Description
Goodfellas 1990
Following in the footsteps of many, the soundtrack for Martin Scorcese‘s Goodfellas (based on Nicholas Pileggi‘s Wiseguy) uses period music for definition — in this case, however, music from the ’40s through the early ’70s is utilized. The selections themselves are all good — well chosen and not overused songs that range from “Rags to Riches,” sung by Tony Bennett, to “Layla (Piano Exit)” from Derek & the Dominos, passing through “Speedo” from the Cadillacs, “Life Is But a Dream” from the Harptones, “Baby I Love You” from Aretha Franklin (in fine voice here), and “Sunshine of Your Love” from Cream. It’s a little on the short side at 38 minutes. Other than that, it’s an even dozen songs, from good to great, and particular care seems to have been taken with the remastering — standouts in that respect are the opening “Rags to Riches,” the Franklin and Cream numbers, and Muddy Waters‘ stomping, snorting rendition of “Mannish Boy.” One of the better oldies-oriented film scores.
Video: Goodfellas – Trailer (1990)
Tracking:
- “Rags to Riches” – Tony Bennett
- “Sincerely” – The Moonglows
- “Speedoo” – The Cadillacs
- “Stardust” – Billy Ward and His Dominoes
- “Look in My Eyes” – The Chantels
- “Life Is but a Dream” – The Harptones
- “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” – The Shangri-Las
- “Baby, I Love You” – Aretha Franklin
- “Beyond the Sea” – Bobby Darin
- “Sunshine of Your Love” – Cream
- “Mannish Boy” – Muddy Waters
- “Layla (Piano Exit)” – Derek and the Dominos
Songs used in the movie in chronological order:
- “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett – Opening credits, opening narration.
- “Can’t We Be Sweethearts” by The Cleftones – Young Henry is parking Cadillacs; Henry gets whipped by his father.
- “Hearts of Stone” by Otis Williams and the Charms – Henry’s mailman is threatened.
- “Sincerely” by The Moonglows – The wiseguy get-together (cookout) at Paulie’s home.
- “Firenze Sogna” by Giuseppe Di Stefano – New suit; Shooting victim (Wasting aprons).
- “Speedoo” by The Cadillacs – Kid Henry, the sandwich boy; Jimmy Conway is first introduced.
- “Parlami d’amore Mariu” by Giuseppe Di Stefano – Young Henry gets pinched for selling cigarettes.
- “Stardust” by Billy Ward and His Dominoes – Idlewild Airport 1963; First appearance of the grown-up Henry Hill; Truck hijacking.
- “This World We Love In (Il Cielo In Una Stanza)” by Mina – In the Bamboo Lounge; Mobsters are introduced; Air France heist is planned.
- “Playboy” by The Marvelettes – Bamboo Lounge bust-out – Henry and Tommy burn the restaurant.
- “It’s Not for Me to Say” by Johnny Mathis – The double date; Karen is introduced, and ignored by Henry.
- “Chariot” by Betty Curtis – Karen is stood-up, and loudly confronts Henry in the street.
- “Then He Kissed Me” by The Crystals – Henry and Karen enter the Copacabana from the rear.
- “Look in My Eyes” by The Chantels – The Air France heist; Paulie gets his cut.
- “Roses Are Red” by Bobby Vinton – Henry and Karen at the beach resort; Receiving champagne from Bobby Vinton at the Copa.
- “Life Is But a Dream” by The Harptones – Henry and Karen’s wedding and reception.
- “Leader of the Pack” by The Shangri-Las – The hostess party.
- “Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye” by Al Jolson (clip from The Jazz Singer) – NYPD detectives are searching the Hills’ house.
- “Happy Birthday to You” – Sung by family members at Little Jimmy’s birthday party during Karen’s narration – Mob life montage/no outsiders.
- “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?” by Dean Martin – Narration continues – Mob life montage.
- “He’s Sure the Boy I Love” by The Crystals – Billy Batts is introduced at the Suite Lounge; “Shinebox” insult.
- “Atlantis” by Donovan – Billy Batts is beaten down and kicked by Tommy and Jimmy.
- “Pretend You Don’t See Her” by Jerry Vale – Friday night at the Copa with the girlfriends; Sunday dinner at Paulie’s.
- “Remember (Walking in the Sand)” by The Shangri-Las – Henry with Janice at the Suite before digging up Billy Batts’s body.
- “Baby I Love You” by Aretha Franklin – Janice Rossi’s apartment; She shows her girlfriends around; Spider is introduced at a poker game.
- “Firenze Sogna” by Giuseppe Di Stefano – (2nd time played) Another poker game; Tommy kills Spider.
- “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin – Prison life/dinner; Henry begins selling drugs.
- “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” Performed by Tony Bennett – Dinner at Paulie’s house after Henry is paroled.
- “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones – Henry cutting cocaine at Sandy’s place; Brings in Jimmy and Tommy at the parole office.
- “Wives and Lovers” by Jack Jones – Karen shows off the new house/furniture to Belle; Morrie pitches the Lufthansa heist to Henry.
- “Monkey Man” by The Rolling Stones – The babysitter, Lois Byrd (with baby) is introduced; Henry again at Sandy’s place mixing the coke.
- “Frosty the Snowman” by The Ronettes – Henry arrives at the Christmas party; Jimmy chews out Johnny Roastbeef for the Cadillac.
- “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love – Jimmy chews out Frankie Carbone for the mink; Morrie pesters Jimmy for his share of the Lufthansa heist.
- “Bells of St. Marys” by The Drifters – Henry Hill’s Christmas tree; The execution of Stacks Edwards.
- “Unchained Melody” by Vito and The Salutations – In the bar, Henry is worried about Stacks; Tommy thinks he’s being “made”; Morrie again pesters Jimmy.
- “Danny Boy” – Morrie sings it to Henry, then to himself, as he leaves the bar after his failed attempt to talk to Jimmy.
- “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream – Jimmy contemplates killing Morrie and other members of his crew.
- “Layla (Piano Exit)” by Derek and The Dominos – Dead bodies are being discovered all over the city; Tommy is executed.
- “Jump into the Fire” by Harry Nilsson – The beginning of the “May 11, 1980 – 6:55 AM” helicopter sequence; Delivering guns to Jimmy.
- “Memo from Turner” by Mick Jagger – Henry leaves Jimmy’s with the unwanted guns.
- “Magic Bus” by The Who (Live at Leeds version) – Frantic, intoxicated driving; Henry almost has a car accident.
- “Jump into the Fire” by Harry Nilsson – (2nd time played) Henry drives his brother home from the hospital; Starting dinner; More helicopters.
- “Monkey Man” by The Rolling Stones – (2nd time played) More frantic driving; Henry and Karen hide the guns at Karen’s mother’s house.
- “What Is Life” by George Harrison – More frantic driving; Pick up guns again; Visit to the cocaine connection; Call from Sandy; Call to Lois; Lois calls from an inside line.
- “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters – Last time at Sandy’s place, mixing the coke; Dinner at the Hill’s with children, Lois, and brother Michael.
- “Jump into the Fire” by Harry Nilsson – (3rd time played) The drum solo of the song is played immediately before Henry is arrested in his driveway.
- “My Way” by Sid Vicious – End credits.
- “Layla (Piano Exit)” by Derek and The Dominos – (2nd time played) second song in the end credits.
