In an era gone by, TV series had theme songs that were as familiar as the characters themselves. With titles and lyrics crafted specifically for the show, these theme songs often provided a snapshot of the show’s overarching theme.
During the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, many beloved TV theme songs had extended versions featured on singers’ albums or even received airplay on the radio. The opening credits, accompanied by these theme songs, usually spanned up to a minute, introducing both the characters and the actors portraying them
Here are some of the most popular TV theme songs you likely know by heart and a few fun facts about each. (And here are some of the most popular movie soundtracks of all time.)
The Jeffersons: “Movin’ on Up”
LOS ANGELES - CIRCA 1977: The cast of the TV sitcom The Jeffersons (L-R Berlinda Tolbert, Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford, Franklin Cover, Roxie Roker and Marla Gibbs (seated)) circa 1977 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
- Composed and sung by Ja’Net DuBois
- Ja’Net DuBois played Willona Woods on “Good Times”
- Listen to “The Jeffersons” theme song here
The Facts of Life: “The Facts of Life”
Cast members from the television series The Facts of Life stand around a piano, circa 1987. (L-R front) Kim Fields, MacKenzie Astin and Cloris Leachman. (L-R rear) Lisa Welchel, Nancy McKeon and Mindy Cohn. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
- Co-written by Alan Thicke, who played Mike Seaver on “Growing Pains”
- Sung by Gloria Loring, Thicke’s wife and an actor who played Liz Chandler on “Days of Our Lives”
- Listen to “The Facts of Life” here
The Brady Bunch: “The Brady Bunch”
Young cast members of the television series, The Brady Bunch pose with a cake celebrating the show's 100th episode, circa 1973. (L-R): Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Barry Williams and Mike Lookinland (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
- Written by “The Brady Bunch” creator Sherwood Schwartz
- Composed by Frank De Vol, an actor and composer
- Season 1’s theme song was sung by John Beland, Paul Parrish and Lois Fletcher
- The remaining seasons were sung by the actors who played the Brady children
- Listen to “The Brady Bunch” theme song here
Family Ties: “Without Us”
- The first 10 episodes, the theme song was sung by Dennis Rufano and Mindy Sterling
- For the remaining episodes, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams performed it
- Composed by Jeff Barry and Tom Scott
- Listen to “Without Us” here
Silver Spoons: “Together”
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 01: (L-R) Actors Erin Gray, Ricky Schroder, and John Higgins attend The Friars Club: So You Think You Can Roast? Celebrating Ricky Schroder at New York Friars Club on March 1, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
- Written by Bob Wirth and Rik Howard
- Three versions of the song were used throughout the show’s run
- Two of the versions were sung by Ron Dante, lead singer of cartoon band The Archies
- Listen to “Together” here
Gilligan’s Island: “The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island”
The cast of the television comedy series, Gilligan's Island, which ran from 1964-1967, listens to a short wave radio outdoors in a promotional portrait. L-R: Actors Russell Johnson, Alan Hale Jr., Dawn Wells, Bob Denver, Tina Louise, Jim Backus, and Natalie Schafer. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
- Music and lyrics were written by Sherwood Schwartz and George Wyle, who co-wrote “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” with Andy Williams
- There were three versions of the theme song
- Listen to the “Gilligan’s Island” theme song here
Lavergne & Shirley: “Making Our Dreams Come True”
American actors Penny Marshall (L) and Cindy Williams lean towards each other while standing on either side of a ladder in a promotional portrait for the TV show, 'Laverne & Shirley.' (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
- Widely considered a female empowerment song
- Charles Fox and the late lyricist Norman Gimbel (“The Girl from Ipanema”)
- Performed by Cyndi Grecco, a singer at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park
- Listen to the theme song here
One Day at a Time: “This is It”
NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 2: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actresses Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin and Mackenzie Phillips arrive at the CBS At 75 celebration at the Hammerstein Ballroom November 2, 2003 in New York City. This special event commemorates CBS Network's 75th anniversary. (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
