American Top 40 Theme Music

From the Casey Kasem days.

[@streetcarjay]

Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.

[@NonsenseEraser]

Actually, this IS the original theme song. One of my duties while I was working at 50,000 watt KEEL 710 was to run this show on Sunday at 6:00 pm. 1972-73.

[@josephtisdale5262]

This was #34 on the charts, another big Boston area hit.

[@Lafayette320]

I love this theme song! Casey started his DJ days in Detroit and soon came to WJW Radio 850 in Cleveland. He played Rock & Roll. He became so popular that the station changed to that format. Casey's name was Kasam Kasem at that time.

[@SaleGuy]

This weekend's AT40 is the first ever broadcast from July 4, 1970!! Good listening!!

[@bobdavis4848]

I just listened to it! With One Dog Night at Number Three...I mean Three Dog Night at Number One. ;-)

[@Lafayette320]

"Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!" -Casey Kasem

[@jesselockhart1230]

This these is well before its time! Cant believe this is 1970.

[@jkoskovics]

I read the comments from tritonrocks and then listened to his clip. It clearly identifies that it is one of the Premiere Radio's remastered (and re-syndicated) shows. Like others, I can say without a doubt, YOU have the more accurate copy of the ORIGINAL theme. I use to listen to AT40 when I was in College (1973), and this is the real McCoy. Thank you!!!! You've triggered some interesting memories of radio from that period in time. It is very much appreciated.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

Used to hear this NZ radio during the 70s, always enjoyed AT40

[@mrceleb2006]

This was the very first theme music for 'AT40' when it premiered on the Fourth of July 1970, performed entirely on analogue synthesizers! By 1975, it was replaced with "Shuckatoom".

[@DISCOVEGASGUY]

This is a cool theme. Always looked forward to hearing it and hearing the new songs introduced by Casey Kasem

[@outofround]

I used to air the show at a 5KW AM at 9AM on Sunday morning. It came in on 3 LPs. We never could sell the commercial breaks in the show.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Thanks Casey. You made the 70s. Semper Fi.

[@RJSchex]

Original 1970 theme. Starting sometime in early 1973, it would still be used as the opening theme, and the opening jingle for hours 2 and 3; the hour-closing jingle and closing theme would be a minor-key remix of this theme.

[@marceloromero9244]

An old theme fron Top 40 programs. (July 1970 to November 1975).

[@medepful]

TM Productions' Jim Kirk wrote the original moog synthesizer theme, in 1970.

[@rubedogg6969]

RIP Casey Kasem!

[@swami1]

@tritonrocks I listened to the show religiously as a kid in the 70s, and this IS the theme used from about 1972-1974. There was another theme in 1971 that was slightly less Moog-ish than this one.

[@shepshepherd]

Been looking for this ever since I heard a syndicated re-run of ATF when I was on holiday in Florida last spring :)

[@davesmyderb3735]

Love it i feel like i was 20 again thanks dave s

[@Agnethatheredhairkid]

The sound of this is incredible. I recently acquired a 300 sound synthesiser and there is a similar effect on it. I will be learning to play this!

[@fordman2698]

What about the 84 theme? Pretty good synth piece to learn imo.

[@shepshepherd]

RIP Casey Kasem.

[@crlaw75]

One of the reasons I enjoy listening to "American Top 40: The 70's".

[@KaptSonic22]

Yep, As an avid listener back in the early-to-mid 70's, this is the one I strongly remember, as it signaled the end of the enjoyable countdown. Each week, the radio programming/timing would be a little different, so varying amounts and much of this outro tune would often be cut off for commercials or the next hours program. On countdown charts I have from 1979, the outro theme is listed as "SHUCKATOOM" which is a much different theme.

[@FurtherReview]

USMCLoneWolf1 and others, the closing theme that TritonRocks linked to is the version I remember from around 1973 and '74. Although it's tough to hear clearly on that recording (especially with Casey talking over most of it), the music is less "wah-wah" than this version and it doesn't contain the prominent synthesized drum rhythm that this one does.

[@CrystalClearWith8BE]

This is the original theme of AT40 from 1970 to 1975.

[@DNSKansas]

This music makes me want to boogie!

[@300zxbear2]

Theme for the March 16, 1974 AT40 Program.

[@Holfti]

@tritonrocks I've listened to Casey's program many, many times, and what I've posted sounds exactly like what I heard on the radio off of the original broadcasts. It's possible you and I are thinking of two different bumpers. Either way, there's no reason to be derisive.

[@BolsaChicaRadio]

Hmmmm, I looked up this particular CD, "Casey Kasem presents America's Top 10 Through The Years 1970s", I found it and looked on the rear cover and though it does contains many great hits of the 1970 decade, it DOES NOT contain this "American Top 40" THEME SONG that is featured with this screen grab. Where did you find such a clean version of this Theme Song? Thank you. BCRadio

[@cottagechskitty]

Moog for the win!

