The Hunter S. Thompson Playlist: Songs & Albums that Influenced His Writing Career

Although Hunter S. Thompson focused on politics and gonzo journalism throughout most of his career, he did turn to music as "fuel" for those nights when he needed an extra kick.

If you've read any Thompson novels which featured his letters to friends an editors, you'd recognize that one of his favorite rituals was blasting records and taking whatever drugs he felt necessary to assist in the writing process.

In Fear and Loathing in America, Thompson called music "the New Literature," an accurately guessed that by the 1970's records would replace books on the artists' totem pole.

Here are some albums and songs which Thompson has enjoyed throughout his career, as well as the novels/letters where the music is referenced.

Song/Album Title- Artist

*

Galway Bay- Bing Crosby

(A favorite song of Thompson's as a teenager)

Highway 61 Revisited- Bob Dylan [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970; Hunter wrote that "Dylan is the 1960s' answer to Hemingway" in Fear and Loathing in America)

New Speedway Boogie- Grateful Dead

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)

White Rabbit- Jefferson Airplane

(Thompson saw Grace Slick perform live at The Matrix before the band was famous; Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America; Thompson referred to this song whenever making notes of taking mescaline and blasting music in Colorado)

Sketches of Spain- Miles Davis [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970)

Spirit in the Sky- Norman Greenbaum

(This song played at Thompson's funeral)

Mr. Tambourine Man- Bob Dylan

(What Thompson described as the "hippie swan song"; Frequently considered Thompson's favorite song of all time; This song played at Thompson's funeral; Because of this track, Hunter dedicated Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas to Bob Dylan)

Dancing the Night Away- Amazing Rhythm Aces

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)

Workingman's Dead- Grateful Dead [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970; Thompson called it "the heaviest thing since Highway 61 or 'Mr. Tambourine Man'" in Fear and Loathing in America, while also stating, "If the Grateful Dead came to town, I'd beat my way in with a fucking tire iron, if necessary")

Bad 'N' Ruin- Rod Stewart

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)

One Toke Over the Line- Brewer & Shipley

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas; Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America as a song he listened to while writing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)

Inventions- Sandy Bull [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970)

The Hula Hula Boys- Warren Zevon

(Mentioned in The Curse of Lono)

Let it Bleed- Rolling Stones [Album]

(An album Hunter listened to while writing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)

Who Knocked the Brains Out of the Sky?- Eric Von Schmidt [Album]

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)

Surrealistic Pillow- Jefferson Airplane [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970)

Country Song- Original Caste

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)

Buffalo Springfield- Buffalo Springfield [Album]

(Mentioned in a letter to Rolling Stone's editors under pseudonym 'Raoul Duke' in 1970)

Carmelita- Warren Zevon

(Mentioned in a love letter to Anita; Thompson and Zevon became good friends)

Memphis Underground- Herbie Mann [Album]

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail; "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was used in the background of Hunter's 'Freak Power' campaign commercials)

Ain't Misbehavin'- The Original Joplin Forte [Album]

(Mentioned in Fear and Loathing in America)