“Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale” – these words might evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time when television theme songs were more than just background music. They were introductions, mood setters, and often, mini-stories themselves. “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name,” and in the realm of TV theme songs, there’s a certain comfort in revisiting the classics. “Here’s a story… of a lovely” era when these musical pieces served to define and distinguish each television program. “You take the good, take the bad, take them both and there you have” what many consider a sadly declining art form. “Believe it or not,” it seems the importance of the TV theme song has diminished, perhaps since Seinfeld demonstrated that a simple synth riff could suffice. “Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!” While this feature can’t promise to “make all our dreams come true”, it aims to celebrate some of the most memorable TV theme songs from the past, particularly highlighting the iconic tunes of the 1980s. “Come aboard, we’re expecting you.”
This time, we’re diving into the heartwarming theme song from Family Ties, titled “Without Us”. “*I bet we’ve been together for a million years, and I’ll bet we’ll be together for a million more…” Family Ties premiered in September 1982 and graced television screens for seven seasons, totaling 180 episodes until its finale in 1989. For many, it remains a beloved sitcom of the decade, and its theme song is equally cherished as one of the best TV theme songs of the 80s.
“Without Us” is a testament to the collaborative genius of Jeff Barry and Tom Scott. Barry, a songwriting legend, co-authored numerous chart-topping hits in the 1960s, including classics like “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” “Da Doo Ron Ron,” and “River Deep – Mountain High,” to name just a few from his extensive catalog. Scott, son of prolific composer Nathan Scott, had already made his mark with the theme song “Gotcha!” for Starsky and Hutch and contributed to various television scores in the 70s. He later transitioned to film scores in the 80s and is also a Grammy-winning saxophonist, boasting collaborations on over 500 recordings, including several hits from the 80s.
In an insightful interview, Tom Scott shared the story behind creating “Without Us”:
I got a call from Al Bart (my film & TV composing agent at the time) to meet with Gary David Goldberg, creator of Family Ties to discuss the theme. Gary chose producer-songwriter Jeff Barry to partner with me as the lyricist. We decided that the song should have an upbeat feel and took a couple of days apart to mess around with ideas. After that, Jeff called with an announcement that he had basically written the hook of the song and it was called “What Would We Do Without Us?” He sang his melody for me and I told him I thought the idea needed some refinement. After some experimentation at home, I added the word “baby” to the middle, which broke up the phrase nicely, I thought. “What Would We Do… Ba-by… With-out Us?”
I called Jeff and he agreed with my addition so we immediately made plans to meet and compose the rest of the song. In that one meeting, we came up with the verse and ending, totaling the one minute we needed. The show debuted in 1982, but didn’t become a big hit until 1984, when it was slotted after the debuting The Cosby Show. That, combined with Michael J. Fox’s success in Back To The Future, launched us into the top five television shows for three years running.
Initially, for the first season’s ten episodes, “Without Us” was performed by Dennis Tufano and Mindy Sterling. However, for the remainder of the series, the iconic voices of Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams took over. Their duet brought an extra layer of warmth and sweetness to the song, perfectly complementing the family-centric themes of the show. The combination of Mathis’s smooth tenor and Williams’s soulful soprano elevated the theme song to another level of memorability. Here is the opening theme for Family Ties featuring “Without Us” performed by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams:
[Video Placeholder – Insert YouTube Embed of Family Ties Theme Song]
The “Sha-la-la-la” at the song’s conclusion is undeniably catchy and adds to its charm. For many who grew up watching Family Ties, hearing “Without Us” instantly triggers a wave of 80s nostalgia. It’s a testament to the power of a well-crafted TV theme song to become deeply intertwined with our memories and pop culture landscape. “Sit, Ubu, sit. Good dog.”
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed this nostalgic “episode” revisiting the magic of classic TV Theme Songs!
