I think we can all agree that the music from Unsolved Mysteries is one of the best things about that show. As a musician myself I have a huge appreciation for the creepy, 80's retro theme song, and also Gary Malkin's amazing score.

Wanted to start a thread about your favorite moments/general observations about the music for this show. Here's mine:

Has anyone else noticed that the music for the Norman Ladner segment seemed to be composed separately from the other segments? What I mean is that most other segments use recycled cues (for example the creepy BOOM BOOM cue was used for both the Tallman House and Rick Church segments), whereas the Norman Ladner segment has music that I've never heard anywhere else in the show. And furthermore the music is noticeably more cinematic--kind of reminds me of the music from the beginning of On Golden Pond. Anyway, I wonder if Gary Malkin just really pulled all the stops for that oe occasion, or if perhaps someone else wrote it? Check it out and let me know what you think.

I think we can all agree that the music from Unsolved Mysteries is one of the best things about that show. As a musician myself I have a huge appreciation for the creepy, 80's retro theme song, and also Gary Malkin's amazing score.

Wanted to start a thread about your favorite moments/general observations about the music for this show. Here's mine:

Has anyone else noticed that the music for the Norman Ladner segment seemed to be composed separately from the other segments? What I mean is that most other segments use recycled cues (for example the creepy BOOM BOOM cue was used for both the Tallman House and Rick Church segments), whereas the Norman Ladner segment has music that I've never heard anywhere else in the show. And furthermore the music is noticeably more cinematic--kind of reminds me of the music from the beginning of On Golden Pond. Anyway, I wonder if Gary Malkin just really pulled all the stops for that oe occasion, or if perhaps someone else wrote it? Check it out and let me know what you think.

What instruments do you play?

What instruments do you play?

I play jazz saxophone professionally, and also piano, flute and clarinet (when I get time to practice of course). UM inspired me to buy an analog synthesizer and try to make some of those creepy sounds, which is always fun.

The music score that starts the Norman Ladner segment definitely sets the perfect tone for the setting, the outdoor wilderness that he apparently loved, according to his mother. You’re right. I don’t recall that music being used in other segments.

My favorite scary musical score is the one used to start off the orange socks murders segment and then used again for the reenactment when Jeff and his friends find Bobbi’s backpack. It’s so deliciously creepy with the combination of synthesizer and (I think) piano. You can also hear this in the Tammi Leppert segment where she gets out of her bed at night and looks out her bedroom window. I was really bummed out that this wasn’t on the UM soundtrack that was recently released.

Saddest musical scores can be found throughout the Gordan Page segment, in particular the final minute or so where they re-show his baby movies and his parents talk about how much they miss him and want him back. You get to hear more of this on the amazon prime video version. It might be the saddest music ever featured on the show. It’s fitting given how sad the circumstances are throughout the entire segment.

My favorite scary musical score is the one used to start off the orange socks murders segment and then used again for the reenactment when Jeff and his friends find Bobbi’s backpack. It’s so deliciously creepy with the combination of synthesizer and (I think) piano. You can also hear this in the Tammi Leppert segment where she gets out of her bed at night and looks out her bedroom window. I was really bummed out that this wasn’t on the UM soundtrack that was recently released.

Saddest musical scores can be found throughout the Gordan Page segment, in particular the final minute of so where they re-show his baby movies and his parents talk about how much they miss him and want him back. You get to hear more of this on the amazon prime video version. It might be the saddest music ever featured on the show. It’s fitting given how sad the circumstances are throughout the entire segment.

I'm not familiar with either of these! Will have to check it out...I corresponded with Gary Malkin on Facebook a few years ago to ask him what synthesizers he used on the show. He responded:

"It was way too long ago to remember exactly which machines we used! We hired the programming and synth player Charlie Judge to work with us at the time. He might remember but we've been out of touch for more than 20 years!"

So that's something, but the info pales in comparison to his personal liner notes from the vinyl release.

I play jazz saxophone professionally, and also piano, flute and clarinet (when I get time to practice of course). UM inspired me to buy an analog synthesizer and try to make some of those creepy sounds, which is always fun.

That's so cool! Which instrument do you like playing the best?

Hard to choose, but I would have to say piano, because the UM theme just doesn’t sound right on sax haha.

Playing piano is sometimes like having a whole orchestra at your fingertips (I’d make a good salesman, wouldn’t I?) because you can play up to ten notes at a time, leading to so many musical possibilities.

