I’ve always been fascinated by a specific type of sound produced by American arrangers between 1975-1978. Themes by Allyn Ferguson & Jack Elliot (known for the Charlies Angels and Starsky and Hutch themes), Billy Goldenberg’s Kojak and Columbo, Oliver Nelson’s Six Million Dollar Man, Mark Snow’s Hart to Hart, Pat Williams’ Streets of San Francisco or Rhythm Heritage’s Theme From S.W.A.T. to name a few. Clearly I’ve missed a lot of other composers of that era such as Schifrin, Mancini, Grusin, J. J. Johnson, Silvestri, Gil Mellé...
But particularly the Allyn Ferguson & Jack Elliot compositions often seem to have a great sound. Variations around a main theme, lots of horn and string arrangements, muted trumpets, fluttering flute runs, bassoon, scratchy wah guitar, and a heavy dose of percussion (including a lot of triangle which I haven’t heard a lot outside that four-year span). Maybe it’s the child in me that refuses to grow up, but I just can’t let go of those few years (even if I wasn't around by then, just).
Some hard working soul has put together as best they can the below soundtrack for “Bnack”, involving Quincy Jones. I’m still trying to find out what “Bnack” is.
“Bnack (score suite #1; Allyn Ferguson and Jack Elliott)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAPxMmi54X0
Another enjoyable song is Oliver Nelson’s 1975 Six Million Dollar Man theme with Richard 'Groove' Holmes on organ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEXkjl2xSMc