Note: Below is a complete playlist of all 42 songs that can be heard in the movie “American Graffiti”. Some of these commercial songs are not included on the official soundtrack album but are used in the movie.
All 42 songs featured in “American Graffiti”:
| Song: | Listen on: |
|---|---|
| (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets Timestamp: 0:00 | Scene: Opening scenes. Title screen. Opening credits. Outside Mel's Diner. |  |
| Sixteen Candles - The Crests Timestamp: 0:03 | Scene: Still outside Mel's Diner. Curt and John talk about girls and what the strip was like in the old days. Steve and Laurie agree to see other people. | |
| Gee - The Crows Timestamp: 0:06 | Scene: Curt talks to his little sister through the car window and Steve tells Toad that he can borrow the car for a while. | |
| Runaway - Del Shannon Timestamp: 0:09 | Scene: John finds out Curt might not be leaving and drives away in his car. Cars driving through the streets. John talks to some guys in another car. A guy gives Toad grief as he drives and someone flashes their bum at him. | |
| Why Do Fools Fall in Love? - The Teenagers (Feat. Frankie Lymon) Timestamp: 0:11 | Scene: As Curt rides in the back seat he catches the eye of a pretty blonde girl who mouths 'I love you'. He tries to get Steve to follow her. John chats to some girls and gets someone to ride with him. | |
| That'll Be the Day - Buddy Holly Timestamp: 0:14 | Scene: John and the girls pull up at the lights and a girl climbs into John's car. She's very young. | |
| Fannie Mae - Buster Brown Timestamp: 0:15 | Scene: Toad attempted to race someone at the lights but reverses by mistake. He stops later to check the damage. | |
| At the Hop - Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids Timestamp: 0:17 | Scene: The band perform live at the 'hop'. Everyone dances in their socks. Laurie talks to a girl in the bathroom. | |
| She's So Fine - Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids Timestamp: 0:20 | Scene: 2nd song played live by the band at the hop. Steve asks Laurie to dance but she refuses. Curt wanders the school halls. | |
| The Stroll - The Diamonds Timestamp: 0:22 | Scene: Curt rescues Mr Wolf from some girls and they leave the room to talk. Mr Wolf tells him about when he went east and Curtis explains that he may not leave. | |
| Surfin' Safari - The Beach Boys Timestamp: 0:25 | Scene: John driving along. His young passenger talks and talks, then sprays him. He turns the radio off. The police pull him over. | |
| (He's) The Great Imposter - The Fleetwoods Timestamp: 0:27 | Scene: John gets pulled over by the police and explains that he's been to the movies. | |
| Almost Grown - Chuck Berry Timestamp: 0:29 | Scene: Bob Falfa races from the lights leaving Toad behind. Toad spots a 'bitchin' babe' walking on the sidewalk and engages her in conversation.. He persuades her to get into the car. | |
| Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters Timestamp: 0:32 | Scene: 3rd song at the hop as Steve and Laurie slow dance after being introduced. They talk and Laurie ends up crying. Outside Curt chats with a girl. | |
| Louie Louie - Flash Cadillac and The Continental Kids Timestamp: 0:35 | Scene: 4th song at the hop. The band play live again. Steve insults a teacher. | |
| Little Darlin' - The Diamonds Timestamp: 0:36 | Scene: Toad orders food and drinks at the diner from the car. A guy leans in the window and talks to Debbie. | |
| Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & The Starliters Timestamp: 0:38 | Scene: Curts rides in the car with Wendy and her friend. Curt finds out the girl he likes is married but he doesn't believe it. He invites Wendy into the back. | |
| Barbara Ann - The Regents Timestamp: 0:40 | Scene: Curt and Wendy kiss on the back seat of the car. Curt gets chucked out the car. | |
| Book of Love - The Monotones Timestamp: 0:42 | Scene: John get a drink from the drive thru for his passenger. John tells his friends that she's his cousin and he's babysitting. She gets out and leaves but John drives and she gets back in. | |
| Maybe Baby - Buddy Holly Timestamp: 0:44 | Scene: Toad hangs outside a liquor store asking people to get him booze. | |