Saddest musical scores can be found throughout the Gordan Page segment, in particular the final minute or so where they re-show his baby movies and his parents talk about how much they miss him and want him back. You get to hear more of this on the amazon prime video version. It might be the saddest music ever featured on the show. It’s fitting given how sad the circumstances are throughout the entire segment.

Brings tears to my eyes thinking about it. I know exactly the music you are referring to.

Saddest musical scores can be found throughout the Gordan Page segment, in particular the final minute or so where they re-show his baby movies and his parents talk about how much they miss him and want him back. You get to hear more of this on the amazon prime video version. It might be the saddest music ever featured on the show. It’s fitting given how sad the circumstances are throughout the entire segment.

Just watched the Gordon Page segment on Amazon...no update. What a tragic episode, I think the music is made more sad due to the sadness of the case itself.

Hard to choose, but I would have to say piano, because the UM theme just doesn’t sound right on sax haha.

Playing piano is sometimes like having a whole orchestra at your fingertips (I’d make a good salesman, wouldn’t I?) because you can play up to ten notes at a time, leading to so many musical possibilities.

Now that's a good choice.

I don't know why, but for some reason, there's a sad piano theme (3-4 notes.....lasting maybe a minute, or just a little more) that sticks out to me - I can remember hearing it 4 times (have scoured the interwebs looking for it, to no avail) :

-In the Stanley Gryziec case (when they're wheeling him out of the house/into the ambulance, camera panning back on his wife)

-The opening to the special about the RFK killing (this episode skips the traditional opening, instead this piano theme plays and the first shots are of the funeral train)

-The Elizabeth Campbell case (as her parents are walking down the street at night, showing her picture to prostitutes and other street people)

-The Kristi Martin case (just a short snippet of the piano theme plays at the start of the segment as her picture is shown)

I don't know why, but for some reason, there's a sad piano theme (3-4 notes.....lasting maybe a minute, or just a little more) that sticks out to me - I can remember hearing it 4 times (have scoured the interwebs looking for it, to no avail) :

-In the Stanley Gryziec case (when they're wheeling him out of the house/into the ambulance, camera panning back on his wife)

-The opening to the special about the RFK killing (this episode skips the traditional opening, instead this piano theme plays and the first shots are of the funeral train)

-The Elizabeth Campbell case (as her parents are walking down the street at night, showing her picture to prostitutes and other street people)

-The Kristi Martin case (just a short snippet of the piano theme plays at the start of the segment as her picture is shown)

I tried finding it on the vinyl, but they probably didn't include it because it's so somber? I think you can catch several of those segments on Amazon, though. That tune sticks out to me, too.

I like a lot of the music in the wanted segments, such as when there's a bank heist or criminals are doing something methodical (such as the one where they're escaping Alcatraz). One that sticks out to me in particular is when the witness in the I-70 killer case is allowed to leave and walks back to his car. It's just so intense!

Suffice to say, I'm a huge fan of the UM music.

I don't know why, but for some reason, there's a sad piano theme (3-4 notes.....lasting maybe a minute, or just a little more) that sticks out to me - I can remember hearing it 4 times (have scoured the interwebs looking for it, to no avail :(

Man oh man, that is some sad music. A testament to the talent and skill of film and television composers that they can seriously enhance the emotions of what is happening on screen.

And by the same token, the music during Rick Church’s attack on the Ritter family is just as effective in a totally different way.

I still wish we had the update track from the early days

I don't know why, but for some reason, there's a sad piano theme (3-4 notes.....lasting maybe a minute, or just a little more) that sticks out to me - I can remember hearing it 4 times (have scoured the interwebs looking for it, to no avail) :

-In the Stanley Gryziec case (when they're wheeling him out of the house/into the ambulance, camera panning back on his wife)

-The opening to the special about the RFK killing (this episode skips the traditional opening, instead this piano theme plays and the first shots are of the funeral train)

-The Elizabeth Campbell case (as her parents are walking down the street at night, showing her picture to prostitutes and other street people)

-The Kristi Martin case (just a short snippet of the piano theme plays at the start of the segment as her picture is shown)

I think it is also played in the Dave Davis segment, I think when the mourners approach Shannon Mohr's grave. Sad music indeed.

Another music segment that sticks out in my mind the one where the woman who was involved in the accident in Montana, wandered off into the prairie and was never seen again. The music that plays at the end when she is hitchhiking has been stuck in my head for a while.

Three more music segments come readily to mind: one: when the friends from England are playing jacks at the orphanage during WWII; two: when you see the gate close and camera pans over several cars and stops on the one Mike Rosenblum was driving when he disappeared and three: when Robert Stack is providing background on how John Russell and John Dozier and Suzanne Russell met. This last segment, sadly, has not yet made it to Prime.

