Tonight 1957-65 (circa. 1963-5). Nationwide (1969-83) Original sequence from 1969, New monochrome titles with new Nationwide logo from 1970, First Colour titles from 1972, Arguably the most famous sequence from 1973. (MISSING FROM THIS COMPILATION Title sequences from 1974 (with five mandalas) 1975, 1976 and 1977 -1974 and 1977 are available elsewhere on RU-vid) The "High Speed" updated version from1980 with 1978 music sped up , The titles post Michael Barrett's departure from 1978, Updated version from 1981 (with added production talkback), January 1982, August 1983- final edition. Sixty Minutes (October 1983 - June 1984) v1: Oct 1983, v2: January 1984.
The spirited theme at 0:57 (entitled _The Good Word,_ and composed by the illustrious John Scott) is the only _Nationwide_ theme I recall well, my recollection of the others being rather fuzzy. The _Tonight_ theme was pretty unforgettable, though, for those of us of a certain age.
The Great Theme Tunes Vandalism of 1977 was the most culturally glaring + hitting show of the media elite's arrogance + stupidity. In suddenly taking away from us a piece of the cosy certainty they had given us, they taught us to mistrust + see through them. This was when, for no evident reason, they suddenly stopped using the classic well-loved, still well-remembered, themes to Nationwide, Animal Magic, Top of the Pops, + replaced them with crap.
It's a dumbed-down world. You forgot to mention that other piece of theme tune sacrilege - replacing the great John Dankworth's Tomorrow's World theme with as you say, crap.
