American Tabloid

Book Playlist

American Tabloid Playlist

by James Ellroy

20 tracks

balanced

May 9, 2026

4 mixes for this book

This playlist captures the tense, conspiratorial atmosphere of James Ellroy's "American Tabloid," blending instrumental noir jazz and moody electronic soundscapes with vintage soul and blues vocals that evoke the era's dark underbelly. The instrumentals reflect the shadows and paranoia of the covert operations and political intrigue, while the vocal tracks channel the characters' complex emotions and the cultural tensions of 1960s America, spanning Miami, L.A., Chicago, and D.C.

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Track List

20 songs

1

Half The Day Is Night

Gábor Szabó · Dreams

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2

All Things To All Men

The Cinematic Orchestra · Every Day

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3

Blue In Green

Miles Davis · Freeway – New Music for Saxophone and Piano

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4

Building A Family

Mark Isham · Life As A House (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

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5

The Conversation (Main Theme from "The Conversation")

David Shire · David Shire at the Movies

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6

Cuba Libre

Nico LaOnda · Champagne

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7

To Build A Home

The Cinematic Orchestra · Ma Fleur

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8

Angel Eyes

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers · Live!

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9

Theme - From "The Long Goodbye"

John Williams · Film Music of John Williams

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10

I Put A Spell On You

Nina Simone · Songs zum Kochen

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11

Harlem Nocturne

Earle Hagen · Swing Is King (Vol.2)

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12

Evil Ways

Willie Bobo · Bobo Motion

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13

It's a Heartache

Bonnie Tyler · Natural Force (Expanded Edition)

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14

Ain't Got No Home

Clarence 'Frogman' Henry · Party Deluxe: Rock 'n' Roll & Jukebox Hits: 100 Originals from the 50's

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15

Diamonds Are Forever

Shirley Bassey · Let Me Sing and I'm Happy

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16

God Bless the Child

Billie Holiday · Billie Holiday Centenary Album - The Very Best of Billie Holiday

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17

Mystery Train

Elvis Presley · Scotty & Bill

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18

Strange Fruit

Nina Simone · Four Women: The Nina Simone Philips Recordings

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19

Walk on By

Dionne Warwick · Soft Soul

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20

Stone by Stone

Luminary Flux · Again Again

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Playlist Settings

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Mood balanced

Genre match

Era any

Length medium

Instrumental request 50%

Environment balanced

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3 more mixes for American Tabloid

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