I tried finding it on the vinyl, but they probably didn't include it because it's so somber? I think you can catch several of those segments on Amazon, though. That tune sticks out to me, too.

I like a lot of the music in the wanted segments, such as when there's a bank heist or criminals are doing something methodical (such as the one where they're escaping Alcatraz). One that sticks out to me in particular is when the witness in the I-70 killer case is allowed to leave and walks back to his car. It's just so intense!

Suffice to say, I'm a huge fan of the UM music.

the music from start to finish is so scary in the IH 70 segment. that particular one that you are talking about is so good. I love the way they used the bass there. in fact the bass is probably right there with the piano with being one of the main instruments for structuring rhythm and in some cases is the main feature like the update themes at the end of the soundtrack.

I think it is also played in the Dave Davis segment, I think when the mourners approach Shannon Mohr's grave. Sad music indeed.


You're right - spaced that as I'm on yet another run-through of UM in chronological order.

the music from start to finish is so scary in the IH 70 segment. that particular one that you are talking about is so good. I love the way they used the bass there. in fact the bass is probably right there with the piano with being one of the main instruments for structuring rhythm and in some cases is the main feature like the update themes at the end of the soundtrack.

I-70 is not on Prime either right?

I-70 is not on Prime either right?

yes it is in season 6

...the music during Rick Church’s attack on the Ritter family is just as effective in a totally different way.

That "music" creeps me out so bad!! :eek: I actually don't watch that segment anymore because of that music. Gives me nightmares. I think UM used that same music during the Anthrax segment.

I always love the music cue they'd use for con artists and swindlers. Super catchy and does a really good job at winking at the audience that this is going to be a preposterous and probably campy case. IE Liza Montgomery, The Countess of Cleveland, Gertrude Pruett...

I don't know why, but for some reason, there's a sad piano theme (3-4 notes.....lasting maybe a minute, or just a little more) that sticks out to me - I can remember hearing it 4 times (have scoured the interwebs looking for it, to no avail) :

-In the Stanley Gryziec case (when they're wheeling him out of the house/into the ambulance, camera panning back on his wife)

-The opening to the special about the RFK killing (this episode skips the traditional opening, instead this piano theme plays and the first shots are of the funeral train)

-The Elizabeth Campbell case (as her parents are walking down the street at night, showing her picture to prostitutes and other street people)

-The Kristi Martin case (just a short snippet of the piano theme plays at the start of the segment as her picture is shown)

That sad piano tune is also in the Michael Hunter segment after he crashes his motorbike at the gas station and the orange socks segment when Bobbie Obherholzter's body is found. You'll hear it in plenty of other segments.

Piano was used for the majority of the sad music on the show. Another noteworthy one is in the lost love segment where Leanne Robinson is looking for her younger brother and sister, Jimmy and Tammy. The music that's playing when she says goodbye to them for the last time as kids is extremely heartbreaking.

I always love the music cue they'd use for con artists and swindlers. Super catchy and does a really good job at winking at the audience that this is going to be a preposterous and probably campy case. IE Liza Montgomery, The Countess of Cleveland, Gertrude Pruett...
Is that the same music that they play in "Resurrection Mary" if so that would be ironic.

Also that music that I am thinking of is in the "Danny Marino" roofer scam. but I cannot remember if that is in the Amazon Prime/Filmrise series.

Like the Avatar!

I always love the music cue they'd use for con artists and swindlers. Super catchy and does a really good job at winking at the audience that this is going to be a preposterous and probably campy case. IE Liza Montgomery, The Countess of Cleveland, Gertrude Pruett...

SAME. It's my husband's favorite UM music. He'll be like, "THERE'S THAT TUNE AGAIN!" :lol:

Not to sound hipster but it's really the retro-ness of the UM music that I really like--everything about it from the melodies they used, to the synth sounds, and even the pitch-shiftiness from the analog recording technology. Everything about that makes it creepier in my opinion.

The music in the identical twins segment. It sounds like something from a late 80s early 90s anime!

The brassy lilt to the music that starts out the Elliot Ness Cleveland Torso Slayer segment. It just screams "period flashback."

I think we can all agree that the music from Unsolved Mysteries is one of the best things about that show. As a musician myself I have a huge appreciation for the creepy, 80's retro theme song, and also Gary Malkin's amazing score.

