This post replaces my previous post relating to production music used by ESPN’s Baseball Tonight, due to my identifying and finding several more tracks. I wanted to reorganize the information in a chronological – and hopefully more orderly and legible – form, because the change in the music employed over the 20 year span of 1990-2009 is sweeping. It ranges from ‘80s/’90s synths to indie rock and even some Southern country, then into the aggressive guitars of hard rock and metal, at a time when production music in other venues was becoming less distinctive.
Whether this change was a good one or not is up for debate!
In an effort to research the few remaining tracks from 1994-1996, I expanded my research to the beginning of the show in 1990. This probably wasn't the best idea.
At this point, 220 separate tracks have been identified for this span; I’m still looking for several others, some of which I’ve posted already elsewhere on this board. Here’s what I’ve found, in order of reported release date:
1983
Amphonic
SUPERCHARGED (AVF16) / HIT THE HEIGHTS (AVF64, re-released): Hit the Heights
1985
AirCraft
AD-VICE (ACL018): City Heat – Alternate **
1986
Amphonic/Sound Stage
ACTION PACK (AVF 40): The Winner, Tour de France
Bruton
SEEDS OF CHANGE (BRL20): Video Wall (A)
1987
Atmosphere
SPECTACULAR (ATMOSCD 002): Spectacular 2
JW / Josef Weinberger Music
HERE AT LAST! (JW 2001): Here at Last **, Workout
Manhattan
METRO-PULSE (MPM012): Elephant Rock, Metro Pulse, Ollie's Grill, The Strip
1988
Atmosphere
MOVE IT! (ATMOS005): Transmission
AirCraft
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE (ACL-020): Tough Cats - Underscore
JW / Josef Weinberger Music
CORPORATE IMAGE (JW 2013): Corporate Identity ***
Manhattan
HIGH ENERGY ROCK, TOO (MPM020): Punk Funk
Primrose
POP ON THE TOP (PRM-0014): Castaway Radio, China Doll, Winter Eagle
DYNAMIC (PRM-0017): Dancing in the Street, Sports Training
1989
Atmosphere
IDENTITY (ATMOSCD 008): Street Level
SPORTING EDGE (ATMOSCD 011): Freefall, Sportsnight, Superbowl
Cavendish
CAVENDISH PRESENTS FREESTYLERS: CRUISE THE GROOVE (or "Grove", if you go by the cover) (catalog # ???): Hazard
(also reported as a track on Cavendish's album, Impact!, released the following year)
De Wolfe
STRENGTH TO STRENGTH (DWCD 0056): Winning Margin
KPM
GET REAL (KPM85): Work Station (A)
MusicHouse
GOLDRUSH (MHE12): Overdrive, Trial Run, Cheerleader, Winner Takes All, Fast Cutting, Sporting Thrills, The Runner
Sonoton
WINNING (SCD042): Upgrade Part 1
1990
AirCraft
ACTION! (ACL-037): Bad Boys
Atmosphere
POP ADVENTURE (ATMOSCD 018): Winning, Big City
Berlin
POWERBOX (BER1131): Blue Box, Modern Times
Cavendish
SCREENSPORT (CAVCD027): Screensport - Underscore, Sportsworld - Underscore
Chappell
FRONT RUNNERS (CHAPAV036): Super League
AMERICAN DRAMA 2 (CHAP142): Narcotic Vice, The Heat Is On (b) (Strange choices, both long tracks with intros removed)
Firstcom
MOTIVATION (FC-A5): ASAP, Dealin'
MusicHouse
ROCK GUITAR (MHE21): Rocky
Network
DANCIN' HEAT (NM083): Steam Heat
1991
AirCraft
ACTION … TAKE 2 (ACL041): Axe Man – Underscore **, Breakneck, Road Warriors - Underscore****
Firstcom
PHOTO FINISH (FC-A8): Hero Worship, Reel 1 Highlights ***
CLASSIC ROCK (FC-A9): Rock Steady
