"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.

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.

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Five-note phrase featured in the story

Charts

Chart (1977–78)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (1977–78) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report) 47 Canadian RPM Top Singles 12 Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary 19 Italy (FIMI) 21 US Billboard Hot 100 13 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 13 US Cash Box Top 100 13Year-end charts Chart (1978) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles 97 US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) 97
Australia (Kent Music Report)47
Canadian RPM Top Singles12
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary19
Italy (FIMI)21
US Billboard Hot 10013
US Billboard Adult Contemporary13
US Cash Box Top 10013
Chart (1978)Rank
Canada RPM Top Singles97
US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)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.

External links