The Streets of San Francisco Theme (Intro & Outro)

Aired on ABC for 5 seasons, Sept 1972 to June 1977.
Theme by Patrick Williams.
This is from season one. (No voice over in this version.)

[@vivo.latino]

The 70s TV Theme Songs are the most funky jams ever... you gotta love all of them!

[@kimberlyvinson9047]

Yep

[@brooklynbabe7896]

Absolutely perfect thanks so much

[@blaircrocker9845]

All I can say is DAMMMN that some funky shit. Can you dig it.

[@marybetheby5184]

Spiderman the tv show was badass too..

[@melanieknight6352]

Yeah. And Carol Kaye on bass!

[@markanthony1425]

I remember watching this as a kid on a black and white tv. The early 70s. Kids back then use to watch adult crime shows and never got bored.

[@RocketeerAndRoll]

Kids back then were smarter. Now they dumb kids down so much it's sad.

[@nickm5419]

@@RocketeerAndRoll block the fuck out of the cartoon channels on Tv and show em things from 30+ years ago and dont look forward

[@robertleewilliamsjr.]

I enjoyed listening to this TV theme song, especially the guitar strumming, it was so cool. And Malden & Douglas were quite the team!

[@cessaly100]

Yep 👍! Me TOO, bro 😎! Mom let me stay up til 10 m EST to watch this cool show! Never DREAMED I’d actually work in San Francisco! Washington DC 1970’s.

[@zorrozorro8886]

You're so damn right, man: Kids then used to watch adult crime. Today? Unimaginable!!!!!

[@richardjonscher]

Ich erinnere mich noch als ich als kleines Kind mit meiner Mutter in den 1970 ziger Jahren im schwarz weiß Fernseher die Serie angesehen habe. Es ist immer Freitag spät Abends gelaufen. Viele Erinnerungen. Es war eine tolle Serie mit super Schauspielern und bei der Titelmusik bekomme ich heute noch Gänsehaut. Jetzt bin ich fast 58 Jahre alt und erinnere mich immer noch gerne daran. Danke sehr fürs einstellen.

[@therecanbeonlyonechris5019]

It never gets old!! I want this played at my funeral

[@fumanchu4785]

...and LIVE! :D

[@guillermoperez-ge7mc]

It might get you jumping back out of the coffin.

[@waltbayless7709]

Absolutely awesome!

[@mr.scottpowell]

😂

[@fuhai4413]

:D The headstone needs to read: "A Quinn Martin Production".

[@Jgeneraledger23]

Feel all 'warm and cozy' when I hear this song, like I'm a kid over my Grandma's house getting ready to fall asleep :)

[@VANITY80]

Man. You sum my feelings about this song perfectly 😊

[@jessethepersiankitty2377]

Yep 💯

[@billhorstkamp98]

Absolutely 💯✌🏼

[@davidlaplant1164]

😂👍🏼

[@TheCaulfield1]

Born in 71...I remember my Dad watching this...who could forget that theme tune?? Great memories for me 😊😊

[@eileencoburn8631]

Yes.Michael Douglas was handsome,like his father,but prettier.

[@dazzle1545]

You can tell this is from the past, the streets are clean

[@cosmicsense658]

Absolutely the best drum roll out I've ever heard. Talk about ahead of its time. Put on a set of headphones and listen to the set drummer for the first 21 seconds. The drummer is all out and holding this thing together. I concluded after listening to this that there just can't be a lot of people on the planet that can play a set drum like that in this context. Talk about bringing it! I like this theme enough to eat! It's so Bay Area 1970's.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

wonderfull comment you are damn right my dear :-)

[@Haffschlappe]

yes that haffs!!

[@peteldoyle]

Absolutely on point, that drummer is 100% in the pocket.

[@missvicviolin]

drums perfectly tuned too

[@DanFrederiksen]

I think you'll find they all bring it and it's way more than just the drums. It's mad jive :)

[@cooks0077]

As a kid, I used to watch this show with my Grandmother. When I went to Concord, California in 1989, I saw everything that I saw in the opening credits.

[@stevanwarburton5501]

One of THE BEST FUNK THEMES from The Seventies EVER!

