Been searching for this-a different sensibility and vibe from another era (I’m 62). I remember when they announced it would no longer be heard, so they played the entire theme as “farewell”. At the risk of being nostalgic I still think we’ve lost something we may never get back. Thx so very much for posting.👌
You're correct. This music, the orchestrated sound, defined an era. I would imagine every generation thinks the same about their own music, but I'm thankful this is the music I grew to love.
I can't tell you how many times I was late for school, only because I wanted to hear this at the end of the Today Show. Was not a jazz fan, but this just struck me.
I totally understand. It's hard to put in words, but it defined an era I've never been able to shake. The violin and orchestral arrangements did it for me. I'm a jazz fan, always have been, but the song Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell, had/has the same type of effect on me. The power of cross-over music!
every day when I was in high school I wouldn't leave for school until I heard at least a portion of this theme--amazing how incredibly talented Ray Ellis was to compose this and get all the musicians "on board" to produce this sound-I would have loved to have been in the recording studio to watch this being made
I remember this tune. As a kid, I would often delay my walk to grade school just to listen to this piece of music at the end of the first hour of Friday broadcasts. Ray Ellis was a fantastic musician. So much of the soundtrack of my childhood is filled with his compositions like this and his pieces for Filmation.
What an orchestra!! What an arrangement. Music like this is long gone as are the musicians who played it. Only the memory lingers. Thank you for posting this gem!
Like many others commenting, I encountered this back when I was still in school and it stayed with me all these years. This is just a wonderful arrangement. The bass and piano fills at the start are simply sublime, understated and perfect. Then the Basie brass section kicks in with a bang. I was not overly thrilled with the string parts the first few times listened, but with time I see they provide a flow that is a counterpoint to the swing parts. I wish I could hear a talented band perform this live. Thanks for the post!
THE TODAY SHOW: IN LOVING MEMORY OF BARBARA WALTERS- HOST OF TODAY FROM 1964-1976. DIED ON FRIDAY EVENING AT THE AGE OF 93. NBC EXTENDS ITS CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY. She’ll be truly missed. Kenneth Huang 12/31/22.
I listen to your post of this at least once a day, but more often than not I listen to it about 5 times a day. It has to be my favorite instrumental TV theme and as a lover of TV theme music, that says a lot. I can't thank you enough for posting it. It's pure magic to me.
A million thanks for posting this! I remember as a kid of 13 watching the Today Show and loving this music. I particularly recall that was the time of NBC's 50th Anniversary in November of 1976. A great time for a kid like me who was so interested in early TV and radio history. Thanks for the great memories!
I always that this a great theme. They should have used much longer than they did. I've remembered it since 1975 and just thought to see if anyone had it . I'm amazed. Thank you. I just love it.
Today would slowly run the names of the people who work on the show every Friday. I can never forget Tom Brokaw saying: This is Today on NBC.(Long Credits Roll) Kenneth A Huang 8/28/2022
Sadly, they can’t. Stephen Schwartz sued NBC claiming the music was too similar to his song Day by Day from Godspell. He won and NBC agreed to never play Ray Ellis’s closing theme again.
I have been looking for this for some time - I was a child when this was used - and yes this time stuck in my head since I first heard it. There is a Xmas version as well. Thanks for posting
This doesn't make me think of waking up in a good mood at all. This makes me think of stumbling home from a party at 3am---the sidewalks are lonely and I'm fumbling to find the keys to unlock the door of my apartment. I trip over the cat lying in the floor---that's when the horns freak out
Loved this too....I seem to remember why they changed the music was due to a complaint from the people who wrote 'Day by day' in GODSPELL who claimed it ripped off their melody.
Sadly, the courts agreed with them (even though it bears no resemblance to "Day By Day"), and Ellis was forced to write new music... which, frankly, wasn't as good.
The courts got it right. For the longest of time, seriously thought it was "Day by Day" from Godspell. To think otherwise is simply being in denial of the obvious.
Standing next to Gene Shalit is Lew Wood (he was the newscaster)--sitting in front of Mr. Shalit is Barbara Walters (ultimately she left in 1976 to go to ABC)--and to her right is Jim Hartz
Too bad that this theme copied “Day by Day.” Wish there was some way they could have used it for a longer time. Also surprised that it took the publishers of “Day by Day” so long to sue 😂
So vibrant, so rich, so lush 🎵🎺🎻
Exactly
Been searching for this-a different sensibility and vibe from another era (I’m 62). I remember when they announced it would no longer be heard, so they played the entire theme as “farewell”. At the risk of being nostalgic I still think we’ve lost something we may never get back. Thx so very much for posting.👌
You're correct. This music, the orchestrated sound, defined an era. I would imagine every generation thinks the same about their own music, but I'm thankful this is the music I grew to love.
