Music
An ex-cop from Yorkshire jogs across the hills overlooking Edinburgh, listening to mournful American country singers and mulling over his tangled life. It's private investigator Jackson Brodie, brought vividly to life in words — and music — by author Kate Atkinson. In an exclusive interview, Atkinson explains her love of music, and the Case Histories producers share details of the songs used in the series.
Thoughts from Kate Atkinson: Like me, Jackson is a long-term country fan and for each of the novels I've had a playlist — something which often evolves during the course of the novel, but which somehow points me to something essential at the heart of each book. Sometimes the tracks don't seem particularly relevant, but they are to me (and Jackson)...
I sent the Started Early tape to Ashley Phoenix, the writer of two of the Case Histories episodes, as he's also a country fan. I suspect some of the choices on the soundtrack are his, but the Mary Gauthier song is mine. I'm really glad that thanks to Case Histories more people have discovered Mercy Now as I think it's such a great track.
Jackson likes his women, not just Nanci Griffith and Lucinda Williams but also Iris DeMent, Gillian Welch, Mary Gauthier, Eliza Gilkyson and a host of others. I am (and thereby Jackson, of course) a total fan of both Lucy Kaplansky and Patti Griffin, neither of whom are feature here but would most definitely have been on Jackson's playlist. Kris Delmhorst was a new artist to me but I've been listening to her a lot since discovering her on the soundtrack.
(Editor's Note: For more on Kate Atkinson, her books and musical interests, visit Kate Atkinson's website.
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Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness
Performed by Nanci Griffith
From the album Other Voices Other Rooms
Written by John E Prine
(Bug Music / Universal International Music)
Photo credit: © Steve Jennings/CORBIS -
Mercy Now
Written and performed by Mary Gauthier
From the album Mercy Now
(Mary Gauthier Songs / UMG Recordings Inc) -
Sweet Old World
Written and performed by Lucinda Williams
From the album Sweet Old World
(Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp / Chameleon Records)
Photo credit: James Minchin III -
Your Long Journey
Performed by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
From the album Raising Sand
Traditional / Doc Watson - Rosa Lee Watson
(Hillgreen Music / Rounder Records Corp)
Photo credit: © Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis -
I'll Take My Sorrow Straight
Performed by Iris DeMent
From the album The Way I Should
Written by Iris DeMent, Elmer McCall
(Songs of Iris / WEA International Inc.) -
Trouble
Performed by Iris DeMent
From the album The Way I Should
Written by Iris DeMent, Elmer McCall
(Songs of Iris / WEA International Inc.)
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When You Walk On
Written and performed by Eliza Gilkyson
From the album Paradise Hotel
(Gilkysongs / Red House Records, Inc.) -
Bus to Baton Rouge
Written and performed by Lucinda Williams
From the album Essence
(Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp / UMG Recordings Inc)
Photo credit: James Minchin III -
2 Hearts
Performed by Kylie Minogue
From the album X
Written by John Eliot & Jemima Stilwell
(Sony / TV Music Publishing (UK) Limited / EMI Records Limited)
Photo credit: © Stephane Cardinale/People Avenue/Corbis -
Blue
Written and performed by Lucinda Williams
From the album Essence
(Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp / UMG Recordings Inc.)
Photo credit: James Minchin III -
Calm Before The Storm
Written and performed by Eliza Gilkyson
From the album Paradise Hotel
(Gilkysongs / Red House Records, Inc.)
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Destiny
Performed by Zero 7
From the album Simple Things
Written by Sia Furler, Henry Binns, Sam Hardaker, Sophie Barker
(Universal / MCA Music Limited / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. / Ultimate Dilemma Records) -
Drinkin' Problem
Performed by Lori McKenna
From the album Unglamorous
Written by Mark D Sanders & Lori McKenna
(Larga Vista Music / Hornall Brothers America Music / Warner Music UK Limited) -
Mercy Now
Written and performed by Mary Gauthier
From the album Mercy Now
(Mary Gauthier Songs / UMG Recordings Inc) -
Winter Wonderland
Performed by Macy Gray
From the album Epic Records: A Season of Soul & Sounds
Written by Felix Bernard & Richard B Smith
(Donaldson-Douglas-Gumble Inc. / Sony Music Entertainment Inc)
Photo credit: © Amy Harris/Corbis -
The Magic
Performed by Joan as Police Woman
From the album The Deep Field
Written by Joan Wasser
(Chrysalis Songs / [PIAS] Recordings) -
Since You Went Away
Performed by Kris Delmhorst
From the album Strange Conversation
Written by James Johnson & Kris Delmhorst
(Big Bean Music / Signature Sounds) -
VCR
Performed by The xx
From the album xx
Written by Romy Croft, Baria Qureshi, Oliver Sim & Jamie Smith
(Universal Music Publishing Limited / XL Recordings Limited)