Film Score Monthly released a CD version of 1968 soundtrack to the TV series, Hawaii Five-O. This being a calculated risk what with the new version on CBS and everything. I must admit that this soundtrack is pretty impressive despite its brevity. (Then again, 30 minutes is 3/4ths the capacity of a record. Ask your parents what a record is.) It features music from the series composed by Morton Stevens, including its legendary theme song.
If you'll allow me to digress, I remember a time when television shows all had cool, catchy themes songs, and in the Top 10 would be the theme to Hawaii Five-O. Other soundtracks for television shows of the sixties (my experience limited to Mission: Impossible and Mannix) feature music written by the composer (In both cases Lalo Schifrin) exclusively for the album. This meant that the soundtrack for the show did not include any music used in the show except for the main theme.
The Hawaii Five-O soundtrack has a nice balance of suspense/tense music with the trippy/jazzy style of the sixties. And there's plenty of use of the theme throughout the soundtrack. It opens with an extended version of the theme, and ends on a truncated version which is (or sounds a lot like) the version used as opening/closing of the show. "The Chase" is a highlight, a mix of bombastic horns and a soft touch of the main theme. (It also contains the stinger used when the show segways into commercial breaks.) Fans of Morton's work will also like to hear "Call to Danger" for it is the unused theme for a pilot (nameed "Call To Danger") that was never made.
With a great booklet with insightful liner notes, it's hard to see what's not to like. (You were probably thinking this was going to end with "Book 'em, Danno," huh?)
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