Opening and Closing Credits to Jonny Quest — From
the Aeolus 13 Umbra YouTube channel.
My love of jazz can be traced to
one influential piece of music — the theme for Jonny Quest, the ground-breaking Hanna-Barbara animated TV show that
ran from 1964 to 1965, followed by two revival series and a couple full-length
TV movies. Breaking away from the steady diet of anthropomorphic animals and
stone-age families that populated Saturday morning television in the early
1960s, Jonny Quest featured a
realistic animation style and was designed to look and sound as though it was a
live-action, prime time program. In fact, the show ran in an early prime time
slot on Friday nights during its original run. The show is an iconic portrayal
of the era in which it was made and remains an animated classic to this day. The
complete soundtrack, including themes and incidental music, can be
found on the 2-CD set, Jonny Quest: Music
From The Original Television Series (see below for the complete recording streamed from the Aeolus 13 Umbra YouTube channel).For the space-age baby-boomer generation living in the immediate post-Kennedy era Jonny Quest modeled our highest aspirations at the time: science and technology, a global community, and rugged individualism. The enemies ranged from primitive fire-god worshippers and organized criminal syndicates to mad scientists and monsters. The show was also arguably ahead of its time in that the name of Jonny's constant companion — Hadji — suggests the boy is Muslim, though his faith is never explicitly discussed. Then again, Jonny's faith, other than in science and adventure, is also never discussed.
What got me hooked though was
that music — that glorious, pulse-pounding opening theme kicks in with the
steady beat of tom-toms, followed by a tight brass ensemble to create a sense of action and adventure with just a hint of danger and
mystery. Ok, so it was a highly polished, commercial big-band brass sound, but
the piece perfectly captures the action-adventure theme music that typified the
1960s sound, which also includes such themes as those from the TV shows Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and The Mod
Squad.
Composer Hoyt Curtin created the opening title music for many of the
Hanna-Barbera TV shows that baby boomers grew up with, including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Superfriends,
and many more. The Jonny Quest theme proved
so popular that it was recycled by ever thrifty Hanna-Barbara in other shows
for decades to come, including the incidental music.
Indeed, it is the incidental music from Jonny
Quest where Curtin’s real genius shines. Rather than being thematically
unrelated pieces of music serving as forgettable background noise, the
incidental music here establishes mood and pacing using memorable note
progressions and minor themes — some of which could well be expanded into
full-length compositions. By repeating these themes throughout the series, the
incidental music becomes part of the narrative. In this sense, one is reminded
how the multimedia aspects of video can provide a more fully immersive
story-telling experience. With the 2-CD set running nearly 1 hour 49 minutes,
we can see that the incidental music played a larger role in the series than
the more memorable opening and closing themes.
Curtin revealed some secrets behind the production of the music in a 1999
interview with ClassicJonnyQuest.com.
The band used for the sessions was a jazz ensemble consisting of four trumpets,
six trombones, five woodwind doublers, and a five-man rhythm section including
percussion. Two of the drummers were Alvin Stohler and Frankie Capp. According
to Curtain, the opening theme took about an hour to produce; however, the
shorter “cues” were usually done in one take after a quick rehearsal. The titles
of the cues themselves were not named by Curtin, but rather by the sound
editors. At the time, Curtin, who died in 2000, thought that most of the cues one can hear on this
recording had been lost, so we can only wonder what his response would be to these
rare CDs!
