I've reviewed plenty of classy albums in my time, but this is not one of them, Tunes from the Toons is silly nostalgia. And why not. There is, of course, no really objective way to comment on an album like this as much depends on a fondness for the shows featured. I can safely say that as a young thing I enjoyed several of them, although I still to this day don't actually see why The Flintstones is even remotely funny, but it did sport a terrific theme tune as did most of the best known Hanna Barbera cartoons. In fact, the better the theme tune, the more popular the show, but the evidence on the titles music is all here, along with quite a few that evidently fell by the wayside. I mean, has anyone ever heard of Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har, Hokey Wolf or even Snooper & Blabber, none of which have especially memorable tunes.

There are quite a number which might well have been popular in America, but didn't have much in the way of longevity on British TV. I can't say I've ever heard of The Hair Bear Bunch or Secret Squirrel ("Ssshhhh!"), although I do recall the ludicrously absurd Touche Turtle - wonder who thought of that one... Josie & the Pussycats only has recognition due to the recent film version, but the swinging 60's TV tune is great fun. I'm not convinced that anyone should have attempted a film version of Scooby Doo, fun though the show was, but both themes from the small screen incarnations are minor TV classics. Several of the shows are treated to short selections of underscore, notably The Flintstones and Top Cat, which are not only great fun, but surprisingly un-Carl Stalling like.

It is interesting comparing how some of the themes have since been used for inspiration or spoof. Danny Elfman's classic theme for the The Simpsons owes something of a debt to the opening of The Jetsons, while Itchy and Scratchy's theme is clearly modeled on the ultra twee Pixie & Dixie. All the recordings are a little vintage sounding and it becomes a little tiring by the end, but I don't suppose anyone was recording kid's TV music with a view to an album release over thirty years later. A fun compilation for the big kid in everyone who remembers growing up with Hanna Barbera's memorable creations. Yabba, dabba doo!!

Rating ~

    Dastardly & Muttley
  1. Main Title (1:15)
  2. End Title (0:47)
    Top Cat
  3. Main Title (0:43)
  4. Underscore (5:42)
  5. End Title ((0:46)
    Yogi Bear
  6. Main Title (0:46)
  7. Sub-Main Title (0:10)
  8. End Title (0:46)
    The Flintstones
  9. Main Title (0:39)
  10. Underscore (5:22)
  11. Flintstones Jazz (4:50)
  12. End Title (0:47)
    Huckleberry Bear
  13. Main Title (0:42)
  14. End Title (0:45)
    Perils of Penelope Pitstop
  15. Main Title (1:03)
  16. End Title (0:52)
    Snooper & Blabber
  17. Syndicated Titles with Sub-Title (0:25)
  18. Underscore and End Title (5:13)
    The Jetsons
  19. Main Title (0:59)
  20. Underscore (5:39)
  21. End Title (0:46)
    Hair Bear Bunch
  22. Main Title (0:51)
  23. End Title (0:33)
  24. Secret Squirrel Main Title (0:45)
  25. Hong Kong Phooey Main Title (1:02)
    Josie & the Pussycats
  26. Main Title (1:02)
  27. End Title (0:49)
    Scooby Doo
  28. Scooby Doo, Where are You? (1:03)
  29. End Title (0:32)
  30. The New Scooby Doo Movies Main Title (1:04)
    Touche Turtle
  31. Main Title (0:27)
  32. End Title (0:10)
    Wally Gator
  33. Main Title (0:26)
  34. End Title (0:10)
    Pixie & Dixie
  35. Main Title (0:25)
  36. Sub-Main Title (0:10)
  37. End Title (0:10)
    Quick Draw McGraw
  38. Main Title (0:46)
  39. Sub-Main Title (0:10)
  40. End title (0:44)
    Snagglepuss
  41. Main Title (0:25)
  42. End Title (0:10)
  43. Hokey Wolf Syndicated Titles with Sub-Main Title (0:25)
  44. Augie Doggie Syndicated Titles with Sub-Main Title (0:26)
  45. Yakky Doodle Syndicated Titles with Sub-Main Title (0:25)
  46. Lippy the Lion & Hardy Har Har Main Title (0:27)
  47. Wacky Races Main Title (1:15)
  48. Tra La La Song - Banana Splits Theme (1:26)

Total Time ~ 55:31