RECORDINGS-"THIRD MAN THEME"
Leo Addeo, More Hawaii in Hi-Fi, RCA Camden CAS-594
Aerobic Dancing, Parade LP 100A
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, A&M SP 4112
Dave Apollon and His Mandolin Orchestra, Coral CRL 57421
Dean Ashton, The Magic Guitar of Dean Ashton, Castle Communications MAC CD 321Uncredited
The Don Baker Trio, Cocktail Hammond, Capitol T-1099
The Band, Moondog Matinee, Capitol 93592
Eddie Baxter, Organ Festival, Dot DLP-3277/25277
Leon Berry, Giant Wurlitzer, Vol 1, Audio Fidelity AFSD5828
Big Ben Banjo Band;,Bing! Bang! Banjos!, Polydor 2383 006
Stanley Black, The Cash Box Instrumental hits, London PS.158
Archie Bleyer, Moonlight Serenade, Cadence CLP-3044/CLP-25044
The Blue Moon Rockers, Volume 2, Rarity Records C192591 (CD)
The Blue Rhythms, Instro Mania vol.2, GeeDee CD 270145-2 (CD)
Victor Borge, Caught in the Act, Columbia CL-646
Earl Bostic, Bostic Workshop, King KCD-613
Harold Bradley, Misty Guitar, Columbia CL 2073
Jerry Burke, Greatest Organ Hits, Dot DLP 3450
John Carlton and the Craftsmen All-Stars, Movie Themes, Crafstmen C8002
Joe "Fingers" Carr, Joe "Fingers" Carr Goes Continental, Capitol T-1000
Joe "Fingers Carr" & Pee Wee Hunt, Pee Wee & Fingers, Capitol T-783
Jody Carver and Johnny Cucci, The Hot Club of America, Coral CRL 57616
George Cates, Third Man Theme, Dot DLP-3464/25464
Ray Conniff, You Make Me Feel So Young, Columbia CL 2116
Don Costa, The Sound of the Million Sellers, United Artists WWS 8513
Jack Costanzo, Naked City, Liberty LST-7195
The Crazy Rockers, Story Of The Crazy Rockers, SamSam Music CDHL 1006 (CD)
Frank DeVol, Fabulous Hollywood!, Columbia CS 8172
Leo Diamond, Themes from the Great Foreigh Films, Reprise R9-6009
Dixie Aces, Instrumental, That's Entertainment TE99001 (CD)
Eddy & The Crazy Jets, Indo Rock vol. 2, Discount Music DCCD 92104 (CD)
Juan Garcia Esquivel, Exploring New Sounds in Hi-Fi, RCA Victor
Juan Garcia Esquivel, Music from a Sparkling Planet, Bar None/BMG 056
Exotic Guitars, 22 Great Guitar Favorites, Ranwood RAN 7014
The Explosion Rockets, The Rehearsal Tapes, Rarity Records C192445 (CD)
Fabulous Jokers, The Fabulous Jokers, Monument SLP 18059
George Feyer, An Evening at the Cafe Carlyle, Cadence CLP 25051
George Garabedian, Tijuana Taxi, Mark 56 Records
Ginny and the Gallions, The Two Sides of Ginny and the Gallions, Downey 1003
Jackie Gleason, Movie Themes for Lovers Only, Capitol SW 1877
Marty Gold, Stereo Action Goes Hollywood, RCA Victor PRS 127-8
Max Gregar, Ballroom in Vienna, Dot DLP-3467/25467
Guitars on Fire, Accent SQBO 91997
Jimmie Haskell, The Four Score Pianos. Ranwood RLP-8001
Ernie Heckscher and his Fairmont Orchestra, Play Hollywood Hits for Dancing, Verve V6-4047
Don Ho, Don Ho Again! Recorded Live in Hawaii, Reprise Records, RS-6186
Jorgen Ingmann, The Many Guitars Of Jorgan Ingman, Atco 33-139
International All Stars, Percussion Around the World, London Phase 4 SP 44010
Ira Ironstrings, Ira Ironstrings Plays: with Matches, Warner Brothers W 1248
Horst Jankowski, More Genius of Jankowski Mercury MG 21054
Horst Jankowski, Enjoy Jankowski, Mercury/Wing SRW-16385
Henry Jerome and his Orch, Brazen Brass Goes Hollywood, Decca DLP 74085
Jonah Jones Quartet, Great instrumental hits styled by Jonah Jones, Capitol ST-1557
Sir Julian, The Thirteen Fingers of Sir Julian, RCA Victor LSP-2372
Anton Karas, Ritoma Anton Karas, RCA Italiana PML 10393
Kings of Dixieland, The Kings of Dixieland (in Hi-Fi), Crown Records CLP-5045
John Klein/Sid Ramin, The New Souund America Loves Best, RCA Victor LSP-2237
Lester Lanin, Dancing on the Continent, Epic BN-533
Michel Legrand, Vienna Holiday, Columbia CL 706
Michel Legrand, I Love Movies, Columbia CL 1178
Enoch Light, Command Performances, Command RS 868 SD
Mort Lindsay, Great Sounds! Great Songs! Great Band, Dot DLP 3418
