INTRO:

In 2012, a friend suggested I check out the short-lived US TV show Life On Mars. It's a cop show, originally set in 2008. However, the main character (Sam Tyler) is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. The rest of the show mixes the usual "case of the week" with Sam trying to figure out what he's doing in 1973 and trying to deal with police work without the 2008 technology (and policies) that he's used to. The US version lasted less than one season, but they did wrap the story and explain what happened to Sam. It's based on a UK show of the same name, but the two versions have very different resolutions. I've only watched the US version so far (and loved it) - really need to check out the UK original.

So anyway, part of the appeal of Life On Mars to me was the killer soundtrack. Liked it so much I made this "mix" with most of the songs from the show. I didn't include the initial song ("Ground Zero" by Chris Cornell) because that's from 2008, before Sam's accident. I skipped a couple of others that didn't grab me, or just didn't fit the flow of the mix. Example: The original "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is used in the show, but didn't seem to fit the vibe of the mix.

You can listen on 8tracks.com.

DISC 1:

From episode 1 - Out Here In The Fields:

  1. David Bowie - "Life On Mars?" (1971)
    written by David Bowie
    from the album Hunky Dory
  2. Five Man Electrical Band - "Signs" (1970)
    written by Les Emmerson
    from the single Signs
  3. The Who - "Baba O'Riley" (1971)
    written by Pete Townshend
    from the album Who's Next
  4. The Sweet - "Little Willy" (1973)
    written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman
    from the album The Sweet
  5. The Rolling Stones - "Out Of Time" (1966)
    written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
    from the album Aftermath

From episode 2 - The Real Adventures Of The Unreal Sam Tyler:

  1. Mott The Hoople - "All The Way From Memphis" (1973)
    written by Ian Hunter
    from the album Mott
  2. Gilbert O'Sullivan - "Get Down" (1973)
    written by Gilbert O'Sullivan
    from the album I'm A Writer, Not A Fighter
  3. Simon & Garfunkel - "I Am A Rock" (1966)
    written by Paul Simon
    from the album Sounds Of Silence

From episode 3 - My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi:

  1. Tommy James & The Shondells - "Sweet Cherry Wine" (1969)
    written by Richard Grasso and Tommy James
    from the album Cellophane Symphony
  2. Dusty Springfield - "Just A Little Lovin'" (1969)
    written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil
    from the album Dusty In Memphis
  3. The Marmalade - "Reflections Of My Life" (1969)
    written by Junior Campbell and Dean Ford
    from the single Reflections Of My Life

From episode 4 - Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?:

  1. Paul Simon - "Mother And Child Reunion" (1971)
    written by Paul Simon
    from the album Paul Simon
  2. The Velvet Underground - "Rock & Roll" (1970)
    written by Lou Reed
    from the album Loaded
  3. T. Rex - "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" (1971)
    written by Marc Bolan
    from the album Electric Warrior
  4. The Kinks - "20th Century Man" (1971)
    written by Ray Davies
    from the album Muswell Hillbillies
  5. The Hollies - "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)" (1971)
    written by Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway
    from the album Distant Light
  6. The Beach Boys - "Long Promised Road" (1971)
    written by Carl Wilson and Jack Rieley
    from the album Surf's Up

DISC 2:

From episode 5 - Things To Do In New York When You Think You're Dead:

  1. Garland Jeffreys - "Wild In The Streets" (1973)
    written by Garland Jeffreys
    from the single Wild In The Streets
  2. Kool Blues - "I'm Going To Keep On Loving You" (1972)
    written by William Gilbert, Norman Whiteside, and John Primm
    from the compilation album Eccentric Soul: The Capsoul Label
  3. Sly And The Family Stone - "Everybody Is A Star" (1969)
    written by Sly Stone
    from the album Greatest Hits
  4. Three Dog Night - "Black And White" (1972)
    written by David I. Arkin and Earl Robinson
    from the album Seven Separate Fools

From episode 6 - Tuesday's Dead:

  1. Grand Funk Railroad - "We're An American Band" (1973)
    written by Don Brewer
    from the album We're An American Band
  2. Cat Stevens - "Tuesday's Dead" (1971)
    written by Cat Stevens
    from the album Teaser And The Firecat

