The Minder Songs

The series theme tune was written by Patricia Waterman and Gerard Kenny. In 1980, the single I Could Be So Good For You/Nothing At All (EMI5009) reached number 4 in the UK charts. In November 1980, Dennis appeared with his band on the British Music show Top Of The Pops to perform the song, where Dennis sings live. Despite Dennis Waterman's departure from Minder in 1989, the theme song remained for series 8 to 10 in an upbeat music only version.

The recording of this track took place on 7th March 1979 at Audio International Studios. More information about the recording of this song is available on our forum: https://forum.minder.org.

When Minder returned in 2009 a new version of this song was recorded by Glaswegian band Attic Lights. Unlike the original series, the updated version jumps straight into the lyrics.

In 1983, Dennis Waterman & George Cole collaborated on the Christmas single What Are We Gonna Get 'Er Indoors?/Quids And Quavers (EMIMIN 101). On both sides of the record, both appear in character as Terry McCann and Arthur Daley.

In the UK, the record reached number 21 and spent a total of 5 weeks on the chart. The song features a catchy chorus line including dialogue similar to that heard in Minder. To promote the record, the pair performed the song on the UK music show Top of the Pops and The Russell Harty Show in December 1983. A promotional beer mat for the single also appeared in pubs at the time.

The B-Side 'Quids and Quavers' sees Terry singing and playing the guitar. He has written a song for his new girlfriend Marjorie, who Arthur is shocked to find out is a police woman. This track contains more dialogue between Arthur & Terry, as Arthur discusses the idea of Terry becoming a professional performer. Although both songs were written by George Cole and Dennis Waterman, George Cole has mentioned that he received more royalties from the release of the record as he was officially credited as author of the A-Side while Dennis Waterman was credited as author of this B-Side.

1982 saw the release of a single by THE FIRM entitled Arthur Daley 'E's Alright (HID 1). This song is based on the series and is made up of its most commonly used expressions. The picture of Arthur shown above appears on the picture sleeve of the single.

A truly classic record for all those who love the Minder dialect. The B-side of this record contains an amusing posh version of the song. This song was also performed on the UK music show Top of the Pops on 29th July 1982.

Throughout the series many different tunes can be heard playing. These are mainly library tunes specifically created for inclusion in film and TV. Here is a collection of some of the tunes that can be heard playing, more will be added as they are discovered.

Episode	Title	First heard	Artist	Track	Link
#1.1	Gunfight at the OK Laundrette	05:10	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Swamp Dog + 05:10 » playing at strip club - see also #2.4 'A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back' - see also #2.7 'The Beer Hunter'	dewolfe
#1.1	Gunfight at the OK Laundrette	20:00	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Nightwatch + 20:00 » start of Part Two 41:50 » as Terry defeats Stretch	dewolfe
#1.1	Gunfight at the OK Laundrette	33:30	Paul Ferris	Action Mood + 33:30 » Mrs Mayhew is brought to talk to police - see also #1.11 'You Gotta Have Friends'	dewolfe
#1.1	Gunfight at the OK Laundrette	43:40	Simon Haseley	Hogan Baby + 43:40 » Leaving the laundrette slowly	dewolfe
#1.2	Bury My Half At Waltham Green	18:43	John Dickenson & Elfed Hayes	Dirty Last Night + 18:43 » playing on the radio - see also #1.9 'Monday Night Fever'	dewolfe
#1.2	Bury My Half At Waltham Green	21:46	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Don't Let Go + 21:46 » playing on the radio - see also #2.4 'A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back'	dewolfe
#1.3	The Smaller They Are	30:02	Bunny J. Browne	Foxy + 30:02 » Playing at The Market Bar where Rycott catches up with Scotch Harry.	N/A
#1.4	A Tethered Goat	09:37	Simon Haseley & Eric Marving	Overhaul (1) + 09:37 » Elliot waits at airport 14:18 » Elliot meets Sardi at airport 20:45 » Terrorists arrive at embassy 24:14 » Terrorists leave embassy	dewolfe
#1.5	The Bounty Hunter	17:18	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Bank Job + 17:18 » Terry goes to back of Fenton's shop 21:18 » Fenton swaps cars	dewolfe
#1.5	The Bounty Hunter	34:02	Simon Park	Tension Filler 3 Version 1 + 34:02 » Terry chases Des after he offers him 500 quid	N/A
#1.5	The Bounty Hunter	38:45	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Easy Drive + 38:45 » Terry and Des follow Fenton	dewolfe
#1.5	The Bounty Hunter	43:41	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Night Moves + 43:41 » Terry returns the Roller to Fenton	dewolfe
#1.9	Monday Night Fever	01:24	John Dickenson & Elfed Hayes	Dirty Last Night + 01:24 » played by 'Flint' at start - see also #1.2 'Bury My Half At Waltham Green'	dewolfe
#1.11	You Gotta Have Friends	23:07	Roger Webb	Smoke Rings + 23:07 » as Arthur & Terry arrive at Lady Ingrave's 39:10 » playing at Winchester Club - see also #2.6 'Not A Bad Lad, Dad'	dewolfe
#1.11	You Gotta Have Friends	31:00	Paul Lewis	Spinecharge + 31:00 » Billy's body is discovered 43:48 » Terry drives to Altman (1) 45:32 » Terry drives to Altman (2) 47:27 » Following Granada stunt (3)	dewolfe
#1.11	You Gotta Have Friends	31:53	Paul Ferris	Action Mood + 31:37 » as Terry and Lady Ingave leave hospital 34:53 » as Arthur is run off the road - see also #1.1 'Gunfight at the OK Laundrette'	dewolfe
#1.11	You Gotta Have Friends	34:52	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Only 16's + 34:52 » playing at Winchester Club - see also #2.7 'The Beer Hunter'	dewolfe

