Michael John "Mike" O'Donnell[1] (born 10 March 1952) is an English composer, songwriter and musician. He was the co-music composer for Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends with Junior Campbell, from its debut in 1984 until 2003. He was also the music composer for Tugs.
Biography
Mike O'Donnell was born on the tenth of March 1952 in Liverpool. His first band was formed in 1962 with him on guitar playing skiffle songs inspired by The Beatles and The Shadows called "The Minibeats". In 1964, they renamed the band "The Spoken Word". O'Donnell then joined a prog rock band called "White Summer", playing Jimi Hendrix songs. In 1969, O'Donnell left the band and moved from Liverpool to London. At that point, he had switched from playing guitar to bass.
Mike worked at the Beatles' "Apple Studios", where his love for music grew stronger after some memorable sessions with several famous singers. He also joined a band, Gold, who, despite having few hits, sold a number of singles such as "Stay with Me My Love" and "Paradise". He worked with various artists playing bass and producing their records. O'Donnell managed Ringo Starr's Tittenhurst Park throughout the eighties. From that, he learned of the making of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. Britt Allcroft hired him to compose the soundtrack for the first series.
At some point Mike and Junior Campbell signed to the same publisher and their partnership sparked. They collaborated on writing television jingles. Mike O'Donnell contacted Junior Campbell to get involved in composing for Thomas and Campbell agreed. O'Donnell and Campbell worked on the show from 1983 to 2003. After HiT Entertainment bought the franchise, Mike and Junior left the show along with various other longtime collaborators on the show.
Mike O'Donnell officially returned to Thomas in 2025 to compose a new score for the previously unreleased Down the Mine pilot episode from 1983, which finally saw a release to YouTube that year.
Mike lives in Surrey with his wife Barbara, daughter Sian and son Ben. Mike has released recreations of several Thomas themes as part of The Engine Themes which can be purchased directly from his website.
Voices
- Troublesome Trucks (second to seventh series; laughing voices)
Songs Performed
Series 6
- Never, Never, Never Give Up (backing vocals)
Series 7
- Salty (performed)
Compositions
Series 3
- Thomas' Anthem (with footage from series 3 only)
Series 4
- Thomas' Anthem (with footage from series 1-4)
- Let's Have a Race
- Gone Fishing
- Toby
- Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover
- The Island Song
- Really Useful Engine
- Rules and Regulations
- That's What Friends Are For
- Thomas' Christmas Song
Series 5
- Night Train
- Accidents Will Happen
- Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
- It's Great to Be an Engine
- The Snow Song
- Donald's Duck
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Come for the Ride
- Harold the Helicopter
- Percy's Seaside Trip
Series 6
- James the Really Splendid Engine
- Little Engines
- Down by the Docks
- Winter Wonderland
- Boo! Boo! Choo-Choo
- Never, Never, Never Give Up
Series 7
- Five New Engines in the Shed
- The Red Balloon
- There Once Was an Engine Who Ran Away
- Troublesome Trucks
- Salty
- The Whistle Song
Miscellaneous
The Engine Themes
As of 2020, O'Donnell has released recomposed versions of previous themes and songs. In most songs, he does a cover in addition to their instrumentals. Others he creates a remix of two existing themes, mashing them into one; all of which can be purchased through his website and YouTube channel.
(Note: * means a brand new composed theme)
The Engines Themes Remixed
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
The Engine Themes Song
Volume 6
Volume 7
Singles
|
Trivia
- Mike and Junior composed the music in Series 1 and 2 with a Roland Jupiter 6 synthesizer, a Linn LM-1 drum machine, a Yamaha C7 grand piano, and a Rickenbacker Bass Guitar. Starting with Series 3, they began using the EMU Proteus 1, 2XR and 2000 modules, a Prophet 2000 Sampler, and a Yamaha RX5 Drum Module, all the way up to Series 7.[2]
- Mike O'Donnell has said that he does not have a favourite song from the show due to each song having their own sense of charm.
- In his youth, Mike was brought up on his favourite American cartoons Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones, as well as Harman and Ising. On a note of interest, Tom and Jerry was also Wilbert Awdry's favourite cartoon.
- In real life, Mike does not know how to read sheet music.
- Both Mike and Junior had started coming up with music ideas for the eighth series, before it was revealed they were not to return.
- Sometimes on his YouTube channel, Mike releases re-recordings of certain characters' themes or songs. Gordon's original theme is an example of this.
- He based the original theme tune on the feel of Mean Mr. Mustard by the Beatles with the thought in mind of having Ringo Starr sing an extended near-three minute rendition with lyrics.
- Contrary to popular belief, he and Junior did not compose the jingle for The Britt Allcroft Company logo.
- Mike, along with Junior Campbell, were both the voices of the Troublesome Trucks from Series 2 to Series 7, but at a higher pitch. However, Junior did both their giggling and their singing voices in the songs Pop Goes the Diesel and Pop Goes Old Ollie while Mike only did their giggling.
Gallery
Covers
References
External links
- Mike's Website
- YouTube channel
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- SiF's interview with Mike O'Donnell
- Mike O'Donnell 2018 Interview
- Right On Track: Episode 39 - Temper, Temper!
- Q&A with Thomas & Friends Composer - Mike O'Donnell Part 1
- Q&A with Thomas & Friends Composer - Mike O'Donnell Part 2
- Q&A with Thomas & Friends Composer - Mike O'Donnell Part 3
- Mike O'Donnell: Thomas the Tank Engine Composer
- Thomas, Tugs, and Scottish Accents with @Mike O'Donnell
