Them

Book Playlist

Them Playlist

by Joyce Carol Oates

20 tracks

balanced

Nov 2, 2026

Jazz, soul, blues, and spare orchestral pieces evoke Detroit's shifting streets, its after-hours intimacy, and the pressure of lives constrained by class and race. The instrumentals move from wary observation to turbulent energy; the songs give voice to the Wendalls' longing, resilience, and uneasy pride.

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Track List

20 songs

1

Harlem Air-Shaft

Duke Ellington · Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band

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2

Haitian Fight Song

Charles Mingus · The Clown

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3

Poinciana

Ahmad Jamal · Poinciana

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4

Nefertiti

Miles Davis · Nefertiti (Expanded Edition)

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5

A Love Supreme, Pt. I – Acknowledgement

John Coltrane · A Love Supreme

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6

Moanin'

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · Moanin' (Expanded Edition)

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7

Blue Rondo à la Turk

The Dave Brubeck Quartet · Time Out

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8

Saturn

Sun Ra · Peace On Earth

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9

Quiet City

Aaron Copland · Copland: Appalachian Spring / Clarinet Concerto / Quiet City

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10

Rhapsody in Blue

George Gershwin · Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue & An American in Paris

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11

What's Going On

Marvin Gaye · What's Going On

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12

Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Marvin Gaye · What's Going On

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13

Dancing In The Street

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas · Dance Party

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14

For What It's Worth

Buffalo Springfield · Buffalo Springfield

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15

The Ghetto

Donny Hathaway · Everything Is Everything

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16

Living For The City

Stevie Wonder · Innervisions

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17

People Get Ready

The Impressions · People Get Ready

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18

A Change Is Gonna Come

Sam Cooke · Ain't That Good News

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19

Fast Car

Tracy Chapman · Tracy Chapman

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20

The Dark End of the Street

James Carr · You Got My Mind Messed Up

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Playlist Settings

The preferences requested for this mix.

Mood balanced

Genre match

Era any

Length medium

Instrumental request 50%

Environment balanced

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