Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1957
Park Avenue Beat
Buy Park Avenue Beat now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'Park Avenue Beat'" (also known as the "'Perry Mason' Theme'") was the theme music for the 19571966 CBS television drama 'Perry Mason'. It is one of the best-known works by composer Fred Steiner.
CBS executives had wanted the theme music to convey the suavity, sophistication, and toughness that they felt were the fundamental aspects of Perry Mason's character, as well as his dealing with criminals and crime. "Historically, you associate jazz with the seamy side of life," Steiner said. "[In 1957], rhythm and blues was the big thing. That rhythm just seemed like what I was looking for: a contemporary beat for that side of him, and yet the symphonic sound to represent him as the kind of guy who goes to the opera. It sounds easy now, but I must have gone through four or five different versions."
The theme was reused in the NBC series of 'Perry Mason' television films starring the surviving original cast members.
In 2001, "Park Avenue Beat" topped a Knight Ridder top 10 list of television themes.
Notes
References
Category:1957 songs
Category:Television drama theme songs
Category:Perry Mason
Buy Park Avenue Beat now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1957