Listen to a 302-track playlist of Anthony Bourdain’s favourite songs
“You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.” – Anthony Bourdain
As a sullen teen who felt he was sheltered from the cutting-edge of culture while living in a stilted New Jersey suburb that his struggling family could ill afford to live in, Anthony Bourdain hungered to get out and devour the feast of the happening world. However, as he hurled himself into the hustling life of heaving kitchens, he did so with a monkey on his back.
In shedding this, he paired his love for dining with a literary outlook, striking gold and a new lease of life with the travelling realisation that the way to grasp the world’s heart is through its stomach. In the process, he became not just a culinary inspiration but such a clear communicator of style that you could even describe music as having a Bourdain quality.
His tour diary was more akin to George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London than some highfalutin fancy guide to caviar coteries. In true counterculture fashion, he shunned elitism and sampled what really made the world tick, even stating the following about death row meals: ”When we ask ourselves and each other the question, what — if strapped to a chair, facing a fatal surge of electricity — would we want as that last taste of life, we seem to crave reminders of simpler, harder times. A crust of bread and butter…poor-people food.”
He lapped up music in a very similar fashion. He got to the heart of how it made societies tick, recognising that a bowl of seafood broth is intrinsically linked to the sound of Buena Vista Social Club or that a baloney sandwich is somehow, in some way, connected to the CBGB boom — it is all part of culture. And as it happens, the culture Bourdain liked is the culture that I liked, the playlist chartering his favoured music makes me feel seen to such an extent that I’m paranoid that he might have hacked my iPod in his time with us.
He had friends in the form of Iggy Pop and even started his culinary journey with a sort of kitchen rock in mind. “[W]e recruited every young, pot-smoking, head-banging hooligan we’d ever worked with, filling their heads with dreams of glory. ‘We’re forming … like … a rock and roll band, man, an all-star group of culinary superstars … kinda like Blind Faith’,” he writes in Kitchen Confidential. His aim was “a faithful re-creation of the kitchens we’d grown up in: insular, chaotic, drenched in drugs and alcohol, and accompanied constantly by loud rock and roll music.”
Thanks to Morgan Neville, the director of the documentary charting Bourdain’s life, Roadrunner, we get an insight into what was playing. The creators rifled through his record collection and notes on music to provide a mammoth playlist of the songs he loved most. And now we are the benefactors of this cracking listen. To hell with all the restaurant recommendations he may have made, this is probably the most delectable treat that the late, great Anthony Bourdain left us: delicious peasant food for the ears.
Anthony Bourdain’s favourite songs:
- Roadrunner – The Modern Lovers
- Album: Rock Generation, Vol.6
- Down on the Street (2005 Remaster) – The Stooges
- Album: Funhouse (Deluxe Edition)
- Beautiful Strangers – Kevin Morby
- Album: Beautiful Strangers b/w No Place to Fall
- Maggot Brain – Funkadelic
- Album: Maggot Brain
- The Burning Spear – Sonic Youth
- Album: Sonic Youth
- La decima vittima (From “La decima vittima”) (Main Title) – Piero Piccioni
- Album: La decima vittima – The 10th Victim (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
- Album: Pet Sounds (Original Mono & Stereo Mix Versions)
- Roving Eyes – James Chance & The Contortions
- Album: Buy Contortions 35th Anniversary (Deluxe)
- Damaged Goods – Gang Of Four
- Album: A Brief History Of The 20th Century
- Bad Luck (feat. Teddy Pendergrass) – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
- Album: To Be True (Expanded Edition)
- With Our Love (2005 Remaster) – Talking Heads
- Album: More Songs About Buildings and Food (Deluxe Version)
- I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
- Album: Something / Anything?
