American Graffiti (41 Original Hits From the Soundtrack)

Double vinyl LP pressing. For those of us who grew up in the '70s, this drive-in compilation of '50s and '60s Rock and Doo Wop, complete with Wolfman Jack introductions, was our introduction to this music. There are 41 jukebox hits here, and every one of them is a classic of its time (although two tracks "At the Hop" and "She's so Fine" are covers by the revival band Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids). In his 1973 movie, director George Lucas used the music (and the presence of mysterious deejay Wolfman) as the AM radio soundtrack to one night in suburban California, 1962. The idea was to capture and sustain an end of summer, end of innocence mood that's in the air throughout the picture not as a shortcut to establishing a period. There's an awful lot of spontaneous energy in these tunes-from Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly, to the Platters and the Clovers and the Del-Vikings, to the Crests and the Beach Boys and also just a hint of melancholy that goes down very nicely with a burger, shake, and fries.