Sanford And Son Theme Song – CliqueClack Flashback

The Streetbeater.  Better known as the theme to the situation comedy Sanford And Son from the late, great 1970’s.

Everyone recognizes it instantly.  And I mean everyone.  Can you think of a single soul who cannot relate to that signature bass and harmonica?

“dum-dum-dum dum-dum …..

….. bomp-womp-womp womp-womp waaaah-waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh ……”

The song was originally composed by Quincy Jones and was a standout tune, defining television at that time.  (It was so popular, it was included on Jones’ greatest hits album.)  And today, it’s still as listenable as ever.

As a kid, it was one of the few tunes I immediately took to.  It got me to perform the inevitable silly kid dances when I heard it.  It was an end-of-the-week staple in my house and — while I never watched it as a kid — I always knew when 8:00 p.m. came around, its jaunty twang coming out the old console unit from our family room, parents comfortably planted on the imitation leather couch with beverages in hand.  It’s as if it were proof not only that it was a Friday night, but that the weekend was about to unfold.

In later years, it became one of my signature themes.  Especially when “garage sale-ing.”  My cousin used to refer to me as “Fred Sanford,” whistling it when I came around late on a Saturday morning, my car filled to the brim with garage sale treasures, old records, vintage toys and kitschy ’60s lamps.  “Whatcha pick up today, Fred?” he’d ask in a drawl.  (My family … full of comedians.)

The CliqueClack team was asked for their thoughts on the song.  Our own Debbie McDuffee‘s memories of it are summed up thusly:  “For some reason, I have vague memories of my class-clown brother squawking along and dancing (maybe even armpit farting) to this song when the show aired in syndication the afternoons.”  That must have been a scene.

Others can relate to the track with the videos below from the show Scrubs.

But no matter where and when it’s played, the theme from Sanford and Son will forever go down as one of the all-time great television themes.  I defy anyone to challenge me on this point.

Clacked by Michael Noble
on Apr 28, 2010 @ 15:30 EST5EDT