Unknown Song #22 - Out Front

Song - Out Front

Artist(s) - Rick Baker

Released - 1986

Primetime Usage - 1991-97

Contained on - CHAP 121 (Electronic; CD version is called Electronic/Sports)

Featured Highlight - Bears @ Vikings, 1992


*SONG IDENTIFIED* - 2/14/18

Unknown Song #22 is a nice, energetic, rock/orchestral fusion track that I've been asked to identify a few times since I started this blog.  I obviously can't identify it as of now, but I would very much like to.  One irony is that US#22 isn't primarily remembered as a regular NFL Primetime highlight track.  It was used on the show for 7 years, but its use was pretty infrequent.  Instead, it's best remembered as being the accompanying song for Chris Berman's Sunday Night Football halftime highlights (not to be confused with Gladiator, the accompanying song for Monday Night Football's "Fastest 3 Minutes" segment).  It was used for this purpose well after its end on NFL Primetime.

This week's clip is a particularly humiliating one for both Chicago QB Jim Harbaugh & Chicago head coach Mike Ditka.  The Bears led Minnesota 20-0 in the Metrodome, but Harbaugh infamously audibled into a pass play that resulted in a pick-six for the Vikings.  Minnesota came back to win 21-20, scoring all their points in the 4th. quarter.  I've seen this game referred to as "The Audible" at least once online.  This game could also be seen as the beginning of the end for Ditka's stint in Chicago.  They did win 2 straight following the loss, but lost 8 of their last 9 to finish 5-11.  Ditka was subsequently fired.

The John Colby Trilogy - Part I

Song - Gladiator

Artist(s) - John Colby

Released - N.A.

Primetime Usage - 1991-00

Contained on - N.A. (Sound Clip)

Featured Highlight - Broncos @ Giants, 1998


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!