Premiering in theaters today. When the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city’s hidden corruption and question his family’s involvement.

The long string of Batman movies that began with Michael Keaton in 1989 was made possible back in the 1960’s when Adam West put on the cape for television.

Now, since this is a musical blog, here’s a musical prelude to this week’s oldie from one of those 60’s TV episodes.

So bad it was good.

As for the oldie we all recall the Batman theme music written and recorded by Neal Hefti. But did you ever hear the complete extended version?

In 1966 Neal Hefti won his only Grammy Award, Best Instrumental Composition (other than Jazz) for the Batman Theme.

BONUS

Long before Batman fame Hefti joined the big band of Milwaukee native Woody Herman in the mid-1940’s. In addition to playing trumpet Hefti composed and arranged for the band.