3. BBC Grandstand (1958)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLHMxFGqhIs Alongside BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Grandstand was one of the longest Sport's programmes ever produced (and ever likely to be produced) for a UK audience. It was a typical fixture on television and gave you an updated results and reports sheet from most sporting events happening across Britain on any given weekend. In October 1975 the show introduced it's most famous theme, that of Keith Mansfield and his "xylophone rapping" - the same man who produced "Funky Fanfare" that was featured heavily in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. There's not much more I can say about this tune, because it's likely to be the most instantly recognizable piece of music on this list, some of you might even be surprised the show has been off the air for almost seven years now as it really did feel like a piece of the furniture. In 1999 a re-recorded version of the tune was introduced but then later scrapped due to complaint letters directed at the BBC - which just shows how passionate people felt about it.
Wayne Madden
Contributor
First studied Journalism in Ireland in 2003, returning to Sunderland University on the tenth anniversary of my first studies in the subject to continue towards an MA. Interested in all sorts including WWE, Music, Film, TV and Games. Has travelled around a bit to places like California, Ontario and Mexico and plans to do more of the same soon again.
Recently I've been writing pieces on my favourite topics which have included obscure theme music from nostalgic shows, Guns N' Roses and a few other surprises I'll be happy to share in time!
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Wayne