- Lipstick Vogue (2021 Remaster) – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Album: This Year’s Model (2021 Remaster)
- Now I’m Happy (feat. Marvin Pontiac) – Marvin Pontiac
- Album: The Legendary Marvin Pontiac – Greatest Hits
- The Passenger – Iggy Pop
- Album: Real Wild Child
- La Araña – Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds
- Album: La Araña Es La Vida
- Editions Of You – Roxy Music
- Album: For Your Pleasure
- The Evil Has Landed – Queens of the Stone Age
- Album: Villains
- Chinese Rocks – Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers
- Album: L.A.M.F. (The Lost ’77 Mixes) [40th anniversary: remaster]
- Pusherman – Curtis Mayfield
- Album: Superfly (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)
- Raw Power (Iggy Pop Mix) – The Stooges
- Album: Raw Power
- Lust For Life – Iggy Pop
- Album: Lust For Life
- Gimme Danger (Alternate ‘Violent’ Iggy Mix) – The Stooges
- Album: Raw Power
- Search and Destroy (Iggy Pop Mix) – The Stooges
- Album: Raw Power
- High On Rebellion – Patti Smith Group
- Album: Easter
- On Some Faraway Beach (2004 Digital Remaster) – Brian Eno
- Album: Here Come The Warm Jets
- Heroes – David Bowie
- The Big Ship (2004 Digital Remaster) – Brian Eno
- Album: Another Green World
- Supertouch/Shitfit – Bad Brains
- Album: Bad Brains
- Bleeding Muddy Water – Mark Lanegan Band
- Album: Blues Funeral
- Another Green World (Remastered 2004) – Brian Eno
- Album: Another Green World
- Straight to Hell – The Clash
- I’m Gonna Booglarize You Baby – Captain Beefheart
- Have Love Will Travel – The Sonics
- Album: Have Love Will Travel
- Marquee Moon – Television
- Album: Marquee Moon
- Bush Tetras Can’t Be Funky – mariammshvildadze
- Gloria: In Excelsis Deo – Patti Smith
- Album: Horses
- Can’t Seem To Make You Mine – The Seeds
- Album: The Seeds
- Crush With Eyeliner – R.E.M.
- Album: Monster
- Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) [2005 Remaster] – Talking Heads
- Album: Remain in Light (Deluxe Version)
- Nightclubbing – Iggy Pop
- Album: The Idiot
- Elegie – Patti Smith
- Album: Horses
- Atomic – Blondie
- Album: Greatest Hits
- Unsatisfied – The Replacements
- Album: Let It Be
- The Boss (feat. The J.B.’s) – James Brown
- Album: Black Caesar
- Harvest Home – Mark Lanegan
- Use Me – Bill Withers
- Album: Still Bill
- Penetration (Iggy Pop Mix) – The Stooges
- Album: Raw Power
- Rudie Can’t Fail (Official Audio) – The Clash
- Sym. No. 1, Movement 1 – Glenn Branca
- Album: Symphony No. 1 (Tonal Plexus)
- Nocturne (Adrian Sherwood Remix) – Mark Lanegan
- Album: Still Life With Roses (Gargoyle Remixes)
- The Modern Lovers – Astral Plane
- Artist: Andrés Licona
- These Days – Nico
- Album: Chelsea Girl
- Mad World – Tears For Fears
- Album: The Hurting
- The Message (Extended Version) – Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
- Album: Extend the 80s – Electro
- Life During Wartime (2003 Remaster) – Talking Heads
- Album: The Best Of Talking Heads
- Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On
- Sweet Jane (Live) – The Velvet Underground
- Album: The Velvet Underground (45th Anniversary / Deluxe Edition)
- Paris, Texas – Ry Cooder
- Album: Soundtracks
- What a Wonderful World – Joey Ramone
- Album: Christmas Spirit…In My House
- People Who Died – The Jim Carroll Band
- Album: Catholic Boy
- I Ain’t Living Long Like This (Live at KCRW, Los Angeles, CA, 7/14/1988) – The Dream Syndicate
- Album: Ghost Stories
- Gun Street Girl – Tom Waits
- Album: Rain Dogs
- Decryptated – Rosa Yemen
- Album: Rosa Yemen
- The Hill – Unrest
- Album: Malcolm X Park
- Genius Of Love – Tom Tom Club
- Album: Wordy Rappinghood
- Transit Of Venus – Tony Conrad & Hangedup
- Album: Transit Of Venus
- Never My Love – Etta James
