Way Back 2021

October 3, 2021 - Many Saints of Newark Dominates Vintage Music This Week, With Add-Ons from Venom and TV's Big Sky

The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to HBO's beloved series The Sopranos, premiered in theaters and on HBO over the weekend. Set during Tony Soprano's childhood, the film features a wildly diverse lineup of vintage recordings that run the gamut: for starters, there are the chart-toppers "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" by Domenico Modugno and "The Ballad of the Green Berets" by S/Sgt. Barry Sadler alongside the Broadway classic "Twin Soliloquies" by Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza from the 1952 production of South Pacific.

John Coltrane's jazz gem "Alabama" and Whipped Cream delight "Tangerine" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass represent instrumental artistry in the new Newark mobster drama. James Brown ramps up the tempo with "There Was a Time" while Dionne Warwick chimes in twice with "Don't Make Me Over" and "Anyone Who Had a Heart." Off-center rock tracks include "Mother's Little Helper" by The Rolling Stones and "Living in the U.S.A." by The Steve Miller Band.

The hit 1958 teen ballad "You" by The Aquatones finally enters the new century via Saints and "When Will I Be Loved" stands as a testament to our dearly departed Everly Brothers. The Casinos' atmospheric ballad "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" and "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie are 1967's representative hits. Add to these a pair of magic Motown tunes like "Danger Heartbreak Dead Ahead" by The Marvelettes and Little Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips - Part 2" in addition to unexpected seasonal songs "Whatever Happened to Christmas?" by Frank Sinatra and "Marshmallow World" by Darlene Love, plus many more in the background and between the cracks. The music alone is reason enough to see The Many Saints of Newark!

Venom: Let There Be Carnage has topped the box office and features a couple of against-type selections, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" by Louis Prima and Keely Smith and Harry Nilsson's original version of the Three Dog Night hit "One." Big Sky, NBC's popular TV series featuring cops 'n' crazy killers is running appropriately-themed promos with The Beau Brummels' under-appreciated 1965 hit "Don't Talk to Strangers"...good advice if you live in Montana as it's depicted in this show! Meanwhile, tiny toddlers are rockin' out, which probably isn't what Steppenwolf intended 53 years ago. For your "wild child," Pampers Cruisers 360 diapers has an ad featuring the ever-popular "Born to Be Wild," previously heard in the very un-childlike biker film Easy Rider.




Nel Blu Dipito Di Blu The Ballad of the Green berets Don't Make Me Over Mother's Little Helper Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye Fingertips - Part 2

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