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Dallas is an American prime time soap opera that aired in the US between 1978 and 1991. The series revolved around an affluent and feuding Texas family, the Ewings, who owned the independent oil company Ewing Oil and the cattle-ranching land of Southfork. The show had an ensemble cast, with Larry Hagman as greedy, scheming oil tycoon J.R. Ewing, stage/screen actress Barbara Bel Geddes as family matriarch Miss Ellie and Western movie actor Jim Davis as Ewing patriarch Jock.

In the UK, the series was broadcast on BBC1 from September 5, 1978, just before season 2 premiered in the US.

The theme music was composed by Jerrold Immel, who also wrote the theme for the spin-off Knot's Landing. In the UK, the theme tune was released on BBC Records as a single on December 12, 1980, recorded by the Frank Barber Orchestra. The Knot's Landing theme was on the b-side. Earlier in the year, a version by the Bobby Patrick Band was also released, on Monza, with their version of The Waltons theme on the b-side.

On June 13, 1980 there was also a version by pianist Floyd Cramer, with a version of the Knot's Landing theme on the b-side.

The original, used on the show, did not have a release in the UK until January 1986, on the Warner Bros label. It featured the opening theme (1:18) and "The Theme from Dallas (Dallas Dreams)" (edit; 3:47) - performed by Artie Ripp & Black Gold - on the a-side, with "The Loneliness In Lucy's Eyes (The Life Sue Ellen Is Living)" on the b-side, credited to Johnny Lee. The studio recording of the theme featured a legendary collective of Los Angeles session players, conducted by Immel, including Tommy Tedesco (guitar), Joe Porcaro (drums) - father of Toto drummer Jeff - and Bobby Bryant (trumpet).