Certain television themes have become such a part of America’s collective memory that virtually every generation recognizes them. Iconic themes like Dragnet, Mission: Impossible and even Jeopardy demonstrate the power of one unforgettable tune (or even a single phrase) to evoke an entire pop culture phenomenon.

Morton Stevens’s theme from Hawaii Five-0 certainly belongs to this elite group of TV music legends. It makes a triumphant return to the airwaves with the series’ rebirth on CBS in September, 2010, and FSM is celebrating the occasion with the first-ever CD release of Capitol Records’ soundtrack LP for the original series.

Unlike many TV albums of the 1960s which involved new arrangements and re-recordings of series themes, the Hawaii Five-0 album was drawn from the actual TV recording sessions. Working with his friend and album producer Mel Taylor, Stevens chose to include a balance of both dramatic underscore and more radio-friendly jazz and rock material from the series. The album thus gives a more complete picture of the musical versatility that Stevens—trained at Julliard but also very experienced in popular music—brought to the show.

01. Hawaii Five-0 (1:32)
02. Call to Danger (1:48)
03. McGarrett’s Theme (2:25)
04. Front Street (2:42)
05. The Long Wait (2:18)
06. Blues Trip (3:14)
07. The Floater (2:23)
08. Interlude (1:53)
09. Operation Smash (2:05)
10. Beach Trip (2:30)
11. Up Tight (2:05)
12. The Chase/Hawaii Five-0 (4:36)

Total Time: 29:59