Wanted to start a thread about your favorite moments/general observations about the music for this show. Here's mine:

Has anyone else noticed that the music for the Norman Ladner segment seemed to be composed separately from the other segments? What I mean is that most other segments use recycled cues (for example the creepy BOOM BOOM cue was used for both the Tallman House and Rick Church segments), whereas the Norman Ladner segment has music that I've never heard anywhere else in the show. And furthermore the music is noticeably more cinematic--kind of reminds me of the music from the beginning of On Golden Pond. Anyway, I wonder if Gary Malkin just really pulled all the stops for that oe occasion, or if perhaps someone else wrote it? Check it out and let me know what you think.
This morning I noticed a very brief cut from the music used in the Norman Ladner segment at the beginning of the Michael Wayne Brown segment in season 10 episode 7.

So I'm not as familiar with all the cases and the music that goes along with them, but the song that I'm currently obsessed with and I'm trying to find is the one featured in many lost loves cases; which in my opinion might be the saddest piece of music to ever be featured on the show. Some people might've talked about it already, but it kind of reminds me of Angelo Badalamenti's theme for Laura Palmer from the Twin Peaks soundtrack, and those that have seen the show know EXACTLY which piece I'm referencing to. It's so beautiful and sad at the same time, I hope I'm able to find it someday again.

They played i think All Around The Watchtower in the student protest robbery segment

That sad piano tune is also in the Michael Hunter segment after he crashes his motorbike at the gas station and the orange socks segment when Bobbie Obherholzter's body is found. You'll hear it in plenty of other segments.

Piano was used for the majority of the sad music on the show. Another noteworthy one is in the lost love segment where Leanne Robinson is looking for her younger brother and sister, Jimmy and Tammy. The music that's playing when she says goodbye to them for the last time as kids is extremely heartbreaking.

the Michael Hunter piano music is also used in the intro of the Patsy Wright segment when they are showing her funeral at a church. every time I hear that music I instantly recognize it and think of Patsy.

another simple piano riff that I heard many years ago once sent chills down my spine. Back in the lifetime good old days I was home alone one night watching the Marfa lights segment. didn't feel scared or anything because I thought of it as a benign ghost story from my childhood. anyway the piano music sequence that they play as the light goes away, reappears, and then fades away for the last time. This is towards the end of the segment as the professors are analyzing the lights. I know it's used in other segments as well. I'll have to keep looking out for it.

UM always cued up that same stock single flute piece to let you know you were about to see something mystical happen, like kids walking up on a magic rock

https://youtu.be/cevgM4Ez-5w?t=2396

So I'm not as familiar with all the cases and the music that goes along with them, but the song that I'm currently obsessed with and I'm trying to find is the one featured in many lost loves cases; which in my opinion might be the saddest piece of music to ever be featured on the show. Some people might've talked about it already, but it kind of reminds me of Angelo Badalamenti's theme for Laura Palmer from the Twin Peaks soundtrack, and those that have seen the show know EXACTLY which piece I'm referencing to. It's so beautiful and sad at the same time, I hope I'm able to find it someday again.

I'm stumped, and I never watched Twin Peaks although I heard of it. there are so many different types of piano that are featured in the lost loves segments. but I really want to hear the music that you are talking about. There's a particular piano music in many of the lost loves segments that always gets to me. It is featured heavily in the fritz and the soldiers segment. It's kind of a melancholy theme. It's in Season 7 episode 16 if you watch it on filmrise. Also I think it's featured heavily in the Duncan Gilmore segment. It's the type of music that makes you miss someone that you didn't even know you missed.

todd mueller segment has some lovely piano playing

I'm stumped, and I never watched Twin Peaks although I heard of it. there are so many different types of piano that are featured in the lost loves segments. but I really want to hear the music that you are talking about. There's a particular piano music in many of the lost loves segments that always gets to me. It is featured heavily in the fritz and the soldiers segment. It's kind of a melancholy theme. It's in Season 7 episode 16 if you watch it on filmrise. Also I think it's featured heavily in the Duncan Gilmore segment. It's the type of music that makes you miss someone that you didn't even know you missed.

Oh lord here goes nothing😅 https://voca.ro/1f6DyDgfsffQ
I'm not a musician, I don't have a piano so this is the best I could do

Oh lord here goes nothing😅 https://voca.ro/1f6DyDgfsffQ
I'm not a musician, I don't have a piano so this is the best I could do

Ok! that was good. I recognized it immediately. and yes it is in a lot of segments. The segment that comes to mind for whatever reason is the Elizabeth Ortiz segment. aka "that man has Jonathon segment" I posted a link below.

the most replayed part of the YouTube video is of Elizabeth telling her ridiculous story of the masked man and little boy. a lot of us have made fun of it over the years. but if you go to 38:20 the piano music starts playing as Gilbert is talking and it is very emotional. and then it turns creepy as they transition to the wanted monologue for Elizabeth narrated by Robert Stack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpyFGUVCHm4

