Contained on - Valentino V-CD 23 (Medium Tempo) Featured Highlight - Patriots @ Dolphins SNF Preview, 1988
I've been aware of this song/clip for a while, but I was reluctant to post it because I'm not sure it really qualifies as NFL Primetime music. "Veil," one of many Primetime tracks by then-ESPN music director John Colby, was attached to a small segment of the Sunday Night Football preview that aired early in the Week 12 episode. Despite being housed on an album titled Medium Tempo, the song is actually quite energetic and up tempo. I wouldn't be surprised if Veil was used for a highlight or perhaps other clips on NFL Primetime, especially since it was composed by Colby, but I haven't seen any evidence of that thus far. Special thanks to GodzFire for rediscovering the album this track is on (I stumbled on it a long time ago somewhere, but I forgot about it).
I decided to post the entire preview segment with Mike Patrick & Joe Theismann even though the song is only played for about 20 seconds of it. Hope you enjoy it!
Contained on - N.A. (ESPN custom edit) Featured Highlight - Seahawks @ Bears, 1987
A month or so ago, GodzFire got in touch with a guy that had most every highlight from NFL Primetime stored on a boatload of DVDs. Thanks to this guy's generosity, as well as GodzFire's willingness to host them on a convenient Google Drive, I now have way more highlights to choose from than I did before—especially from the late '80s. I'm nowhere near finished watching all of these videos yet, but several discoveries have been made just from viewing the 1987 & 1988 clips.
Way back in 2016, I profiled the song "Drive Away" from the FirstCom UT102 album. As with many songs played on Primetime in 1987 and '88, John Colby also used the underscore. The underscore alone was only used twice that I've found (once in each year), and the Drive Away US had to share its highlight with another song in both cases (Drive Away and its underscore are each only about a minute long). All other uses of Drive Away were actually a version that Godzfire and I have dubbed the "Combo Mix." It's a simple, custom edit job (presumably by John Colby) that indefinitely alternates between the main track and the underscore. My previous post of Drive Away also used the Combo Mix, but I somehow didn't realize it wasn't just looping the main track at the time.
To illustrate the two versions of Drive Away, I'm attaching two(!) videos to this post. The first, featuring the underscore, shows the Bears thumping the Eagles in a nearly empty Veterans Stadium during the first week of 1987 replacement games. After the underscore finishes, the rest of the highlight plays Driving Force—a song that happens to be on the same album and by the same composers. The end of this highlight is cut off, unfortunately, but no more points were scored after what's shown (the Bears won 35-3). The second highlight, featuring the Combo Mix, shows Walter Payton's final regular-season home game against Seattle late in the same season. This quality of this clip is much better than the Drive Away video I posted 8 years ago, as you'll see.
Contained on - Valentino 6162 (Sports Themes), V-CD 13 (Sports Themes) Featured Highlight - Patriots @ Bills, 1988
The Week 8, 1988 episode of NFL Primetime uncovered recently also revealed a "new" Primetime track. The regular version of "Fast Man" was used in the very first episode of the show in 1987 (and many times thereafter), but I had not heard the "Rhythm Only" (i.e., underscore) version on a highlight until viewing this episode. In this clip below, the 3-4 Patriots (QB'd by Doug Flutie) gave the 6-1 Bills a surprisingly good game in Orchard Park.
Unfortunately, the Valentino 1980s compilation album with the regular version of Fast Man does not have the underscore. The full version of V-CD 13 is on YouTube, though (linked above), so you check out the song there (and no place else that I'm aware of).
Unknown Song #24, one of the few remaining unknown songs not from 1988, has now been identified. It's the underscore version of the song "Take Care," by Rolf Wehmeier. It was originally released on the Happy Records LP "Multimedia 2002" (HR2257) in 1987, then later added to the CD "Multi Media" (HR2264-3) in 1988. The latter album is contained on Ring Musik's website. Wehmeier did a decent amount of production music work, most of it for Happy Records & Golden Ring Records (both controlled by Ring Musik) according to Discogs. Special thanks to Godzfire, Craig-UK, and mitin for getting this one ID'd.