Big Tiny Little, Make Room for Tiny, Brunswick BL-54030/BL-757030
Living Brass (Ray Martin), A Taste of Honey and Other Favorites, RCA Camden CAS-949
Guy Lombardo, The Best of Guy Lombardo, Capitol T1461
Los Indios Tabajaras, RCA Victor LSP-4007
Johnny Maddox, Plays More Million Sellers, Dot DLP 25314
Jack Marshall, Soundsville, Capitol T 1194
Joe Maize, Presenting Joe Maize and his Cordsmen, Decca DL-8590
Ernest Maxim Orchestra, Great Themes from Great Films, Riverside RLP 7519
Robert Maxwell, A Crowning Performance, Command RSSD 972-2
Buddy Merrill, The Exciting World of Buddy Merrill and His Guitars, Accent AC 5020
Raoul Meynard, Continental Visa, Warner Brothers WBS 1215
Glenn Miller Orchestra (led by Buddy DeFranco), Something New, Epic LN 24206
Mark Monte, Dancing at the Continental, Jubilee JLP-1053
Hugo Montenegro, Great Songs from Motion Pictures Vol 3, Time S/2045
Buddy Morrow, Big Band Guitar, RCA Victor LSP-2018
Ricardo Moser, International Moods Vol. 2, Marvela MVLP-64
Arthur Murray Orchestra, Arthur Murray's Music for Dancing: Fox Trot, RCA AFL1-2154
Sandy Nelson, Boss Beat, Imperial LP-12298
Jack Normand Trio, Simply Grand, J-Nor JNLP-1865
No Artist Listed, TV Themes: Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, and Others, Strand SLS-1065
Mischa Novy and his Orchestra, Continental Hors D'Oeuvres, Motif Records ML-505
110 Strings Orchestra, Themes from the Movies, Tops 96425
Frankie Ortega, Swingin' Abroad, Jubilee JLP 1080
Eddie Peabody, Eddie Peabody Plays, Dot DLP-3211
Perrey & Kingsley, The Essential Perrey & Kingsley, Vanguard
Ben Pollack, Ben Pollack & His Pick-a-Rib Boys, Jazzology JCD-224
George Poole Orchestra, Spotlight on Dancing, Windsor Records WLP 3-03
Nat Raider, Nat Raider Does His Thing, GRT Records 9206
Jim Reed Combo, Memories of Maxwell, NRC LPA 11
Joe Reisman and Orchestra, Instrumental Imports, Roulette R-25114
The Revelaires, Guitar Gallery vol.2 / Sultans Of String, Echo Records ERCD-0002 (CD)
Nelson Riddle, The Bright & the Beautiful, Liberty LST-7508
Richard Rome and his Orchestra, Theme Music From Batman, Gladwynne GL/GLS 2026
Edmundo Ros, Hollywood Cha-Cha-Cha, London LL3100
Heinz Schachtner, Trumpet in Gold Vol. 3, Polydor 543.008
David Seville, The Music of David Seville, Liberty LRP-3073
The Shadows, Hits Right Up Your Street, Polydor LP
Sal Sicari, Big Beat Cha Cha Cha's, Gone LP-5004
The Sky Devils, Indo Rock, Rarity Records C192550 (CD)
, TStringing Along, ABC-Paramount ABC-412
Arthur Smith, The Original Guitar Boogie, Dot DLP-3600/25600
Ethel Smith, Galloping Fingers, Decca DL-4456
Jerry Smith, The New Sound of Jerry Smith, Ranwood R-8111
Cyril Stapleton, Great Movie Hits, Richmond 30060
Statler Orchestra, Let's Dance to Hits of the Fifties, Somerset SF-12500
Stradivari Strings, Music from the Films, Spin-o-Rama S-43
Monty Sunshine, The "Petit Fleur" Man, Kapp KS-3303
The Three Suns, On a Magic Carpet, RCA Victor LPM-2235
The Three Suns, 16 Greatest Hits, Musicor MS3090
Don Swan and his Cha-Cha Orchestra, All This and Cha Cha Too, Liberty LRP 3068
Tom and Jerry, Guitar's Greatest Hits, Mercury MG-20626
(Unnamed), The Stroll, Kapp KL-1085
Various Artists, Detectives and Agents: Great Suspense Motion Picture Themes, Mainstream 56079
Various Artists, Cha-Cha Jubilee, Jubilee LP 1097
Billy Vaughn, The Golden Instrumentals, Dot DLP 25016
Frank Virtue and the Virtues, Guitar Boogie Shuffle, Wynne WLPS-711
The Waikikis, Hawaii Honeymoon, Kapp KL-1432
Ruth Welcome, Zither Goes Hollywood, Capitol T 1986
Kai Winding, Suspense Themes in Jazz, Verve V6-8493
Hugo Winterhalter, Music! Music! Music, Harmony HL 7078
Si Zentner, From Russia with Love, Liberty LST-7353
Aerobic Dancing, Parade LP 100A
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, A&M SP 4112
