music

art direction, good touches, distinctive instrumental opening, etc.

soundtrack    clips appearing in episodes

 

The Music of thirtysomething

I don't know much about music from this era, so I need help people--write in with your ideas and facts.

 
Number
Episode
Song
Singer
Songwriter
Album
Context
101@ premiere "Life During War" Talking Heads ? Stop Making Sense The noisy party thrown by the neighbors from hell
101@ premiere "Livin on a Prayer" Bon Jovi ? Slippery When Wet Same party, same racket
103 housewarming "Circle Game" Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell Miles of Aisles/Ladies of the Canyon End of the episode as everyone gathers in the living room
105@ but not for me "but not for me" Michael Feinstein music: George Gershwin, words: Ira Gershwin ? ?
105 but not for me "Isn't It Romantic?" Michael Feinstein ¥ music: Richard Rodgers, words: Lorenze Hart ? Feinstein makes several appearances, performing a few bars of his songs as the segments transition
105 ¥ but not for me "Cheek to Cheek" Michael Feinstein music & words: Irving Berlin ? Michael and Hope have lost their parking ticket
105 ¥ but not for me "Somebody loves me" Michael Feinstein music: George Gershwin, words: Ira Gershwin ? On the car stereo while the mechanic has a better night than Michael
106# we gather together "Fire and Rain" Peter Horton James Taylor Performed for the episode Gary strums and sings a few bars in Hope's daydream
108 weaning "Tupelo Honey" Van Morrison Van Morrison Tupelo Honey End of the episode, as Hope dances with Janey
109@ i'll be home for christmas "River" Joni Mitchell Joni Mitchell Blue Periodically throughout the episode
109 ¥ i'll be home for christmas "Hava Nagila" instrumental traditional   Melissa's flashback of Michael treating her unfairly
110 ¥ south by southwest "I'm still in love with you" Al Green ? ? Michael's car stereo
110^ south by southwest "It's Alright" Timothy Busfield,Peter Horton, Ken Olin Originally performed by Bobby Rush. Performed for the episode. As the guys sit in the car, staking out the house
113 separation ? ? ? ? Originally playing in the bar as Elliot, Michael, and Gary go out as "the boys" (now dubbed over on Lifetime)
116 ¥ acccounts receivable "Chicago" Peter Horton Fred Fisher Performed for the episode Gary sings Chicago because Michael & Hope went there
116 acccounts receivable "Something" ? The Beatles ? Playing on Michael's car while in Chicago
118 ¥ nancy's first date "The Teddy Bear's Picnic" Mel Harris music by John William Bratton, James B. Kennedy (1907) Performed for the episode Hope sings in the first scene
120 ¥ tenure "Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op.13 'Pathetique' Mov.2 Adagio cantabile" Peter Horton music by Ludwig van Beethoven Performed for the episode Gary plays the piano for Hope.
121@ born to be mild "Born to be Wild" Ken Olin  M. Bonfire Performed for the episode As he emerges from the shower, Michael belts out a few lines
201 ¥ we'll meet again "Stardust" Jo Anderson music by Hoagy Carmichael, words by Mitchell Parish Performed for the episode Sally sings at a party
202 ¥ in re: marriage of weston "La Wally" from the opera La Wally -1892 ? music by Alfredo Catalani   Nancy's theater flashback
202[ in re: marriage of weston "Deja Vu" Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young David Crosby Deja Vu Elliot cranks the song at his new apartment just as the stereo decides to die
203 the mike van dyke show Hallelujah Chorus Some humongous choir Handel Messiah Playing as Michael finds Hope on the kitchen floor
204 ¥ trust me "Somewhere" from the musical "West Side Story" Mel Harris, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper music by Leonard Bernstein, words by Stephen Sondheim   Hope, Ellyn, and Nancy sing in Nancy's house
206 ¥ politics "Star Spangled Banner" instrumental music by John Staford Smith, words by Francis Scott Key   Flashback of Michael & Gary in college
207# success "You're So Vain" Polly Draper Carly Simon Performed for the episode Ellyn belts out a verse as Melissa deals with Carly Simon's people on the phone
208 ¥ first day/last day "Hey Nineteen" Steely Dan     Flashback of Michael and Eliott before they formed their own company
212 ¥ deliverance "Climb Every Mountain" from the musical "The Sound of Music" Mel Harris, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper, Melanie Mayron music by Richard Rodgers, words by Oscar Hammerstein II Performed for the episode Hope, Nancy, Ellyn, Melissa sing
212 ¥ deliverance "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" from the musical "The Sound of Music" Mel Harris, Patricia Wettig, Polly Draper, Melanie Mayron music by Richard Rodgers, words by Oscar Hammerstein II Performed for the episode Hope, Nancy, Ellyn, Melissa sing
213 ¥ michael writes a story "Addicted to Love" Robert Palmer   Riptide Photography scene
213@ michael writes a story "Oh, Pretty Woman" Roy Orbison Roy Orbison  ? Playing in Alexander's coffee shop where Michael and Nancy go after class
215 ¥ be a good girl "Make Someone Happy" - from the Musical "Do Re Me" - 1960   music by Jule Styne, Words by Betty Comeden & Adolph Green    
216! courting nancy "She Drives Me Crazy" Fine Young Cannibals David Steele and Roland Gift The Raw and the Cookied Sequence showing Matt and Elliot's efforts to impress and woo Nancy
216^ courting nancy "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" The Temptations Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong ? In the burger place where Nancy and Hope visit
301* nancy's mom "Blue Eyes (I Still Miss Someone)" Stevie Nicks Johnny Cash The Other Side of the Mirror End of the episode as Nancy dances with Elliot
302# love and sex "When a Man Loves a Woman" Percy Sledge ? ? ?
303#$ mr. right "Broken Arrow" Robbie Robertson Robbie Robertson Robbie Robertson When Lee and Melissa first kiss
303* mr. right "Angel of Harlem" U2 U2 Rattle and Hum As Lee paints, Melissa joins in singing
303 mr. right "All I Want" Polly Draper Joni Mitchell Blue As Ellyn records her video dating ad
307^ pilgrims "We Gather Together" Whole buncha people ? ? As Thanksgiving preparations are underway.
308^ the burning bush "You Belong To Me" The Duprees ? ? Plays as Ellyn and Jeffrey dance
308 the burning bush "Baby, It's You" The Shirelles Gerry Goffin and Carole King ? End of the episode as Hope and Ellyn sit in the coffee shop
314 once a mermaid "It Must Be Love" Rickie Lee Jones Rickie Lee Jones ? ?
317{ good sex, some sex, what sex, no sex "(Let's Do It) Let's Fall in Love" Louis Armstrong Cole Porter ? Played at the beginning of the episode
317^ good sex, some sex, what sex, no sex "Woolly Bully" Peter Horton ? Performed for the episode Sung by Gary as he tries to coax Emma to sleep.
317# good sex, some sex, what sex, no sex "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" Nat King Cole (?) ? ? Played at the end of the episode
318 the other shoe "Proud Mary" Kathy Hazard John Fogerty Performed for the episode Heard when Nancy and the group go out to the club
318 the other shoe "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" ? Jule Styne ? ?
318 the other shoe "Howl Like a Rainstorm" Susannah Hoffs ? ? End of the episode as Elliot takes Nancy for her birthday surprise
324^ towers of zenith, part two "The Impossible Dream" Timothy Busfield Mitch Leigh and Laurence Rosenthal, score for Man of LaMancha Performed for the episode Elliot bellows a few lines as he heads off after a "spy group" meeting
324 towers of zenith, part two "On the Banks of the Wabash" Beverly Mickins Paul Dresser, 1897 (ballad during the Spanish American War) Performed for the episode, a special trademark of director Joseph Dougherty Jennifer the plumber sings as she works
324 towers of zenith, part two "?" ? ? ? Halfway through as Michael and Elliot drive in a convertible
402^ life class "They Can't Take that Away from Me" Patricia Wettig Cole Porter Performed for the episode ?
405% the haunting of d.a.a. "Day the Devil" Laurie Anderson Peter Law Gordon Strange Angels As Michael is performing the firings.
408 never better "Mr. Sandman" Polly Draper and Peter Horton ? Performed for the episode Both Ellyn and Gary sing fragments of the song separately at the end of the episode.
410# happy new year "Hang Fire" The Rolling Stones ? Tattoo You What's playing when Elliot first turns on the stereo at the party (now edited on Lifetime)
410 happy new year a buncha tunes including everyone at the party ? Performed for the episode During the party scenes.
410  happy new year "In My Life" everyone at the party Lennon/McCartney Performed for the episode During the party scenes
413 sifting the ashes (instrumental) Clannad (Enya was a former member) ? ? Music in the DAA reel
414# our wedding "Going to the Chapel" The Dixie Cups ? ? Played over the rolling credits at the start of the episode, now edited on Lifetime
414 our wedding "Today is the Day" ? ? ? Substituted song over the rolling credits
414# our wedding "Come Rain or Come Shine" Ray Charles Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen ? During the closing montage of wedding scenes

