In 2004, following the popular success, critical acclaim and numerous awards and nominations for the cable television series Monk

Monk (TV series)

Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...

, Varèse Sarabande

Varèse Sarabande

Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...

 released an official soundtrack on compact disc.

Containing original music composed and conducted by Jeff Beal

Jeff Beal

Jeff Beal is an American composer of music for film, television, recordings, and the concert hall. Highly regarded as a jazz instrumentalist and versatile composer, Beal's music often incorporates a synthesis of improvisatory and composed elements.- Early life :Beal began trumpet studies in the...

, the thirty-six track album contains tracks from various first season episodes, a special extended arrangement of the original theme, and one composition written and recorded, but ultimately not contained in an episode. The disc plays for 53:25.

Track listing

Jeff Beal's official website contains a self-proclaimed "obsessively compulsively detailed list" identifying each track's episode and context. This list is reproduced below, albeit with some spelling and typo corrections.

1. "Monk Theme" (extended version — this is special to the CD) This version features some solo takes Grant played on the theme when we were recording the original (pilot) version, and extra elements from the "Monk" musical palette — vibes, pizzicato strings and some drums. 02:34
2. "Miming Mr. Monk" (from "Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation"). This was for the end of the episode, where Tony does the whole "wrap up" in pantomime; a little "Monk" silent movie. The gag was a theme in the episode between Tony and his guest star Polly Draper. 01:34
3. "They're Killing Dr. Gould" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum") Monk and his fellow mental patients recreate the murder of Dr. Gould in the lounge of the asylum. 01:03
4. "A Clean Apartment" (from Mr. Monk and the Earthquake) This was the last scene of the show, when Monk finally has a clean apartment again. This little jazz tune was first heard in the pilot episode, and was one of the tunes written for a main title theme (before the other one was chosen). 01:16
5. "Finding The Pebble" (from "Mr. Monk and the Psychic") Monk bolts outside from a reading meeting with Sharona and Dolly, patting himself down. He notices the pebbles in the driveway, which later become a very important clue. 00:58
6. "Rejection" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival"). Monk, hoping for reinstatement, is rejected by the review panel. 00:40
7. "Trudy's Theme" (from various episodes). The sound of Trudy, first heard in the pilot episode, when Adrian goes over the crime photos in his apartment. 02:18
8. "I Think I Smell Gas" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate
   Mr. Monk and the Candidate
   "Mr. Monk and the Candidate" is the 90-minute pilot episode of the TV series Monk on the USA Network.During the Monk Cast Favorites Marathon, the episode was listed as one of Traylor Howard's favorites...
   
   ") This is the very first piece of music I ever wrote for "Monk." As Monk walks around a crime scene, brilliantly noticing details others miss, he also worries he forgot to turn the gas off back at his apartment. 01:49
9. "Keys In The Casket" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Monk drops his key ring into the casket at a funeral for the slain bodyguard. He fishes them out from the balcony with dental floss and a paperclip. 02:15
10. "Lucky Guy" (from Mr. Monk and the Other Woman). This theme actually played twice in the show. Once for the opening scene of the murder in the office of the attorney, and also for the murder of Grayson in the garage of Monk’s new flame and possible felon, Monica Waters. 01:30
11. "Fat Suit Folly" (from "Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale"). This was the wrap-up music of the episode. Monk does the recap, while Disher rolls around in the fat suit, unable to get up! 01:43
12. "Monk Visits The Garage" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Monk goes back to the garage, looking for clues, which triggers a poignant recollection of Trudy’s fate. 02:46
13. "Counting Meters" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Monk walks down a San Francisco street, counting parking meters, and is chased by mysterious car. Even in danger of his life, he still keeps count as best he can. 01:12
14. "Monk Interrogates Gavin" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Monk questions Gavin about his whereabouts the past few weeks. 01:13
15. "Remember Me?" (from "Mr. Monk and the Airplane
    Mr. Monk and the Airplane
    "Mr. Monk and the Airplane" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of Monk, and serves as the first season finale.Jason Gray-Stanford listed the episode among his favorites.-Plot summary:...
    
