American Tabloid
Reading Playlist

American Tabloid

by James Ellroy

This playlist mirrors the dark, intense, and conspiratorial atmosphere of James Ellroy's "American Tabloid," set in the turbulent 1950s-60s America. The selection captures the gritty political intrigue, morally ambiguous characters, and the tense, chaotic emotions of the era through a diverse mix of noir jazz, vintage soul, psychedelic rock, and narrative-driven indie tracks. Songs evoke key characters' psychological depth and the book's unfolding drama, making it a compelling sonic companion for reading.

40 tracks
balanced
May 9, 2026
Open in Spotify

Track List

40 songs
0
At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins

I Put a Spell On You

Screamin' Jay Hawkins · At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins

1
Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits

Misty

Sarah Vaughan · Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits

2
At Last!

Stormy Weather

Etta James · At Last!

3
Electric Blue Moon

Harlem Nocturne

The Viscounts · Electric Blue Moon

4
Just As I Am

Ain't No Sunshine

Bill Withers · Just As I Am

5
The Singles Plus

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals · The Singles Plus

6
American IV: The Man Comes Around

Hurt

Johnny Cash · American IV: The Man Comes Around

7
BD Music Presents Kind of Blue

Blue In Green

Miles Davis · BD Music Presents Kind of Blue

8
I Walk the Line (Original Soundtrack Recording)

I Walk the Line

Johnny Cash · I Walk the Line (Original Soundtrack Recording)

9
Howlin' Wolf

Back Door Man

Howlin' Wolf · Howlin' Wolf

10
Dusty In Memphis

Son Of A Preacher Man

Dusty Springfield · Dusty In Memphis

11
King Of The Electric Blues

I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man

Muddy Waters · King Of The Electric Blues

12
Billy Don't Be A Hero

The Night Chicago Died

Paper Lace · Billy Don't Be A Hero

13
Ultimate Peggy Lee

Black Coffee

Peggy Lee · Ultimate Peggy Lee

14
Surrealistic Pillow

White Rabbit

Jefferson Airplane · Surrealistic Pillow

15
Strange Days

People Are Strange

The Doors · Strange Days

16
Let It Bleed

Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones · Let It Bleed

17
The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary

I'm Waiting For The Man

The Velvet Underground · The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary

18
The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years

Sympathy For The Devil

The Rolling Stones · The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years

19
On the Edge

House of the Rising Sun

Frijid Pink · On the Edge

20
Pastel Blues

Strange Fruit

Nina Simone · Pastel Blues

21
The Doors

The End

The Doors · The Doors

22
Born To Be Wild (Best Of....)

Born To Be Wild

Steppenwolf · Born To Be Wild (Best Of....)

23
The Cost of Living - EP

I Fought the Law

The Clash · The Cost of Living - EP

24
Willy And The Poor Boys (Expanded Edition)

Fortunate Son

Creedence Clearwater Revival · Willy And The Poor Boys (Expanded Edition)

25
Stronger Than Dirt

Ball And Chain

Big Mama Thornton · Stronger Than Dirt

26
Aftermath

Paint It, Black

The Rolling Stones · Aftermath

27
Freedom Suite

People Got to Be Free

The Rascals · Freedom Suite

28
Wheels Of Fire

White Room

Cream · Wheels Of Fire

29
The Who Sell Out (Super Deluxe)

Summertime Blues

The Who · The Who Sell Out (Super Deluxe)

30
Buffalo Springfield

For What It's Worth

Buffalo Springfield · Buffalo Springfield

31
Who's Next (Deluxe Edition)

Baba O'Riley

The Who · Who's Next (Deluxe Edition)

32
Gimme Some Lovin': 3 Hits to Have!

Gimme Some Lovin' (Live)

The Spencer Davis Group · Gimme Some Lovin': 3 Hits to Have!

33
Born Under A Bad Sign

Born Under A Bad Sign

Albert King · Born Under A Bad Sign

34
Wheels Of Fire

Crossroads - Live

Cream · Wheels Of Fire

35
Everybody Needs Love

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Gladys Knight & The Pips · Everybody Needs Love

36
Led Zeppelin

Dazed and Confused - 1990 Remaster

Led Zeppelin · Led Zeppelin

37
Best Of The Band

The Weight

The Band · Best Of The Band

38
The Best of Echo & The Bunnymen

People Are Strange

Echo & the Bunnymen · The Best of Echo & The Bunnymen

39
Magical Moments

Luminary

Dravelyn · Magical Moments

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