In his 1989 autobiography,Did They Mention the Music?, Mancini states:
ThePeter Gunn title theme actually derives more from rock and roll than from jazz. I used guitar and piano inunison, playing what is known in music as anostinato, which means obstinate. It was sustained throughout the piece, giving it a sinister effect, with some frightened saxophone sounds and some shouting brass. The piece has one chord throughout and a super-simple top line.[4]
In the original recording of the song, the piano riff is played byJohn Williams, who went on to become an influential film composer. Mancini arranged the first single version of the song for trumpeterRay Anthony in 1959. Recorded forCapitol Records atRadio Recorders[6] and featuring tenor saxophonistPlas Johnson, it reached number eight on theBillboard Hot 100, number 12 on theR&B chart,[7] and number 13 inCanada.[8]
Mancini has recorded several different versions of his theme music including "Señor Peter Gunn" on his 1965 album,The Latin Sound of Henry Mancini, and in a new arrangement for the 1967 movieGunn...Number One!.[9]
In addition to the many different arrangements of the "Peter Gunn" theme recorded by Mancini, the music has also been recorded by numerous other artists. Versions that reached the record charts include:
Deodato released a version of the song in 1976, which reached number 20 on theUS dance chart, number 84 on theBillboard Hot 100, and number 96 on theR&B chart.[7]
Art of Noise released a version of the song featuring Eddy in 1986, which reached number two on the US dance chart, number eight in the UK, number 14 in Canada,[15] and number 50 on theBillboard Hot 100. It was featured on their 1986 albumIn Visible Silence, and was awarded aGrammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.[16] In Canada, the song spent 20 weeks in the top 100,[17] and was number 84 in the year-end chart.[18]
The B-52's adapted Mancini's ostinato or riff and added lyrics for their song "Planet Claire".[19] It is used as the opening track on the group's 1979self-titled debut album. InAllMusic review, Stewart Mason describes the instrumental opening to the song as "space sounds blend[ing] into a jumpy, speeded-up version of Henry Mancini's 'Peter Gunn' theme mixed with sounds that could have been lifted from one ofJoe Meek's 'Telstar' follow-ups, followed by a lengthy wordless vocal and organ section that recalls thetheme fromStar Trek."[19] Released on anEP, it reached number 24 onBillboard's Disco Hot 100 chart.[20]
Pittsburgh-based rock band The Silencers included a pounding guitar-driven cover of the song on their 1980 LP "Rock and Roll Enforcers." It was theopening song of their medley video that premiered on the day that MTV began operation: August 1, 1981. It was the 40th song ever shown on the network (see list of all videos). The video was played in regular rotation on MTV and was voted the #3 most popular video of 1981.
"Peter Gunn" appeared as background music in various scenes of the filmThe Blues Brothers and on its soundtrack album, as recorded by The Blues Brothers Band.[citation needed]