[@stevanwarburton5501]

yes.. sadly all lost in the mist of time and so called "progress"..

[@brothertee1017]

Stevan Warburton ..this and the theme from "Barney Miller"

[@maggiekoch9348]

This and the "Hart to Hart" theme.

[@moneyclaude2500]

Yes. Agreed.

[@STP43FAN1]

I could never get past the intros to Quinn Martin shows - always badass awesome.

[@Alby_Torino]

The most funky theme in the history of TV shows. And the drums in the very beginning... just... wow

[@georgejetson1025]

No, shaft was

[@user-qu8oe3lz3r]

Both were.

[@mikegilbert2500]

Shaft was a movie

[@Alby_Torino]

@@georgejetson1025 Not a TV show. Only movies: Shaft (1971), Shaft's Big Score! (1972), Shaft in Africa (1973), Shaft (2000), Shaft (2019)

[@topenddean]

L OV E D this show! Karl Malden and Michael Douglas did such a good job. Great television in the 70's!

[@andreapatane4204]

My mom got to see them in person when she was a teenager. She got to see this show being filmed that day.

[@servicecorp8056]

What did you expect ? they were both Oscar winners.

[@pamparker4047]

Outstanding Performances

[@intellivotion]

not being American, this tune IS, for me, the U.S.A. of the '70's

[@roachdoggjr45]

@RadRich intellivotion mentions America. So you turn into trump and attack his neutral statement. AND you end it with . shame that's so . sad.

[@intellivotion]

must be because of the wah-wah, the big band sound and the funky rythm. To me, these three ingredients taste a lot of America

[@mike04574]

@RadRich he probably forgot about it, although those are great too. got a problem?

[@mike04574]

@RadRich those are great themes too. He probably knows them as well. Wdym shame

[@mike04574]

@RadRich alright

[@scottlowman.1044]

Childhood memories, great time for television.

[@normanalvarez5751]

No doubt Scott

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

I'm the 100th like! 😎👍

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Pat Williams Soundtrack Intro from the Streets of San Francisco is still one of the damn coolest piecest of music out there ever written...the screaming guitar play, outstanding drums and the wha wha effect is most excellent.

[@percyt81]

yeah man who did that wah wah screaming like that

[@tonystewart4113]

Schlipperschlopper You’re absolutely right about the drums baby!!

[@kerryendacotte4146]

Just wish there was a CD of the music of the series available

[@joegosztolai3884]

the show did not live up to the theme

[@COIcultist]

It's close between this theme and the Barney Miller theme as a blues opposition.

[@CJ_7519]

This is before Michael Douglas flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, which led him Romancing the Stone while chasing after the Jewel of the Nile, which led to a Fatal Attraction to work on Wall Street, which kept him from Falling Down so he could play The Game, only to warn us that Money Never Sleeps.

[@chr970]

70s cops shows, when we were kids ratting around on banana bikes these intro themes raced through our minds.

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

The Streets of San Francisco A Quinn Martin Production Starring Karl Malden Also Starring Karl Malden's Nose Tonight's Episode: "Don't Leave Home Without It"

[@salvadormarley]

With special guest star - Lorne Greene

[@maryexstroughtonaire4244]

🤣

[@jeshkam]

@@salvadormarley And Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln.

[@jesusosuna1511]

😂😂😂😂. Memories.

[@birolsaltan6883]

😊👌

[@oznerriznick2474]

I played trumpet in the stage band in junior high back in the 70's. The band that played this tune performed at Westminster College in Salt Lake. My buddy and I got a front row seat when they played it. Knocked our socks off!!

[@PinkParty596]

that was my favorite show as a child, Patrick Williams, and Lalo Schifrin as another master of film music, I still listen to it a lot today, just timeless ...

[@gregsimmons3323]

One of the all-time great TV themes!

[@vladibarrosa6206]

OMG, grew up watching this show and to this day it‘s still one of my all-time favs. Got all season son dvd. Just the title theme would blow you away.

[@sarahthomas2506]

The beautiful Brenda Sykes! Love this show!

[@Wolfie66]

This brings back memories! My dad watched this show. 70s shows had the most badass themes!