As an aside, I'm not really sure why John Colby (he was still the ESPN music director in 1991) went with the underscore here. The main track for Take Care has a nice guitar part, and the underscore feels aimless at times without it. This isn't like Race to Midnight where the underscore was the superior version (RtM's synth trumpet is cheesy & low quality).
Thanks to Josh Ochs and his communications with John Colby & ESPN, US #23 has finally been identified as "Theighs Mon." John Colby found the track and told Josh he's going to put it on his website sometime soon, so look out for that. I literally have no idea what the song title means.
The Primetime Holy Grail has been found, but there's still plenty of other stuff yet to identify…
I've updated a few previously posted songs with some newly obtained info. Thanks to Craig-UK for all of this.
- Wheels in Motion is contained on a production-music album, after all. It's on MPM001 from Manhattan music, which was released in 1987. I left the youtube link for those that find it more convenient, however.
- The Far Turn & Fast Man, in addition to being on two separate Valentino compilation albums, were originally on the same Valentino Album (V-CD 13 - Sports Themes). This album isn't online that I can find, but the previously posted compilation albums still are. However, the Valentino library apparently isn't hosted on Universal anymore so I had to change the links to their BMG source instead.
- The Right Stuff was originally contained on EA 2015 (Broadcast) from the Emil Ascher library. This library isn't online, AFAIK, but this info at least provides a release date for this song (1984). I'm not sure if the alt mix is on this album, however (*EDIT* - the alt mix isn't on the EA album, but the regular version is virtually identical—thanks to Craig-UK again).
Featured Highlight - Points War, 1999 (Cardinals @ Packers/Saints @ Panthers)
*SONG IDENTIFIED* - 6/12/20
So it's come to this: the holy grail of NFL Primetime music. International Statement is the most famous Primetime track, but it was identified long ago (well before I started this project). Unknown Song #23 is, instead, the piece I've received by far the most requests to ID. I'm also pretty sure it's Primetime's most often used song that hasn't been identified—it was used quite regularly for the last 15 years of the show. I wouldn't say it's my favorite Primetime piece, but its strong hard-rock edge makes its appeal obvious for football highlights.
I don't have much idea where to look for US #23. The only clue was when some follower on youtube sent me a message that he had contacted John Colby and that Colby replied that he thinks he did it but he's not sure and doesn't know the name. Maybe it's in that mythical place that also contains the full-length versions of Gothic, Terminator, and Gelman. Regardless, it's not on Colby's website.
Accompanying this holy grail of NFL Primetime music is what may be the most well-known highlight in the history of the show. In 1999, a murky tiebreaker scenario emerged during the final week of the season involving 4 teams fighting for one 8-8 playoff spot (the Lions also finished 8-8, but had already clinched a berth). The Cowboys just needed to beat the Giants, the Giants were basically screwed (barring, like, a 100-point win or something), and the Panthers & Packers had to win the scoring-margin tiebreaker in order to break a 3-way tie with the Giants should the Giants beat Dallas. This points war didn't ultimately matter since the Cowboys won, but it was still—as Chris Berman says—"unbelievable football."
Since the NFL season is about to end, my updates will be less frequent for a while. I plan on being a little more active than the last couple offseasons, though—probably 2 posts a month. There are still quite a few unidentified tracks left to post. Thanks for reading/watching!
Contained on - Musikos MS1 (Sports 1) Featured Highlight - Steelers @ Browns, 1988
*SONG IDENTIFIED* - 5/3/23
It's kinda repetitive, but Unknown Song #8 is definitely more intense than #7. Actually, it's a pretty good highlight track. The instrumentation does sound similar to John Colby's The Far Turn & Fast Man. If it is by Colby, however, it didn't make it onto those Valentino compilation albums and may be near impossible to find. As for the game: the Browns make a lousy Pittsburgh offense look even worse in a monsoon.