Dave Apollon and His Mandolin Orchestra, Coral CRL 57421
Dean Ashton, The Magic Guitar of Dean Ashton, Castle Communications MAC CD 321Uncredited
The Don Baker Trio, Cocktail Hammond, Capitol T-1099
The Band, Moondog Matinee, Capitol 93592
Eddie Baxter, Organ Festival, Dot DLP-3277/25277
Leon Berry, Giant Wurlitzer, Vol 1, Audio Fidelity AFSD5828
Big Ben Banjo Band;,Bing! Bang! Banjos!, Polydor 2383 006
Stanley Black, The Cash Box Instrumental hits, London PS.158
Archie Bleyer, Moonlight Serenade, Cadence CLP-3044/CLP-25044
The Blue Moon Rockers, Volume 2, Rarity Records C192591 (CD)
The Blue Rhythms, Instro Mania vol.2, GeeDee CD 270145-2 (CD)
Victor Borge, Caught in the Act, Columbia CL-646
Earl Bostic, Bostic Workshop, King KCD-613
Harold Bradley, Misty Guitar, Columbia CL 2073
Jerry Burke, Greatest Organ Hits, Dot DLP 3450
John Carlton and the Craftsmen All-Stars, Movie Themes, Crafstmen C8002
Joe "Fingers" Carr, Joe "Fingers" Carr Goes Continental, Capitol T-1000
Joe "Fingers Carr" & Pee Wee Hunt, Pee Wee & Fingers, Capitol T-783
Jody Carver and Johnny Cucci, The Hot Club of America, Coral CRL 57616
George Cates, Third Man Theme, Dot DLP-3464/25464
Ray Conniff, You Make Me Feel So Young, Columbia CL 2116
Don Costa, The Sound of the Million Sellers, United Artists WWS 8513
Jack Costanzo, Naked City, Liberty LST-7195
The Crazy Rockers, Story Of The Crazy Rockers, SamSam Music CDHL 1006 (CD)
Frank DeVol, Fabulous Hollywood!, Columbia CS 8172
Leo Diamond, Themes from the Great Foreigh Films, Reprise R9-6009
Dixie Aces, Instrumental, That's Entertainment TE99001 (CD)
Eddy & The Crazy Jets, Indo Rock vol. 2, Discount Music DCCD 92104 (CD)
Juan Garcia Esquivel, Exploring New Sounds in Hi-Fi, RCA Victor
Juan Garcia Esquivel, Music from a Sparkling Planet, Bar None/BMG 056
Exotic Guitars, 22 Great Guitar Favorites, Ranwood RAN 7014
The Explosion Rockets, The Rehearsal Tapes, Rarity Records C192445 (CD)
Fabulous Jokers, The Fabulous Jokers, Monument SLP 18059
George Feyer, An Evening at the Cafe Carlyle, Cadence CLP 25051
George Garabedian, Tijuana Taxi, Mark 56 Records
Ginny and the Gallions, The Two Sides of Ginny and the Gallions, Downey 1003
Jackie Gleason, Movie Themes for Lovers Only, Capitol SW 1877
Marty Gold, Stereo Action Goes Hollywood, RCA Victor PRS 127-8
Max Gregar, Ballroom in Vienna, Dot DLP-3467/25467
Guitars on Fire, Accent SQBO 91997
Jimmie Haskell, The Four Score Pianos. Ranwood RLP-8001
Ernie Heckscher and his Fairmont Orchestra, Play Hollywood Hits for Dancing, Verve V6-4047
Don Ho, Don Ho Again! Recorded Live in Hawaii, Reprise Records, RS-6186
Jorgen Ingmann, The Many Guitars Of Jorgan Ingman, Atco 33-139
International All Stars, Percussion Around the World, London Phase 4 SP 44010
Ira Ironstrings, Ira Ironstrings Plays: with Matches, Warner Brothers W 1248
Horst Jankowski, More Genius of Jankowski Mercury MG 21054
Horst Jankowski, Enjoy Jankowski, Mercury/Wing SRW-16385
Henry Jerome and his Orch, Brazen Brass Goes Hollywood, Decca DLP 74085
Jonah Jones Quartet, Great instrumental hits styled by Jonah Jones, Capitol ST-1557
Sir Julian, The Thirteen Fingers of Sir Julian, RCA Victor LSP-2372
Anton Karas, Ritoma Anton Karas, RCA Italiana PML 10393
Kings of Dixieland, The Kings of Dixieland (in Hi-Fi), Crown Records CLP-5045
John Klein/Sid Ramin, The New Souund America Loves Best, RCA Victor LSP-2237
Lester Lanin, Dancing on the Continent, Epic BN-533
Michel Legrand, Vienna Holiday, Columbia CL 706
Michel Legrand, I Love Movies, Columbia CL 1178
Enoch Light, Command Performances, Command RS 868 SD
Mort Lindsay, Great Sounds! Great Songs! Great Band, Dot DLP 3418
Big Tiny Little, Make Room for Tiny, Brunswick BL-54030/BL-757030
Living Brass (Ray Martin), A Taste of Honey and Other Favorites, RCA Camden CAS-949
