Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

"Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a 1978 instrumental hit single by composer John Williams. It is the main theme of the soundtrack of the movie of the same name. The song became a hit in the United States (#13) and Canada (#12) during the winter of that year.

"Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind"
Single by John Williams
from the album Close Encounters of the Third Kind
B-side	"Nocturnal Pursuit"
Released	December 1977
Recorded	1977
Genre	Pop
Length	3:13
Label	Arista
Songwriter(s)	John Williams
Producer(s)	John Williams, Rick Chertoff
John Williams singles chronology
"Star Wars (Main Title)" (1977) "Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) "Theme from Superman (Main Title)" (1979)

A few months before the release of the song, Williams had released a competing version of Star Wars theme music, "Star Wars (Main Title)," which reached number 10 on the US Billboard chart, while "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" was a number one hit for Meco. Both artists simultaneously again issued competing versions of scores from the Close Encounters movie. This time Williams' original score came out on top, peaking at number 13, while Meco's version reached number 25.

In 1979, "Theme from Close Encounters of the Third Kind" won a Grammy Award for best instrumental composition.

Five-note phrase featured in the story

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1977–78) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) 47 Canadian RPM Top Singles[1] 12 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[2] 19 Italy (FIMI)[3] 21 US Billboard Hot 100[4] 13 US Billboard Adult Contemporary[5] 13 US Cash Box Top 100[6] 13

Year-end charts Chart (1978) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles[7] 97 US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[8] 97

Gene Page cover

In 1977, Gene Page recorded a disco version of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". His version peaked on the R&B chart at #30 in 1978.