Some idiot decided this was plagiarized from the song day by day…
I can't tell you how many times I was late for school, only because I wanted to hear this at the end of the Today Show. Was not a jazz fan, but this just struck me.
Me too
me three. a gay boys dream of class!
I totally understand. It's hard to put in words, but it defined an era I've never been able to shake. The violin and orchestral arrangements did it for me. I'm a jazz fan, always have been, but the song Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell, had/has the same type of effect on me. The power of cross-over music!
every day when I was in high school I wouldn't leave for school until I heard at least a portion of this theme--amazing how incredibly talented Ray Ellis was to compose this and get all the musicians "on board" to produce this sound-I would have loved to have been in the recording studio to watch this being made
Me to. I graduated from high school in 1976. I loved that jazzy sound even as an 18 year old.
I remember this tune. As a kid, I would often delay my walk to grade school just to listen to this piece of music at the end of the first hour of Friday broadcasts. Ray Ellis was a fantastic musician. So much of the soundtrack of my childhood is filled with his compositions like this and his pieces for Filmation.
Ray Ellis and his band did the theme song and all the great music for the old, mid-1960’s Spider-Man animated series, too
What an orchestra!! What an arrangement. Music like this is long gone as are the musicians who played it. Only the memory lingers. Thank you for posting this gem!
Well stated William. This was an amazing arrangement.
Unfortunately the writers of day by day sued that this was plagiarism and won
Jim Hartz passed away, recently, April 14, 2022. He was my Classmate at Tulsa Central HS, class of 1958. He had a long careeer with NBC.
Rest in peace, Jim Hartz.
I remember reading a story he wrote in Reader's Digest of flying in an SR-71. Color me envious.
Classy and sophisticated theme to a once classy and sophisticated program.
The key word is "once"!
Once. It is a train wreck crossed with a dumpster fire now. The clown running CNN now (Zucker) ruined Today.
From J. Fred Muggs to Matt Lauer: how the mighty have fallen!
I concur.
@@Attmay At least the NBC bigwigs summoned up the courage to fire Lauer.
Pure nostalgia speaks for itself... and this _Today Show_ theme is no exception!
Like many others commenting, I encountered this back when I was still in school and it stayed with me all these years. This is just a wonderful arrangement. The bass and piano fills at the start are simply sublime, understated and perfect. Then the Basie brass section kicks in with a bang. I was not overly thrilled with the string parts the first few times listened, but with time I see they provide a flow that is a counterpoint to the swing parts. I wish I could hear a talented band perform this live. Thanks for the post!
This is what music should sound like!!!!!!!!
This song has stuck in my brain since I was a child--thank you so much for finding it! The arrangement by Ray Ellis is phenomenal.
I do remember listening to this classic song my high school freshman year 75-76. 🎶
I haven't heard the full version and this quality since it aired. Better than I remember. Thanks for posting.
THE TODAY SHOW: IN LOVING MEMORY OF BARBARA WALTERS- HOST OF TODAY FROM 1964-1976. DIED ON FRIDAY EVENING AT THE AGE OF 93. NBC EXTENDS ITS CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY. She’ll be truly missed.
Kenneth Huang 12/31/22.
Very special thanks, again, to the individual who passed along this gem!
Cathode Ray 60 thanks so much I love this song !!
I listen to your post of this at least once a day, but more often than not I listen to it about 5 times a day. It has to be my favorite instrumental TV theme and as a lover of TV theme music, that says a lot. I can't thank you enough for posting it. It's pure magic to me.
I never knew the credits were so hip.
A million thanks for posting this! I remember as a kid of 13 watching the Today Show and loving this music. I particularly recall that was the time of NBC's 50th Anniversary in November of 1976. A great time for a kid like me who was so interested in early TV and radio history. Thanks for the great memories!
That when I was nine years old that song stuck in head couldn't figure out why or what is was till now.
“And now we’d like to show you the names of the people who make this show possible”
On a Friday morning....
In memory of Barbara Walters. Thanks for the memories.
I always that this a great theme. They should have used much longer than they did. I've remembered it since 1975 and just thought to see if anyone had it . I'm amazed. Thank you. I just love it.