From episode 7 - The Man Who Sold The World:

  1. Bread - "Everything I Own" (1972)
    written by David Gates
    from the album Baby I'm-A Want You
  2. Steely Dan - "Reelin' In The Years" (1972)
    written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen
    from the album Can't Buy A Thrill
  3. Harry Nilsson - "Spaceman" (1972)
    written by Harry Nilsson
    from the album Son Of Schmilsson

From episode 8 - Take A Look At The Lawmen:

  1. The Guess Who - "No Time" (1970)
    written by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings
    from the album Canned Wheat
  2. Thin Lizzy - "Whiskey In The Jar" (1973)
    written by traditional
    from the single Whiskey In The Jar
  3. B.W. Stevenson - "My Maria" (1973)
    written by B.W. Stevenson and Daniel Moore
    from the album My Maria

From episode 9 - The Dark Side Of The Mook:

  1. Cream - "White Room" (1968)
    written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown
    from the album Wheels Of Fire
  2. Humble Pie - "30 Days In The Hole" (1972)
    written by Steve Marriott
    from the album Smokin'

From episode 10 - Let All The Children Boogie:

  1. The Action - "Look At The View" (1968)
    written by Mike "Ace" Evans
    from the album Brain/Rolled Gold
  2. Traffic Sound - "Yesterday's Game" (1970)
    written by Willy Barclay and Manuel Sanguinetti
    from the album Traffic Sound
  3. David Bowie - "Starman" (1972)
    written by David Bowie
    from the album The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
  4. The Kinks - "Supersonic Rocket Ship" (1972)
    written by Ray Davies
    from the album Everybody's In Show-Biz

DISC 3:

From episode 11 - Home Is Where You Hang Your Holster:

  1. The Sweet - "The Ballroom Blitz" (1973)
    written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman
    from the album Desolation Boulevard

From episode 12 - The Simple Secret Of The Note In Us All:

  1. Ringo Starr - "It Don't Come Easy" (1971)
    written by Richard Starkey
    from the single It Don't Come Easy
  2. Traffic Sound - "Lux" (1971)
    written by Willy Barclay, Jean Pierre Magnet, Luis Nevares, Freddy Rizo-Patrón, Manuel Sanguinetti, and Willy Thorne
    from the album Lux
  3. The Moody Blues - "Isn't Life Strange" (1972)
    written by John Lodge
    from the album Seventh Sojourn

From episode 13 - Revenge Of Broken Jaw:

  1. Elton John - "Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long Long Time)" (1972)
    written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
    from the album Honky Château
  2. The Moody Blues - "Go Now" (1965)
    written by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett
    from the album The Magnificent Moodies

From episode 14 - Coffee, Tea or Annie:

  1. Simon & Garfunkel - "Fakin' It" (1968)
    written by Paul Simon
    from the album Bookends
  2. Shocking Blue - "Venus" (1969)
    written by Robbie van Leeuwen
    from the album At Home
  3. The Partridge Family - "Point Me In The Direction Of Albuquerque" (1970)
    written by Tony Romeo
    from the album The Partridge Family Album

From episode 15 - All the Young Dudes:

  1. Jim Croce - "You Don't Mess Around With Jim" (1972)
    written by Jim Croce
    from the album You Don't Mess Around With Jim
  2. Mott The Hoople - "All The Young Dudes" (1972)
    written by David Bowie
    from the album All The Young Dudes

From episode 16 - Everyone Knows It's Windy:

  1. Lou Reed - "Satellite Of Love" (1972)
    written by Lou Reed
    from the album Transformer
  2. Raspberries - "Go All The Way" (1972)
    written by Eric Carmen
    from the album Raspberries
  3. The Association - "Windy" (1967)
    written by Ruthann Friedman
    from the album Insight Out

From episode 17 - Life Is a Rock:

  1. Reunion - "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" (1974)
    written by Norman Dolph
    from the single Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)
  2. Elton John - "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters" (1972)
    written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
    from the album Honky Château

Hope you enjoyed the mix, and go check out Life On Mars!