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with new opening titles. The new version has been criticised by many viewers as lacking the atmospheric quality of the original. The commercial break 'motif' to the 'End of Part 1' card was also replaced by a newer, less substantial version. The new version of the theme also differs by being less
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The cornet player Ronnie Hunt (playing trumpet on the recording) found the recording session frustrating, as Spear insisted on many takes before obtaining the sound that he wanted. For most of the programme's run since 1960, the theme tune has only been modified by converting it to
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strident than the original, with less of an orchestral sound, and having a shorter closing section, which is occasionally 'squashed' by the voice-over announcing the upcoming programme menu across ITV's channels.
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Until ITV celebrated forty years of broadcasting (in 1995), the original recording of the theme had never been issued commercially. It was released as the b-side to a double A-side single, "
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went on to become the world's longest-running television soap opera, and Roache as the longest-serving soap actor in the world.
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Singles Chart. A budget cover version by James Wright (a pseudonym for Gordon Franks) and his
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and his
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label in April 1962, which was also included on a 1965 LP,
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In 1954, Spear was commissioned to write the theme tune to
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324:" by the Coronation Street Cast, coupled with "
697:"Singles Discography for Embassy Records - UK"
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381:, on 3 November 1966. He was 58 years old.
221:in 1908. He participated in the 1953 film
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233:was rendered as a best-selling record by
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
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336:. The single reached the Top 40 in the
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322:Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
343:However, a faithful cover version by
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726:www.record-information-services.info
49:adding citations to reliable sources
809:20th-century English male musicians
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814:20th-century classical musicians
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829:English television composers
181:Composer, classical musician
16:English composer (1908–1966)
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369:Personal life and death
834:English male composers
286:, because cast member
241:, which played at the
839:Composers from London
440:She Shall Have Murder
213:Early life and career
197:and the theme of the
679:"NME Music Charts".
600:Fitzpatrick, Katie.
416:The Improper Duchess
385:Selected filmography
340:, making number 35.
45:improve this article
844:People from Croydon
682:New Musical Express
504:Stranger from Venus
456:Men Against the Sun
659:Officialcharts.com
496:Meet Mr. Callaghan
424:King of the Castle
272:Granada Television
230:Meet Mr. Callaghan
217:Spear was born in
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488:Bang! You're Dead
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759:. Retrieved
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747:"Eric Spear"
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60:"Eric Spear"
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43:Please help
38:verification
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804:1966 deaths
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633:Discogs.com
613:14 December
585:14 December
545:(in German)
528:The Vulture
432:No Way Back
375:Southampton
195:film scores
163:Southampton
101:August 2020
793:Categories
780:Eric Spear
551:References
512:The Switch
464:Counterspy
345:Geoff Love
292:Ken Barlow
268:soap opera
256:theme tune
239:Kookaburra
202:soap opera
191:Eric Spear
139:1908-04-18
127:Eric Spear
71:newspapers
579:The Times
379:Hampshire
761:6 August
731:6 August
706:6 August
664:9 August
639:9 August
536:See also
448:Wide Boy
400:Joy Ride
247:Guernsey
235:Les Paul
353:Embassy
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