Scooby Doo Underscore – Where are You?

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Searching for the Scooby Doo background music has been a project and a half.

I notice that like me, the internet is full of retro cartoon fans wondering why Hannah Barbera have never released the great background music from the early 70s Scooby doo episodes.

We are not talking about the Scooby Doo theme tune as this is widely available, im refering to the background music that is often heard in the middle of an episode. It apears there are several, but one stands out and is normally the tune played when they discover a vital clue or Thelma starts to explain something to the gang.

One fan asks “Where Can I Get The Background Music From Classic Scooby Doo?” on Yahoo! Answers and the only answer is itunes. Talk about no answers!

Scooby Doo Background Underscore

Scooby Doo Underscore – Where are You?

I’ve approached this a real project as it appears it just doesn’t exist. There is a great Hanna Barbera sound CD collection and a release of many of the classic Hanna Barbera cartoon titles including Scooby Doo and Top Cat. It became clear that it’s known as an “Underscore” not “Background music” as the definition of an underscore is Music that provides emotional or atmospheric background to the primary dialog or narration onscreen.

skool

Some progress – it’s known as a Scooby Doo Underscore !

So some progress was made as at least i now know that I’m looking for Scooby Doo underscore tune from the 70’s

I then decided to hunt on your tube using this search term but it appears once again, no one has it. One person spoke of giving their rand hand to get the background music.

Personally I think it would make an awesome ringitone on my phone.

I noticed that there are many episodes on youtube, so i suppose i’m at the point where i now ask if there is anyone out there who knows what this underscore is called. Whether it has ever been made avaialble to download. Who produced it etc.

Meanwhile enjoy listening to it on this episode
You will need to go to 8:39 mins to hear the underscore i’m trying to identify

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133 thoughts on “Scooby Doo Underscore – Where are You?”

  1. I only know that this underscore was composed by Ted Nichols.
    There isn’t any feed anywhere about where we could find it, I’ve searched for it many times. The underscore was remixed in the movie “Scooby doo and the Legend of the Vampire”.

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks Forster
      I’ll see if i can locate the remixed underscore in the movie “Scooby doo and the Legend of the Vampire”.
      You don’t happen to know which part of the movie by any chance?

      Reply ↓

  4. Hey Skooldays,

    I have a collection of 46 cues from the original Penelope Pitstop/Scooby Doo Where Are You 1969 scoring sessions. Your original youtube link is dead so I can’t verify, but I’m pretty sure this is what you’re looking for; it’s a stupendous collection.

    Send me an email and I’ll send you a link.
    Dan D.

    Reply ↓

  5. Hi Dan, I know this is a late follow-up but I too have been looking for the original Scooby Doo score for ages, and my latest search has brought me here. In the chance that you happen to see this message, would you mind sending the collection my way? To say I’d be grateful would be a huge understatement. Thank you! -John (johnis019@yahoo.com)

    Reply ↓

  6. Hey,

    If anyone has these cues and is willing to send them to me, I’d be stoked. I’ve been looking for them for years and it’d be great to hear them isolated w/o kooky sound fx. They greatly informed my childhood and still haunt me today! 🙂

    thecarisonfire@gmail.com

    Reply ↓

  8. Hi Dan – and anyone else who has them – I too would love to hear the music cues without sound effects and speech on top of them. Older cartoons like Scooby Doo had such care put into them, with real studio musicians. Yes, the music cues were repeated ad nauseum, but they were of sufficient quality that one did not tire of hearing them.

