All 41 Classic 80’s Songs from the Adventureland Soundtrack
I love this soundtrack. No bones about it. Anytime you can mix David Bowie with Whitesnake, Crowded House with Poison, Wang Chung with Judas Priest, The Cure with Husker Du, Falco with Lou Reed, you know you are going to have a good time. I want to pack the family in the stationwagon and head to Wally World just thinking about it. I will be blasting Don’t Change by INXS the entire way.
When I saw the previews for Adventureland, I thought it looked hilarious. Knowing that it has a brilliant 80s soundtrack just cements the deal. Look out monstrosity of a movie theater bucket o popcorn, here I come.
There are 41 songs in Adventureland. The only bummer about the music is that the soundtrack album to Adventureland only has 14 of the songs, and you have to buy the entire album to get any of the songs.
But you are in luck. You can find downloads for the individual songs at Reelsoundtrack.com, along with the videos for them.
Here’s the complete list of songs from the movie. Update: here are all the songs in the order they appeared in the movie, with information about the scenes they were in, where I could remember them. (If you know any of the additional scenes, please post the answer in the comments.)
- Opening scene – Bastards Of Young by The Replacements
- West Beirut by Civilian Fun Group
- Opening credits – Here She Comes Now by The Velvet Underground
- Down To Rio by Daniel May
- Funiculi, Funicula by Bob Stuhmer
- Horse game – Modern Love by David Bowie
- Bottles game - Rock Me Amadeus by Falco
- Em gives James a Ride home - Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely by Husker Du
- Looking For A Kiss by New York Dolls
- Pleasure Dog by Civilian Fun Group
- Party at Em’s house, after the pool - I’m In Love With A Girl by Big Star
- Connell comes to Em’s house – Taste Of Cindy (Acoustic Version) by Jesus & Mary Chain
- Lisa P is back - Tops by The Rolling Stones
- Singer at bar - Hot Blooded by Louis Grammatico (Foreigner)
- Ride home after the bar - Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground
- At Connell’s mom’s house – So It Goes by Nick Lowe
- I Need To Know by Rodney Saulsberry
- The Caissons – 5 Alarm Music
- Fireworks – Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House
- Lisa P dancing – Let The Music Play by Shannon
- Video on TV – I Want Action by Poison
- James riding with Connell – Satellite Of Love by Lou Reed
- Razzmatazz - Point Of No Return by Expose
- Second Razzmatazz song – Obsession by Animotion
- Girls In The City by Jamison Rotz
- Just One Girl by Chris Carlisle
- Awkward guy talk to redhead after makeout – Your Love by The Outfield
- America The Beautiful by Bob Stuhmer
- Libiamo (La Traviata) by DeWolfe Music
- In The Ether by Black Swan Lane
- Pot cookies - Just Like Heaven by The Cure
- Running away from bully – Breaking The Law by Judas Priest
- Fixing the rifle game - Dance Hall Days by Wang Chung
- Waltz Of The Flowers by Bob Stuhmer
- What Do You Got Against Love by Sarah Taylor
- Second time at Razzmatazz - In My House by Mary Jane Girls
- Hearts Collide by Rob E C
- Guy with drum sticks sings Rush song – Limelight by Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart (Rush)
- Putting eyes on the bananas – Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
American Patrol March by Bob Stuhmer - Jukebox – Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground (thanks to eyenoise for knowing the song)
- New York City – Unsatisfied by The Replacements
- Closing credits – Adventureland Theme Song by Ian Berkowitz and Brian Kenney
- Don’t Change by INXS
Original music for Adventureland by Yo La Tengo
Songs from the trailer:
- Limelight by Rush
- Blister in the Sun by Violent Femmes
Song from the commercial:
- Love Rollercoaster by Red Hot Chili Peppers (originally by Ohio Players)
Update 4: Song from Kiis FM radio commercial (thanks to adriana_lps196)
- Call in the Calvary by The Shys
Update 3: Pinging off of a suggestion from user eyenoise in the comments, what songs do you think would be on the bummers mixtape that James made for Em? Leave your thoughts in the comments and I will add them to the post, with links to the songs.
Update 2: One other note about the movie. It was definitely not what I expected. You think director of Super Bad + themepark and expect a rollicking good time of ridiculous laughs. Don’t get me wrong. The movie is very funny. And I liked it – a lot. But it was a lot more than I thought it would be. It’s not just a punch in the junk kind of movie (though that is a recurring theme); it’s also more cerebral, more endearing, even wrenching movie than I expected.



wow thanks for this list!
i agree movie wasn’t anything i expected. but i loved it.
uhh yeaa i love this soundtrack too..
buut do know which song was on kiisfm radio commercial??
something like..
‘ayyyyy heeeyyy ayy yeaa! what did u hear me say??’
uhh please help me out i love that song!
[...] All 41 Classic 80’s Songs from the Adventureland Soundtrack I love this soundtrack. No bones about it. Anytime you can mix David Bowie with Whitesnake, Crowded House with Poison, [...] [...]
Top Posts « WordPress.com said this on April 5, 2009 at 7:16 pm |
@ shellsea – are you asking about a radio promo for the movie or something in the movie? Can you tell me anything else about the song (e.g., male/female singer, guitar or other instruments playing)? That may help me pinpoint it.
