In a lot of Mob movies (think Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco or even The Sopranos), the soundtracks are full of Doo Wop like Lou Christie, Dion, and '60s Phil Spector pop, or if set in the 70s, Disco. I'm curious as to what kind of music actual mafiosos in the 60s and 70s would've been into?
Scorsese said that he's been criticized for using so much rock n roll in his soundtracks, because wiseguys never listened to it. I'm glad Marty did use the rock music though because it made his movies timeless. For an example of how music could ruin a movie with potential, see Joe Cortese's "The Death Collector", aka, "The Family Enforcer", aka "The Collector", aka "The Enforcer" (Pesci and Vincent's debut). The disco. Ugh. Makes it impossible to watch.
Here's the Neapolitan song that played throughout Mean Streets.
Some may notice Chase made that mistake in the pilot episode of the Sopranos when he had that doo wop music playing while Tony ran down the gambler who owed him money with Chris' car. It was out of date and harkened too much to those earlier mob movies from anorher era. Fortunately, I guess they realized they were doing a show about the modern day mob and their choice of music through the rest of the series was better.
I worked in many night clubs where they used to hang out in South Florida back in the "golden years".
Any of you ever vacationed in So Fl in the 1970's. Well there where a ton of clubs, real wise guys and more than anything "wannabee" wise guys.
Anybody remember the "Top Of The Home", The Grand Saloon" or "Hemmingways in Hollywood? or "Bootsies", "Villa Perrone" or "DiAnnos", "Pier 12" or their favorite place of all in that area ....the "Tack Room" at the old Diplomat Hotel on Hollywood Beach.
A few mile south of there was North Niami Beach. Too many places to name but a real popular spot was the "Bird Room" in the old Marco Polo hotel, and we can't forget the "Pieces Of Eight" lounge in the Castaways to name just a few.
In Miami Beach proper was the "Bonfire", Place for Steak" and Dean Martin's place the "Club Top Draw".
What kind to music did they like to hear???? Just what you would expect, lots of Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and Jimmy Rosselli, some Tom Jones but almost never any rock and roll of that period. No Skynard, No Doobie bros, No Bay City Rollers. Just the old classics.
In a lot of Mob movies (think Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco or even The Sopranos), the soundtracks are full of Doo Wop like Lou Christie, Dion, and '60s Phil Spector pop, or if set in the 70s, Disco. I'm curious as to what kind of music actual mafiosos in the 60s and 70s would've been into?
My father was in the jukebox business from the '40s through the early '80s. He had a lot of machines in Italian neighborhoods and mob hangouts. They favored Italian singers like Sinatra, Jimmy Roselli, Tony Bennett, Al Martino, etc. in the '50s/early '60s and then the Italian doowop from the Four Seasons and Dion & the Belmonts, etc.
It was a treat for me to go to work with my dad when I was a little kid (which meant I would go inside the bar with him and help empty the coins and then separate them so my dad could roll the coins). I would also bring in a box of new records to replace the older ones or those that wore out. Without a doubt the most popular requested and played song was from 1958 - "Volare".
Mario Lanza...the old timers supposedly loved him. Also, I heard they used to listen to Jimmy Roselli, but some stopped liking him and he got chased outta Mulberry street one time. I forget how the story goes??..something about Roselli selling records out of his trunk? Can't exactly remember, don't know if it's even true.
Skinny Joey Merlino supposedly liked the music of Elton John. Here's a link to Merlino being interviewed by TMZ. As he's driving away, him and Fratto blast "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John out of the car. kinda funny http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_hew3cpwe/
Mario Lanza...the old timers supposedly loved him. Also, I heard they used to listen to Jimmy Roselli, but some stopped liking him and he got chased outta Mulberry street one time. I forget how the story goes??..something about Roselli selling records out of his trunk? Can't exactly remember, don't know if it's even true.
Wasn't that a story Pistone told- can't recall who the singer was but story goes Mike Sabella goes outside screaming that "your embarrassing me" selling your records from the boot. And this singer high tails it out of there
The music in good fella's was not used to depict what mob guys listened to but more to capture the moments in time the music took place. Music in movies is actually a very thought out process.
One of the best times music was ever used in a Sopranos episode was that song "Evidently Chickentown" used during the Christening scene of Christopher's baby Caitlyn as Christopher hugged Tony. Pure brilliance on David Chase's part to use that obscure old punk rock song that perfectly captured the current tension between Tony and Christopher, BRILLIANCE!
Great song and scene. Not just the tension between Tony and Chris, but Phil telling Butchie he's getting back into action, which we the audience knew would culminate into an inevitable war with Tony.