Wonderful memory from my childhood
Thanks so much for posting. Brings back a ton of good memories--Television at its best!
The producer would put a camera on a Manhattan Street corner some Fridays for the credits roll. It was the Best!
“Our NBC News minicam is looking live at 49th Street in Manhattan…”
Un-freaking-believable! This is awesome!
No TV network boss presently would allow anything longer than 10.3 seconds. Let alone the 3 minutes 10 seconds this took up.
Today would slowly run the names of the people who work on the show every Friday. I can never forget Tom Brokaw saying: This is Today on NBC.(Long Credits Roll)
Kenneth A Huang 8/28/2022
Great score, great years for Today.
THIS ABSOLUTELY PRICELESS!!!!!
Great Today Show score, remember it well. Thanks for posting.
I love big band music.. thought at first it was Count Basie.. Ray Ellis.. still great.
Your ears are correct, sir. Ray Ellis wrote the score and the Count Basie Orchestra performed. A timeless classic!
Outstanding!
This is TODAY Composed by Ray Ellis
TODAY (C) 1952-2023. National Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved.
Kenneth Huang 1/4/23.
I loved the Christmas variation of this theme that they played in December
Me too
They should bring it back. Why not? Great music is great music.
Sadly, they can’t. Stephen Schwartz sued NBC claiming the music was too similar to his song Day by Day from Godspell. He won and NBC agreed to never play Ray Ellis’s closing theme again.
@@markschildberg1667 Hmm...it is very similar I have to say. Sad.
@@markschildberg1667 It is! l can hear it!
I have been looking for this for some time - I was a child when this was used - and yes this time stuck in my head since I first heard it. There is a Xmas version as well. Thanks for posting
This son stuck in my head for over 50 years. An amazing arrangement.
"NBC News produced this program and is solely responsible for this content".
This doesn't make me think of waking up in a good mood at all. This makes me think of stumbling home from a party at 3am---the sidewalks are lonely and I'm fumbling to find the keys to unlock the door of my apartment. I trip over the cat lying in the floor---that's when the horns freak out
Loved this too....I seem to remember why they changed the music was due to a complaint from the people who wrote 'Day by day' in GODSPELL who claimed it ripped off their melody.
Sadly, the courts agreed with them (even though it bears no resemblance to "Day By Day"), and Ellis was forced to write new music... which, frankly, wasn't as good.
The courts got it right. For the longest of time, seriously thought it was "Day by Day" from Godspell. To think otherwise is simply being in denial of the obvious.
@@lsmftymf Good job stating opinion as if it were fact.
Great music from the past - REALLY appreciate your posting it!
This is the one that some said was similar to Day by Day from Godspell .
I love this! Thanks for posting.
I've been looking for this for a long time! This is Today on NBC!
Found this years ago as a Real Audio file, converted it to MP3. This is a much better copy.
One other version which I’ve never heard is the one which probably preceded this done by the Modern Jazz Quartet
Here it is - entitled "Home": th-cam.com/video/SHouI7c79s8/w-d-xo.html
I like the bumper music going to break when they say, “ This is Today.”
"This is Today...on NBC."
AWESOME
I remember this theme...I think I was 9 or 10.
Someone from Godspell.
@@steveprestegard5151 I think you responded to the wrong comment.
For me, it was cartoons instead of Today. I don't think my parents watched Today. My mom watched Good Morning America for years.
Okay -- what asshat voted this down? Some people just have to be contrarian.
I think Steve Prestegard said "Someone from 'Godspell.'"
I recognize Gene Shalit, but who are the others?
Standing next to Gene Shalit is Lew Wood (he was the newscaster)--sitting in front of Mr. Shalit is Barbara Walters (ultimately she left in 1976 to go to ABC)--and to her right is Jim Hartz
Lew Wood!
From an era long before a couple of lousy drunk women took over and pathetically tried to make perpetual inebriation seem cool.
WHO WILL JOIN JENNA BUSH HAGER WHEN HODA LEAVES THE 4TH HOUR OF TODAY IN EARLY 2025?
Kenneth Huang. 10/01/24.
guest hosts?
Too bad that this theme copied “Day by Day.” Wish there was some way they could have used it for a longer time. Also surprised that it took the publishers of “Day by Day” so long to sue 😂
To me it doesn't sound at all like Day By Day except for one short sequence of notes, but then it goes somewhere else entirely.