- Composed by husband/wife duo Jeff and Nancy Barry
- Performed by Polly Cutter
- Listen to “This is It”
Three’s Company: “Come and Knock on Our Door”
(L-R) American actors Joyce DeWitt, John Ritter (1948 - 2003) and Suzanne Somers in a full-length promotional portrait for the television series, Three's Company, 1979. (Photo by ABC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
- Written by Don Nicholl, an executive producer on the show
- Composed by Joe Raposo, who also composed the “Sesame Street” theme song
- Performed by Ray Charles and Julia Rinker
- Listen to “Come and Knock on Our Door”
The Love Boat: “The Love Boat”
American actor Gavin MacLeod (1931-2021), American actor Ted Lange, American actress Jill Whelan, American actor Fred Grandy, and American actor Bernie Kopell, all cast members of ABC drama The Love Boat, September 1984. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
- Sung by Jack Jones, a Grammy Award-winning singer, for the first eight seasons
- Dionne Warwick sang the theme song for the ninth season
- Listen to “The Love Boat” theme song
Welcome Back, Kotter: “Welcome Back”
American actor John Travolta (left) looks up at colleague, compatriot, and professional poker player Gabe Kaplan, as he he shows him what is written on his leg during an episode of the ABC Television situation comedy, late 1970s. (Photo by ABC Television courtesy of Getty Images)
- Written and sung by John Sebastian of Lovin’ Spoonful
- Was Billboard’s #1 song in the country in May 1976
- Listen to “Welcome Back”
Happy Days: “Happy Days” / “Rock Around the Clock”
Clockwise from top left, American actors Ron Howard, Anson Williams, Tom Bosley and Marion Ross, the stars of the television sitcom Happy Days, circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
- “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley and the Comets was used for the first two seasons’ opening credits
- “Happy Days” was used only for the closing credits for the first two seasons before being used for both in season 3 and beyond
- “Happy Days” was written by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel, who also wrote “Killing Me Softly With His Song”
- Originally sung by Jim Haas
- Listen to the “Happy Days” theme song here
Diff’rent Strokes: “It Takes Diff’rent Strokes”
American actors Todd Bridges (L) and Gary Coleman flank Canadian actor Conrad Bain as they pose for a publicity photo for the NBC television series 'Diff'rent Strokes, 1978. (Photo by NBC TV/Getty Images)
- Written by Alan Thicke, Gloria Loring and Al Burton
- Performed by Alan Thicke
- Listen to the theme song of “Diff’rent Strokes”
Alice: “There’s a New Girl in Town”
- Written by David Shire and Marilyn Bergman, who also wrote the lyrics for the “Maude” and “Good Times” theme songs
- Sung by Linda Lavin, who played Alice on the series
- The lyrics changed twice during the show’s nine seasons
- Listen to the “Alice” theme song
The Dukes of Hazzard: “Good Ol’ Boys”
1997 John Schneider, Stella Stevens, Tom Wopat from the Dukes of Hazzard Reunion
- Written and performed by country music legend Waylon Jennings
- Was #1 on Billboard’s country singles chart for 17 weeks in 1980
- Sold 1 million ringtone versions following the release of The Dukes of Hazzard movie starring Johnny Knoxville
- Listen to “Good Ol’ Boys” here
Growing Pains: “As Long as We Got Each Other”
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: (L-R) The cast of Growing Pains, Jeremy Miller, Tracey Gold, Alan Thicke and Kirk Cameron arrives at the AOL and Warner Bros. Launch of In2TV at the Museum of TV & Radio on March 15, 2006 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
- Composed by Steve Dorff and John Bettis
- Season 1’s version was performed by B.J. Thomas
- Season 2 and later was a duet with Thomas and Jennifer Warnes
- A full-length version was later released and performed by Thomas and Dusty Springfield
- Listen to the “Growing Pains” theme song
Cheers: “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”
Promotional portrait of American actors Ted Danson and Shelley Long from the TV series, 'Cheers,' 1982. (Photo by NBC Television/Getty Images)
- Co-written by Judy Hart-Angelo and Gary Portnoy
- Performed by Portnoy, who was paid just $150 to do so
- He now lives off the residuals, which he receives for every time it’s played
- Listen to the “Cheers” theme song
Who’s the Boss: “Brand New Life”
- Written by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter
- Music composed by Larry Carlton and Robert Kraft
- Three versions were used throughout the show’s run
- Singers for each of the three versions were Larry Weiss, Steve Wariner and Jonathan Wolff, who created the “Seinfeld” theme song
- Listen to “Brand New Life”