- Album: The Chess Box
- Penal Colony – Women
- Album: Public Strain
- See No Evil – Television
- Album: Marquee Moon
- Shadowplay (2007 Remaster) – Joy Division
- Album: Unknown Pleasures (Collector’s Edition)
- Here Today, Gone Tomorrow – Ramones
- Ride Into The Sun (“1969” / 2014 Mix) – The Velvet Underground
- Album: The Velvet Underground (45th Anniversary / Super Deluxe)
- Dance This Mess Around – The B-52’s
- Album: B-52’s
- Ghost Rider (2019 – Remaster) – Suicide
- Album: Suicide (2019 – Remaster)
- Ring of Fire – Wall Of Voodoo
- Album: The Index Masters
- Monkey Man – The Rolling Stones
- Album: Let It Bleed (50th Anniversary Edition / Remastered 2019)
- Beast Of Burden – The Rolling Stones
- Album: Some Girls (2009 Re-Mastered)
- Hank Williams Sr.. Ramblin’ Man – 1951.wmv – V.A. HOSS
- Do Your Thing (Extended Jam) – Isaac Hayes
- Album: The Spirit Of Memphis (1962-1976)
- Someone I Care About – The Modern Lovers
- Little Child Runnin’ Wild – Curtis Mayfield
- Album: Superfly
- Memo From Turner – Mick Jagger
- Album: Performance – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
- Cry For Love – Iggy Pop
- Album: Blah Blah Blah
- Anemone – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Album: Their Satanic Majesties’ Second Request
- 96 Tears – ? & The Mysterians
- Album: 25 Original Greatest Hits- Cameo Parkway
- Flash Light – Parliament
- Album: Funkentelechy Vs. The Placebo Syndrome
- Can You Get To That – Funkadelic
- Album: Maggot Brain
- The Man in Me – Bob Dylan
- Album: New Morning
- Long Slow Goodbye – Queens Of The Stone Age
- Album: Lullabies To Paralyze
- Everybody Knows – Leonard Cohen
- Album: I’m Your Man
- Lost My Mind – Froth
- Album: Patterns
- I Wanna Sleep In Your Arms – The Modern Lovers
- T.V. Eye – The Stooges
- Album: Funhouse (Deluxe Edition)
- Hungry, So Angry – Medium Medium
- Album: Cherry Red Singles Club: 1980-1981
- AI AI AI AI – John Lurie
- Album: African Swim and Manny & Lo – Two Film Scores By John Lurie
- Baby’s On Fire (2004 Digital Remaster) – Brian Eno
- Album: Here Come The Warm Jets
- Funtime – Iggy Pop
- Album: The Idiot
- Bad Luck (feat. Teddy Pendergrass) – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
- Album: Collectors’ Item
- Walk On the Wild Side – Lou Reed – Album: Transformer
- Jet Boy – New York Dolls
- Album: New York Dolls
- Ca Plane Pour Moi – Plastic Bertrand
- Album: Plastic Bertrand
- Strawberry Letter 23 – The Brothers Johnson
- Album: Strawberry Letter 23: The Very Best Of The Brothers Johnson
- I’m so Bored with the U.S.A. – The Clash
- Album: The Clash
- Human Fly – The Cramps
- Album: Off The Bone
- Beat on the Brat (2001 Remaster) – Ramones
- Album: Greatest Hits
- Bodies – Sex Pistols
- Album: Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols
- LUST. – Kendrick Lamar
- Album: DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION.
- Do the Dog – The Specials
- Album: Too Much Too Young
- Under My Wheels – Alice Cooper
- Man in the Box – Alice in Chains
- Album: Facelift
- Dirty Money – Antibalas
- Album: Antibalas
- We’ve Gotta Get out of This Place – The Animals
- Album: The Best of the Animals
- House Of The Rising Sun ’98 – Animals II
- Album: House Of The Rising Sun ’98
- Intergalactic – Beastie Boys
- Bernard Herrmann – Taxi Driver (theme) – deviantrake
- Human Behaviour – Björk
- Album: Debut
- Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
- Album: El Camino
- Simple Twist of Fate – Bob Dylan
- Album: Short Days, Long Nights
- Do The Strand (1999 Digital Remaster) – Roxy Music
- Album: For Your Pleasure
- I’m Deranged – David Bowie
- Album: Outside
- Golden Years (2002 Remaster) – David Bowie
- Album: Best of Bowie
- Pay to Cum – Bad Brains
- Album: Pay to Cum!
