Joel Whitburn, of American record chart book fame, describes Anton Karas as "the most remarkable of all one-hit artists". Remarkable indeed, how a humble musician trying to survive in post-war, partitioned (between the victorious Allies) Vienna came from nowhere and in 1950 topped the U.S. charts for eleven weeks with his self-composed theme for a British (albeit featuring American stars) film. His other claim to fame was introducing a hitherto obscure musical instrument, the zither, to the world of Popular music, although it has to be said its impact was not as enduring as the film theme it gave a voice to. Instantly recognisable, atmospheric and brilliant in its deceptive simplicity, "The Third Man Theme" (known as "The Harry Lime Theme" in Britain) remains both a 'Pop' and film theme classic. How it came to be allows use of that splendid word, serendipity.

Produced by Geoff Milne

Quantity:  

1. THE THIRD MAN THEME (The Harry Lime Theme) original version
2. ANTON KARAS SECOND THEME
3. THE CAFE MOZART WALTZ original version
4. THE CAROL THEME
5. THAT DEAR OLD SONG original version
6. RENDEZVOUS WALTZ previously unissued
7. FAREWELL TO VIENNA previously unissued
8. ALT WIENER TANZ IN C-DUR
9. VISIONS OF VIENNA
10. DANUBE DREAMS
11. ANTON KARAS MEDLEY, Part 1
12. ANTON KARAS MEDLEY, Part 2
13. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDDLE v. Kay Armen
14. WHERE DO I GO FROM YOU? v. Kay Armen
15. ZITHER RHYTHM OF ANTON KARAS
16. VIENNA , WOMEN AND SONG later version
17. CHERRY STONES
18. WO GRUNES KRANZEL HANGT
19. SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT
20. VIENNA, CITY OF MY DREAMS
21. VIENNA, WOMEN AND SONG original version
22. THE THIRD MAN THEME later version
23. THE CAFE MOZART WALTZ later version
24. THAT DEAR OLD SONG later version
25. WENN DER HERRGOTT NET WILL / THE THIRD MAN THEME brief reprise