Kosinus
SPEED (KOS08): Killer
1992
Firstcom
ALL AMERICAN HERO (FC-A11): Emergency Rescue – Underscore **
FULL THROTTLE (FC-A12): Glitter System 2***
MusicHouse
RAVING MAD (MH29): Stock Car Racer **
1993
Atmosphere
YOUTH CULTURE 1 (ATMOS047): Jazzmatazz
SPORTING FREEWAY (ATMOS048): Frankie Vice
Bruton
GRUNGE ROCK (BR173_BRH58): Post Modern Hippie
Chappell
ROCK THEMES (CHAPAV062): Motor Tracker, Rock Chicks *
* track was used for “In Orbit / Going, Going, Gone” for several years, listing the day’s home runs and hitters, an end-of-show regular feature
SPORTS (CHAPAV060): Powerboat Racing - Underscore
Firstcom
METAL FURY (FC-A16): In Your Face
Sound Stage/Amphonic
HARD ROCK (AVF109): In Too Deep **, Rebellion, Rocking Good Time
Tele Music
INDUSTRIAL ACTION 3: GOING FOR THE GOLD (TELE1037): Full Power - Underscore, Corporate Cool (b)
1994
Chappell
SPORTS/ROCK (CHAPAV072): Freefall Aerobatics (a), Jet Ski Racer (b), Snowboarding (a), Super Trucks (b)
ROCK VOCALS (CHAPAV075): The Days of My Life **
De Wolfe
INDIE, ROCK & GROOVES (DWCD 0166): Activate, Demolition Man, Hardcore, Powerdrive, Hot Sweat 1
Firstcom
BIG SCORES (FC-A33): The Edge ***
Manhattan
HIGH ENERGY ROCK III (MPM049): Pedal to the Metal
Match
ACTION REPLAY (MAT148): Shockwave, Technosport **, Licensed to Thrill - Underscore
1995
AirCraft
PRIME TIME VOL. 1 (ACL067): On the Wings of Glory - Underscore****
JET STREAM II (ACL071): Catch the Fever – Underscore **
NATURAL BORN ROCKERS (ACL 073): Cramps in My Pants, Natural Born Rockers
De Wolfe
POWER & MOTION (DWCD 0181): Fired Up, Motivation, Reaching the Line 1
Firstcom
ROCK (FC-A40): Day by Day (b) **
HARD SELL (FC-A41): Kitesailing (a) **
NYB/NJJ
ROCK – VOLUME 1 (NYB6): Fast Break, Power Pop, Under the Gun
ROCK – VOLUME 2 (NYB7): Attitude, Driveby, Monster, Ocean, Police, Show No Fear, Smurfin - Underscore
1996
Chappell
MEDIA-TECHNOLOGY 2 (CHAPAV100): Eternal Conflict, Techno Whizz-Kid
Firstcom
POWER GUITAR (FC-A48): Candy Coated Crayons
KPM
Rock Attitude (KPM308): Speed Game **, Cross Fire, Drivin'
1997
Atmosphere
ROCK OUT (ATMOS093): Indie Race, Assassin
Chappell
EXTREME SPORTS (CHAPAV111): Leap to Fame
De Wolfe
ROCK BOX (DWCD 0218): Alley Cat, Hole Punch, Round We Go, She Can’t Love Me Like Me
Firstcom
DANCE MASTERS (FC-A56): Positive Vibrations (b) **
SPORTS EXTREME, VOL. 2 (FC-A64): Behind the Line, Billboard, Slam Shot, Winning Pattern – Underscore
ROCK HARD (FC-A65): Muskeeto, Get A Grip
Hudson
ENERGY GROOVES (HRCB 12): Energy Grooves *
* Used for the first iteration of “Web Gems”, an end-of-show feature of top defensive plays
Kosinus
GUITAR EXTREME (KOS33): Sport Game
CULTURE GRUNGE (KOS35): Culture Grunge **
1998
Chappell
BIG BEATS (CHAPAV135): Are You Ready, Dirty Money
TOTAL SPORT (CHAPAV136): 110%, Kick It Now
Image
RADIO ROCK (IMCD3037): You Too?, Hard and Fast
1999
Match
ALTERNATIVE INDIE (MAT174): Aggravated Assault, Drop Jaw, Fame Game, Look Sharp, Rocktronics, Sweat and Tears
2000
Apple Trax
XTREME BOARD & BLADE (AT58): Street Luge
Chappell
MELODIC ROCK (CHAPAV152): The Sun Always Shines
Kosinus
RHYTHM & NEWS (KOS85): Zip Jazz
Mastersource
GRUNGE & METAL (MSTR044): Walkin’ in Confusion – Instrumental, Hand of Emptiness - Instrumental