It was while perusing the racks at the New York Comic Book Convention a
couple years ago that, to my delight, I happened to find Jonny Quest: Music From The Original
Television Series. The origin of this recording remains unknown as there is no publisher listed. Longtime Jonny Quest fans will recognize images from the CD cover art included above as having come from the DVD collection, Jonny Quest: The Complete First Season (2006). A gift from secret JQ fans from inside Hanna Barbara? Perhaps, but regardless, here we can hear not just the classic opening and
closing themes but also all the incidental music, including cues and dialog
tracks. To date, this is the most complete collection. The full recording is provided below from the Aeolus 13 Umbra YouTube channel:
 |
| Track List (Click for larger image). |
Jonny
Quest: Music From The Original Television Series Track List
Click on the links below for each individual track, or play the YouTube video above for the entire two disc set! | |||||
| Disc One | Disc Two | ||||
1
|
1:54
|
1
|
1:55
| ||
2
|
0:23
|
2
|
0:19
| ||
3
|
0:45
|
3
|
0:20
| ||
4
|
0:19
|
4
|
1:00
| ||
5
|
1:05
|
5
|
2:03
| ||
6
|
0:55
|
6
|
1:20
| ||
7
|
1:00
|
7
|
1:13
| ||
8
|
0:31
|
8
|
1:33
| ||
9
|
0:40
|
9
|
1:06
| ||
10
|
0:50
|
10
|
0:55
| ||
11
|
0:56
|
11
|
1:47
| ||
12
|
0:37
|
12
|
0:24
| ||
13
|
0:36
|
13
|
1:06
| ||
14
|
0:26
|
14
|
1:24
| ||
15
|
0:52
|
15
|
0:25
| ||
16
|
0:49
|
16
|
1:22
| ||
17
|
0:42
|
17
|
0:46
| ||
18
|
0:44
|
18
|
0:37
| ||
19
|
1:03
|
19
|
1:29
| ||
20
|
1:20
|
20
|
1:26
| ||
21
|
0:56
|
21
|
1:45
| ||
22
|
0:28
|
22
|
0:57
| ||
23
|
0:16
|
23
|
1:10
| ||
24
|
0:45
|
24
|
0:09
| ||
25
|
0:46
|
25
|
1:21
| ||
26
|
0:33
|
26
|
1:05
| ||
27
|
1:13
|
27
|
0:53
| ||
28
|
0:08
|
28
|
1:36
| ||
29
|
0:54
|
29
|
0:21
| ||
30
|
1:03
|
30
|
1:24
| ||
31
|
0:52
|
31
|
0:52
| ||
32
|
0:59
|
32
|
1:20
| ||
33
|
1:47
|
33
|
1:21
| ||
34
|
1:02
|
34
|
1:08
| ||
35
|
0:52
|
35
|
0:50
| ||
36
|
0:35
|
36
|
1:28
| ||
37
|
0:11
|
37
|
0:34
| ||
38
|
1:35
|
38
|
1:21
| ||
39
|
1:35
|
39
|
1:22
| ||
40
|
0:37
|
40
|
1:04
| ||
41
|
0:09
|
41
|
0:27
| ||
42
|
0:53
|
42
|
1:25
| ||
43
|
0:36
|
43
|
1:08
| ||
44
|
0:49
|
44
|
1:43
| ||
45
|
1:05
|
45
|
1:22
| ||
46
|
0:38
|
46
|
1:22
| ||
47
|
0:19
|
47
|
0:54
| ||
48
|
0:32
|
48
|
1:09
| ||
49
|
0:55
|
49
|
2:14
| ||
50
|
0:59
|
50
|
1:03
| ||
51
|
0:37
|
51
|
0:31
| ||
52
|
0:32
|
52
|
0:33
| ||
53
|
1:00
|
53
|
1:01
| ||
54
|
0:54
|
54
|
1:02
| ||
55
|
0:47
|
55
|
0:23
| ||
56
|
1:10
|
56
|
0:31
| ||
57
|
0:47
|
57
|
0:52
| ||
58
|
0:10
| ||||
*
|
Dialogue Track
| ||||
*
|
Dialogue Track
|
||||
Note: There are a few very minor differences between the order of the tracks
provided with the liner notes of the recording and the actual tracks on the CDs.
The list above reflects the correct order. Very special thanks to Aeolus 13 Umbra reader Cathy S. for her help in compiling this list!
UPDATE August 15, 2023: Jonny Quest fan John Page reached out to me and shared a very recent new
video he produced — A 37-minute production of selected JQ jazz cuts with scenes from
the series. Don’t dismiss the effort that went into creating this. Not just
audio and video editing skills, but also knowing the series intimately enough to select the
right scenes with the right music. Instead of just splicing together the same scenes in the same order, he creates an exciting new visual narrative. Well done John and thank you for sharing!
Related Content on Aeolus 13
Umbra
Jonny Quest PF Flyer Commercial
Jonny Quest: Time is Running Out
● ● ●
Thank you for sharing such great music!
ReplyDeleteHey is there anyway I can get this entire track? Is there a download link?
ReplyDeleteHi Justin - Thanks for asking, but I'm not sure where this recording is available. I've searched for it online, as have others, but it seems to be a very rare item.
