Law and Order: Special Dixon Unit

Benthoven here. One of the most frustrating things about not having cable is being subjected to network promo spots around midseason replacement time. After all, how many times can one stand being subjected to the latest iteration of the tried and true formulas of reality television, twenty-something buddy comedy, and gripping courtroom drama? This is perhaps especially the case on NBC, which despite carrying many of my favorite programs, deserves a small amount of ire for effectively declaring TV show end credits to be a thing of the past in favor of the split screen promo. (The subject of ending credit music deserves more detailed discussion at a later time). And most of the time, when it comes to promos, I just ignore them and move on with my life.

But the other night, after watching ER, I heard an interesting piano riff that made me actually look up and take notice. Despite being completely drowned out by the voiceover announcer, the song sounded familiar, reminiscent of a Billy Joel track that you've heard dozens of times but never quite gotten around to remembering. Waiting until the end of the promo, I learned the show's name was Conviction, and it was, get this, another spinoff of the Law & Order franchise. (Yes! A gripping courtroom drama!) But that was beside the point...I needed to find this song and determine if it really was Billy Joel or just some remarkable facsimile.

Turns out it was the latter. The track in question, "All Will Be Well," was performed by the Gabe Dixon Band, a group I did not recognize, despite their having toured with Paul McCartney and Loggins & Messina. But guess what? Except for one rather frustrating decision to rhyme "keep it up" with "don't give up", the song actually lived up to my original impressions. It's a well-written piano driven track that is catchy without being overly repetitive. And guess what...you can download it, along with several other tracks by the same group here for free. Personally, I like "Shallow" and "Ever After You." Definitely worth checking out...