The Music of the Avengers, from Dankworth to Johnson

[Allard]

Laurie Johnson's theme for the Avengers is probably one of the best know TV theme tunes ever. But we know that there is more on Avengers music. The first theme was composed by Johnny Dankworth.

Which of the two is better, Dankworth's of Johnson's?

[Timeless A-Peel]

Laurie's, hands down. I'm sorry, but I really don't like the Dankworth score--repetitive and monotonous. And they often use it in places where it really doesn't suit the scene. Laurie's is infinitely more dynamic, from the earliest version of "the Shake" to TNA's theme. I love his music in TNA as well, and I often find myself humming incidental music from his eras of the series.

[Alan]

Dankworth for me, but that may have as much to do with my preference for the videotaped era of The Avengers over the filmed than anything else. Johnson's music is fine but I think the work of Edwin Astley on rival ITC shows was more inventive and has aged better.

[Dandy Forsdyke]

Lawrence Reginald Ward ('Laurie') Johnson.

The best theme tune ever in the world. Still gives me goosebumps. I have it as a ringtone, which I'm very proud of - not a rubbishy polyphonic version either - the real thing!

By the way, I'm very fond of Sir John's Hendry/Cathy theme and fits that era well...

[The Gaslight Ghoul]

Another vote for Laurie here.

Love his Avengers and NA themes as well as the incedental music and he's also responsible for two other favourite scores of mine, The Professionals and Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter.

Rock on Laurie.

I'd really love to see him perform live.

[darren]

They aren't really comparable as Dankworth supplied some mood specific library cues at the beginning that were used for 3 years. The full length version of the Dankworth theme is very enjoyable (sometimes used a incidental music in the series).

Johnson had the advantage of scoring to picture most episodes. Sometimes his music is really strong but sometimes I find it ruins an episode. The orchestration can put me off at times. His earlier stuff was better. Of course the theme was great.

[Artanis]

I voted for both.

Johnson's theme is my favorite and it is instantly recognizable. There's no greater TV theme tune. But I also like Dankworth's music from the Cathy Gale episodes They both created some great music.

[Strange Young Man]

They aren't really comparable as Dankworth supplied some mood specific library cues at the beginning that were used for 3 years. The full length version of the Dankworth theme is very enjoyable (sometimes used a incidental music in the series).

Johnson had the advantage of scoring to picture most episodes. Sometimes his music is really strong but sometimes I find it ruins an episode. The orchestration can put me off at times. His earlier stuff was better. Of course the theme was great.

Interesting. Which episodes do you find Johnson's work to be detrimental to? (unless you were referring to his TNA work)

[Dandy Forsdyke]

The only intrusive/surprising music from Laurie I can think of was the piece that accompanied Steed in his opening scene in The Eagles Nest. An oddly 'Carry On' jingle which didn't really fit the style of a dignified and dapper mature secret agent.

[waldotyson]

Laurie has some nice quirky riffs that she uses (Dead man's treasure road rally theme)

She also has that signature bass clarinet note at the end of the tag scenes Lovely!