    Reply ↓

  11. Dear Dan,
    I would love to be able to get those Scooby Due underscore cues as well if at all possible. I’ve been hunting high and low (and all places in between) for various Ted Nichols underscores. I’m aware from dim and distant memory that some of the Scooby cues came from The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which I haven’t seen in ages. I wish Hanna Barbera would release a sequel to Hanna Barbera’s Pic-a-Nic Basket. As great as it is, it hardly touches upon their sixties adventure series. There is only a small amount of Jonny Quest underscore, and not one bit of underscore from Scooby Doo, or Space Ghost, or the Herculoids, or Fantastic Four (not even the title score for those last two shows). I’d love to know where Hoyt Curtin ends and Ted Nichols begins. I heard one bit of underscore from Jonny Quest that seems to be the basis for the Space Ghost theme, and since Ted Nichols wrote that, does it mean he also did some music cues for Jonny Quest. If so, he really should be getting proper recognition. It would be great to get some of Nichols terriffic underscores. I’d hate to think that I had missed the musical boat for the third time in as many weeks (learned too late that underscores from six Republic Serials, including Captain America had been available in the late nineties, and early part of this century -they still exist but are now in a music library and are unavailable. Also learned that the underscore from the first season of the sities Spider Man had been available, but are no longer available , although some of the second season music is available on iTunes on two volumes called “Spider Sounds” as part of a British music library. Blimey!). At least I was pleased to learn that the George Reeves Superman underscores from the first four seasons are available.

    Reply ↓

  12. Hey if anyone could find the backround music for the creeper episode (where they find the man by the log) and post it, that would be great

    Reply ↓

  13. Sorry all – didn’t mean to tease you!

    Lost my original email address after I posted my note in 2013, so I never actually received emails with your replies/questions. Just got the old email address back online and saw that there’s been some interest. Will reply in due course. But hold tight: if there’s any chance of aiding an official release, I’m inclined to not start spreading links around.

    Reply ↓

    • Hey Dan, glad to see you’re still around!

      Add me to the list if possible:

      benjamail@internetaddress DOT com

      (replacing the DOT with a period obviously. I’m just trying to avoid spam bots grabbing my email)

      Reply ↓

    • Dan, if possible, I would also greatly appreciate the link.

      +5 Scooby snacks!

      cyberusfaustus AT gmail

      Thank you!

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Dan,

      is there any way that you could send me those underscore cues? I have been looking for literally years for these, it would mean SO much to me. thanks in advance, best wishes, Logan

      Reply ↓

    • Hey there, Dan!

      You already know.
      cadeutterback@hotmail com
      THANK YOU SO FRIGGIN MUCHO.
      Also, I don’t think there will ever be an official Scooby-Doo “Underscore” release.
      But man can dream.

      -Cade

      P.S. Send it ASAP, please and thank you. But mostly please.

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Dan,

      Any news on sharing these? I see it has been a while since the posts were written, and I’m also interested in downloading these scores.

      Thank you,

      Alain
      dastardlymuttley at hotmail dot com

      Reply ↓

    • Dan,

      I would love to hear these cues if they are still available! I grew up watching Scooby-Doo. The underscore feels like folk songs to me — timeless. Please send them to: horrop4312 at gmail dot com

      Thank you very much!

      John

      Reply ↓

  17. Hey guys, I found a CD at a record shop yesterday. It’s called “Scooby-Doo The Original Session Masters by Hoyt Curtin”. It’s friggin amazing. I’ve been looking for a Scooby CD with underscores for years. This CD has 42 tracks and runs about 44 min. I’ve attached a link to someone else flickr picture of the CD cover. I don’t know where this CD came from. It has no date or year on it. Just has some WB logos and some warnings on it. It’s NOT a CDR. It’s officially pressed with minimal art work. The quality of the music is outstanding. NOT some music thrown together where you can hear the occasional SFX or VOX. You do hear Hoyt or Ted count off the beats at the beginning of a few tracks. Again, I have no idea who or what company made this CD. Can someone help me?

    Reply ↓

    • wow man, I’ve honestly been looking for this CD for YEARS as I had heard that it existed, but have never been able to secure my own copy anywhere. Is there ANY way that you could upload or send me a ripped recording of it somehow? You seriously have no idea how long I’ve been looking and how much this would mean to mem cheers

      Reply ↓

    • Well, to be honest, I can’t help you out much. I couldn’t find anything but this post and many virus-filled websites after searching up your CD title. But you can help out your fellow Boo Brother (me) by sending a rip of that CD to:
      cadeutterback@hotmail com
      Please and Thank you.
      If you do this, I’ll find a way to spread it through the internet!