Ok! that was good. I recognized it immediately. and yes it is in a lot of segments. The segment that comes to mind for whatever reason is the Elizabeth Ortiz segment. aka "that man has Jonathon segment" I posted a link below.

the most replayed part of the YouTube video is of Elizabeth telling her ridiculous story of the masked man and little boy. a lot of us have made fun of it over the years. but if you go to 38:20 the piano music starts playing as Gilbert is talking and it is very emotional. and then it turns creepy as they transition to the wanted monologue for Elizabeth narrated by Robert Stack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpyFGUVCHm4

lol thank you😅 though I don't think I'm winning a Grammy any time soon, I did the best I could from memory
and yes that is the piece I was talking about I hope I'm able to find it in full someday somewhere
That story is so sad especially with what happened with Gilbert and his son afterwards.

lol thank you😅 though I don't think I'm winning a Grammy any time soon, I did the best I could from memory
and yes that is the piece I was talking about I hope I'm able to find it in full someday somewhere
That story is so sad especially with what happened with Gilbert and his son afterwards.

I actually love this musical cue. It accurately sets the mood for how depressing some of these cases can be. And it was used a lot. If you go back and watch the James White segment (the man who was drunk driving and killed John and Marie Constable) you hear a few more bars of this music that was rarely used. It’s at the end where the daughter says she keeps replaying the accident in her head and they show them driving down the road in slow motion.

There's always certain scores they played when talking about cases referring to older people.

The one piece that plays at the beginning of the Gretchen Burford segment also plays in the Dorothy Donovan segment (amidst slightly edited) when Dorothy's daughters are interviewed.

The piano piece at the beginning of the Shoen family segment also plays during the Gertrude Pruitt segment when she's walking down the stairs and yells out, "Mrs. Patterson!".

at the beginning of the Ohio trucker segment there is a dark synthesizer tune and there are these weird deep growl-like background sounds. every time I'm on the interstate and a truck runs over the rumble strips (warning growlers or whatever they are called) I think of that segment.

at the beginning of the Ohio trucker segment there is a dark synthesizer tune and there are these weird deep growl-like background sounds. every time I'm on the interstate and a truck runs over the rumble strips (warning growlers or whatever they are called) I think of that segment.

I love that sound.

Bwah BWAH bwah BWAAAAHHH

The sound of impending doom.

If I were a baseball player, I would choose that as my walk-up music.

My main wishlist track off the UM soundtrack was another wistful piano piece usually reserved for Lost Love segments. It can be heard pretty well in the Tom Vaughn segment, starting at 20:58.

https://youtu.be/3yhipklVVsU?si=9KRQPIjXp8OhhtwJ

I love that sound.

same

My favorite or standout musical moments:

1. The Wild West music in the Seth Bullock ghost segment. Added a bit of lightness to a paranormal segment.
2. The Update music. Especially for some reason the very understated staccato music in the Elizabeth Campbell update.
3. Any time the composites of suspects or persons of interest are shown at the end of the Wanted/UD/Missing segments. The combo of some of those eerie drawings and the music is a one-two punch.

lol thank you😅 though I don't think I'm winning a Grammy any time soon, I did the best I could from memory
and yes that is the piece I was talking about I hope I'm able to find it in full someday somewhere
That story is so sad especially with what happened with Gilbert and his son afterwards.

OT, the actress playing Elizabeth did a superb job in the interview scene. She behaved like you'd expect a person caught telling a whopper to act.

The sax player did not hold back when they recorded the music for the Barbra Piotrowski/Richard Minns segment. Has that 80s nighttime in the big city, brassy vibe

The sax player did not hold back when they recorded the music for the Barbra Piotrowski/Richard Minns segment. Has that 80s nighttime in the big city, brassy vibe

Ugh, that's a segment that seems like it goes on for three hours. They could have told the story in 10 minutes. There are a few like that. Jeffrey MacDonald, John Branion, Cheryl Holland... All automatic fast forwards for me.

In the rare Bo Tanner segment, someone used "Amazing Grace" when Bo Tanner was anything but full of grace, and didn't seem to be asking for grace.

The sax player did not hold back when they recorded the music for the Barbra Piotrowski/Richard Minns segment. Has that 80s nighttime in the big city, brassy vibe

I'm not the biggest fan of the sax in that segment. but I do like the soprano sax in the UM closing credits. it used to give me the creeps. I think it's a soprano sax, could be wrong though.