Why does nobody talk about how Crockett's Theme kills any modern synth track?

I mean, I used to think newer synthwave was where it's at, but after a buddy played me the original Miami Vice score from the 80s, I realized Jan Hammer was doing better melodies 40 years ago. Has anyone else just given up on modern synth music after hearing Crockett's Theme?

3 comments

3 Comments

wyatt13511d ago

The 1985 pressing of "The First Seven Days" on vinyl is where it really shines, I hunted down a copy last year. And yeah @blake792 you're dead on, that album came first before the show. The whole thing sounds like one long mood piece, way better than the chopped up versions you find on compilations. I gave up on most modern synthwave after that too, it all feels like it's missing that raw analog warmth. Jan Hammer was just a real musician playing actual keyboard parts, not just stacking presets in a DAW. The closest I've found to that old sound is some of the obscure italo disco reissues, but even those don't hit the same.

blake79211d ago

Wait, is Crockett's Theme actually from the 80s Miami Vice score... I thought it was from the 1990s Grand Theft auto Vice City soundtrack? Jan Hammer did the whole Miami Vice soundtrack in the 80s yeah, but that specific track first showed up on his 1985 album "The First Seven Days" before it got used on the show. So you're right it's 40 years old, just wanted to clear that up.

max_brown11d ago

Been there. If you're diving into any of that 80s synth stuff, just grab the original Jan Hammer albums. The Miami Vice soundtrack compilations cut some tracks weird and the GTA versions are compressed to hell. His solo work from that era sounds way better.