- Riot Act – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
- Album: Get Happy
- White Lines (from 25th Hour) (Re-Recorded) – Grandmaster Flash
- Album: Movie Songs Now
- Fight For Your Right – Beastie Boys
- Album: Licensed To Ill
- Sonic Reducer – Dead Boys
- Album: Young, Loud And Snotty
- Personality Crisis – New York Dolls
- Album: New York Dolls
- This is Not a Love Song – Public Image Ltd
- Album: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 2011
- Tangled Up In Blue – Bob Dylan
- Album: Biograph
- Kill City – Iggy Pop & James Williamson
- Album: Kill City (Restored Edition)
- Once in a Lifetime (2005 Remaster) – Talking Heads
- Album: Smash Hits Punk And New Wave
- Straight Up And Down (Long Version) – The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Album: Take It From The Man
- Too Many Creeps – Bush Tetras
- Shelter from the Storm – Bob Dylan
- Album: Pure… Acoustic
- Across 110th Street – Bobby Womack
- Album: The Best Of Bobby Womack: The Soul Years
- Bonnie and Clyde (feat. Serge Gainsbourg) – Brigitte Bardot
- Album: One night in saint tropez – starring brigitte bardot
- 7-29-04 The Day Of – David Holmes
- Album: Music From The Motion Picture Ocean’s Twelve
- I’ll Be Good To You – The Brothers Johnson
- Album: Look Out For #1
- Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers
- Album: The Time Has Come
- (Don’t Worry) If There Is a Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go – Curtis Mayfield
- Album: Curtis
- Hard Times – Cro-Mags
- Album: The Age of Quarrel
- She Sells Sanctuary – The Cult
- Album: She Sells Sanctuary
- Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence – Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Album: 1996 (Re-Mastered)
- Peter Gunn – The Cramps
- Album: Big Beat From Badsville
- Still D.R.E. (feat. Snoop Dogg) – Dr. Dre
- Album: 2001
- California Uber Alles – Dead Kennedys
- Album: Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death
- Useless – Depeche Mode
- Album: Ultra (Deluxe)
- In The Good Times – Defunkt
- Album: Defunkt / Thermonuclear Sweat
- Gut Feeling (Slap Your Mammy) – Devo
- Album: Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! [Deluxe Remastered Edition]
- Peter Gunn – Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
- Album: Greatest Hits 1961 – 1976
- Forgot About Dre (feat. Eminem) – Dr. Dre
- Album: 2001
- Violent City (Main Titles) – Soundtrack / Cast Collection
- Album: Morricone, Ennio – The Gangster Collection
- You Dropped A Bomb On Me – The Gap Band
- Album: The Gap Band IV
- LOVE. (feat. Zacari) – Kendrick Lamar
- Album: DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION.
- Sex Beat – The Gun Club
- Album: Fire Of Love
- Rainy Day, Dream Away – The Hendrix Files – Phil Bee
- Sister Midnight – Iggy Pop
- Album: The Idiot
- Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix
- Machine Gun (Live At Fillmore East, 1970 / 50th Anniversary) (Live At Filmore East, New York/1970/1997 Digital Remaster) – Jimi Hendrix
- Album: Band Of Gypsys (Live)
- Some Weird Sin – Iggy Pop
- I Need Somebody (Iggy Pop Mix) – The Stooges
- Album: Raw Power
- I Can’t Stand Myself (Bonus Track) – James Chance & The Contortions
- Album: Buy Contortions 35th Anniversary (Deluxe)
- ELEMENT. – Kendrick Lamar
- Album: DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION.
- Contort Yourself – James Chance & The Contortions
- Album: Buy Contortions 35th Anniversary (Deluxe)
- Ask Me No Questions – Johnny Thunders
- Album: So Alone
- Night Train – James Brown
- Album: Late 60s Mod Hits, Vol. 2
- What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On
- Guts – John Cale
- Album: The Island Years
- YAH. – Kendrick Lamar
- Album: DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION.
- Heartbreak Hotel – John Cale
- Album: The Island Years
- Et moi, et moi, et moi – Jacques Dutronc
- Subway Train – Johnny Thunders
- Album: So Alone
- Strychnine – The Sonics
- Album: Here Are the Sonics
- Impossible Tracks – The Kills
- Album: Ash & Ice
- Hollywood Swinging – Kool & The Gang
- Album: Wild And Peaceful
- Bullitt (Main Title) [Movie Version] – Lalo Schifrin
- Album: Bullitt
- Something Wild – Iggy Pop
- Album: Brick By Brick
- Dirty Blvd. – Lou Reed
- Album: New York
- Some Velvet Morning – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood
- Album: Nancy & Lee
- Por Tu Amor – Los Apson
- Album: Mexican Garage Rock ’66
- California Dreaming. Mamas & Papas – The Film Band
- Album: Las 50 Mejores Canciones De Pelicula
- Deep Black Vanishing Train – Mark Lanegan Band
- Album: Blues Funeral
- Blue Monday ’88 – New Order
- Dead On You – Mark Lanegan
- Album: Whiskey For The Holy Ghost
- What’s Happening Brother – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On
- Right On – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On
- What’s Happening Brother (Detroit Mix) – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On: The Detroit Mix
- Theme from The Rockford Files (feat. Larry Carlton) – Mike Post
- Album: Television Theme Songs
- Baby Pigs – Marvin Pontiac
- Album: Marvin Pontiac: The Asylum Tapes
- Città vuotà – It’s A Lonely Town – Mina
- Album: Se telefonando
- Mannish Boy – Muddy Waters
- Album: Hard Again
- Wholy Holy – Marvin Gaye
- Album: What’s Going On
- I Can’t Quit You Baby – Otis Rush
- Album: I Can’t Quit You Baby
- California Love (feat. Roger Troutman & Dr. Dre) – 2Pac
- Album: Greatest Hits
- Violent City (Main Titles) – Soundtrack / Cast Collection
- Album: Morricone, Ennio – The Gangster Collection