The music played a critical role in the movie, "American Graffiti." Unlike many soundtracks where the music is merely a background for the audience, here it is actually being shared by the characters in the movie. This playlist contains, in order of appearance in the movie, 42 songs. They are representative sounds from the 1950's and early 1960's. Notably missing are any Elvis Presley recordings -- RCA wouldn't agree to the flat fee the producers negotiated with the other record labels. For more about "American Graffiti" go to 1962 - American Graffiti.

 
 
Rock Around the Clock  Bill Haley & the Comets 1954
16 Candles  The Crests 1958
Gee The Crows 1953*
Runaway  Del Shannon 1961
Why Do Fools Fall in Love Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers 1956
That'll Be the Day  Buddy Holly 1957
Fanny Mae  Buster Brown 1959
At the Hop  Danny & The Juniors 1958**
She's So Fine  Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids 1973
The Stroll  The Diamonds 1957
See You In September  The Tempos 1959
Surfin' Safari  The Beach Boys 1962
(He's) The Great Imposter  The Fleetwoods 1961
Almost Grown  Chuck Berry 1959
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes  The Platters 1958
Little Darlin'  The Diamonds 1957
Peppermint Twist  Joey Dee and the Starlighters 1961
Barbara Ann  The Regents 1961
The Book of Love  The Monotones 1958
Maybe Baby  Buddy Holly 1957
Ya Ya  Lee Dorsey 1961
The Great Pretender  The Platters 1955
Ain't That a Shame  Fats Domino 1955
Johnny B. Goode  Chuck Berry 1958
I Only Have Eyes for You  The Flamingos 1959
Get a Job  The Silhouettes 1958
To the Aisle  The Five Satins 1957
Do You Wanna Dance?  Bobby Freeman 1958
Party Doll  Buddy Knox 1957
Come Go with Me  The Del-Vikings 1956
You're Sixteen  Johnny Burnette 1960
Love Potion No. 9  The Clovers 1959
Since I Don't Have You  The Skyliners 1958
Chantilly Lace  The Big Bopper 1958
Teen Angel  Mark Dinning 1959
Crying in the Chapel  Sonny Till & the Orioles 1953
A Thousand Miles Away  The Heartbeats 1957
Heart and Soul  The Cleftones 1961
Green Onions  Booker T. & the M.G.'s 1962
Only You (And You Alone)  The Platters 1955
Goodnight, Well it's Time to Go  The Spaniels 1954
All Summer Long  The Beach Boys 1964
*not on soundtrack
** actually performed by Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids for the movie / soundtrack