American Tabloid
Book 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
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Track List

40 songs
1
At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins

I Put a Spell On You

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

2
Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits

Misty

Sarah Vaughan · Sarah Vaughan's Golden Hits

3
At Last!

Stormy Weather

Etta James · At Last!

4
Electric Blue Moon

Harlem Nocturne

The Viscounts · Electric Blue Moon

5
Just As I Am

Ain't No Sunshine

Bill Withers · Just As I Am

6
The Singles Plus

House of the Rising Sun

The Animals · The Singles Plus

7
American IV: The Man Comes Around

Hurt

Johnny Cash · American IV: The Man Comes Around

8
BD Music Presents Kind of Blue

Blue In Green

Miles Davis · BD Music Presents Kind of Blue

9
I Walk the Line (Original Soundtrack Recording)

I Walk the Line

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

10
Howlin' Wolf

Back Door Man

Howlin' Wolf · Howlin' Wolf

11
Dusty In Memphis

Son Of A Preacher Man

Dusty Springfield · Dusty In Memphis

12
King Of The Electric Blues

I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man

Muddy Waters · King Of The Electric Blues

13
Billy Don't Be A Hero

The Night Chicago Died

Paper Lace · Billy Don't Be A Hero

14
Ultimate Peggy Lee

Black Coffee

Peggy Lee · Ultimate Peggy Lee

15
Surrealistic Pillow

White Rabbit

Jefferson Airplane · Surrealistic Pillow

16
Strange Days

People Are Strange

The Doors · Strange Days

17
Let It Bleed

Gimme Shelter

The Rolling Stones · Let It Bleed

18
The Velvet Underground & Nico 45th Anniversary

I'm Waiting For The Man

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

19
The Rolling Stones Singles Collection: The London Years

Sympathy For The Devil

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

20
On the Edge

House of the Rising Sun

Frijid Pink · On the Edge

21
Pastel Blues

Strange Fruit

Nina Simone · Pastel Blues

22
The Doors

The End

The Doors · The Doors

23
Born To Be Wild (Best Of....)

Born To Be Wild

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

24
The Cost of Living - EP

I Fought the Law

The Clash · The Cost of Living - EP

25
Willy And The Poor Boys (Expanded Edition)

Fortunate Son

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

26
Stronger Than Dirt

Ball And Chain

Big Mama Thornton · Stronger Than Dirt

27
Aftermath

Paint It, Black

The Rolling Stones · Aftermath

28
Freedom Suite

People Got to Be Free

The Rascals · Freedom Suite

29
Wheels Of Fire

White Room

Cream · Wheels Of Fire

30
The Who Sell Out (Super Deluxe)

Summertime Blues

The Who · The Who Sell Out (Super Deluxe)

31
Buffalo Springfield

For What It's Worth

Buffalo Springfield · Buffalo Springfield

32
Who's Next (Deluxe Edition)

Baba O'Riley

The Who · Who's Next (Deluxe Edition)

33
Gimme Some Lovin': 3 Hits to Have!

Gimme Some Lovin' (Live)

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

34
Born Under A Bad Sign

Born Under A Bad Sign

Albert King · Born Under A Bad Sign

35
Wheels Of Fire

Crossroads - Live

Cream · Wheels Of Fire

36
Everybody Needs Love

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Gladys Knight & The Pips · Everybody Needs Love

37
Led Zeppelin

Dazed and Confused - 1990 Remaster

Led Zeppelin · Led Zeppelin

38
Best Of The Band

The Weight

The Band · Best Of The Band

39
The Best of Echo & The Bunnymen

People Are Strange

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

40
Magical Moments

Luminary

Dravelyn · Magical Moments

Playlist Settings

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Genre mixed
Era any
Length long
Instrumental 0%
Environment balanced

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