Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988) Theme Song Evolution

[@joanneward6746]

Around 2001 I had a really stressful job with a psycho boss. I used to play this in my head to drown out the boss's shouting. Love this theme

[@SoUtHMeMpHis]

One of the Best 80s tv show Saxophone 🎷 openings

[@megamanj2004X]

Ain’t That the Way is a nice song on its own but just doesn’t quite nail the action like the more familiar Bill Conti theme.

[@Youngstown529]

Bill Conti is amazing! Dynasty, The Colbys, Falcon Crest and North and South.

[@user-dj3lq3pv2s]

Absolutely.

[@FranzSausage]

White blouse, black skirt, brown knee lenght boots - I love the clothes that Sharon Gless is wearing in the opening credits. It's great that they never removed this scene. Even if almost no woman wore anything like this since mid 80s

[@Matt-ww6nf]

I think the first version of the theme we all know most is the best, followed by the last version. They had more... umph to them somehow, more go in them. And Sharon Gless by far is Christine Cagney! You just don't get shows like this anymore, I wish we could go back to the 80s, times were much better then!

[@user-dj3lq3pv2s]

Yup. The Reagan years.

[@birgitschuster3481]

ja, es war grandios, was Sharon Gless aus Christine Cagney machte

[@samc6364]

We did get another show like this: Rizzoli and Isles. And as a guy I'll toss in Simon & Simon.

[@alesaenz]

Awesome exposition about the evolution of intros of this iconic TV series. Great job 👏👏👏👏👏

[@megamanj2004X]

For S5, another new set of cast photos were introduced, primarily with Al Waxman, Carl Lumbly and Martin Kove. Sidney Clute passed away during 1985 but his cast shots would remain well after his death. Also the only season for Dan Shorr, who would ultimately get replaced by Robert Hedgyes for the final 2 seasons of the series. S5 also introduced another version of theme with a slightly extended version and slightly different drum instrumentations in comparison to S2-S4’s drum instrumentations. S6 introduced Robert Hedgyes to the cast while S7 saw the departure of Carl Lumbly, even though he would only be seen in the group cast in the intro on most S7 episodes.

[@judyosborne]

Loved the evolution of the Cagney & Lacey theme through the years! An upbeat theme to the action pact scenes. Boy how I love this series! Thanks for posting.

[@slightlygrouchy]

What a great video! It's really fasicnating to witness the evolution of a TV theme. Thank you so much for making this.

[@Kaz741]

The bit where they were laughing in car my favourite.

[@johnnysixx6928]

since i was born way back in the 1900s. i was a kid and i still remember that Monday night lineup on CBS Scarecrow and Mrs. King at 8p.m. then Kate and Alley at 9p.m. Newhart at 9:30p.m. and then Cagney and Lacey at 10p.m. then the local news. back at that time some stations would play the star spangled banner then go off air. this was back in the 1900s before every home in America had cable and before infomercials remember my awesome 80s

[@KeoTheCupcake]

The new arrangement in season 4 is the one I'm most familiar with.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

Excellent! I thought I remembered an alternate Conti theme. Thank you for this.

[@megamanj2004X]

Also the S4 alternate intro made use of ‘synthesized drums in spots as well. This intro was also the first to use a slightly extended version of the theme tune.

[@LifeinAnalog]

Yes, very true!

[@ElJefeNLA]

I loved it!

[@jnadle1]

@@ElJefeNLA And the third and final arrangement had a louder snare than in seasons past.

[@peterwilliamskelhorn6675]

​@@LifeinAnalogRizzoli and Isles is like the modern version of Cagney And Lacey

[@jnadle1]

I'm sorry, but "Ain't That the Way" should've only been used for something like a family drama, not a cop series. No wonder Bill Conti was brought in.

[@taylordowning2533]

Thanks for posting this!!

[@aprilwearsgucci]

The clips were Cagnet and Lacey are chasing a guy though the subway and the flasher from episodes? I heard some people say they are from episodes and they remember seeing them. Others say they weren't. They're just scenes shot for the opening. A day in the life of.

