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Post by jblues on Jul 10, 2011 9:43:07 GMT -5
I was listening to 1972 today on CKDK and heard the original AT40 theme, hadn't heard it in a while, I usually listen to the 80s, with the "classic" theme (as I call the 80s one, anyway.)
I wondered why there is a meowing cat in the early 70s theme. Is there a significance to it?
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 10, 2011 9:56:40 GMT -5
I always thought it was Casey crying about something ;-D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2011 10:34:31 GMT -5
I always though if an animal would indentify AT40, that animal would be a cat.
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Post by vto66 on Jul 10, 2011 13:14:32 GMT -5
Upon hearing the original AT40 theme, I always thought that sound near the beginning sounded like a baby crying. Maybe that baby was crying for joy over the start of another exciting episode of "American Top 40"? Just a thought.
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 10, 2011 18:43:32 GMT -5
That or maybe it was Casey sitting down on a tack in his chair?
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Post by jblues on Jul 11, 2011 17:05:35 GMT -5
Good answers. ;D
Does anyone know about this? Was it in Durkee or Pete's book...Pete?
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 11, 2011 18:24:15 GMT -5
Not that I remember reading about...
I'd still like a copy of the end of hour music (late 79-83) and the end of show/beginning of hour theme in full without any voiceovers.
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Post by tarobe on Jul 11, 2011 19:14:27 GMT -5
I always thought it sounded like a guitar lick to me. The whole thing was played on a Moog synthesizer.
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Post by jblues on Jul 16, 2011 16:32:46 GMT -5
Heard 1972 on XM today and they played a little of the "cats" theme, which reminded me that I never got my answer last week.
Pete/Rob (or anyone in the know) - Do you have information on that cat sound? Is it a cat, guitar lick, Casey meowing?!?!?
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Post by at40petebattistini on Jul 16, 2011 17:40:09 GMT -5
Pete/Rob (or anyone in the know) - Do you have information on that cat sound? Is it a cat, guitar lick, Casey meowing?!?!? >>>Next he will tell us that is his cat meowing in the original AT40 theme....<<< That's correct, jblues. It was my cat (Snuggles) that you hear meowing.  |
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Post by Michael on Jul 16, 2011 21:04:08 GMT -5
Pete/Rob (or anyone in the know) - Do you have information on that cat sound? Is it a cat, guitar lick, Casey meowing?!?!? >>>Next he will tell us that is his cat meowing in the original AT40 theme....<<< That's correct, jblues. It was my cat (Snuggles) that you hear meowing. I guess Casey can't escape pets name Snuggles. ;D |
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Post by at40petebattistini on Jul 18, 2011 10:44:57 GMT -5
jblues, just for you. Here's Casey's explanation of AT40's theme as a result of a listener letter. The text below was transcribed verbatim from the March 9, 1974 program...
"...Well now we're about to answer that letter from Rick Peabody, a disk jockey at KVOX, one of the AT40 stations in Moorhead, Minnesota. Rick wanted to know the story behind the American Top 40 theme music.
Well Rick, we've been using this theme for some time now so, to refresh our memory, we went straight to Jim Kirk, the composer. And here's what he told us. And we're quoting him.
'One Friday evening as I was leaving the studio, I was asked to write and play some synthesizer music for American Top 40. The catch was, it had to be recorded, mixed and ready to go by the following Monday. So all day Sunday I sat by the pool with a kiddie piano and a card table for my music writing. Monday morning we went into the studio, turned on our big, $11,000 Moog synthesizer,' (and I'm quoting him here), 'and began laying down one track at a time. First came the electronic drummer, then the bass part, followed by all the other parts, ending with the highest part -- the flute-like melody line. I remember trying to keep the Moog electronic feeling without getting too spacey. We were afraid of covering up the melody with a lot of electronic junk. Well besides the Moog, the other equipment was a multi-track tape recorder, and a variable speed oscillator for special effects. The whole process of doing one thing at a time was like putting together a giant puzzle. We didn't know what it would sound like 'til it was completed. Well, we made our deadline and I guess everyone's happy with it.' (unquote), Jim Kirk.
Jim, thanks for an interesting story, and you're right -- we are all happy with it. And Rick, thank you for a good question. Now, on with the countdown..."
One final thought. The reference to the "kiddie piano" may have actually been a "kitty piano" which, obviously could explain the cat meowing sound. ;D
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 18, 2011 11:31:28 GMT -5
Very interesting Pete, thank you! Now, can you dig up stories on other themes? Shuckatoom would be interesting as would the end of hour original theme and End Of hour from 1979 or so until 1983.
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Post by dukelightning on Jul 18, 2011 11:35:39 GMT -5
I liked the end of hour theme music from 1979 to 1983 as bme put it, more than any other theme music.
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Post by bestmusicexpert on Jul 18, 2011 11:38:39 GMT -5
I groove to it everytime I hear it. (If its played to the end)
I always imagine Casey bopping along to it in his seat....
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