“Jukebox – Lou Reed/Velvet Underground song (cannot remember which one)”
It was “Pale Blue Eyes.”
I want to see what was on the “Bummer Songs” mix tape.
For shellsea: the name of the song may be “call in the calvary” by The Shys?
So I just have to say that you are mondo badass for compiling this list because after seeing this mar-veh-loos film all I want to do is lay back and swim in the film score/soundtrack. Hats off and kudos too, friend.
There was a shot of the bummer tape with all of the songs listed, so when we can have the film to pause on that frame, we can get that list.
Sorry but the writing on the tape is illegible I was thinking the exact same thing.
thank you.
This was the 1st movie I’ve gone to see twice since I can remember. The soundtrack, the storyline and the fact that the amusement park in the movie was the one I grew up near… Good Ol’ Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. Thanks for compiling the list of songs.
Great to see the full soundtrack list for what’s truly an ’80s coming-of-age classic. If anyone’s interested in getting the official (and limited) soundtrack, check out the contest at http://www.fandango.com/fandangoblogdetail_578416 , up until April 17th. Cheers!
[...] There seems to be a resurgence of interest in the Replacements lately, with recent mentions in the New York Times and New York Magazine and two songs prominently featured in the movie Adventureland. [...]
Internet Archive said this on April 12, 2009 at 2:03 pm |
black swan lane’s ‘in the ether’ is a beautiful song and it’s so cool to find it in this movie!
if you want to get black swan lane music, you can order directly from the band at http://www.myspace.com/blackswanlane. it’s an incredible cd, filled with beauty and emotion.
they also have a new cd (with musicians from the sun and the moon) which will be out shortly.
you can check out their vids on their myspace page and on youtube. vid links include: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRwzrNH8ZgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BuCcaWFF5o
Black Swan Lane’s “In The Ether” is now available on itunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=330538243&id=330537477&s=143441
Great stuff! Great to see the full soundtrack list for what’s truly an ’80s coming-of-age classic.http://www.danosongs.com
[...] but luckily the internet has its shit together. Those sexy manbloggers (i’m assuming) over at reelsoundtrack threw down all 41 songs from the film so you can see them in list form. If I get less lazy I might [...]
couldnt agree more, the movie wasnt what i expected it was better and the soundtrack alone made it for me, thanks yo la tengo!
Can’t thank you enough for this list! Seen the film twice and can’t wait for the DVD. It truly was a thrill ride I enjoyed. I agree that the film was a perfect blend of comedy & realism. Ironic that this historic landmark was ‘run down’ on purpose for the film lol Kennywood couldn’t have been a better setting for these intriguing characters. Kristen once again nails her part, and I doubt anyone will forget Jesse & Martin’s performances anytime soon.
I just saw Adventureland…what a movie! What a soundtrack. I appreciated the repetition of a couple of the songs, because that’s what happens over the course of the summer.
Anyway, thanks for the song list…
I was 21 in the summer of 1987 and I’ve never seen such a good job of a film representing the times as they were.
New York Dolls are one of my all time favorite bands!!!!
Thanks for the list yo. 80s music are the best. Loved the show. Been watching it over and over (:
The version of “Love Rollercoaster” in the trailer actually is the original Ohio Players version.
Some songs for the Bummer Mix…
The Replacements – Here Comes a Regular
XTC – Dear God
R.E.M. – So. Central Rain
Violent Femmes – I Know It’s True But I’m Sorry To Say
Crowded House – Hole in the River
Sting – Fragile
Husker Du – Celebrated Summer
Love the post, good work.
THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH! keep on rockin in the free world
xoxo
ML
Can someone tell me the name of the song when Em is in her car waiting for Connel in front of his house?
Thank you!
I LOVE WHEN LISA P DANCES TO “LET THE MUSIC PLAY,” IT’S SO FUNNY HOW THEY JUST BUST A MOVE WHENEVER THEIR SONG COMES ON
Imagined songs for James’ Ultimate Bummer Mixtape, pre-1986:
“Working Class Hero” – John Lennon
“Coldest Night of the Year” – Bruce Cockburn [ok, so nobody in the U.S. knows of
him or his music, but it really made many albums all through the 70’s, 80’s,
90’s and still today, but being Canadian, he’s unknown here; too bad, this
song is quintessential early 80’s even if you’ve never heard of it or him. He’s
as big in Toronto as the Other Bruce is in Asbury Park.
“Valentine’s Day Is Over” Billy Bragg
“Why” – Annie Lennox
“I Don’t Like Mondays” – The Boomtown Rats
“Suzanne” – Leonard Cohen
“Dress Rehearsal Rag” – Leonard Cohen
“Paint It Black” – Rolling Stones
“A Most Peculiar Man” – Simon & Garfunkel
“Richard Corey” – Simon & Garfunkel
“Redondo Beach” – Patti Smith
“Heart Liker A Wheel” – Billy Bragg
“How Can We Hang On To Dream?” – Tim Buckley
great stuff. thanks for the comment.
For the record, I’m not sure what Stephanie Meyer was thinking when she wrote breaking dawn. It’s good, just not Twilight or Stephanie Meyer good.