[@winnhill3736]

My mom and I watched it together.We both loved it!😊

[@jamiewillkner8742]

1970s Cop Shows are the greatest form of entertainment!

[@dancastro4732]

Agreed. Adam 12 was good too

[@dancastro4732]

EMERGENCY! and Starsky and Hutch as well

[@jessesands4099]

Ain't that the absolute truth mate!

[@rockintetster]

The 70’s were the pinnacle of TV. First decade of everything in color. The media was still young enough to be fresh, but mature enough to condescend the stereo types of earlier decades. It all went downhill in the 80s, and it has continued!

[@massimoferrara8107]

​@Gordon Shumway even because nowdays, there aren't theme songs at all...

[@outrigger8151]

I love SF ,I went there from the UK and saw all things that featured in this fab programme that I loved as a 14 yr old.Brilliant.

[@praydotell3634]

After some research I found it was written and performed by the 'Don Randi Trio' but couldn't find any record or tape of it. Great piece of funky jazz!

[@muziklvr7776]

70's era themes had THE best opening cuts ever produced in television history!

[@kendallrivers1119]

Man, this joint right here, SWAT, Vega$, Starsky & Hutch (seasons 1 and 2) Ironside, Quincy ME, The Rockford Files, Barney Miller, WKRP, Emergency, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Hawaii Five O, Kojak etc are the all time 70s bangers!

[@Markus_Andrew]

@@kendallrivers1119 Two more I'd add to that list are Search and Barnaby Jones.

[@kendallrivers1119]

@@Markus_Andrew Oh, yeah Barnaby Jones was great too! The show and theme were and are classic.

[@ianmilleris]

CHiPs Awesome in 🇬🇧 Our shows were so muted

[@Sweetboy2204]

Love this arrangement so Jazzy and funky! Got that real 70's groove going on there..

[@missvicviolin]

Carol Kaye on bass

[@MrBuckoP]

RIP Patrick Williams. Greatest music ever!

[@thedr.feelgood]

Unforgettable theme tune .... Just ace ! From the UK.

[@donnamoreno9750]

It was the bomb- from the US!

[@thema1998]

@@donnamoreno9750 You aren't wrong about this being the bomb! 💣 -Also from U.S.

[@karenlee3776]

One of THE funkiest theme songs ever. The band is tight as hell. That horn section. And give the drummer some too.🔥🎷🥁

[@justinsublett5880]

Absolutely badass. Imagine tuning in to ABC in the mid-70s and watching this kickin’ opening and music. I was born about a decade too late to see this on broadcast TV, but I saw reruns in the 80s and 90s. Possibly the best theme song and opening of any American TV show ever? It’s right up there. Iconic. Awesome. Gritty 1970s America, with all the Vietnam and Watergate-era angst and nastiness. Things haven’t changed all that much.

[@futuristicconcepts1257]

Sounds like Tower Of Power. One of THE funkiest bands in existence!! And straight props to the guitarist who was working that pedal. Outtasight man!! I did some research...Henry Mancini attempted to do the theme but it was a cat named Patrick Williams who was successful at doing it. And dude was leading an orchestra doing it!! Well folks, it's now official, white people, not all but a lot, DO have soul. My respect is given. My mind is blown!! An old white man came out with one of the funkiest themes that ever was!! Vanilla Soul. Funky man, funky!! Black and White. Funkalicious and qualified!! And people, since we all have the power to groove and do it so well, the next time you meet a racist be he or she black or white give em the universal peace sign. One middle finger under a groove. Can you dig it?

[@patrickjamessimpson7268]

these classic themes just show how good tv was back then. original programming not the rubbish you have today

[@kariebeez]

I grew up listening to jazz because my parents were fans of the genre but I embraced and loved soul & r&b from when I was a little kid. Jazz taught me to appreciate real musicianship as did soul and r&b music. I remember this theme song because it was one I listened to during the era. The walking bass, the horns, and drums are exceptional; incredible musicians.

[@philipmendisco6656]

Same with Barney Miller theme

[@TheBerkeleyBeauty]

This was so bad ass when I was a kid. This and Starski and Hutch.

