"Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" | ||||
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Single by John Williams | ||||
from the album Close Encounters of the Third Kind | ||||
B-side | "Nocturnal Pursuit" | |||
Released | December 1977 | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 3:13 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Songwriter(s) | John Williams | |||
Producer(s) | John Williams, Rick Chertoff | |||
John Williams singles chronology | ||||
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"Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a 1978 instrumental hit single by composer John Williams. It is the main theme of the soundtrack of the movie of the same name. The song became a hit in the United States (#13) and Canada (#12) during the winter of that year.
A few months before the release of the song, Williams had released a competing version of Star Wars theme music, "Star Wars (Main Title)," which reached number 10 on the US Billboard chart, while "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" was a number one hit for Meco. Both artists simultaneously again issued competing versions of scores from the Close Encounters movie. This time Williams' original score came out on top, peaking at number 13, while Meco's version reached number 25.
In 1979, "Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" won a Grammy award for best instrumental composition.
Weekly charts
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In 1977, Gene Page recorded a disco version of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." His version peaked on the R&B chart at #30 in 1978.
"Crystal Chandelier" is a 1965 Country song written by Ted Harris and popularized by Charley Pride. The original rendition was sung by Carl Belew. His version reached number 12 on the U.S. Billboard Country chart. It was the first of three charting singles from Belew's eighth studio album, Twelve Shades of Belew.
"Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" is a song recorded by Meco, taken from the album Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 1, 1977, holding on to the spot for two weeks and peaked at no. 7 on the UK Singles Chart, remaining in the charts for nine weeks. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, having sold a million units.
"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" is a song recorded by Neil Sedaka, co-written by Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Sedaka recorded this song twice, in 1962 and 1975, in two significantly different arrangements, and it is considered to be his signature song. Between 1970 and 1975, it was a top-40 hit three separate times for three separate artists: Lenny Welch, The Partridge Family and Sedaka's second version.
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"Have You Never Been Mellow" is a song recorded by British-Australian singer Olivia Newton-John for her 1975 fifth studio album of the same name. Written and produced by John Farrar, the song was released as the lead single from the album in January 1975.
"Whatcha Gonna Do?" is a song by American rock group Pablo Cruise. This song was written by David Jenkins and Cory Lerios, two of the band's members. "Whatcha Gonna Do?" was a track from their album A Place in the Sun in 1977.
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"One Hundred Ways" is a 1981 single released from Quincy Jones's album The Dude on A&M Records. The song features James Ingram on vocals. The song reached number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1982. It was a bigger Adult Contemporary hit, reaching number five in the U.S. and number six in Canada. "One Hundred Ways" received the 1982 Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance.
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"Sooner or Later" is a 1971 hit song by The Grass Roots. It was released as a single and put on their third compilation album, Their 16 Greatest Hits. It reached number 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming their third and last top ten hit.
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"Out of the Question" is a popular song by Irish singer Gilbert O'Sullivan. It was written by O'Sullivan and produced by Gordon Mills.
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