Episode	Title	First heard	Artist	Track	Link
#2.3	You Lose Some, You Win Some	01:20	Roger Webb	With You Around + 01:20 » playing on Terry's record player at start	N/A
#2.3	You Lose Some, You Win Some	32:02	Mike Ratledge & Karl Jenkins	Mannheim '79 + 32:02 » Terry & Maurice ask about Maureen at shopping centre	dewolfe
#2.3	You Lose Some, You Win Some	45:00	John Saunders	Gun Man + 45:00 » Terry rescues Maurice from a kicking	N/A
#2.4	A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back	12:19	Frank MacDonald & Chris Rae	Don't Let Go + 12:19 » Arthur gets some country attire - see also #1.2 'Bury My Half Waltham Green'	dewolfe
#2.4	A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back	22:32	Paul Lewis	Plot & Counterplot + 22:32 » Arthur & Terry first spot the bull	dewolfe
#2.4	A Lot Of Bull And A Pat On The Back	33:00	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Swamp Dog + 33:00 » Terry confronts strip club owner - see also #1.1 'Gunfight At The OK Laundrette' - see also #2.7 'The Beer Hunter'	dewolfe
#2.5	Don't Tell Them Willie Boy Was Here	10:24	Barry Stoller	Atomic Butterfly + 05:40 » playing at disco where Willie takes Terry and the girls	dewolfe
#2.6	Not A Bad Lad, Dad	05:40	Roger Webb	Smoke Rings + 05:40 » playing at Winchester Club - see also #1.11 'You Gotta Have Friends'	dewolfe
#2.6	Not A Bad Lad, Dad	10:50	Wally Waller	Can't Walk On Water + 10:29 » playing at disco that Terry is minding	dewolfe
#2.6	Not A Bad Lad, Dad	47:26	Stanley Myers	Echoes + 47:26 » Terry reminisces about his time with Peter	dewolfe
#2.7	The Beer Hunter	36:05	Phil May/Richard Clifford Taylor/Alan Waller/John Povey	Rave Up + 36:05 » playing on boy's radio on the bus	dewolfe
#2.7	The Beer Hunter	41:10	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Only 16's + 41:10 » playing as bus goes around roundabout - see also #1.11 'You Gotta Have Friends'	dewolfe
#2.7	The Beer Hunter	41:34	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Swamp Dog + 41:34 » playing as bus arrives as bus station - see also #1.1 'Gunfight at the OK Laundrette' - see also #2.4 'Another Bull & A Pat On The Back'	dewolfe
#2.9	All Mod Cons	06:12	Howard Goodall	Title Track (lyrics: 'Don't Leave Me To Cry') + 06:12 » playing at Elsa's club 26:58 » playing at Helen's flat 29:04 » driving to Elsa's Club	N/A
#2.9	All Mod Cons	10:35	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Hot Stuff + 10:35 » playing at Elsa's club - see also #2.10 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy'	N/A
#2.9	All Mod Cons	17:50	John Saunders	Heartbeat Horror + 17:50 » Terry goes into the squat - see also #3.13 'In'	N/A
#2.9	All Mod Cons	46:03	Brian Bennett	Knuckleduster + 46:03 » Terry and Arthur race to the squat	APM
#2.10	Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy	14:28	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Easy Lay + 14:28 » playing at the pub where Terry & Rose go to - see also #3.1 'Dead Men Do Tell Tales'	N/A
#2.10	Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy	21:00	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Hot Stuff + 21:00 » playing at Des's garage - see also #3.13 'In'	N/A
#2.11	The Old School Tie	03:06	John Saunders	Spellbound + 03:06 » playing as George arrives at Terry's flat - see also #3.13 'In'	N/A

