Mood music, first few seasons - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

07-24-2001, 08:11 PM

I have been trying for many years to discover the source of the LITB background music, with little success, and was wondering if anyone here knows more about its source than I do.

As most of you know, LITB is currently airing on TV Land at 6 PM Eastern Time, two episodes each weekday night. They are presently showing episodes from the second season, in which the evocative strings-and-horn music was used most frequently. I've been taping the shows purely as a way to identify and catalog the various mood themes, of which I'm sure there are at least two dozen main ones. Sometimes the actors are speaking so loudly it's hard to hear every note clearly, and sometimes the music is cut short to match the scene, but since the themes tend to repeat every eight episodes or so, you gradually get to hear them all in full.

I do know that the LITB music supervisor was Frederick Herbert, and I've heard a few of these themes in other shows of that period, usually one hour dramas about family life. I also know that most movie and TV background music of the 40s-50s was composed for that purpose alone. In a sense, it was almost "throw away" music. This to me is amazing, as I find these themes remarkably original and very beautiful, more so than a lot of well known music.

If we could find out in who's vault this "canned" music resides, maybe we could get a CD made! Does anyone know any more about it, or who might know?

nl · 04-01-2003, 04:15 AM

I enjoy the background music of LITB. You can also hear it on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I do not know of any sources though. There is one theme that is particularly beautiful. It is often used when Ward pulls into the driveway. It reminds me of a waterfall.

I have been looking for the music that is was used several times in the show as ballroom dance music. The theme was played when June was teaching Wally the box step in the living room of the first house. It is a beautiful haunting melody, but no one seems to know the name of the tune.

07-24-2001, 08:11 PM	#1
Daverino Guest Posts: n/a	Mood music, first few seasons I have been trying for many years to discover the source of the LITB background music, with little success, and was wondering if anyone here knows more about its source than I do. As most of you know, LITB is currently airing on TV Land at 6 PM Eastern Time, two episodes each weekday night. They are presently showing episodes from the second season, in which the evocative strings-and-horn music was used most frequently. I've been taping the shows purely as a way to identify and catalog the various mood themes, of which I'm sure there are at least two dozen main ones. Sometimes the actors are speaking so loudly it's hard to hear every note clearly, and sometimes the music is cut short to match the scene, but since the themes tend to repeat every eight episodes or so, you gradually get to hear them all in full. I do know that the LITB music supervisor was Frederick Herbert, and I've heard a few of these themes in other shows of that period, usually one hour dramas about family life. I also know that most movie and TV background music of the 40s-50s was composed for that purpose alone. In a sense, it was almost "throw away" music. This to me is amazing, as I find these themes remarkably original and very beautiful, more so than a lot of well known music. If we could find out in who's vault this "canned" music resides, maybe we could get a CD made! Does anyone know any more about it, or who might know?
Daverino Guest Posts: n/a

04-01-2003, 04:15 AM	#2
nl Member First Time Poster Join Date: Apr 01, 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1	Music I enjoy the background music of LITB. You can also hear it on Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I do not know of any sources though. There is one theme that is particularly beautiful. It is often used when Ward pulls into the driveway. It reminds me of a waterfall. I have been looking for the music that is was used several times in the show as ballroom dance music. The theme was played when June was teaching Wally the box step in the living room of the first house. It is a beautiful haunting melody, but no one seems to know the name of the tune.