Magnum Mania!

Hey everyone,

Time to consult you experts. Is/was Mike Post & Pete Carpenter's complete MPI theme (the one released as a 45 single back in the day) available on any TV theme compilations? I don't mean the standard edited version seen at the start of every episode post-first half or so of season one, I can find that one left and right (indeed, I already have that one on a TV theme comp). I'm talking about the full couple-minute version. Every one I come across on CD appears to either be the TV edit or a version not actually performed by Post/Carpenter (though I wound up with a cool version that appears to be a cover on a CD called "The Andromeda Project"). Doesn't help that you often can't really tell just by looking at the packaging of a given CD.

Is it out there somewhere, or am I gonna have to resort to hooking up the turntable and making a vinyl-to-PC conversion? I can do that if need be, but I'd rather have a nice CD version that may include some other cool, complete themes to boot.

Also, while on the subject of MPI's music, has any of the background instrumental music ever been released officially on CD (not unlike what Jan Hammer did with his Miami Vice scores)? I've looked, and I haven't seen anything, but I don't know. MPI had such great instrumental scores that I've seriously considered copying scenes to the PC and turning them into MP3s, but all of the squealing tires and gunshots and whatnot may not translate into the perfect score to listen to whilst driving (or maybe they would, who knows).

Thanks in advance everyone!

Hi Lar,

I am not able to answer your specific question. However I enjoy going onto youtube. Type Magnum pi theme into the search field. There is a good collection to view. Connect your PC to your smart tv for best sound.

Hi Lar!

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.amazon.com/All-Time-Top-100- ... +tv+themes

ConchRepublican wrote:Hi Lar!

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.amazon.com/All-Time-Top-100- ... +tv+themes

That is indeed a really good comp, but that's actually the one I have the TV version of the MPI theme on. The whole set is the actual TV themes as they aired during the respective shows. It's a great set, but not quite what I'm looking for right now. Unfortunately, most TV theme sets seem to follow that path.

As far as Mike Post goes, a friend gave me a Hill Street Blues CD consisting completely of his full theme and background scores, all of which appear to be original Post recordings (there's apparently a second, nearly-identical version with supposed re-recordings, but I don't think that's the one I have). So, I'm holding out hope for a MPI 'version' of that, though I'd think I would have seen one online somewhere by now if there was one.

I think I *may* have found a CD that has the whole MPI theme as well as the complete versions of other themes:

http://www.allmusic.com/album/tv-land-c ... 0000099886

According to that link, the full runtimes are listed, and Rhino has always been a reputable label in my experience, so I'll give it a shot. It's apparently out of print, but I found a used copy really cheap online, so we'll see. If nothing else, I'll have the Cannon theme, which I've been looking for too.

How about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Theme-Magnum-P-I- ... =magnum+PI

Lar wrote:Also, while on the subject of MPI's music, has any of the background instrumental music ever been released officially on CD (not unlike what Jan Hammer did with his Miami Vice scores)? I've looked, and I haven't seen anything, but I don't know. MPI had such great instrumental scores that I've seriously considered copying scenes to the PC and turning them into MP3s, but all of the squealing tires and gunshots and whatnot may not translate into the perfect score to listen to whilst driving (or maybe they would, who knows).

I've captured a bunch of the Post/Carpenter episode scores over the years. They can be found here: http://magnum-mania.com/Audio/Audio.html

ConchRepublican wrote:How about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Theme-Magnum-P-I- ... =magnum+PI

Yep, I think that's the full version! It sure sounds like it from the sample Amazon provides! I've looked at original copies that record on Ebay; doesn't look like that particular album was ever released on CD, but knowing that I can get the MP3 on Amazon for 99 cents if need be makes things waaaay easier on me! Thank you!

J.J. Walters wrote:

Lar wrote:Also, while on the subject of MPI's music, has any of the background instrumental music ever been released officially on CD (not unlike what Jan Hammer did with his Miami Vice scores)? I've looked, and I haven't seen anything, but I don't know. MPI had such great instrumental scores that I've seriously considered copying scenes to the PC and turning them into MP3s, but all of the squealing tires and gunshots and whatnot may not translate into the perfect score to listen to whilst driving (or maybe they would, who knows).

I've captured a bunch of the Post/Carpenter episode scores over the years. They can be found here: http://magnum-mania.com/Audio/Audio.html

Oh wow, that's terrific! I love that you have the unique version of the theme from episode 87! Plus the original pilot episode/early season one version? Awesome! Thanks!

terryfromkerry wrote:Hi Lar,

I am not able to answer your specific question. However I enjoy going onto youtube. Type Magnum pi theme into the search field. There is a good collection to view. Connect your PC to your smart tv for best sound.

LOL yeah Youtube has been amazing about providing a lot of this stuff! And luckily, I'm just now beginning to discover the wonders of smart TVs!

Guys: That TV Land Crime Stoppers CD came today, and it does indeed have the full MPI theme on it! The set seems like it's a mixture of 'full' themes and ones that are as-aired-on-TV. I was a bit disappointed to see that Cannon's track was simply ripped from an actual episode, but given that it's a Rhino compilation and pretty high quality otherwise (even has some decent liner notes), that may just be the best there is.

No biggie though, the complete MPI theme was what I was after, so I'm happy! Plus, it's neat to see an artifact of when TV Land was a genuinely great channel (even if they never actually aired MPI).

If anyone's ever looking for/come across it it, here's a pic at Amazon (though I got mine on Ebay, ): http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Stoppers-Gr ... e+stoppers