays Hank the drummer at Kieley's bar in this episode.
Music producers run afoul of the law in The Flipside Is Death
a female guitarist witnesses a murder and flirts with McGarrett in Sing A Song Of Suspense
Jimmy Borges is held hostage in A Capitol Crime
Mafia corruption in the music industry is the topic of disco music laden Number One With A Bullet (parts 1&2)

In 1973 Hawaii Five-0 won its first and only Emmy for best musical composition for a series or single program in a series. Nominated were Don B Ray for Nightmare In Blue, Bruce Broughton for $100,000 Nickel and Mort Steven who won for Hookman.

While Mort Stevens wrote the song,the CBS orchestra recorded it and The Ventures made it popular the tune has always been 100% instrumental. However some enterprising individual has thoughtfully come up with lyrics. Somehow, I don't see the connection. Except maybe for tongue wrastlin' with 'the Quong girl'.

If you're feelin' lonely, you can come with me. Feel my arms around you. Lay beside the seaaaaaa.

We will think of somethin' to do, do it til it's perfect for you and for me too. You can come with meeeee.

So leave your world behind you, you can come with me. Sing a song I'll teach you, Live your fantasyyyyyyy.

Love ya in a natural way, doesn't matter what time of day, you and I play. You can come with meeeee.

Won'tcha come with meeee.

You can come with meeee

.Click below to download your selection. Keep checking as selections will be added as they are available.


Theme song MIDI file	THE VENTURES	Theme song WAV format
		Sheet Music
McGarrett's Theme	MORTON STEVENS	page 1 page 2

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