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The Peter Gunn Theme Song

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A Man with a Gun, a Theme Song, and an Extra N

Peter Gunn had a theme song, and it's been re-made and remixed since his television show debuted in 1958. Once it hit the airwaves, a new hit song began making its way through musical genres year after year. From the Duane Eddy smash in 1960 through mashups made last year, the Peter Gunn theme has called to music fans young and old with one simple appeal: you, too, can have a theme song like a super-spy. (I even heard it recently in a credit card commercial depicting hackers breaking into a computer/vault.)

If you just want to listen to some different versions of the song, try this blog post about the Peter Gunn theme song. If you want more, stay and explore the different versions and covers spanning the past 50 years.

The Original Peter Gunn Theme by Henri Mancini

The Orchestral Hit that Started It All

The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn

The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn

Amazon Price: $14.11 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

This is the original version, from which all others have sprung. Sure, Duane Eddy twanged it into a monster hit a couple of years later, but Mancini and his orchestra started this whole thing with just a television show theme song.

Music Videos for the Peter Gunn Theme

From the Famous to the Freestyle

Ah, what's a television theme without something to watch? Check out these videos of the Peter Gunn theme song to get a better idea of the different versions out there. I've added the Quicksilver vs. Phatt Noize house version because, well, it's six minutes of fun. Be patient, please--the Henry Mancini and Art of Noise versions have a bit of set-up at their respective beginnings, but they are both well worth the wait.

The Roy Buchanan version really moves. And, yes, that is a choir singing the instrumental version. I also threw in the version from the Spy Hunter video game, which introduced me to the song in my video-arcade-loving youth. Don't miss the Jeff Beck version, though you'll have to either enjoy the two songs (with Jimmy Page) before Peter Gunn starts at 5:30 or just skip ahead. It's worth the wait.
"Peter Gunn Theme" Henry Mancini Orchestra 1986 or so
by Visionsla | video info

154 ratings | 159,042 views
curated content from YouTube

Lyrics to Sarah Vaughan's Cover of Peter Gunn

Sarah Vaughan says, "Bye, Bye" to Peter Gunn

Sarah Vaughan Sings Peter Gunn

Sarah Vaghan first recorded Bye, Bye, the actual title of the song that adds lyrics written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans to the Peter Gunn theme song, in 1964. Most versions don't include these lyrics, and some that do include both titles as most people don't identify the song as Bye, Bye

Every night your line is busy,
All that buzzin' makes me dizzy.
Couldn't count on all my fingers
All the dates you had with swingers.

Bye-bye.
Bye, baby.
I'm gonna kiss you goodbye
And walk right through that doorway.

So long.
I'm leaving.
This is the last time we'll meet
On the street going your way.

Don't look surprised
You know you've buttered your bread.
So now it's fair you should stare
At the back of my head.

If you write a letter to me
My former friend
Don't you end
With an R.S.V.P.

I'm goin' bye-bye
I'm moving!
Tomorrow I may be splittin'
To Britain or Norwas

I'm sayin' bye-bye
Bye, baby!
Now that I've heard all that jazz
Whereas I've had it, I've had it

I'm through now with you now
So baby it's au revouir
Adios, ciao, ciao, goodbye

Another Sarah Vaughan Take on Peter Gunn

Bye Bye from Vintage Vinyl!

I couldn't resist a slightly different recording of Sarah Vaughan singing Bye Bye. I just love her voice and she's so feisty in this song!
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Listen to More Full Versions of Peter Gunn

From Henry Mancini to The Cramps

You can listen to twenty-two full cover versions of the Peter Gunn theme, thanks to the amazing folks at Grooveshark.com. Don't miss the Deodato funk cover, the bizarre twang of The Monkees, and the Grandmaster Flash 80s rap over the theme song. I ended the list with the mambo and cha cha versions.

Sample Dozens More Cover Versions

Peter Gunn from the 50s and 60s through Today

What kind of page about a song would this be if you couldn't have a listen? You can listen to samples and buy the mp3s that you like right here. This set includes the Grandmaster Flash rap Style which is laid over the Peter Gunn theme song, as well as the Sarah Vaughan song with lyrics. You'll also find jazz, retro rock, and another dozen versions of the song, as well as Henry Mancini's original theme.