2001
Killer Tracks
CHRONIC ROCKS II (CM026): Alter Ego, Make A Fist, No Escape, Strangler, Rock Queen, Show No Mercy, Muscle Car, The Natural
SLAMMIN' SPORTS - VOL. 3 (CM031): Skinned
Mastersource
ROCK & ALTERNATIVE (MSTR056): I Can’t Have You – Instrumental, Touch and Go – Instrumental, When I’m Gone – Instrumental
NYB/NJJ
SPORTS 7 (NJJ64): Lunch Box, Sub Death, Captain Pike, U-Matic
2002
Apple Trax
HARD EDGE – CONTEMPORARY (AT082): All Out, Mainstream, Slay Ride, Wah Wah Mama
Firstcom
NU METAL (FC-X1Q): Slam Smack
Killer Tracks[/b]
KILLER ROCKS (KT147): Big Mistake, Pure Petro, Moxie
Connect
ROCK GODS - VOLUME 1, GUITAR: Hot Metal, Quiet Riot
Mastersource
HARD ROCK & METAL (MSTR071): Bad Mofo – Instrumental, I’ll Be You – Instrumental, Rock Nation – Instrumental, Until the End – Instrumental, Behind Clouds
Tele Music
ROCK FEVER (TMCD 1120): American Highway, No Turning Back - Underscore, Nocturnal Run - Underscore, Rock Fever - Underscore
Velocity
SPORTS EDGE V1 (VL027Q): Classic Sports Anthem, Tough Game, Piledriver, Athlete's Boost, Smack Talk
2003
Adrenalin Sounds (keep wanting to type that as "adrenaline")
PUMPING SPORTS ROCK (AD2007): Foo 4 Thought
All Media Music
GUITAR GODS: AGGRESSIVE ROCK (AMM101): God of Guitars. Arena Fantasy
Match
ROCK TOOLBOX (MAT199): Endorphin
2006
Big Shorts
ROCK OVERLOAD (BIGS014): Chugger, Schools Run
Endgame / APM
OVERLOAD (END0104): Muscle
EVO
RADIO ROCK RELOAD (EVO48Q): Echo Tango
KPM
EXTREME SPORTS (KPM637): Concrete Carnage (b) *, Full Contact (b), Monster Hardcore (b)
* Used for an end-of-program feature, “That’s Nasty”, focusing on dominant pitching
Mastersource
CLASSIC ROCK 1 (MSTR133): Hold On
UNABLE TO VERIFY DATE OF ORIGIN
BRg
GUITAR FELONY (BRg3011): Dutch Rub **, Out of My Head **, Bee Sting, Cheese Whiz, Chicken Feathers (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 1997)
BLAZING INFERNO (BRg3015): Stratosonic **, Razorblade, Wilder Thing (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 1999)
GENERATION NEXT (BRg3013): Spider March, Three Big Men, Welcome to the End (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 1998)
DANGER ZONE (BRg3025): Marauder (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 2002)
SCREAMING METAL (BRg3026): DC/AC (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 2002)
BRg COUNTRY
UPSHIFT (BRg4012): China Field, Fifth Gear (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 1998)
Catalog gives 2010 date for these albums, but tracks were known to be in use several years prior
Who Did That Music / Groove Addicts
ROCK, VOLUME 1 (TL004): Just Ink It
Catalog gives 2010 date, but track was known to be in use several years prior (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 1996)
Vault Music
SPORTS ROCK (VLT1540): Feel the Beat, Hard Rider, Stoked, The Trenches (also shown as "In the Trenches")
Unable to find a published date for this album (KNOWN TO BE PRIOR TO 2003)
Italics indicate the most recent tracks to be identified.
** indicates tracks identified by Craig-UK from this board;
*** indicates tracks identified by ChunYinZi from this board;
**** indicates tracks identified by GodzFire from PrimetimeMusic.net
Their assistance is gratefully acknowledged!