[@Twister051]

One of the BEST TV show theme songs E-V-E-R!!!!

[@GETole]

The show title takes on a whole new meaning these days. "Watch where you step!"

[@pasqualecoco2206]

Could not agree more frisco21, used to watch it with my dad as a kid, as well as Starsky and Hutch and other shows like The Rockford Files.... kids of today have no idea how good those shows were!

[@kariebeez]

Real music! Real and talented musicians! Any listener with a discerning taste in music in all genres recognizes that the best music has already been recorded and that includes this theme song by Patrick Williams. And the horns and bass! Real music!

[@alanmorris7669]

"The Streets Of San Francisco" and "Mannix" were my favorite detective shows when I was a kid.

[@daveb6214]

Brings back great memories watching this with my mom and dad. Godspeed dad and mom , meet you further down the road, till then Love and miss you both

[@zeitmensch5428]

Was für ein Sound. Wie gerne habe ich mir das in meiner Kindheit angesehen. Ich wollte auch so werden wie diese beiden...

[@jim6820]

May the great Karl Malden R.I.P. Passed away 7/1/2009 age 97 from natural causes. Quite a career he had. Was married to his wife Mona Greenberg 4 nearly 71yrs. One ☝️ of the longest marriages in Hollywood history.

[@dancastro4732]

That's unheard of in Hollywood today. Most celeb marriages don't last long today

[@troy9477]

Role model. He was a great actor. As Gabriel Byrne famously said, portraying D'Artagnan, "I believe it is possible for a man to love one woman all his life, and be the better for it". Very true

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

If Malden had been handsome he'd have been one of the great legendary leading men. He delivered in every role, and he was in so many different and great ones.

[@jim6820]

@@dancastro4732 the late James Garner of The Rockford Files fame was married to his wife for nearly 57yrs b4 he passed away.

[@markharris2051]

Whenever I crossed the Bay Bridge from Oakland to "The City", this theme ran through my mind.

[@SubidubidubiDu1]

and for me it's Scarborough Fair, probably because of The Graduate scene :)

[@culttelevision]

Totally and how disappointing that you don't arrive in 1970s San Francisco when you get there. Gutted!

[@tremayne3]

Exactly same thing happens to us when we're about to enter the Bay Bridge....

[@Steadyrock100]

Mine too....keeps my day going!!!

[@electricgemini8868]

The wah guitar on this is evil. And so in sync with the bass and drums - a real rhythm section basically. When everything was HIGH up in the mix and mixed dry for mono Tv. I believe this was Tom Scott on the Sax, who wrote the best Starsky and Hutch theme a few years later -"Gotcha"

[@louisescanlon7478]

Hi there . Thank you so much for putting this on youtube. We usto watch yhid ehen we wete first married. We wete 21 years old.that was a lifetime ago. But when i hear this theme music. Its like im right back there. 42 years ago. Thank you so much. 🤗⚘

[@tore28]

Yes, the intro is definately cool and funky.

[@LPMAN02]

RIP Karl Malden (March 22, 1912 - July 1, 2009), aged 97 You will always be remembered as a legend.

[@prowelderbill]

Quality tv who couldn't like it ,grew up to it.

[@doorswhofan]

I know a guy who was living and working in SF in 1974, and one day on lunch break walked down to a local park -- and there was Michael Douglas...on lunch break from filming a sequence of the latest Streets episode. They shot the breeze -- mostly small talk -- for about an hour. No one else came into the park during that whole time, they were pretty much alone. At the end, they shook hands, nice to meet you, good talking and all that. My buddy worked in a local small corner grocery store, and simply walked back to work. As you might expect, the two of them never met or saw each other again, but I told my buddy (Luke is his name) that I wondered that if they ever did meet again, if Douglas would remember that day and that conversation also. Probably not, but who knows?

[@javiervarela1231]

Absolutely loved the shows' intro theme, which was most evident in "the 30-year pin" episode. The voice over really grabbed you in the opening credits!