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Glen,

      I have an mp3 copy of this CD as well (from some branding work that I did with Cartoon Network in 2004/5…) and have always been interested in officially re-releasing the material. But it’s been hard to locate the actual masters and rights holders within the Warner universe. Your CD may help – any chance you can post/send me scans of the rear artwork and CD label? Curious to see who the copyrights are attributed to, if there are any catalog numbers, etc…

      Thanks!
      Dan
      dan (at) dzula (dot) com

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Glen,

      Is there any way to get a copy? It seems impossible to find on the Internet otherwise.

      Thanks,

      Alain
      dastardlymuttley at hotmail dot com

      Reply ↓

    • Hello Glen !
      Like others before me , I’m also searching for those Scooby Doo’s old music !

      If you could please send me a rip at
      gabriel DOT smash@hotmail com , it would be so amazing !!

      Reply ↓

    • Hey Glen, I realise this was a while back but I’m one of the growing number of people who would give their right arm for this music. Any chance of a copy/link at all? It would be for personal listening pleasure only. Also, I’d love to see some pics of the CD if you have any?

      Regards,
      Neil

      Reply ↓

  18. I made the first comment to this article back in 2011 If I had known that there were recordings available, I would have a long time ago. So, if anybody still has the cues, please send an e-mail at cyclonicstorm1@gmail.com

    Thanks ever so much!

    Reply ↓

  19. The proper reply:

    I made the first comment to this article back in 2011. If I had known that there were recordings available, I would have posted a request a long time ago. So, if anybody still has the cues, please send an e-mail at cyclonicstorm1@gmail.com

    Thanks ever so much!

    Reply ↓

  25. Is that Underscore link still floating out there somewhere? I’d love to use these for my costuming group during events and parades! It would be nice to have a variety of tunes from the show as opposed to the theme over and over. If anyone on here could send me the link or files, I’d really appreciate it! THANKS!

    Reply ↓

  27. I’m honestly beginning to think no one has this official recording because no one has ever come through with a link or any other evidence that proves otherwise. If it IS the case that someone has a copy of the underscore of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?! Please, please! Contact me!!
    Greed681@aol.com

    Reply ↓

    • It ain’t no hoax…I’ve been sitting on it because I’m interested in developing an actual release of the material (I run a small reissue/lost-and-found record label called Squirrel Thing).

      Glen’s CD find could be key to locating the masters and key rights holders.

      As a gesture of good faith, and to prove I’m not faking it…here’s a link to the first track and a screenshot of the track listing:

      https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b9l451ak40b2r87/AADtMOKAWZBve4fZeml4ONoPa?dl=0

      The track names were blank when I found the material, but luckily you can hear the slates before most of the takes…so that’s how I derived the track names. It’s a combination of cues for Scooby and Penelope Pitstop, presumably from 1969. I suspect that some of the cues were reused for each show (and possibly others).

      Reply ↓

      • Dan, since you run a small record label, wouldn’t you be able to re-release the material in physical form anyway? Or are you talking bigger scale?

        I can contact Cartoon Network to see if anyone would be able to help us out. I know how much we all want a large-scale release and I know that you will not link the whole CD until you’re 100% sure there won’t be an official release. So the least I can do is get in contact with CN, right?

        I will contact CN soon and I will email you as soon as I hear back or if it can go further with them, I will go further.

        If you would like to contact me personally, my email is cadeutterback@hotmail.com

        Reply ↓

      • Hey Dan,
        I’m not sure if you’ll see this since this entire comment thread is flooded with people asking for links, but if you are actually sending the link to some people who ask, I’d appreciate it if you could send it to me at nupane4sale@gmail.com. If it makes any difference, I can assure you that I wouldn’t risk getting anyone in trouble by spreading it around, I’m just interested in this for private use, since I’d just like to listen to what you have.

        Reply ↓

  28. ‘The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ is now on DVD from Warner Archive. There is a TON of background music that was later used for ‘Scooby Doo Where Are You?’ In fact, it seems the only music written just for Scooby may be the comedy scenes. It’s fascinating to watch this show and hear music that fit so well on Scooby. The writers and animators must have thought up scenes to match music they already had. There’s even an alternate version of the music from “A Clue for Scooby Doo” that you can hear at 9 minutes into this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JESrHVHWq8

    Reply ↓

    • Ah actually, on second listen I realise these are ripped from the audio of specific episodes. Well I’m certainly interested I finding decent quality versions!

