THEME = TV songs: Alice, All In The Family & Ally McBeal

Coinciding with “Tuesday TV” (10p US central), each Tuesday edition of “CD Showcase Memories” will feature several TV tunes, including some full songs you may or may not know or have heard.

#1 “Alice” | CBS | 08/31/1976 – 03/19/1985
The theme song, “There’s A New Girl In Town”, was written by David Shire, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman; it was performed by Linda Lavin (“Alice”). These are 3 of the many versions used during the series’ run.
a:

b:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3T2Dh-PtXg
c:

FYI: this series is based on the 1974 movie ‘Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore’. After Polly Holliday (“Flo”) departed after Season 4, Diane Ladd [played “Flo” in the movie & later guest-starred as Grace’s Mom on “Grace Under Fire”, the series with scenes from Elgin IL] joined the cast as “Belle” for Season 5 (also appearing in Season 4); then, Seasons 5-9, Celia Weston joined as “Jolene”, a distant cousin of Jefferson Davis Hogg, “Boss Hogg” from another famous CBS series. Boss Hogg & Enos guest-starred on an episode of “Alice”.

#2 “All In The Family” | CBS | 01/12/1971 – 04/08/1979
The theme song, “Those Were The Days”, was written by Lee Adams & Charles Strouse; it was uniquely presented with Carroll O’Connor & Jean Stapleton seated at a piano & singing it. This is the full version with the version played with the ending credits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs58_ZvsbBI
FYI: this series was the 1st to top the Nielsen ratings for 5 consecutive years. 1 of several spinoffs was “Archie Bunker’s Place” which picked up where this series ended; it lasted until 1983.

#3 “Ally McBeal” | FOX | 09/08/1997 – 05/20/2002
The theme song, “Searchin’ My Soul”, was sung by Vonda Shepard, a virtually unknown musician at the time. Shepard was featured throughout, usually at the end of episodes as a performer in a local piano bar the main characters frequented. Though Shepard performed many songs in their entirety, the theme song was never played in full on the show. The version in this video is the full song, which was released from the album ‘Songs From Ally McBeal’ in 1998 & peaked at #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

FYI: this series was 1 of 2 debuting in 1997 to last more than 3 seasons; the other was “Dharma & Greg”.