When I’m writing, nothing brings me into a story like music. It sets the stage and shows me the history in a very active way. Music pulls me in so that I’m center stage with my characters. It helps me see the world through their eyes and feel what they are feeling.
Part of my writing process includes listening to the book’s music to set the mood and help the story to percolate before I sit down to create. Depending on the scene, I may not always have the music playing while I write but it gives me a jumping off place. I listen and it transports me to my version of the place and time. Just like that I’ve traveled through time, and I’m immersed.
When I wrote The Passenger, the “soundtrack”—which was an assortment of CDs and vinyl albums—consisted of music from the 1940s.
She’s a 1940s ghost whisperer. He’s the son of a ghost.
I’ve recreated my playlist on Spotify (as I now do for all my books). So, here’s a look at the music that helped set the stage.
The Passenger song list:
1 Solitude Billie Holiday
2 Candy Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford
3 It's Been a Long, Long Time Kitty Kallen, Henry James
4 Jumpin' at The Woodside Duke Ellington, Count Basie
5 I've Heard That Song Before Henry Names, Hellen Forrest
6 G.I. Jive Johnny Mercer, Paul Weston and His Orchestra
7 La Vie en rose Edith Piaf
8 On The Atchison, Topeka & The Sante Fe Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers
9 Dream The Pied Pipers
10 Maizy Doats The Pied Pipers
11 A Bushel and A Peck Perry Como, Betty Hutton
12 Green Eyes Glenn Miller & The Dorsey Brothers
13 Chattanooga Choo Choo Glenn Miller
14 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy The Andrew Sisters
15 Stuff Like That There Betty Hutton, Robert Norberg
16 The Gettleman Is a Dope Jo Stafford
17 Murder, He Says Betty Hutton
18 On The Sunny Side of The Street Billie Holiday
19 It's Only a Paper Moon Ella Fitzgerald, The Delta Rhythm Boys
20 P.S. I Love You Billie Holiday
21 How High the Moon? Benny Goodman
22 Someone To Watch Over Me Ella Fitzgerald
23 Bewitched Ella Fitzgerald, London Symphony Orchestra
24 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square Harry Connick, Jr.
25 Sentimental Journey Doris Day, Les Brown & His Orchestra
26 It Had to Be You Harry Connick, Jr.
27 Pennsylvania 6-5000 Glenn Miller
28 Dream A Little Dream of Me Louis Armstrong
29 It Had to Be You Betty Hutton, Robert Norberg
30 I'm In the Mood for Love Nat King Cole Trio
31 (I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo Glenn Miller
32 Georgia On My Mind Jo Stafford, Paul Weston and His Orchestra
33 Walkin' My Baby Bake Home Jo Stafford, Paul Weston and His Orchestra
34 Sunrise Serenade Glenn Miller
35 A String of Pearls Glenn Miller
36 Moonlight Serenade Glenn Miller
37 In the Mood Glenn Miller
38 Tuxedo Junction Glenn Miller
39 Tampico Stan Kenton & His Orchestra, June Christy
40 I Cover the Waterfront Billie Holiday
41 Stuff Like That There Betty Hutton
42 Harlem Nocturne Johnny Otis
43 I Fall in Love Too Easily Frank Sinatra
44 I Fall in Love Too Easily Chet Baker
45 Lover Man Billie Holiday
46 It Might as Well Be Spring Dick Haymes
47 If I Had You Benny Goodman Sextet
48 A Kiss to Build a Dream On Louis Armstrong
49 Rhapsody in Blue Duke Ellington
50 Jersey Bounce Ella Fitzgerald
51 Straighten Up and Fly Right Nat King Cole Trio
52 Jersey Bounce Benny Goodman, Marge & Gower Champion
53 Ac-Cent-Tchu-ate The Positive Johnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers, Paul Weston and His Orchestra
54 Blue Moon Billie Holiday
55 Little Brown Jug Glenn Miller
56 ... I Cover the Waterfront The Ink Spots
57 On the Sunny Side of the Street Tommy Dorsey
58 Body And Soul Billie Holiday
59 Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree Glenn Miller, The Andrew Sisters
60 All of Me Louis Armstrong
61 All of Me Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra
62 One For My Baby (And One More for The Road) Johnny Mercer, Paul Weston and His Orchestra
63 How Deep Is the Ocean Billie Holiday
64 Shoo-Shoo Baby The Andrew Sisters
65 Le Vie en rose Josephine Baker
66 A Kiss to Build a Dream On Louis Armstrong
67 Someone to Watch Over Me Blossom Dearie
Until next time, what songs would be on the soundtrack of your life?
P.S. — Be the first to know. Follow this link to subscribe to my newsletter.
About the Author
Minnesota-based author, Joie Lesin is a life-long fiction writer and the author of The Passenger. She has long been fascinated by anything otherworldly including ghosts. She loves to write a good ghost story—especially when it includes a touch of romance.