ASM 058
im Vertrieb von / distributed by:
Indigo
LP 26495-1
CD 26495-2
Peter Thomas Sound Orchester
Derrick & Der Alte - Music from the original tv-series (1974-1984)
DERRICK turns 50 this year. Although the best-selling German TV series has been somewhat quiet about lately due to the posthumous revelation of Chief Inspector-actor Horst Tappert's Nazi past, this has not dampened its success and popularity. And a comparable crime series continues to this day: DER ALTE. The unifying element and theme of this album are the soundtracks by Peter Thomas, who gave both series a musical dream start.
Peter Thomas composed the music for the first DERRICK episode “Waldweg” (1974). Six more episodes followed. The composer and musician even made a cameo appearance in the DERRICK episode “Tod des Trompeters” (1976), where he is in the audience of singer Sabrina (Emy Cesaroni) and briefly interacts with her. The corresponding song “Ohne Dich ist es Nacht” was once a successful single and can also be heard on this album. Peter Thomas even wrote the theme music for the first 100 episodes of the TV crime series DER ALTE, which was launched in 1977. In addition to the pilot film “Die Dienstreise”, he also scored three other episodes, including the scandalous episode “Der Alte schlägt 2x zu”.
DERRICK aka. INSPECTEUR DERRICK, L’ISPETTORE DERRICK
DER ALTE aka. THE OLD FOX, LE RENARD, IL COMMISSARIO KÖSTER
LP and CD track list:
LP side A
01 The House of the Rising Sun (My life as a girl) Derrick 17: Der Tod des Trompeters (1976)
02 Opium Derrick 17: Der Tod des Trompeters (1976)
03 Ohne Dich ist es Nacht Derrick 17: Der Tod des Trompeters (1976)
04 Sophisti-Cat Derrick 23: Auf eigene Faust (1976)
05 Musikant am Schwabylon* Derrick 23: Auf eigene Faust (1976)
06 Zahltag* Derrick 25: Das Bordfest (1976)
07 Bordkapelle* Derrick 25: Das Bordfest (1976)
08 Milky Way Derrick 33: Offene Rechnung (1977)
LP side B
09 Der Alte - Titelmusik Der Alte 1-100
10 Verfolgungsjagd* Der Alte 1: Die Dienstreise (1977)
11 Tod im Olympiadorf* Der Alte 1: Die Dienstreise (1977)
12 Go Der Alte 3: Der Alte schlägt zweimal zu (1977)
13 Der Stoff aus dem die Träume sind Der Alte 10: Erkältung im Sommer (1978)
14 Alleingang* Der Alte 76: Alleingang (1984)
15 Eine Million* Der Alte 76: Alleingang (1984)
50 years of Derrick bonus tracks (CD and LP):
16 Stephan & Harry ermitteln* Derrick 1: Waldweg (1974)
17 Isar-Disco* Derrick 1: Waldweg (1974)
CD bonus tracks:
18 Two versions of Der Alte - Titelmusik moderated by Peter Thomas*
19 Ohne Dich ist es Nacht demo version sung by Peter Thomas*
* Previously unreleased
Musically, the spectrum ranges from a discofox version of “The House Of The Rising Sun” to easy listening as well as krautrock and funky instrumentals. It's surprising how experimental people were in the seventies when it came to the musical equipment of TV series, before the synthesizers overtook everything in the eighties.
More than half of the tracks on this album are previously unreleased, so we can confidently speak of a premiere. As a bonus, two tracks from the first DERRICK episode are included, which have turned up in the estate of Peter Thomas. From the same source - but only included on the CD for reasons of space - come the presentation of two versions of the “DER ALTE” title theme presented by Peter Thomas and a demo version of “Ohne Dich Ist Es Nacht” sung by himself.
Following Bruce Lee: The Big Boss, Winnetou and Old Firehand, Steiner - Cross of Iron 2 and Edgar Wallace this is the fifth LP/CD release in a series dedicated to composer Peter Thomas (1925-2020).
The illustrations on and in the gatefold cover of the LP and the digipack of the CD, which perfectly reflect the look of the series, were created by Adrian Keindorf. The LP is released on black 180g vinyl as well as in a limited edition of 200 copies in “trenchcoat beige” 180g vinyl, both in lined inner sleeves.
MINT [February 2025]: “In addition to the standard pressing, which sounds fresh and crisp and illustrates the effort Peter Thomas put into producing music for TV in the 70s, there is also a limited edition with trenchcoat beige vinyl.”
Colonne Sonore [January 2025]: “Musically, the sound spectrum ranges from a disco version of ‘The House Of The Rising Sun’ by The Animals to easy listening, with influences ranging from a certain ‘metronomic’ and ‘Krautrock’ psychedelia to pure funk sound (listen to the dynamic and resonant ‘Opium’ with its quote from Strauss' ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’).”
Münchner Merkur [November 30, 2024]: “Munich murder music - star composer Peter Thomas created the ‘Derrick’ sound of the early years, between funk, jazz and disco. This is what Munich sounded like in the 70s and 80s”
Cinesoundz [February 2025]: “All in all, a remarkable 11 of the 19 tracks that testify to the mid-seventies experimentation and playfulness of Thomas' sound orchestra have surfaced in the estate of Peter Thomas and are thus previously unreleased.”
Monsters & Critics [January 2025]: The songs are a piece of music history and once again show the creativity of Peter Thomas and his orchestra. 10 out of 10 points ”
