"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale" of a time when television shows began with awesome TV Theme Songs. "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name" and sometimes you want to go back to when TV Theme songs were special. "Here's a story... of a lovely" time when TV Theme Songs served to identify, distinguish and set the stage for the television program that followed. "You take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have" what unfortunately has become a lost artform. "Believe it or not", sadly it seems no effort or pride is taken in the TV Theme Song ever since Seinfeld proved a short synth-bass riff could be used instead. “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” This regular feature may not "make all our dreams come true", but it will remember some of the best TV Theme Songs from years past (with a focus on the '80s decade). "Come aboard, we're expecting you."
This time we will cover the theme song for Major Dad. Barely qualifying as an '80s show, Major Dad debuted in September of 1989 running for four seasons and 94 episodes on CBS. The show starred Gerald McRaney in his next project after Simon & Simon ended its eight season run.
The theme song was composed by Roger Steinman. He has limited other credits but did co-write the theme song for the sitcom Best of the West which only lasted one season from 1981-82 and as music coordinator for several episodes of The Jacksons in 1977. The theme song for Major Dad is a take on other military marching band themes, but definitely sets the tone for the show. The theme had minor adjustments made after season 1, but since season 1 is the only season that ran in the '80s, here is the opening for the first season Major Dad featuring the theme song...
As a comparison, you can hear the theme song for seasons 2-4 of Major Dad here...
As with most television shows with a military connection, Major Dad utilizes that quickly identifiable military marching band sound and, though it works for it as you would expect, it certainly is not especially memorable.
Hope you enjoyed tuning in for another "episode" of TV Theme Songs!