Iconic cinema theme re-written
For millions of cinema-goers the famous "Pa-pa, pa-pa pa-pa" of Pearl & Dean has been a part of the movie experience for decades.
From the moment the tune begins film fans know the main feature is just around the corner, after a brief commercial break.
Now the advertising firm has created a brand new version of the iconic Asteroid theme tune for the 21st century.
A specially arranged two-minute version was recorded by original composer Pete Moore at the Abbey Road studios in London with a 30-piece orchestra and two vocalists.
First recorded in 1968 and lasting just 20 seconds, the latest version features a female singer for the first time, and people will be able to download it from the internet.
Mr Moore said: "Many people in the UK music profession have accused me of writing music for the future, and well ahead of its time,
"Who`d have thought back in 1968 that we`d be re-recording the Pearl & Dean theme tune almost 40 years later for fans to download it?
"The only people who might have considered it back then were the characters in 2001: A Space Odyssey, which came out in cinemas the same year"
Pearl & Dean plans to make the track available via its website
www.pearlanddean.com and through other download websites such as iTunes.
People will be able to download the tune to their MP3 player or use it as a mobile phone ringtone.
Kathryn Jacob at Pearl & Dean said: "Cinema-goers over the years have loved our theme tune, and we`re now giving fans the chance to get their hands on it.
"The massive popularity of Asteroids and our brand is all part of cinema tradition and I`m delighted to see it`s got as many fans today as it had in yesteryear."
As well as selling the theme tune on internet sites, Pearl & Dean hopes to make money in royalties from people using it in film and television documentaries.
Asteroid`s original screen titles featured equally distinctive graphics intended to emulate advertising panels flashing past as if the viewer was being sucked into the screen.
The song was only ever recorded in mono and by the early 1990s, when all adverts and trailers were given the full stereo treatment, the time came for it to be re-recorded.
On that occasion not only was original composer and producer Mr Moore tracked down, but the firm was also able to locate two of the three original male singers who could still replicate their vocal parts three decades on.
Then in 1995, Asteroid`s evergreen popularity was underlined when Goldbug (fronted by ex-Beatmasters` man, Richard Walmsley) sampled the Pearl & Dean anthem and made the number two slot in the singles chart with their version of Whole Lotta Love.