[@culttelevision]

Someone needs to bring back EVIL , DIRTY Wah riffs like this. The guitar is so high up in the mix for mono tv play - i think this is why this era of theme was so funky. Bass and drums kicked up high too . But the 2 long wah bend runs before it goes into the main verse drum fill and just before the end of the main title are simply pure filth.... A Quinn Martin production all right! I heard that it was Peter "The Monkees" Tork who played the guitar on this session.

[@Kelly14UK]

I hate digitalised music. Sterile.

[@DeejvilleTV]

Just found out 808 State interpolated this for their 1991 track "San Francisco".

[@kevingreen2400]

Got that funkier than day old gym sock funk to it

[@malikmcclain7869]

Great LA session men,Wah Wah Watson, Lee Ridenour and later, Dennis Coffey.Lots of the television shows went to first call studio musicians who many went unnamed or uncredited for contractual reasons, but they were top flight, believe it!!

[@ivyrivera8081]

never watched the show as a little girl in the 70's but i love it now. Thank you Quinn Martin!

[@charliecollard6433]

Great Theme and shots of the city , brings back good times what a super show....

[@anthonyrivera557]

Bad ass introduction of all times. The music is off the charts bad ass.

[@tomsanchez993]

This and Starsky & Hutch theme songs seemed so “tough” to me. Love the 70s shows which truly highlighted the cities they lived in. Again, so very 70s. Wonderful!

[@jessesands4099]

Great show my late dad loved this show!

[@keyopronin4134]

Pure Jazz Funk at it's best, 70's tv shows & intros were are great, we'll never have this again.

[@wdh47211]

I like it better with the voice over....it just adds to it all.

[@inversion66]

"Tonight's episode, The Missing Voice Over."

[@cynthialyman2636]

A Quinn Martin production.

[@Airsoftcleaner]

That was A Quinn Martin Production Trademark be it The FBI ,Cannon, Barnaby Jones, I just don't recall The Fugitive having The Voice Over

[@artytoons]

Hank Simms as the announcer for The Streets of SF (and other 70s Quinn Martin shows)

[@rositawest4279]

Yes!

[@andreapatane4204]

My parents and I watch this show every Saturday night for dinner at home. Boy, this show makes everyone feel young again before the 🌎 went 🥜.

[@skdinterceptor2828]

One of the best tv shows in the 70s......i was a kid then, still enjoy watching all the Quinn Martin productions today in my early 50s.

[@apachence]

wow...never heard this growing up. Amazing..might be my new favorite!

[@rosslarsen6144]

Everything about this rocks. Great jammy bass, clavinet, blasting horn section. Da- da da da DAAAA

[@danwinslow9379]

I've got the complete DVD series and this theme song never gets old

[@bmasters1981]

Me too-- this show was one of the best of the 70s, IMO (others being Emergency! and The Bob Newhart Show).

[@lupiniii7025]

@@bmasters1981 Wow! 121 episodes! They just show here it on TV. I had to record them.

[@wrotedog]

@@bmasters1981 I agree, those opening theme songs make me a kid again...

[@tinotse2007]

Missed hearing these tv music themes. Brings back Memories as a toddler

[@markporter8196]

Theme songs from this era was so freaking good. Set you in the mood to sit down and watch TV when television was great.

[@jjryan1352]

Seen every episode. This is my ringtone.

[@garyroberts1496]

Good n mate

[@Sam-jp3sy]

Best theme music EVER.

[@tiapanda8824]

I agree with you mate

[@muziklvr7776]

I've had both Pat Williams and Henry Mancini's version of this tune on constant rotation since I downloaded them from Napster 21 years ago. Supreme musicianship!

[@louisescanlon7478]

Hi there. Thank you so much for putting this on youtube.we usto watch this when we were first married. We were 21 years of age. That was 42 years ago. When we hear this theme tume. It brings us right back. It seems like another life time ago. Thank you for sharing. Xc🤗🤗⚘

[@davidpiscopo3774]

I remember as a young teen always getting pumped for the show when this song came on. One great tune!

[@helenakatic1690]

I'm totally retro and I'm proud of it

[@jacqw1515]

i LOVED THE THEME from this show-and for seeing the episodes rebooted on the vintage channels, i can reminisce of those SF spots-now long gone (tear downs, not retro-fitted, etc)

[@studiobencivengamarcusbenc5272]

After all these years it gives me shivers - this is major funk

[@sarahthomas5405]

I have some of these seasons on dvds. I love the San Francisco sceneries. They were all around the city.