Thanks to the magic of overzealous youtube copyright claims, I have now identified the unknown songs I posted last week & the week before. I'd actually expected this to happen at some point for an unidentified track, but I didn't think it would happen this fast. More surprising was who the songwriter turned out to be, however…
The copyright claim info for Unknown Song #2 listed an album code of "VT013" and "The Far Turn." It took me a while to find the source because the real album code was actually "STVT013." Anyway, that code was for the portion of the Valentino library that's contained on Universal's website and the "1980s Vol. 2" album. After scrolling down to find the right song, it turned out the artist was none other than John Colby! So Colby did in fact produce more NFL Primetime songs than just those listed on his website. Searching Colby's credits led me to Unknown Song #3 ("Fast Man"), as well. It was not on the same album as I figured it would be, but it was on the related "1980s Vol. 1" disc. Unfortunately, the entire Universal website only contains about 20 songs credited to Colby. I also suspect the "1980s" albums are compilations and not the original sources of Colby's tracks because they both have release dates in 2014. I don't know the identity of the original source library, though I do suspect it's related to Valentino (I suspect it's Major Records, just because some random library-music forum has a list crediting albums on there to Colby). I wouldn't be surprised if there's more John Colby NFL Primetime stuff out there yet to be found.
Unknown Song #3 sounds very similar to Unknown Song #2. It's so similar, in fact, that I bet it's on the same album. I have no idea which album that is or what production-music label would house it, but I'd be surprised if they weren't close together. Accompanying US#3 is yet another (should be the last) highlight from NFL Primetime's first episode. The once-and-future AFC-champion Browns get a surprisingly tough test from a New Orleans squad seeking their first-ever winning season…
The final John Colby NFL Primetime contribution is my personal favorite of the six. "Gothic" is relatively short, much like Drive Away, but it has perfect energy for football and anything else with hard-hitting entertainment. Also, if you're an RPG fan like myself, you might notice it has a similar sound to some of the stuff from Lufia & the Fortress of Doom. Anyway… the included highlight features the Houston Oilers dominating at home in the "House of Pain," a perfect venue for Gothic. This also shows how awesome the early-'90s Oilers could be when they were on their game.
The second entry in the obscure John Colby trilogy, "Gelman," is the most somber & tragic sounding of his NFL Primetime contributions. I also think it's the weakest of the six, though it still sounds pretty good. As for the name… I have absolutely no idea what "Gelman" means. I mean, I really have no clue. I don't know of any sports figure or even any famous figure in any vocation with that name.
Gelman's included highlight involves the long-standing rivalry between the Broncos & Raiders. The game itself wasn't notable, but it does exemplify something else of interest. 1994 was the NFL's 75th. anniversary year, and most every team in the league wore some sort of (often bastardized) throwback uniform at some point during the season. This began the throwback-jersey obsession that has exploded over the last decade. On that note, pay particular attention to the comically childish logo on Denver's helmets.
*EDIT* - It was used at least once in 1995 (Week 2 - NO/STL; first Rams game in St. Louis)
As I hinted in the previous post, the first of the forgotten John Colby Primetime songs may have a thematic connection to Arnold. "Terminator" has the most heavily electronic sound of the set. This may also explain why it was phased out pretty quickly, an idea I touched on in my Leading from the Front post. It's also oddly upbeat for it's name, especially when compared to the dark, brooding, and heavy synth associated with the first Terminator movie. Unlike the better-known Colby songs, these ones are only available in partial form on John Colby's website (AFAIK). I've never encountered full-length cuts anywhere on the net.
Terminator's featured highlight is the Super Bowl we all thought would happen but never did. In 1992, Buffalo visited Candlestick Park and knocked off the 49ers in a game that had over 1000 yards and zero punts. This result also personified the early-'90s Bills' tendency to always beat NFC teams in the regular season, but never beat them in the postseason.
Featured Highlight - *EDIT* - 49ers @ Panthers, 1996
Arguably the most intense selection in the well-known Colby trilogy, "Arnold" works well for tough games, shootouts, big comebacks, and pretty much any other kind of football game you can imagine. It was one of NFL Primetime's regular stalwarts from 1992 on, and with good reason. I believe the track's name is a reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger (another of Colby's songs is named "Terminator"), but I can't be certain. It seems a little easier to decipher than "Eric D.," anyway. As with Eric D. and Gladiator: you can either get a high-quality short clip of Arnold on John Colby's website (above), or you can find a full-length—but lower quality—version on those aforementioned bootleg NFL Primetime collections that are easily found on the web (or other youtube postings).