[@jebeja]

Bill Conti version it IS. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍👍👍💯💯🙌🙌🙌

[@tonysloan892]

TV is no good anymore. This makes me sort of happy.

[@tomwotton9]

This is amazing!!! Love Tom

[@user-hl9vb6id7p]

Que de bon souvenirs, j'adorais, malheureusement plus diffusé en France

[@AlphanPeter]

great theme when tv shows had themes

[@megamanj2004X]

Also for S4 they introduced new cast photos in the credits and it was also the only season for Barry Primus. The odd thing with Barry Primus intro scenes were that his cast photo has him with a mustache and his action scene showing him sans mustache.

[@judyosborne]

For the first few episodes when Barry Primus appears in season 4 he is smarting the mustache. I personally feel he looks better without it.

[@LarryLeeMoniz]

What's even stranger is that after Carl Lumbly left the show before in season 7, he is still seen in the group shot in the credits, despite his actual credit being removed to make room form newcomer Robert Heyges of Welcome Back Kotter fame.

[@dianamonka]

Cagney &Lacey 👍✌

[@jasonrfoss248]

The Meg Foster version sounds more like a mid70s cop drama.

[@jnadle1]

Starting in season 4, it introduced a brief scene of Cagney jogging up to the vendor's stand to purchase a hot dog, realize that?

[@DaveyC95]

Yes, and Cagney has just finished her morning jog... And then buys two hot dogs LMFAO

[@SusanStCyr]

I'm sure she gave one to Mary Beth

[@birgitschuster3481]

das Bill Conti Thema klingt wie eine Hymne, großartig

[@Venomous_471]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤💗 The theme song at 4:40 me and my best friend was trying to master this on our saxophone and tried hard too in the 80s.🤣🤣

[@pbamse]

Marie Cain - "Ain't That the Way” (1981)

[@tamaraclaw]

Thought it was interesting how they showed Martin Kove putting his shirt on...probably knowing that a lot of the audience were women, like myself...providing eye candy.

[@jaelinsmith5207]

It's like watching Simon and Simon, or maybe Starsky and Hutch.

[@comingaliveagain]

I’m sure I remember watching an episode of C+L where Chris is wearing the fur coat at the end of those opening credits (Sharon Gless days) but never seen it since. Something like a special assignment and they think they are getting to go away?? Am I going mad?

[@Scatscar1985]

Fred Freiberger was a story editor on this? "Star Trek"... "Space:1999" ... this.

[@mikef8846]

I actually really like the first part of season one theme song when they are running around, but when the rehashed Ain't That the Way starts up, I'm out.

[@TimBoyd2012]

3:38 His last name is Hiney? I'm sure he was the *butt* of a lot of jokes.

[@carlchristoff9489]

How cool that Martin Kove was in this. Cobra Kai John Kreese!

[@BreakTime10101]

Sad seeing the towers 😢

[@thebuttonsblog]

Why don't you get that washroom redecorated? It wouldn't take Harvey more than a couple of days 🤪

[@chrisharlow4075]

I thought this was a series? Looks like a movie

[@LifeinAnalog]

It premiered as a TV Movie, but came back as a series for 7 seasons. It was then followed by 4 more TV movies.

[@bullmoose6253]

Brilliant and probing question, Chris. Try reading and watching the clip before posting an inane question that’s already answered. FP

[@mikef8846]

Oh God Ain't That the Way is way too long and doesn't fit the show at all.

[@Youngstown529]

Bill Conti discusses the creation of the Cagney & Lacey Theme: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3jMo6WNqsaoY6c

[@WithsomeFish]

Jocelin Dauqst

[@WithsomeFish]

Green Fish

[@WithsomeFish]

With some fish

[@WithsomeFish]

DEBRAH STOONE JOCELIN DAUQST GLIN SHUTEPAL