[@juerv1]

Great Theme and phantastic cast. Karl Malden, the great experienced actor, and Michael Douglas, the coming superstar, made a phantastic team.

[@citizenterryk]

back when Michael Douglas was known primarily as Kirk Douglas's son......

[@rdcruiser4396]

Cuando era niño enloquecía al escuchar el intro de esta serie;al igual que con Baretta y Starsky and Hutch. Con los años supe que se llamaba Funk. De esos años se transformó en mi música favorita,junto con el blues y el Jazz Funk y el Jazz Rock.

[@U2QuoZepplin]

How is it possible that this show had such a totally bangin’ theme tune yet it was just another cop show. Okay so a lot of cop shows have brilliant title music but this one is special!

[@fernmann7]

It wasn’t. Malden and Douglas had great chemistry and SF is the bomb for a location.

[@The1baddman]

Rest In Peace Mr Patrick Williams (Composer).

[@brianfurry13]

Best times of my childhood life. Right after the show was over our asses went to bed! Lol

[@cynthialyman2636]

I think half the time I was in BEFORE it.

[@pelhamonetwothree1239]

Linda Smellycunt THAT BE ON A DIFFERENT STREET

[@deejo1823]

hehe

[@mammaboy1]

I used to remember every early morning waking up to this watching in the early 90 a loved the show

[@RideAlongAdventures]

This song still totally rocks. Awesome.

[@thinblueline1903]

Awesome Drums ! Very tuff arrangement.

[@zepptar]

Every time I visit San Francisco I drive around town with my windows down and blare this theme song.

[@tremayne3]

I do exactly the same...especially when crossing the Bay Bridge ....

[@frankoi7022]

This is cool indeed, I will remember that when coming to S.Francisco!

[@illegalquantity]

*zepptar* You're a lucky man. I, as a European, took a walk on the Golden Gate on Google Maps. That was cool :)

[@RayfieldA]

When they recreated a young Michael Douglas running down the hallway in Avenger's End Game, I might be wrong but I felt that was a nod to the running scenes he did in this show.

[@Galivantin]

Ah, those were the days, I used to love the show. :-)

[@lucluc9541]

I was a teen and a Fan ...From France

[@transitdude3352]

Roscoe lee Browne was the Samuel l. Jackson of the day! He was in everything!

[@sandrasanders706]

Sure was..one of the great voices along with James Earl Jones, Richard Baseheart, and Lorene Grene..

[@kendallrivers1119]

Same with Lou Gosset Jr in the 80s and Michael Beach in the 90s lol just amazing character actors.

[@wendywoo2180]

I remember Roscoe in various TV episodes, also from the John Wayne movie, "The Cowboys," as Mr. Nightlinger, the cook. Wonderful actor, a class act, passing away in 2007. He served in WW2, was a competitive athlete--running--a teacher at Lincoln college (French, English, Comparative Literature) and a wine connoiseur/salesman. Quite the Renaissance man!

[@ericjamieson]

As a kid I'd tune into this show just for the kickass theme music. I'd usually get bored and turn it off after 10 minutes or so. But that theme song is one of the heaviest ever.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Tonight’s episode: Poop on the Sidewalk

[@m.a.nathaniel7660]

Smokin' big band! Fantastic!

[@dinomate01]

Wow !! Great quality :) I loved this show and it had a great theme ! Thanks for posting it complete !

[@frankzito1660]

Great great show...one of the best hour long cop shows ever

[@oswaldullman2145]

Soooo cool. Just played the theme 19 times. I ain't kidding.

[@thefurrybastard1964]

Back then, they made memorable TV themes. Today the majority of tv themes are instantly forgettable.

[@slapshot1971109]

Very few shows even have a theme today. Most of them just put up a title screen after the first scene and go straight to commercial break afterwards.

[@g-plan9future204]

Loved this series.great memorys

[@ianbell7342]

loved this programme fantastic music

[@ABB-bw6tc]

Mum used to love this in the 1970s