What Is The Greatest TV Theme Song Of All Time? The Answer Is Below.
Also John Lennon, Watts, Chevy Chase, Illegal Dumping, and the Bass Harmonica
The greatest TV theme song of all time is “The Streetbeater,” the theme for “Sanford and Son,” which ran on NBC for six seasons from 1972-1977. The show starred legendary comedian Redd Foxx and was modeled after a 1960s BBC series, “Steptoe and Son.”
“The Streetbeater” was recorded in July 1973 by Quincy Jones for his album “You’ve Got It Bad Girl.” It opens with a walking bass figure in G Major (above) and a wah-wah infused electric piano (G/C).
The bass figure is repeated by a reedy, bass harmonica played by Toots Thielemans;* the horns and chromatic harmonica follow with a sort of hillbilly/blues/jazz/funk sound that has never really been duplicated.
When asked for his musical inspiration, Jones said, “I just wrote what he (Redd Foxx) looks like.”
Foxx’s character, Fred G. Sanford, moved to the Watts section of LA in his youth from his native St. Louis. The fact that Fred was a junk dealer was an oblique reference to the Watts Towers, erected in that poor, working-class neighborhood a century ago with discarded materials from the construction of the glittering, Southern California metropolis.
As has been the case in most cities, construction and hazardous waste disposal sites are located in poor, usually African-American communities. Generations of systemic racism have stripped these communities of the political power to stop such abuse, which in turn encourages the illegal dumping of waste wherever poor, black people live.
“Sanford and Son” was a great show. At its center was the father-son relationship between Fred and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson in a brilliant, underrated series performance). Fred was mercurial, stubborn, and bigoted while Lamont was measured, open-minded, and gracious.
Although a comedy (an hilarious one at that) the show probed themes such as race, poverty, class, and intergenerational conflict. Elizabeth, the beloved, deceased wife and mother never appeared in the show but her character played a crucial role.
The show employed a running gag: whenever Fred was caught out in one of his self-dealing schemes he would fake a heart attack, raise his eyes to heaven, and exclaim “I’m coming Elizabeth!”
I can’t prove this, but I believe that this was the inspiration for Community’s mercurial and bigoted Pierce Hawthorne regularly faking heart attacks during the six seasons of that outstanding show.
I have thus made my case on behalf of “The Streetbeater” and I humbly submit this matter to the collective judgment of my wise and thoughtful readers.
I conclude by offering the following cautionary note to those who may take to the comments below and argue that another, lesser TV theme song should displace Quincy Jones’ jazz-funk classic at the top of my (admittedly pointless) ranking.
Before you press “enter,” ask yourself this question: did Ella Fitzgerald compose lyrics and sing your selection?
* Toots Thielemans was a legend. Aside from being a master of the harmonica he was also a composer, guitarist, and whistler. One of his biggest fans was John Lennon who, when he saw Thielemans play a Rickenbacker while performing in Hamburg, immediately bought one.
Lennon explained, “if it’s good enough for Toots Thielemans it’s good enough for me.”
My own discovery of Toots Thielemans came during his work with Pat Metheny. I leave you with “Back in Time” from Pat Metheny’s “Secret Story” (1993) recording.
Thanks for the caveat, Frank. I was about ready to argue that the entire "Rockford Files" music and visual montage together rivaled Sanford and Son's theme, then you hit me with Ella Fitzgerald. Glad I didn't pop off and make a fool out of myself. And, by the way, you've got me going down a Pat Metheny rabbit hole now, too! Thanks again--this is all good stuff!
I just happened to be watching an old episode of Scrubs from season 1 last night and JD & Turk did a hilarious version of the Sanford & Son theme. Classic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BkVuqP-5Z4