Star Trek Theme Archaeology

Exciting news in the field of Star Trek theme archaeology.

Loyal Trekkies will recall that there were two versions of the title theme in season one: the first had the theme performed by electric violin, recorded by Alexander Courage during the session for “The Man Trap.” This was replaced by a version with the theme played by celli, arranged and recorded by Fred Steiner.

But when exactly was the change made? We haven’t been sure, since the episodes in circulation now don’t adhere to the original mixes.

Neil Bulk wrote me to say we now have the answer, based on cassettes a collector recorded off the syndication broadcasts back in the day.

It’s all in the Home Theater Forum, but in short, the electric violin version was on the first five completed episodes:

The Man Trap Charlie X Where No Man Has Gone Before

The Naked Time Mudd’s Women

I say “completed” because “Mudd’s Women” was actually finished fifth, but switched with “The Enemy Within” so as to avoid back-to-back episodes of an “evil Kirk twin” (the seventh aired episode is “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” with the Kirk android imposter).

There you go!