    "). Adrian gets up to visit with some of the passengers he suspects, and ends up getting locked inside the aircraft restroom! Claustrophobia and hilarity ensue. 03:05
16. "There Was A Struggle" (from "Mr. Monk and the Other Woman") Monk "reads" the murder scene at the Attorney’s office. 01:43
17. "Monk Theme" (series version) This is the version most people will recognize from season one. The Emmy won for this was Monk's first! 00:51
18. "Have Fun" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival") Monk and Sharona, trying to "blend in," engage in various carnival activities. 01:05
19. "Pebbles And Clues" (from "Mr. Monk and the Other Woman") 01:05
20. "Sharpening Pencils" (from "Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger") While trying to interrogate Willie Nelson, Adrian becomes obsessed with properly sharpening his pencils. 00:48
21. "Zen Monk" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Monk "reads" the room from where the assassin shot the Mayor’s bodyguard. This theme was used in many subsequent episodes. The musically inclined might notice the use of a whole tone scale, a deliberate musical homage to another Monk — Thelonius
    Thelonious Monk
    Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
    
    ! 00:47
22. "Monk's A Hero" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Adrian emerges triumphantly and exhausted from the sewer. 00:56
23. "Love These Sneaks" (from "Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation") Monk proudly displays his new running shoes, a gift from the legendary marathon runner (and his idol) Tonday. 02:03
24. "My Hero" (from "Mr. Monk and the Other Woman") Adrian is smitten by the beautiful (and somewhat "Trudy-like") Monica Waters. 00:56
25. "On The Beach" (a Monk mystery track) This little variation of the Monk Theme was written for the opening of the "Vacation" episode, but never used. 00:53
26. "The Final Chase" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Adrian and Sharona venture down into the sewers of San Francisco to catch the killer. 03:49
27. "Start The Watch" (from "Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man") Monk and Sharona try to recreate the steps (and timetable) of Trevor McDowell. 01:00
28. "Losing It?" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum") Monk becomes unglued. 00:33
29. "Monk Escapes" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum") Adrian escapes the "quiet room", eventually ending with a rooftop. 02:32
30. "Worried Monk" (from "Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger") 01:09
31. "Restaging The Murder" (from "Mr. Monk and the Candidate") Adrian recreates the assassination of the bodyguard. This music was also used as the end title of the pilot. 01:48
32. "Running Away" (from "Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger") Monk, Sharona and "Fraidy Cop" run away from Monk’s former client (who has finally paid Monk for his services). 00:54
33. "Finding, Looking" (from "Mr. Monk Takes A Vacation"). Adrian is sure the Maids are guilty, but he’s running out of time. He and Sharona look for a clue. 01:07
34. "Back Safe At Home" (from "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum"). Adrian says goodnight to Sharona on the phone — this time he’s in the right apartment. 01:03
35. "The Kiss" (from "Mr. Monk and the Other Woman") Monica kissed Adrian goodbye, and he doesn't even wipe it off for germs! 01:08
36. "Monk Theme" (pilot version) 01:19

Credits

• Composer: Jeff Beal
• Producer: Jeff Beal
• Executive Producer: Robert Townson
• Music Editors: Helena Lea (pilot) and Jeff Wolpert (series, season one)
• Master: Erick Labson
• "Monk Theme" performed by Grant Geissman
  Grant Geissman
  Grant Geissman is a crossover jazz, contemporary jazz and new age guitarist and an Emmy-nominated composer for network TV series and TV movies. An in-demand studio musician, he has recorded extensively for several labels since 1976, and he can be heard playing guitar on the theme for Monk and...
  
   (guitar) and Jeff Beal.
• Recorded and Mixed by Jeff Beal at Many Rooms Music, California.
• Special Thanks: Dean Parisot
  Dean Parisot
  Aldo L. "Dean" Parisot is an American film and television director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action for The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, which starred comedian Steven Wright...
  
  , Rob Thompson, Jackie de Crinis, Todd Sharp, Judith Marlan, Fern Field, Nancy Mullins, Helena Lea, Robert Messinger, Andy Breckman
  Andy Breckman
  Andy Breckman is a television and film writer and a radio personality. He is the co-creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning television series Monk on the USA Network, and is co-host of WFMU radio's long-running conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay...
  
  , David Hoberman and Tony Shalhoub
  Tony Shalhoub
  Anthony Marcus "Tony" Shalhoub is an American actor of Lebanese descent. His television work includes the roles of Antonio Scarpacci on Wings and sleuth Adrian Monk on the TV series Monk. He has won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his work in Monk...
  
  .
• Score published by USA Network
  USA Network
  USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
  
  , LLC/BMI
  Broadcast Music Incorporated
  Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
  
  .

External links

• http://www.jeffbeal.com/Pages/FILMS%20Pages/MONK.html
• http://www.usanetwork.com/series/monk/theshow/music/music.html
• http://www.usanetwork.com/series/monk/theshow/soundtrack/soundtrack.html