Big Thanks to additional contributors and informants!!

* Shawn Keehne, # Cindy Isaacs, @ Matt Minton, $ Laura Bellante, ^ Chris Ryerson, ! Becky Cormier,

% Ed Schneider, [ The Trices, { Jan, Steve Reno, Sara Shor, Desmond Browning, Rebecca

¥ Kenichi Nakano - Nakano's contributions added in 2005 by R Fahey


Official Soundtrack

The official soundtrack was released by Geffen in 1991 and can still be found in used record stores. The original music was composed and performed by W.G. Snuffy Walden, Stewart Levin, and Jay Gruska. The album was produced by Scott Winant and Fred Goldring.

track 1 main title (extended version) */+

track 2 begging for sex, part 2 *

track 3 michael and hope's new baby +

track 4 another country (nancy's illness) #

track 5 post op +

track 6 it must be love performed by rickie lee jones

track 7 nancy and elliot take a train +

track 8 michael's dilemma *

track 9 ellyn's wedding *

track 10 come rain or come shine performed by ray charles

track 11 life class (nancy's museum fantasy) #

track 12 second look +

track 13 hot butter (miles comes to dinner) +

track 14 melissa and men *

track 15 the go between +

track 16 gary's funeral *

track 17 the water is wide performed by karla bonoff

track 18 main title (air version) */+

* composed & performed by w.g. snuffy walden and published © 1991 united lion music inc. bmi + composed & performed by stewart levin and published © 1991 u/a music, inc. ascap # composed & performed by w.g. snuffy walden & jay gruska and published © 1991 united lion music inc. bmi/u/a music, inc. ascap

(soundtrack info was lovingly borrowed from Ian's thirtysomething scrapbook as, believe it or not, I don't own a copy of the soundtrack)


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