Seven Favorite "Soundtracked" TV Shows

Happy Music Monday!  Its also Labor Day, but I'm not sure I should wish a happy one to people.  I think that defeats the point, yeah?


Today we are kicking off TV Week in celebration of all the new TV shows and returning favorites that are gonna happen this month!  Herc happens to be a TV connoisseur in his time away from the 7w/D offices.  Combining two of his passions, he has put together the best sounding TV shows for you and of course compiled the Spotify lists that go with them

As far as the rest of the week goes, be on the lookout for 90s shows, Gilmore Girls, Muppets and even more!


Let's get this party started Herc!

 
Herc’s Seven Favorite “Soundtracked” TV Shows

These TV shows feature more of Herc’s favorite songs than all other shows combined. Some of them have had official albums and playlists released but none of those releases do any justice to the sheer quantity and quality of the songs played on the following television series. It is a paradox that it is these very songs that make it cost prohibitive to issue the majority of these shows on DVD or Blu-Ray with the original, as broadcast soundtrack intact. To give you a taste of each series music, songs from the premiere episode are listed. For a full serving, click the Spotify link for each show.



Ed [2000-2004]

Music aside, this is one of the greatest shows ever to hit the airwaves. It aired from 2000-2004 and is criminally unavailable to watch legally. Sonically, it mines the familiar, popular songs of the Seventies and Eighties with the occasional contemporary song thrown in for good measure.

>>>Spotify Ed<<<

"Next Year" by The Foo Fighters (theme song)

"Tropicalia" by Beck

"Your Life Is Now" by John Mellencamp

"Do That to Me One More Time" by The Captain & Tennille

"Between the Sheets" by The Isley Brothers

"Knock Three Times" by Tony Orlando & Dawn


My Name Is Earl [2005-2009]

A show that wasn’t afraid to take comedic risks, it rewarded its viewers with an eclectic soundtrack that spanned five decades. Unfortunately, when the DVDs were released, some of the music was replaced with generic filler.

>>>Spotify Earl<<<


“Been Caught Stealing” - Jane’s Addiction

“It Takes Two” - Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock (this one is Earl’s jam)

“Winning” - Santana

“99 Luftballons” - Nena


Freaks and Geeks [1999-2000]

Close to my heart for a number of reasons, this show was set in 1980 and featured songs from then as well as the late Seventies. It barely lasted one season, as it was cancelled before all the episodes had aired but is fortunately available on DVD with every song as originally broadcast.

>>>Spotify Sam<<<

“Bad Reputation” - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (theme song)

“Runnin’ With The Devil” - Van Halen

“I’m Alright” - Kenny Loggins

“Renegade” - Styx

“Come Sail Away” - Styx


Supernatural [2005-????]

The only show on this list still being produced, Supernatural has unleashed a collection of hard rock classics upon a new generation. Imaginative editing coupled with well chosen songs has left indelible images on the brains of the shows legion of fans. This show rocks!

>>>Spotify The Winchesters<<<

“Ramblin’ Man” - Allman Brothers Band

“Back In Black” - AC/DC

“Highway To Hell” - AC/DC

(It’s interesting to note that this episode, in its pilot form, contained different music, listed below)

“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” - Green Day

“Disco Inferno” - 50 Cent

“Points Of Authority” - Linkin Park

“La Grange” - ZZ Top

“Enter Sandman” - Metallica


Cold Case [2003-2010]

Using music as an integral part of the atmosphere of the series, each episode featured songs from the same year, the year the original crime took place (shown in flashbacks) as well as a melancholy ballad near the end of the episode as the culprits were arrested. This ballad was exempt from the “same year” policy as its purpose was to show criminals being brought to justice and survivors getting on with their lives. A few episodes managed to use songs from only one artist to show cohesiveness yet allow for the passage of time. It is doubtful that this show will ever see a DVD release due to the large amount of music featured.

>>>Spotify Lil<<<

(Unlike later episodes, this one did not begin with a specific date, only the year “1976”)

“More Than A Feeling” - Boston

“You Sexy Thing” - Hot Chocolate

“I’m Not In Love” - 10cc

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” - Creedence Clearwater Revival (the song at the end)


Miami Vice [1984-1989]

Watching Miami Vice is like watching dated, cliched Eighties music videos interspersed with cop action drama. Unlike the other shows on this list, mostly contemporary music was used and it plays a huge role in the show as does the tropical Miami setting.

>>>Spotify Crockett And Tubbs<<<

“Theme from Miami Vice” - Jan Hammer (a hit song in it’s own right)

“Miss You” - Rolling Stones

“All Night Long (All Night)” - Lionel Richie

“Somebody’s Watching Me” - Rockwell

“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” - Cyndi Lauper

“In The Air Tonight” - Phil Collins


The Good Guys [2010-2011]

If you blinked, you might have missed this action comedy ode to those cop shows that partnered opposite personalities as it was relegated to the TV wasteland known as Friday nights. Sadly it lasted just one season and that season was just last year. While no DVD release has been set, the series is out there in the stream-iverse, in the Cloud so what are you waiting for? The soundtrack for this show was pretty much Trans-Am rock with a few surprises thrown in.

>>>Spotify the Trans-Am<<<

"I Fought The Law" - The Clash

"20th Century Boy" - T. Rex

"The Stroke" - Billy Squier

"Thunderstruck" - AC/DC


Have you got a favorite that Herc should know about?  Tell him in the comments!  What shows are you looking forward to?

(In case you care, I'm excited for New Girl, the return of Bones, the return of Grey's Anatomy and too many others!)