      Reply ↓

  31. If either these cues or the tracks of that CD do get released, could someone please clue me in as well? Even if it’s just to announce an official licensed release rather than actual files, I’d still greatly appreciate being in the loop on this.

    thedridergirl@gmail.com

    Reply ↓

  33. Hi Dan,
    I would really love to hear the old underscore with clean audio. I’ve been searching for it for some time (but not as long as some people here I’ll admit). Hearing the first track in such good quality (and the man who I presume was Ted counting at the start) made my day!
    Please send to badgeramazing@mail.com

    Reply ↓

  36. Hello Dan!
    I would love if you could send me the underscore when you can make it available or notify me if it goes for sale instead. I have been looking forever for it and I would greatly appreciate if I was kept on the loop for news regarding this. Thank you so much for the work you have been doing! My email is mattkats1@hotmail.com

    Reply ↓

  40. Hi folks! I could lend a hand in recovering/working the Audio – I have a mastering studio. The underscores are what made the show so memorable for me when I was a child.

    If Dan or anyone else could send on a copy I’d be eternally grateful.

    Email is gdyce03@gmail.com

    Reply ↓

  46. Hey Dan!
    I just recently started searching for these underscores, and I found this whole thread for it, I would love if at all possible to get MP3s of the underscore or if the CD has been made available, i would love to buy a copy. If you have any info my email is graverune7177@gmail.com. Thank you for any help!

    Reply ↓

  48. Hi. Yet another ‘ditto’ from me. I would love to hear the Scooby Doo underscores/cues.

    jabennett715 at gmail dot com

    Reply ↓

  49. I’m a little new to the party, and I don’t mean to put any stressful weight on your shoulders, Dan. But I too have been very curious and anxious to hear the background music and underscores for myself.

    I know you might be busy, and banking on the hope that someone might reach through to Warner Bros, or Cartoon Network about coming up with some kind of re-release deal, but if for some reason you should see this and reconsider, I’d very much appreciate if you could send them over!

    Thank you very much in advance. ^.^

    My email’s trappedofficial25@gmail.com

    Reply ↓

  51. Hello Dan.
    As with the others, I found this page searching for the Scooby-Doo: Where Are You Underscore. It’s my favorite toon back from the childhood, so if there a possibility you could share the cues with me it would be just amazing!

    By the way, thank you for your hard work on trying it to get released officialy. I hope Warner Bros. will do it sooner or later.

    003-forever@mail.ru

    Reply ↓

  56. If this forum is still alive, I would hugely appreciate the links as well! I’m glad to hear that other people love the cues as much as I do. And in case any one else is interested, though they’re very different, check out the OSTs for the Scooby Doo – First Frights game and the Scooby Doo – Spooky Swamp game.
    russellsfairbanks@gmail.com

    Reply ↓

  60. I’m an amateur audio producer with experience in audio restoration — would love to get my hands on these cues & give them a makeover! If anyone still has the leaked Nichols sessions, please email me (PigmaskColonel@yahoo.com). Very interested in this subject.

    Reply ↓

  62. Hello everyone. I don’t know how often this forum is checked, but if by some chance someone sees this, I’d also like the underscore sent my way.
    (dark0knight15@gmail.com)

    Reply ↓

    • Thanks for the link! We finally get to hear some of the music! Most of the tracks are from the New Scooby Doo Movies. A precious few are Scooby Doo Where Are You, tracks 45 – 65. A lot are from the episode ‘Mine Your Own Business.’

      Reply ↓

  66. Thanks for the link! We finally get to hear some of the music! Most of the tracks are from the New Scooby Doo Movies. A precious few are Scooby Doo Where Are You, tracks 45 – 65. A lot are from the episode ‘Mine Your Own Business.’

    Reply ↓

  67. I wonder if Dan D was ever legit. Kinda funny how he said he was gonna send it out to people and it takes 7 years before we got any of these tracks. Worth the wait though.

    Reply ↓

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