[@ThomasJamesAlford]

In 1984, AT40 used a way-cool "futuristic" theme ... does anyone have it?

[@BestMusicExpert]

Would love the disco-ey closing theme from 78-83 if you have it!

[@lugnuts6]

Thank You Casey ..and to quote a certain pet of Shaggy .. Rank Ru Rasey

[@VBaskin2010]

Let Me Guess Scooby-Doo?

[@lugnuts6]

Yep, Casey was the voice of Shaggy among others on scooby doo ,also did the voice of Alexander the manager of Josie and the PussyCats & Robin in the first Batman Cartoon series for CBS

[@VBaskin2010]

lugnuts6 As Well Being The Voice Of Cliffjumper Bumblebee's Twin Brother On Transformers: Generation 1 Right?

[@lugnuts6]

yes indeed as well as the voice of robin

[@luiserodriguez1458]

Who made the original theme of American 40 ten ( 1970, 80)

[@eddiewalker2155]

I like this theme song. It sort of reminds me of a Stevie Wonder production.

[@FurtherReview]

Definitely a vintage Top 40 theme from the '70s. However, I don't believe this particular version was used from 1970 to '75 -- I recall the show using a variation on this same tune around 1973 or '74. It's hard to describe in words, but although it was still played on a synthesizer, the version I remember didn't have the "wah-wah" sound -- it simply covered the notes in a smoother, less playful fashion.

[@Jimbo700]

This theme (the original) was used to open and close each hour of AT40 from July 4, 1970 until Jan. 13, 1973, when the 'smoother' version of the same theme (same theme recorded on a different synthesizer) was used to close each hour. This continued until Nov. 8, 1974 when "Shuckatoon" made its debut to open the show. The theme changed again once or twice in the late 70's.

[@Holfti]

Very sorry, I don't have that one. Good luck finding it. :)

[@petersonok]

awesome! do you have the "shuckatoom" theme that was used from like "75 to 80" I am looking for an mp3 of that one. :)

[@NewShimmer]

Could someone please tell us who composed this theme, and any interesting info on its recording? Since this was the first theme starting in 1970, it would likely have been done on a big modular Moog synthesizer one note at a time. All-Moog music was a populer niche back then thanks to the pioneering work of Wendy Carlos.

[@Jimbo700]

It was composed by Jim Kirk of TM Productions in Dallas.

[@MuzikMan22]

Ok, How about the American top40 theme from the 80's. Do you have that one.

[@joshuakline1435]

Good bye Casey. I hope Scooby and the Gang are doing OK without Shaggy

[@pault156]

Do You have the AT 40 "Shuckatoon" theme? That was my favorite version

[@thefirefighter2011]

@blockemall anyone care to post the updated 1973-76 version of the same AT40 theme in that channel?

[@ThomasJamesAlford]

@TheSparrow1000 - this sounds like TELSTAR!

[@MuzikMan22]

Do you have the american top20 theme music?

[@Holfti]

It looks like KZbin user petersonok has it uploaded on his channel. I try not to upload repeats.

[@fordman2698]

They cut the noise that sounds like a cat's meow in 74 and replaced the theme altogether in November of 75 with the "Shuckatoom" theme. This is one of my favorite themes, right up there with the 84 synthesized theme and the 1999-2003 theme. No one ever mentions the latter one, but it was under rated in my personal opinion. The late-70s jingles, on the other hand, ruined late-70s music for me.

[@bobdavis4848]

I'd love to know the story behind the cat sound.

[@Holfti]

@tritonrocks I never said I knew it all. I think you seriously need to chill out and stop acting like a paranoid person. I've been nothing but polite to you, and you've shown the maturity of a small snail. What next, I have aspirations to take over the world? Look, I posted a video with not the best quality sound. Other people on here have been enjoying it. It was hard for me to make out the song on the link you posted over the words (I'm at work and the speakers are bad. I'll listen again.)

[@leftctin99]

This isn't about 40 different theme songs it's the theme song from American Top 40

[@lunatickitteh7523]

40 Themes? Their is 1 fcking consistant theme all the way through.

[@Holfti]

No, sorry.

[@kennethhuang371]

WELL, HI THERE! WELCOME TO: AMERICAN TOP 40. I’M KENNETH HUANG AND I’VE BEEN CALLED TO THE AT40 STUDIO IN HOLLYWOOD BECAUSE CASEY KASEM GOT HUNG UP ON BUSINESS PLAYING: SHAGGY ON: SCOOBY-DOO. He gave me a call asking if I’d like to do the countdown for him. WELL, CASEY, IT WILL BE MY PLEASURE. RATHER THAN WASTING ANY MORE TIME, I’d better get into this week’s 40 hottest hits by BILLBOARD MAGAZINE STARTING WITH: CHORUS: # 40. 5/25/24.