Episode	Title	First heard	Artist	Track	Link
#3.1	Dead Men Do Tell Tales	03:45	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Easy Lay + 03:34 » playing at Terry's flat as he gets a massage - see also #2.10 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Worst Enemy'	N/A
#3.1	Dead Men Do Tell Tales	08:48	Suzi Quatro	Lipstick + 08:48 » playing at club is Terry is minding	YouTube
#3.1	Dead Men Do Tell Tales	47:55	Suzi Quatro	Lonely Is The Hardest + 47:55 » playing at club is Terry is minding	N/A
#3.2	You Need Hands	34:55	Alan Tew	Big One (Prelude) + 34:55 » Terry follows Merrick's heavies to the pub	YouTube
#3.2	You Need Hands	46:29	Dave Richmond	Night Watch + 46:29 » Matthews, Arthur & Vern meet Merrick's heavies	YouTube
#3.3	Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore	01:27	Reg Tilsley	Stripper Rosie + 01:27 » Arthur arrives at the strip club	dewolfe
#3.3	Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore	07:44	Astral Sounds/Chris Evans-Ironside	Backbreaker + 07:44 » Playing at strip club: Candy Davis routine	YouTube
#3.3	Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore	10:22	Astral Sounds/Chris Evans-Ironside	Stingray + 10:22 » Playing at strip club: Arthur reads a book	YouTube
#3.4	Looking For Micky	06:07	Danny Edwardson / Seamus Sell	Cutting The Funk + 06:07 » Debbie's strip routine at the pub	YouTube
#3.5	Dreamhouse	05:52	Wally Waller	Living In The World (instrumental version) + 05:52 » Playing at the record company offices	YouTube
#3.7	The Birdman Of Wormwood Scrubs	01:27	Clive Hicks	Drums In Transit + 01:27 » Playing at start as Spencer goes to meet Kate	YouTube
#3.7	The Birdman Of Wormwood Scrubs	16:38	Keith Papworth	Chicago Rag + 16:38 » Playing as Arthur pays for Ernie's suit 42:42 » driving to the pet shop	dewolfe
#3.12	Back In Good Old England	18:48	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Spring Into Action + 18:48 » Arthur looks at the Lacy and Cook sign as he considers buying the old deli. Track starts cued 01:30.	dewolfe
#3.13	In	05:46	John Saunders	Spellbound + 05:46 » Police follow Frank's lorry - see also #2.11 'The Old School Tie'	N/A
#3.13	In	09:21	John Saunders	Heartbeat Horror + 09:21 » Police arrive at Arthur's Car Lot - see also #2.9 'All Mod Cons'	N/A
#3.13	In	25:27	Electra Stuart & Alan Waller	Take Me Home + 25:27 » playing at pub where Ronnie, Frank & Rita are - see also #4.7 'A Star Is Gorn'	dewolfe

Episode	Title	First heard	Artist	Track	Link
#4.1	Rocky Eight And A Half	25:54	Tim Souster	Thunderscape + 25:54 » Terry's training montage	dewolfe
#4.7	A Star Is Gorn	01:20	Electra Stuart & Alan Waller	Take Me Home + 01:20 » Zac Zolar's hit song - see also #3.13 'In'	dewolfe
#4.7	A Star Is Gorn	24:16	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Slave Driver + 24:16 » playing at JoJo Records	dewolfe
#4.8	Willesden Suite	12:17	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Riding My Bike + 12:17 » Karen Bradley fixes her hair	dewolfe

Episode	Title	First heard	Artist	Track	Link
#5.6	The Long Ride Back To Scratchwood	22:48	Frank McDonald & Chris Rae	Trip Up + 22:48 » playing at Justin's flat	dewolfe

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