Which Version of Peter Gunn Do You Like Best?

Are you a Henry Mancini fan or did Art of Noise make the song?

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Guitar and Bass Tabs for the Peter Gunn Theme Song

Since the essence of the song is the repeated notes in the background, these tabs are necessarily short and sweet. You'll have to get sheet music for the wailing melody.

The guitar notes:

The bass notes:

Get the Sheet Music and Play It Yourself!

With sheet music you can play the Peter Gunn Theme on guitar, piano, on saxophone, with an ensemble or solo. Here are five ways to do so!
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Modern Interpretations and Other Uses

Peter Gunn's Theme Song Gets Updated

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Peter Gunn a Whole New Way

Mashups Pit the Peter Gunn Theme Against Other Songs

MASHUP: "Peter Claire"
by koradan | video info

2 ratings | 1,068 views
curated content from YouTube

Recent posts about the Peter Gunn Theme Song

Discover what other people are writing about the various cover versions of the Peter Gunn theme. For all that the song was written for a minor television hit, musicians keep finding new things to love about the song.
'Postcard From 1952': Explosions In The Sky Debut New Music Video (EXCLUSIVE)
The visuals were directed by Peter Simonite (a cinematographer on Terrence Malick's "Tree of Life") and Annie Gunn, who said they wanted to create a believable and universal world for the song. "We based the whole thing off these real photographs," ...
When Peter toured with Elvis's backing band
But it was never enough for the enterprising young man and in 1970 he bought his first set of disco turntables, speakers and amplifiers and, taking the name of one of his favourite rock'n'roll singles, Duane Eddy's Peter Gunn, became the resident DJ at ...
Blake Edwards: The man behind Inspector Clouseau, Holly Golightly and Bo Derek
By the 1950s, he was on the other side of the camera, eventually scoring a huge TV success with the detective show ?Peter Gunn.? The series ? most remembered today for its jazzy theme ? soon got Edwards some plum movies, including 1961's ?Breakfast ...
Today In Entertainment History May 4
Henry Mancini won album of the year for "The Music from Peter Gunn." The Champs and the Kingston Trio were also winners. In 1964, the Moody Blues formed in Birmingham, England. In 1970, Neil Young wrote "Ohio" after four Kent State University students ...
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Tell Me about Your Peter Gunn Memories.

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I'd love to know how you feel about Peter Gunn--when did you first hear the song? Did you watch the TV show? Play Spy Hunter as a kid? Share your favorite things about the Peter Gunn theme song and let me know if I've missed a great cover song or unusual take on the music. Thank you!

  • EricOlsen Jan 14, 2012 @ 2:15 pm | delete
    Good music! :D The first video didn't work though :(
  • Not-Pop Jan 16, 2012 @ 10:08 pm | delete
    Thanks for letting me know! I've replaced it with another live version. Hopefully that one hangs around for a while.
  • John Nov 5, 2011 @ 4:01 pm | delete
    Didn't remember how great this song was. I like the version from The Martini Lounge.
  • hughgrissettsr Oct 24, 2011 @ 6:41 pm | delete
    i was 7 years old when it first came out. always loved it. luv your lens! can't choose between the henry mancini and duane eddy versions. visit me at www.hgssite for more music chat.
  • SandyPeaks Oct 15, 2011 @ 2:28 pm | delete
    Never saw the show but the theme got played a lot on the radio - one of the best TV themes ever written by one of the best popular composers who ever lived.
  • katemiya Sep 30, 2011 @ 8:40 pm | delete
    I have to say this is one of the better instrumental television themes ever to be featured. Thanks for sharing all these great cover versions of it too - I remember the Art Of Noise's cover version quite well.
  • wordstock Aug 10, 2011 @ 1:03 pm | delete
    Mancini was always a favorite and this was fun. Great job, I expected to like it but not quite this much. Angel blessed.
  • scruffymind Jul 25, 2011 @ 9:22 am | delete
    Mancini is one of my favorite composers and I'm sure I heard this on one of his albums before I ever saw an episode of Peter Gunn, or played Spy Hunter (the original arcade version)
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