| Ya Ya - Lee Dorsey Timestamp: 0:47 | Scene: Toad gets back to the car after trying to buy the liquor himself but fails. The girl gives him more money and he gets a guy to go in for him. | |
| The Great Pretender - The Platters Timestamp: 0:50 | Scene: Curt sings along with the song sitting on a car as he watches TV's in a store window. | |
| Ain't That a Shame - Fats Domino Timestamp: 0:52 | Scene: The Pharaohs make Curt get into their car, then they drive off. Plays as they drive along. | |
| Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry Timestamp: 0:54 | Scene: 2nd song in the car as Curt rides with the Pharaohs. In John's car the girl tries to sit near him. Some girl chucks a water balloon through the window. John and the girl attack the car at the lights by spraying it with foam and letting the tyres down. | |
| I Only Have Eyes for You - The Flamingos Timestamp: 0:57 | Scene: Toad sorts out the liquor with his girl. They drink in the car. He lies about owning horses, etc. They start to kiss. | |
| Get a Job - The Silhouettes Timestamp: 1:00 | Scene: Curt and the Pharaohs get out of the car. They start to rob an amusement arcade until disturbed. Curt distracts the owner. | |
| To the Aisle - The Five Satins Timestamp: 1:03 | Scene: In the middle of nowhere Steve and Laurie sit in the car talking. | |
| Do You Wanna Dance - Bobby Freeman Timestamp: 1:09 | Scene: Bob Falfa follows John pretty close as they drive. They get alongside and banter flows. They race from the lights. | |
| Party Doll - Buddy Knox with the Rhythm Orchids Timestamp: 1:12 | Scene: Toad, Debbie and Steve walk along. Steve leaves to go to Burger City. Curt and Pharaohs plan to wreck a police car. | |
| Come Go with Me - The Del Vikings Timestamp: 1:15 | Scene: Curt hooks the rope onto the police car. Debbie talks to Toad about his jeep as Curt and the Pharaohs race past. The police give chase but don't get very far. | |
| You're Sixteen - Johnny Burnette Timestamp: 1:16 | Scene: John stops the car with Carol and explains that he can't control himself anymore. He tricks her into giving him her address. Steve chats with a waitress in the cafe. | |
| Love Potion No. 9 - The Clovers Timestamp: 1:19 | Scene: Curt and the Pharaohs get out the car. They seem to have bonded and let Curt go after asking him to join. Curt gets in his car. | |
| Since I Don't Have You - The Skyliners Timestamp: 1:21 | Scene: Curt's car won't start. Laurie drives along and sees Bob Falfa, she gets into his car. | |
| Chantilly Lace - The Big Bopper Timestamp: 1:27 | Scene: Toad gets caught trying to steal Steve's car back by 2 guys. They start to fight him until John sees and runs over to help. | |
| Teen Angel - Mark Dinning Timestamp: 1:28 | Scene: 2 girls talk to Steve in the diner about Laurie and Bob Falfa. Steve gets his car back from Toad and races away. Toad tells Debbie that it's not his car. | |
| Crying in the Chapel - Sonny Till & The Orioles Timestamp: 1:31 | Scene: Debbie tells Toad that she had a pretty good time. Curt arrives at the radio station and goes inside. | |
| A Thousand Miles Away - The Heartbeats Timestamp: 1:34 | Scene: Curt talks to the DJ in the radio station. | |
| Heart and Soul - The Cleftones Timestamp: 1:36 | Scene: Curt leaves the radio station. Bob Falfa pulls up and John decides to race him. Toad persuades John to take him and they set off for Paradise Road. Steve finds out and heads out there. | |
| Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's Timestamp: 1:38 | Scene: The cars arrive at Paradise Road. They race begins but Bob crashes. | |
| Only You (and You Alone) - The Platters Timestamp: 1:41 | Scene: Toad tells John how great he is as they walk back to the car. Curt gets a phonecall at Burger City from the blonde. | |
| Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite - The Spaniels Timestamp: 1:43 | Scene: At the airport. Curt says goodbye and gets on the plane. | |
| All Summer Long - The Beach Boys Timestamp: 1:45 | Scene: End credits. | |
What’s the movie about?
A couple of high school seniors spend one last night on the strip with their buddies before heading off to college.