From classic themes such as The Flinstones, The Muppet Show, The A-Team, Dallas, The Simpsons and Friends to contemporary themes like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The O.C., Lost, Dexter and The Wire this four CD set features the absolute very best of American television. Designed to create instant recognition from the viewer, the music presented on the album offers concise history and pays homage to the inspired writers and performers who conjured up mini magical masterpieces that live on, long after the programmes have faded...

100 Greatest American TV Themes is a four CD collection that aims to collect together some of the most beloved American TV show themes. Personally this is not an album I'd buy or want to listen to for pleasure. Not only do I generally find compilation albums rather tiresome, but I particularly detest them when they are not made up of the original recordings.

We only received 10 of the 100 tracks - which makes providing a fair review rather difficult. The theme to Cheers, Mork and Mindy and Lost sounded pretty good versions of the originals, but The Simpsons theme is a little disappointing (only because the voices that open it sound a little off).

While all three CSI shows are included plenty of much better shows are not. While Star Trek is included, what about Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or Voyager? (although to be fair they might all be included under the same track - but as we didn't receive this for review I can't comment). And while Buffy the Vampire Slayer makes an appearance what about Angel? Moonlighting is also strangely absent... as are quite a few other shows... but then what 100 tracks would you put on a greatest hits collection?

The majority of this album is taken up with shows that are no longer on the air and I was surprised to see two The Muppet Show tracks - surely one is more than enough.

I'm not really sure who this album will appeal to... but if you're a fan of TV soundtrack themes, and you don't already have one of the hundreds of other similar compilations, this isn't half bad.

5

Darren Rea