{{Infobox album | name = Theme Songs | type = compilation<!--<ref name="American Record Guide" />--> | artist = various artists | cover = Theme Songs.jpg | alt = | caption = | border = | released = {{Start date|1948||}} | recorded = | studio = | genre = | length = | label = RCA Victor | misc = }} '''''Theme Songs Played by the Bands Who Made Them Famous''''' (or simply '''''Theme Songs''''') is a various artists album of phonograph records released in 1948 by RCA Victor.
The back cover reads: "RCA Victor presents the signature songs of eight great popular bands."
== Release == The album was originally issued by RCA Victor as a set of four 78-rpm phonograph records (cat. no. P-217).<ref name="Steinway Review of Permanent Music" /><!--<ref>{{cite web | title=American Record Guide | date=1947 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wOILAQAAIAAJ&q=the+signature+tunes+of+Tommy+Dorsey,+Tex }}</ref>-->
Later, the album was made available on 45 rpm (cat. no. WP-217) and 33⅓ rpm (cat. no. EPB 3007).
== Critical reception == {{Album ratings |rev1= ''American Record Guide'' |rev1score=(favorable)<ref name="American Record Guide" /> |rev2= ''Steinway Review of Permanent Music'' |rev2score=(favorable)<ref name="Steinway Review of Permanent Music">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PUYbAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Theme+Songs%22+%22P-217%22+review |title=Steinway Review of Permanent Music |magazine=Steinway Review of Permanent Music |volume= |page=10 |date=1948 |access-date=May 27, 2026 |quote=}}</ref> }} ''Steinway Review of Permanent Music'' gave a favorable review, writing: "Having a party and want big-name bands to entertain your guests? Then be sure to hear the signature tunes of Tommy Dorsey, Tex Beneke, Vaughn Monroe, Freddy Martin, Sammy Kaye, and others in RCA Victor P-217, ''Theme Songs''."<ref name="Steinway Review of Permanent Music" />
''American Record Guide'' assessed the album as a "sure-fire hit" and continued: "<!--Every disc's a repressing, and, according to personal preferences, welcome ones. -->These are pi[e]ces by which the orchestras introduce themselves on the air. They became signature tunes because they were a notch or two higher than their usual fare and more than a shade better as arrangements. Unreservedly recommended."<ref name="American Record Guide">{{cite web | title=American Record Guide | date=1947 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G3QfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22A+sure-fire+hit+as+every+number+is%22 }}</ref>
== Chart performance == The album reached No. 1 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Best-Selling Popular Record Albums chart.<ref name="Billboard 16 October 1948">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ix4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33 | title=Best-Selling Popular Record Albums | magazine=Billboard | page=33 | date=October 16, 1948 | access-date=May 27, 2026}}</ref>
== Track listing == '''Set of four records''' (RCA Victor P-217){{refn|<ref name="Steinway Review of Permanent Music" /><ref>{{cite web | title=Billboard | date=January 1949 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AhcEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Theme+Songs+%3B+Tex+Beneke+%2C+Tommy+Dorsey+%2C+Larry+Green+%2C+Sammy+Kaye+%2C+Wayne+King+%2C+Freddy+Martin+%2C+Vaughn+Monroe+%2C+and+Their+Orchestras&pg=PT14 }}</ref>}} – listed on ''Billboard''{{'s}} charts as PT-17<ref name="Billboard 16 October 1948" /> {{Track listing | headline = 20-2932-A | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
| all_writing = | all_lyrics = | all_music =
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| title1 = I'm Getting Sentimental over You | note1 = from the Samuel Goldwyn film ''A Song Is Born'' | writer1 = Ned Washington—George Bassman | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Tommy Dorsey's theme song)<br />Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2932-B | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = Moonlight Serenade | note1 = | writer1 = Glenn Miller | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Tex Beneke's theme song)<br />Tex Beneke and his orchestra | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2933-A | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 | note1 = | writer1 = Arranged by Jack Fina | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Freddy Martin's theme song)<br />Freddy Martin and his orchestra<br />Jack Fina, pianiet | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2933-B | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = Racing with the Moon | note1 = | writer1 = Watson–Moore–Pope | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Vaughn Monroe's theme song)<br />Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra<br />Vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2934-A | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = The Waltz You Saved for Me | note1 = | writer1 = Kahn–King–Flindt | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Wayne King's theme song)<br />Wayne King and his orchestra | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2934-B | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = Twilight Time | note1 = | writer1 = Ram—M. & A. Nevins—Dunn | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (The Three Suns theme song)<br />The Three Suns | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2935-A | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = Kaye's Melody | note1 = | writer1 = Sammy Kaye | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Sammy Kaye's theme song)<br />Swing and Sway With Sammy Kaye | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = 20-2935-B | extra_column = Note(s) | total_length =
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| title1 = My Promise to You | note1 = Adapted from Chopin's Nocturne in D | writer1 = Ervin Drake—Jimmy Shirl | lyrics1 = | music1 = | extra1 = (Larry Green's theme song)<br />Larry Green and his orchestra | length1 = }}
== Charts == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !scope="col"| Chart (1948) !scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- !scope="row" align="left"| US ''Billboard'' Best-Selling Popular Record Albums<ref name="Billboard 16 October 1948" /> | 1 |}
== See also == * List of ''Billboard'' Best-Selling Popular Record Albums number ones of 1948
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Various artists albums Category:1948 compilation albums Category:RCA Victor compilation albums