Guy Lombardo, The Best of Guy Lombardo, Capitol T1461
Los Indios Tabajaras, RCA Victor LSP-4007
Johnny Maddox, Plays More Million Sellers, Dot DLP 25314
Jack Marshall, Soundsville, Capitol T 1194
Joe Maize, Presenting Joe Maize and his Cordsmen, Decca DL-8590
Ernest Maxim Orchestra, Great Themes from Great Films, Riverside RLP 7519
Robert Maxwell, A Crowning Performance, Command RSSD 972-2
Buddy Merrill, The Exciting World of Buddy Merrill and His Guitars, Accent AC 5020
Raoul Meynard, Continental Visa, Warner Brothers WBS 1215
Glenn Miller Orchestra (led by Buddy DeFranco), Something New, Epic LN 24206
Mark Monte, Dancing at the Continental, Jubilee JLP-1053
Hugo Montenegro, Great Songs from Motion Pictures Vol 3, Time S/2045
Buddy Morrow, Big Band Guitar, RCA Victor LSP-2018
Ricardo Moser, International Moods Vol. 2, Marvela MVLP-64
Arthur Murray Orchestra, Arthur Murray's Music for Dancing: Fox Trot, RCA AFL1-2154
Sandy Nelson, Boss Beat, Imperial LP-12298
Jack Normand Trio, Simply Grand, J-Nor JNLP-1865
No Artist Listed, TV Themes: Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, and Others, Strand SLS-1065
Mischa Novy and his Orchestra, Continental Hors D'Oeuvres, Motif Records ML-505
110 Strings Orchestra, Themes from the Movies, Tops 96425
Frankie Ortega, Swingin' Abroad, Jubilee JLP 1080
Eddie Peabody, Eddie Peabody Plays, Dot DLP-3211
Perrey & Kingsley, The Essential Perrey & Kingsley, Vanguard
Ben Pollack, Ben Pollack & His Pick-a-Rib Boys, Jazzology JCD-224
George Poole Orchestra, Spotlight on Dancing, Windsor Records WLP 3-03
Nat Raider, Nat Raider Does His Thing, GRT Records 9206
Jim Reed Combo, Memories of Maxwell, NRC LPA 11
Joe Reisman and Orchestra, Instrumental Imports, Roulette R-25114
The Revelaires, Guitar Gallery vol.2 / Sultans Of String, Echo Records ERCD-0002 (CD)
Nelson Riddle, The Bright & the Beautiful, Liberty LST-7508
Richard Rome and his Orchestra, Theme Music From Batman, Gladwynne GL/GLS 2026
Edmundo Ros, Hollywood Cha-Cha-Cha, London LL3100
Heinz Schachtner, Trumpet in Gold Vol. 3, Polydor 543.008
David Seville, The Music of David Seville, Liberty LRP-3073
The Shadows, Hits Right Up Your Street, Polydor LP
Sal Sicari, Big Beat Cha Cha Cha's, Gone LP-5004
The Sky Devils, Indo Rock, Rarity Records C192550 (CD)
, TStringing Along, ABC-Paramount ABC-412
Arthur Smith, The Original Guitar Boogie, Dot DLP-3600/25600
Ethel Smith, Galloping Fingers, Decca DL-4456
Jerry Smith, The New Sound of Jerry Smith, Ranwood R-8111
Cyril Stapleton, Great Movie Hits, Richmond 30060
Statler Orchestra, Let's Dance to Hits of the Fifties, Somerset SF-12500
Stradivari Strings, Music from the Films, Spin-o-Rama S-43
Monty Sunshine, The "Petit Fleur" Man, Kapp KS-3303
The Three Suns, On a Magic Carpet, RCA Victor LPM-2235
The Three Suns, 16 Greatest Hits, Musicor MS3090
Don Swan and his Cha-Cha Orchestra, All This and Cha Cha Too, Liberty LRP 3068
Tom and Jerry, Guitar's Greatest Hits, Mercury MG-20626
(Unnamed), The Stroll, Kapp KL-1085
Various Artists, Detectives and Agents: Great Suspense Motion Picture Themes, Mainstream 56079
Various Artists, Cha-Cha Jubilee, Jubilee LP 1097
Billy Vaughn, The Golden Instrumentals, Dot DLP 25016
Frank Virtue and the Virtues, Guitar Boogie Shuffle, Wynne WLPS-711
The Waikikis, Hawaii Honeymoon, Kapp KL-1432
Ruth Welcome, Zither Goes Hollywood, Capitol T 1986
Kai Winding, Suspense Themes in Jazz, Verve V6-8493
Hugo Winterhalter, Music! Music! Music, Harmony HL 7078
Si Zentner, From Russia with Love, Liberty LST-7353
"The Third Man Theme" 1949