DeleteI sure would like to know who the musicians were.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your collection, it is very cool. I want to add that if you are looking for more music from other tv show then I can advise you next one resource http://www.melodyloops.com which I found very complete
ReplyDeleteI finally found a copy of this at the Salt Lake Comic Con last week, and it is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHoly Cow - There are other copies! I wish I knew something about the history of this disc. I got mine at the NY Comic Con. It's a VERY rare find indeed.
DeleteFor those interested:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lalalandrecords.com/Site/JonnyQuest.html,
I ordered a copy. I look forward to reviewing it and comparing the two releases!
DeleteHadji is Sikh. Not Muslim. Big difference. His full name is Hadji Singh. Parents were Sikh too. He did practice yoga though.
ReplyDeleteThat was a later retcon. In the original series, which this article addresses, Hadji's specific faith, nor his last name (Singh), are revealed - only than his name first Hadji suggesting a Muslim connection. The assertion he is Sikh seems to run counter to his first name "Hadji" which reflects the Islamic journey to Mecca, which Sikh's do not do. The retcon of Hadji being a Sikh seems to be an invention of Westren authors unfamiliar with both Islam and Sikhism. At the time of the initial broadcast in 1964, and for decades thereafter (which I'm old enough to remember), the presumption was Hadji was Muslim.
DeleteHadji's last name Singh was not revealed until "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" three decades after the initial series and probably not coincidently following the First Gulf War when Western antipathy towards Islam was on the rise. My belief is that the producers likely choose Sikhism as Hadji's to avoid politics and this created the problem of a Sikh given a first name which reflects a pilgrimage to Mecca - Hadji. The producer's lacked any real knowledge of either faith, or hoped Western audiences were ignorant enough not to know the difference.
DeleteCan you shed some light here, and tell me about THIS CD soundtrack of "JONNY QUEST" as compared to the LaLa Land CD that was recently released. i paid for this two disc set, but i was very disappointed when it did not include other Hoyt Curtin and Ted Nichols soundtracks that i had so hoped for, so tell me, is it in anyway possible to buy THIS soundtrack set, or is that impossible? get back to me on that, because i'll pay within reason, if this CD set is in anyway available!
ReplyDeleteYou can e-mail me at the e-mail link on my "About ME" page - whose link is available on the right margin links.
DeleteI was about to put it up for auction on eBay, but if you're interested I'll entertain an offer. It is very rare and you likely won't find it anywhere else!
Thanks a million for posting this. Like you this was one of my favorite soundtracks growing up and still is. Is there any chance you can post the entire set in lossless format somewhere. As you said, it's pretty unlikely I'll find a copy of it since it's rare and out of print.
ReplyDeleteThanks in advance!
-Bob
Hi Bob,
DeleteI had to look that one up. I'm always up to explore a new format, but don't know anything about converting it to a lossless format. If you know of any good articles or software tools, please share the link! I was going to sell it on eBay in the next few weeks. Reserve will be high. If interested you can e-mail me through my About Me link on the right side bar.
These tunes introduced me to the world of Jazz at a very early age. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed these tunes, when I was young and then again just now. They bring back a ton of memories and nostalgia which I've shared with my son and daughter. They both love all things JQ. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThey must have a great dad! Thanks for listening!
Deletethe boy is Muslim, though his faith is never explicitly discussed.
ReplyDeletesir i am a big fan for you , from india ,
ReplyDeletei want a jonny quest ringtone
Many thanks! Here's a JQ ringtone links!
Deletehttps://www.zedge.net/find/ringtones/jonny%20quest
http://www.cellsea.com/ringtone/61337687/Jonny-Quest/Jonny-Quest-ringtone
You have done a great job of capturing what the Jonny Quest intro theme means to me.
ReplyDeleteI liked the 2 CD set, but found myself wanting more continuity and "flow" between the cues. Ive edited a 36 minute jazz suite from the varied cue tracks- if you are interested.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMUQ7X-WHZs
Dude, that is an awesome cut! Can I include the video here with the article. I'll give you full credit of course. It's too great not to share!
Deletei was able to purchase the soundtracks of both jonny quest and the original star trek (both from the 60s) about 10-15 years ago and can say that to this day i still listen to both on a weekly basis. absolutely some of the best music ever written. upbeat and heart-pounding, always makes me smile, for both the memories and the excellent tone.
ReplyDeleteSame here Bob!
Delete