The 10 Best Country & Roots Songs From Breaking Bad
The first song to ever be featured on Breaking Bad was a classic country tune by Stonewall Jackson, and the finale prominently featured Marty Robbins’ country classic “El Paso.”
They may not play real country on the radio anymore, but there’s many different ways you can skin a cat. As popular and critically-acclaimed TV series like Breaking Bad breathe new life into television, they have become an invaluable market for showcasing quality country and roots music from the past and present. From legends of country like Stonewall Jackson, Conway Twitty and James “Slim” Hand, to cool independent roots acts like the Be Good Tanyas and Left Lane Cruiser, the creators of Breaking Bad delivered quality music to a wide audience.
Here are 10 great country and roots songs featured in the Breaking Bad series, in order of when they appeared.
Stonewall Jackson, “Come on Home and Have Your Next Affair With Me”
From Season 1, in the pilot episode, it was the first song showcased on Breaking Bad.
J.J. Cale, “Any Way the Wind Blows”
From J. J. Cale’s 4th album Okie from 1974, “Any Way The Wind Blows” was featured in Episode 1 of Season 2 called “Seven Thirty Seven.”
The Be Good Tanyas, “Waiting Around to Die”
The Canadian trio’s take on the very first song Townes Van Zandt ever wrote was showcased on Episode 3 of Season 2, “Bit Like A Dead Bee.”
Calexico, “Banderilla”
Featured in Season, 2, Episode 8 entitled “Better Call Saul,” the instrumental was first featured in the soundtrack for the movie Sprout in 2004.
The Marshall Tucker Band, “Heard It In A Love Song”
Arguably the Southern rock band’s signature song from 1977, it found its way on to Season 2, Episode 10
The Outlaws, “Green Grass & High Tides”
The Southern rock 10-minute epic from 1975 was featured in Season 2, Episode 12 entitled “Phoenix.”
Left Lane Cruiser, “Waynedale”
From their 2009 album All You Can Eat, the Deep Blues band made it on to Season 3, Episode 8.
Conway Twitty, “I Can’t Believe She Gives it all to Me”
Written by Conway and released on his 1975 album Play Guitar Play, it became Conway’s 18th #1 hit. It was featured in Season 4, Episode 8 playing in a diner.
James Hand, “Here Lies A Good Old Boy”
From James Hand’s 2006 album The Truth Will Set You Free, the song from one of the last authentic Texas troubadours was heard on Season 4, episode 6 playing in a diner.
Marty Robbins, “El Paso”
Featured in the series finale and considered seminal to the message the show’s creators were trying to convey, Marty Robbins’ classic “El Paso” helped put a period on the Breaking Bad phenomenon. The final episode was also entitled “Felina,” which is the name of the girl in “El Paso.”
September 29, 2013 @ 8:30 pm
Then of course there’s the Marty Robbins song that played on the Finale tonight!
Great finale btw. Breaking Bad is such an amazing show.
September 29, 2013 @ 9:03 pm
Added the Marty Robbins track above after the finale concluded. Cool to see a song like that featured in the finale.
September 29, 2013 @ 10:11 pm
don’t forget Jim White, Wordmule. Not pure country per se but worth mentioning.
September 30, 2013 @ 6:37 am
Its more indy, but the Silver Seas’ “Catch Yer Own Train” featured in season 1 is border line Americana. Great song anyways, good use of banjo.
September 30, 2013 @ 7:51 am
Another nod to Marty Robbins is contained in the title of the last episode “Felina”. Felina is the beautiful dancer whom the ill fated cowboy in the song “El Paso” is love stricken with. In a rage of jealousy he kills for her (“the wicked Felina”) and he is killed in turn when he attempts to return to her. The nod is fortified when a Marty Robbins tape spills out into view as he is going through the glove compartment contents of the stolen Volvo that he will use to return to his one true love (revealed as the blue meth). Later Robbins penned a sequel to El Paso entitled “Feleena (from El Paso)” in which Robbins identifies Feleena (same dancer but with a spelled variant of the same name) as being from New Mexico by birth as was Walt’s precious blue meth.
September 30, 2013 @ 10:53 am
Breaking Bad is over and i now have nothing go to watch on tv.
October 1, 2013 @ 5:48 am
Well then you better call Saul…
http://www.bettercallsaul.com/
…deal is inked for a Saul Goodman prequel to Breaking Bad.
September 30, 2013 @ 3:23 pm
Near the beginning of season 3 (right after Skyler kicks Walt out of the house) a Lucero poster is seen on the wall above Walt Jr.’s bed. Somebody on that producing team has good taste in music.
October 1, 2013 @ 4:47 am
The Be Good Tanyas version of Waiting Around to Die might be my favorite cover of that song…
August 26, 2014 @ 9:25 pm
Nice to see Pete Mitchell in that James Hand picture.