Music written and performed by Anton Karas, based on a melody Karas found in a book of zither etudes. Director Carol Reed was looking for a sound that would evoke the atmosphere of Vienna but wasn't waltz music. He heard Anton Karas, a zither player, performing in a beer garden as Reed was scouting out locations for the film. He asked Karas to score and perform for the film's sountrack, and Karas agreed, though he had no experience beyond playing in beer and wine gardens. The zither was a new, catchy yet odd sound for English and American audiences and provided a perfect atmosphere for the film, which was very much the story of a stranger in a strange land. And the melody stayed with audiences, quickly becoming a popular request. Karas released the tune as a single, but Guy Lombardo's version, with a guitar playing the lead, was the best-selling. The Faber guide estimates over 40 million recordings of different covers of the song have been sold. "The Third Man Theme" may also take credit for winning an audience for film music on its own. Following its success, it became standard practice to seek out catchy tunes for movie themes and to release them as singles. And virtually every soundtrack compilation through the mid-50s included a version of "The Third Man Theme." One source claims that, collectively, over 40 million copies of different renditions of the tune have been sold. Check with your neighbor if you don't own one.
The fact that Anton Karas took his melody from a practice book may hold the secret to the popularity of this song. It's one of the few standards that, as far as I know, no one ever attempted to put words to--which means it was material solely for instrumentalists. But what do instrumentalists have to offer the listener? Either fairly faithful renditions of popular melodies (for those for whom "the words get in the way") or demonstrations of technical proficiency in performance or arrangement. "The Third Man Theme" offers both.
Music written and performed by Anton Karas, based on a melody Karas found in a book of zither etudes. Director Carol Reed was looking for a sound that would evoke the atmosphere of Vienna but wasn't waltz music. He heard Anton Karas, a zither player, performing in a beer garden as Reed was scouting out locations for the film. He asked Karas to score and perform for the film's sountrack, and Karas agreed, though he had no experience beyond playing in beer and wine gardens. The zither was a new, catchy yet odd sound for English and American audiences and provided a perfect atmosphere for the film, which was very much the story of a stranger in a strange land. And the melody stayed with audiences, quickly becoming a popular request. Karas released the tune as a single, but Guy Lombardo's version, with a guitar playing the lead, was the best-selling. The Faber guide estimates over 40 million recordings of different covers of the song have been sold. "The Third Man Theme" may also take credit for winning an audience for film music on its own. Following its success, it became standard practice to seek out catchy tunes for movie themes and to release them as singles. And virtually every soundtrack compilation through the mid-50s included a version of "The Third Man Theme." One source claims that, collectively, over 40 million copies of different renditions of the tune have been sold. Check with your neighbor if you don't own one.
The fact that Anton Karas took his melody from a practice book may hold the secret to the popularity of this song. It's one of the few standards that, as far as I know, no one ever attempted to put words to--which means it was material solely for instrumentalists. But what do instrumentalists have to offer the listener? Either fairly faithful renditions of popular melodies (for those for whom "the words get in the way") or demonstrations of technical proficiency in performance or arrangement. "The Third Man Theme" offers both.
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