After Joe Montana left the San Francisco 49ers in 1993, he faced his old team exactly one time. It was a tight contest, but Montana's Chiefs ultimately prevailed over the squad that would eventually win that year's Super Bowl. All the talk before, during, and after the contest revolved around Joe Montana vs. Steve Young, but—as you'll see in the highlight—the real focus should've been on Derrick Thomas.
*EDIT* - This video was copyright blocked, too. Here's a different 49ers loss, this time to Carolina in 1996. It was basically the first big win in Carolina Panthers' history, and would springboard them to an NFC Championship appearance in just their second year of existence.
The second well-known John Colby track has an odd name. I have no idea who "Eric D." is or what significance that name has to sports or anything else, but the song nonetheless ended up as one of the top-5 most often used pieces on NFL Primetime. I've also seen the track labeled under the name "Breakdown" on some of those bootleg Primetime music collections floating around the net, and maybe that name would've made more sense. Speaking of those bootlegs, that's the only known way of acquiring the full-length versions of this particular Colby trilogy's songs. The media player on John Colby's website (linked above) has higher-quality audio, but the tracks are incomplete and/or fade out prematurely.
As for the highlight: 1999 saw the start of Philadelphia's rise and the beginning of Dallas's fall. One key moment to this was in Week 5 when Michael Irvin suffered a career-ending neck injury on the turf of always dangerous Veterans Stadium. To add further insult to the Cowboys, they lost on a late TD pass by—of all people—Doug Pederson. This was the first of what would a be a whopping 3 career wins as a starting QB for Pederson, a total he's already exceeded halfway through his first year as an NFL head coach. Enjoy!
From 1984-92, John Colby was the music director for ESPN. He's probably best known for composing the most famous theme song for Sportscenter, but he also wrote some sports-highlight tracks as well. Six of those (that I know of) were used on NFL Primetime. These six songs are divided into two "trilogies": one consists of three pieces only used for a few years, and the other contains three tracks that lasted a long time and that any fan of Primetime will immediately recognize. Colby is also well known for his Grammy-winning work (both pre & post-ESPN) on the productions of documentary master Ken Burns. Check out his website (linked above) or this article if you want to learn more.
The first of these well-known John Colby highlight tracks, "Gladiator," is one that even people who didn't really watch NFL Primetime may recognize. In addition to its frequent use on the show for a decade, it was also the background song for Chris Berman's "Fastest 3 Minutes" halftime segments on Monday Night Football. Gladiator kept being used for that purpose well after it was phased out on Primetime, in fact. My featured highlight choice for Gladiator is a long one. In 1998, the Denver Broncos started 13-0 and everyone was focusing on their Week-16 matchup with the last franchise to run the table: the Miami Dolphins. Their Week-15 contest with the Giants in The Meadowlands then became the ultimate example of a "trap game." A 3-7 start meant New York had no hope of defending their 1997 division-title run, but they were playing well down the stretch and this upset punctuated a 5-1 finish to the season. Have fun watching!
If you liked the ridiculously bright synth from last week's post, Overall Winner, then you'll love this one. "Future Champs," by longtime library synth group Orange Power, sounds like the kinda song you'd expect to accompany a team's coronation—perhaps an easy win that clinches a division title or something. That's not what you're going to see with this highlight, unfortunately, but it still has some entertainment value. The Seahawks, who had managed to reach a winning record despite an 0-3 start, went down to what was then known as Joe Robbie Stadium to face a 10-3 Dolphins squad. Miami, though they didn't play real well, took advantage of constant errors by Seattle to register a close victory.
Oh, and stay tuned… Starting next week, I'm going to post a series of songs composed by then-ESPN-music-director John Colby. At least a few should be quite familiar to fans of NFL Primetime.
