1960 Songs: Peter Gunn
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (73611)
United States
April 10, 2025 11:44am CST
Lookie here, another instrumental! This is the second one (after “Buckaroo” on the 1965 list), and we have three more instrumentals to go as I celebrate the music of the 60s as I settle into my mid-60s! Let’s go back to the year of my birth for another great classic.
Peter Gunn - Duane Eddy and the Rebels
Peter Gunn was the first private eye that was created for the little screen, NOT “based on” detectives from novels. The TV show was created by Blake Edwards, who was best known for doing the Pink Panther movies (and being Dame Julie Andrews’ husband 
). And, quite possibly, for having THE coolest TV theme song of the era…or maybe ever.
The great Henry Mancini did the TV theme, but Duane Eddy, the “king of twang guitar,” came along with his own rendition. Both the Mancini version and Eddy’s made the top 40.
Since then, this song has been pretty ubiquitous. If you’ve ever seen The Blues Brothers, it’s in that movie. And heck, I think I need to make a ringtone of it for my phone. 
Peter Gunn
Written by Henry Mancini
Recorded by Duane Eddy and the Rebels
From Especially for You, 1960
Dance along!
). And, quite possibly, for having THE coolest TV theme song of the era…or maybe ever.
The great Henry Mancini did the TV theme, but Duane Eddy, the “king of twang guitar,” came along with his own rendition. Both the Mancini version and Eddy’s made the top 40.
Since then, this song has been pretty ubiquitous. If you’ve ever seen The Blues Brothers, it’s in that movie. And heck, I think I need to make a ringtone of it for my phone.
Peter Gunn
Written by Henry Mancini
Recorded by Duane Eddy and the Rebels
From Especially for You, 1960
Dance along!Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
11 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
You need this as a theme song. It’s cool, like you! 
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (49278)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Apr
@FourWalls 
Somebody put words to it but I can't remember who... sung by a woman, I think... or maybe I'm hallucinating again.
Somebody put words to it but I can't remember who... sung by a woman, I think... or maybe I'm hallucinating again.2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
@BarBaraPrz — nope, Sarah Vaughan did the vocal version (see reply to Crossbones for the link).
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
You need to watch The Blues Brothers. Watch it with the fluffy Wigglebutt cat of your choice.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
@NJChicaa — JAKE: “Four fried chickens and a Coke.” ELWOOD: “And some dry white toast.”
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (122349)
• United States
10 Apr
@FourWalls I watched part of it with my ex once. All I remember is something about 2 something-or-others and a loaf of bread or something. Clearly you can see it stuck with me.
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (50313)
• Mojave, California
10 Apr
I have to admit that is a cool beat. I love lyrics, but they were so smart to leave lyrics out of it. We so cool, we do not need no stinking lyrics. 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
No stinking badges and no stinking lyrics! Livingston and Evans came along later and did put words to it, and Sarah Vaughan did it in 1965. Not necessary. Like the theme to Hawaii Five-O, they later put lyrics to that.
Livingston and Evans came along later and did put words to it, and Sarah Vaughan did it in 1965. Not necessary. Like the theme to Hawaii Five-O, they later put lyrics to that.Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
2 people like this
@crossbones27 (50313)
• Mojave, California
10 Apr
@FourWalls I i did not know that , not bad at first, then seems to get carried away. Not good enough, so just leave them out, but guess it could be fun to try.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
11 Apr
@rebelann — you’ll see what I mean shortly.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
11 Apr
Your fingers will get tired on the next ‘65 song.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
11 Apr
Great theme…just great music, TV theme or not.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (187808)
• United States
10 Apr
I have heard that music before. I had no idea it was by Henry Mancini,such a genius
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
10 Apr
Indeed he was. Mancini remains one of the most honored Grammy winners of all time.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
11 Apr
Great “theme” music, too. What you’d like to have playing when you walk into the DVM.
@LindaOHio (186650)
• United States
12 Apr
Oh yeah. I remember this. Perhaps not this version? For the TV and movies idea, there's Mancini and Burt Bacharach. So much good music back then and I like so many of the old musicals.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
12 Apr
Mancini and Bacharach ruled. Their music still rules.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
14 Apr
@LindaOHio — you were. You commented on them. January-March 2023.
Here’s the TV theme tag list.
Here you'll find discussions related to the term 'tv theme songs' as tagged by myLot users.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (186650)
• United States
14 Apr
@FourWalls How long ago did you do the TV and movie themes. Was I here?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (73611)
• United States
11 Apr
Our baseball players here have what they call “walk-up music,” a song that plays while they come to bat in a game. We ALL need that in our lives, and this would be GREAT for walking into a restaurant. 1 person likes this
@grenery8 (15764)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
14 Apr
@FourWalls i thought that was only in movies, that's great. i would also love some entrance music or something
1 person likes this
