The Singing Detective - Music

Music

As well as its dark themes, the series is notable for its use of 1940s-era music, often incorporated into surreal musical numbers. This is a device Potter used in his earlier miniseries Pennies from Heaven. The main theme music is the classic "Peg o' My Heart", of Ziegfeld Follies fame. The upbeat music as the theme for such a dark story is perhaps a reference to Carol Reed's The Third Man, with a harmonica in the place of a zither (The Third Man is indeed referenced in a number of camera shots, according to DVD commentary). Director Jon Amiel compiled and spliced the generic thriller music used throughout the series from 60 library tapes he had brought together.

The following is a chronological soundtrack listing:

  • "Peg o' My Heart" - Max Harris & his Novelty Trio (theme song; instrumental)
  • "I've Got You Under My Skin" - The BBC Dance Orchestra directed by Henry Hall
  • "Blues in the Night" - Anne Shelton
  • "Dry Bones" - Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians
  • "Rockin' in Rhythm" - The Jungle Band (Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra)
  • "Cruising Down the River" - Lou Preager Orchestra
  • "Don't Fence Me In" - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
  • "It Might as Well Be Spring" - Dick Haymes
  • "Frühlingsrauschen (Rustle of Spring) Op. 32 No. 3" - Sinding
  • "Bird Song at Eventide" - Ronnie Ronalde with Robert Farnon and his Orchestra
  • "Paper Doll" - The Mills Brothers
  • "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen" - Al Bowlly with The Ray Noble Orchestra
  • "Lili Marlene" - Lale Andersen
  • "I Get Along Without You Very Well" - Lew Stone Band
  • "Do I Worry?" - The Ink Spots
  • "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" - Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
  • "The Umbrella Man" - Sammy Kaye and his Orchestra
  • "You Always Hurt the One You Love" - The Mills Brothers
  • "After You've Gone" - Al Jolson with Matty Malneck's Orchestra and The Four Hits and a Miss
  • "It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow" - Jack Payne and his Orchestra
  • "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" - Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
  • "The Very Thought of You" - Al Bowlly & The Ray Noble Orchestra
  • "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" - The Henry Hall Orchestra
  • "We'll Meet Again" - Vera Lynn

The soundtrack was released on vinyl in two different releases:

1986 release: "The Singing Detective" *(BBC Records CD 608)

1988 release: "The Other Side Of The Singing Detective" (BBC Records and Tapes BBC CD 708)

Later releases on CD are:

2002 (Portugal) Music from the Singing Detective and More (Golden Star GSS 5349) (3 CD)

2002 (Portugal) Music from "The Singing Detective" (The Wonderful Music of WMO 90375) (1 CD)

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