Jessica was an instrument piece composed by the Allman Brothers Band from the album Brothers and SIsters. This said piece was a main opening theme of the Top Gear from the 1977 format and the 2002 format. On this page you will find a list of the versions of Jessica used on Top Gear, as well as a video gallery with all of them.
Allman Brothers Band version[]
The Allman Brothers Band version of the song was originally used as the intro from the beginning of the Top Gear (original format) in 1977, and then until the end of Series 39 in 1998. The outro was Elton John's Out of the Blue, by Graham Smith, the son of Derek Smith, Top Gear's original producer, which later got replaced by other songs which were unique every episode.
This said version had notably with the changes of the opening intro, e.g. a vapour-wave (in 1983), a CGI (in 1986), etc.
In Series 20 of Original-format Top Gear, had saw the expansion with the headlines of the episode with a voiceover of William Woollard and as spark plug theme but dropped on the Series 22. But got reinstated with the updated intro in Series 27, then moved after opening credits with either Jeremy Clarkson, Steve Berry or Quentin Willson had took their voiceover on the episode's headline.
Hansen Bass version[]
From Series 40 of Old Top Gear in 1998, a new introduction sequence, complete with a new electronic-sounding opening theme was commissioned and produced by Hansen Bass, who was otherwise mostly known for his work on the River Cottage series starring Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. This version also had a 'tonight' riff, which was also used as the outro.
Christian Henson version[]
For the relaunched series in 2002, a new version of Jessica was commissioned and composed by Christian Henson. This was still faster and upbeat compared to the original Allman Brothers version, but wasn't as processed as Hansen Bass' version from four years earlier. At first, a slightly different arrangement (without the 'tonight' section) was used for the outro, which sounds more similar to Bass' version. In Series 2, the special outro theme was replaced with the regular intro theme, just with a longer ending part and shorter fade-out. It ultimately also became the intro theme starting with Series 9. The Series 1-8 intro theme reappeared in some Home Videos.
Other versions[]
Calm version[]
This version is a calm electric guitar cover of the original Allman Brothers theme, which was probably used as a placeholder for experimental pilot episodes of the relaunch show. The theme was later used before and after programme breaks on shortened 23-minute episodes, aired on BBC World in 2003, and as an intro in some syndicated 45-minute re-airings of Series 1 on UK Horizons. A bizarre and unique 'consumer-related' intro, similar to the one of Old Top Gear, was also shown on UK Horizons. Short idents before/after commercial breaks with this theme were continued to be used for quite some time on UKTV channels, long after the intro was switched back to the regular version.
Keyboard version[]
For Series 3, Episode 9, to drum home the fact that the show had run out of money, a cheap keyboard was used to play Jessica instead of the usual Christian Henson version. This was played live on stage by host James May.
Exhaust sounds version[]
In 2005, James May put together a homage to the show's theme using car exhaust sounds. This was used for the outro of just one episode.
Cancelled version[]
In 2006, an alternate theme was created by Ian Morris, intended to replace Henson's third version of theme from Series 8 onwards, alongside the larger studio and new introduction sequence. However, following unanimous disapproval from Jeremy Clarkson himself, claiming that the theme would make the trio seem like "idiots", it was never used and Henson's theme remained throughout their tenure of the show. However parts of this theme did make it into the Top Gear Challenges 3 DVD, but only the closing beats are used when moving from chapter to chapter.
Chinese version[]
On Series 18, Episode 2, the Chinese took over Top Gear, resulting in a Chinese remix of the theme being played during the outro.
Slash version[]
For the Series 18 finale, Guns n' Roses guitarist Slash performed the song in Top Gear's studio whilst using The Smashed Hilux as a makeshift stage, and concluded his version with a short solo.
Trivia[]
- In USA Muscle Car Road Trip, while the trio is heading way to Bonneville. A full-version Jessica was heard in radio while driving and altered in aired version.
Videos[]
