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Don't know if anyone has heard this but it is ostensibly a big band version of the main theme to the 6 Million Dollar Man and it kicks. The drum part is especially cool and almost sounds like Buddy Rich. the cascading line that the string section played in the original version has been supplanted by trumpets and flutes. They did add French Horns for the lead line too.
Frankly, this kind of writing just doesn't exist in film scores any longer because we're not getting guys coming from jazz backgrounds any longer. Most come from rock/pop which has 1 tenth the sense of harmonic and rhythmic complexity as well as attention to instrument arrangement . Mind you, I think someone like Giacchino would do a fine job of interpretting this style into a modern version. Or else John Powell who does have a keen sense of harmonic development.
Maybe FSM would be able to release a nice Oliver Nelson compilation disc at some point. It would kick butt.
Here's the link- check it out (hope I'm not breaking any forum rules here!)
http://www.televisiontunes.com
Just search for Six Million Dollar Man and enjoy.
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Don't know if anyone has heard this but it is ostensibly a big band version of the main theme to the 6 Million Dollar Man and it kicks. The drum part is especially cool and almost sounds like Buddy Rich. the cascading line that the string section played in the original version has been supplanted by trumpets and flutes. They did add French Horns for the lead line too....
David,
Welcome to the wonderful world of arranger John Gregory (aka Johnny Gregory). This is his cover of the SMDM theme, played by some of the best session musicians working in the UK in the 1970's. He has actually been mentioned in the forum before.
This is one of a number of themes which he did, and they are currently available on the CD "Six Million Dollar TV Themes" (available at amazon.com)
I really do urge you get the album; there are one or two British themes you won't be familiar with, plus a whole lot that you most certainly will be familiar with.
Fantastic arranging and playing. And the recording quality is stunning in my opinion.
[EDIT]: See the following link for an interview with Johnny Gregory:
http://www.vinylvulture.co.uk/interviews/john_gregory.php
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I just ordered it. Thanks for the heads up! 
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The album is a compilation from two or three theme albums he did. One is THE DETECTIVES, a 1976 album for Philips. I think some tracks are from TV THRILLERS (1972). A few (eg JOHNNY STACCATO, John Dankworth's AVENGERS theme etc) date back to 1961 and his CHANNEL THRILL album - obviously the sound isn't quite as good in these cases.
The cover art is crap, and I should think has been responsible for more than a few people here in the UK deciding its one of these cheap n' cheerful synthesizer orchestra albums and then giving it a miss.
But I assure you, as a theme album - and even as a big band album - it's first rate. I doubt you'll be disappointed.
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I first encountered this version on the ITV 50 Cult Themes disc (which actually has 49 themes - don't ask) and was absolutely blown away by it. I'd say it is better than the original, altho' the stereo action element is a matter of taste!
Simon is spot on about the CD: it's a pearl in a sea of dire covers (even if it has got a dire cover!) and is readily available dirt cheap. Buy buy buy!
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