The soundtrack for American Hustle, the David O. Russell-directed 2013 crime caper, contains songs by a wide range of legendary musicians, from Tom Jones to the Bee Gees to Duke Ellington. The movie tells a fictionalized account of the Abscam operation of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Bradley Cooper stars as an FBI agent who recruits a pair of con artists, played by Amy Adams and Christian Bale, for a sting operation to catch crooked politicians. American Hustle was released to critical and commercial success. It was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and all four acting categories.
In an interview with Esquire, Russell described American Hustle as “a propulsive kind of cinema that was driven by music.” The soundtrack was key to giving the movie its feel. Russell’s direction of American Hustle borrows heavily from Martin Scorsese’s signature style of fast-paced, darkly comedic crime movies. A big part of that cinematic style is the needle drops on the soundtrack. Just as Scorsese uses an eclectic mix of music to create the frenzied energy of his gangster movies, Russell used a combination of jazz, pop, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll songs to set the vibrant tone and 1970s period setting for American Hustle.
This is every song on the American Hustle soundtrack, in order:
- “Jeep’s Blues” by Duke Ellington
- “A Horse with No Name” by America
- “Dirty Work” by Steely Dan
- “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago
- “Blue Moon” by Oscar Peterson
- “I’ve Got Your Number” by Jack Jones
- “The Coffee Song (They’ve Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil)” by Frank Sinatra & Axel Stordahl
- “Straight, No Chaser” by Gerry Mulligan
- “Stream of Stars” by Jeff Lynne
- “It’s De-Lovely” by Ella Fitzgerald
- “I Saw the Light” by Todd Rundgren
- “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer
- “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes feat. Teddy Pendergrass
- “Delilah” by Tom Jones & Les Reed
- “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John
- “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations
- “Evil Ways” by Santana
- “White Rabbit” by Mayssa Karaa
- “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” by the Bee Gees
- “To the Station” by Evan Lurie
- “Live and Let Die” by Wings
- “Long Black Road” by the Electric Light Orchestra
- “The Jean Genie” by David Bowie
- “10538 Overture” by the Electric Light Orchestra
When Exactly Each Song Plays In American Hustle
“Jeep’s Blues” by Duke Ellington – This is the first song that plays on the American Hustle soundtrack. Later on, Irving plays it for Sydney at the pool party.
“A Horse with No Name” by America – This song can be heard as Irving is getting dressed and styling his hair near the beginning of the movie.
“Dirty Work” by Steely Dan – This song plays as the con artists walk into a hotel for a meeting with the mayor of Camden, New Jersey.
“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” by Chicago – This song can be heard playing at the pool party where Irving meets Sydney.
“Blue Moon” by Oscar Peterson – This song plays as Sydney tries on clothes from Irving’s dry cleaning business.
“I’ve Got Your Number” by Jack Jones – This song underscores one of American Hustle’s sweetest moments as Irving describes his love for Sydney.
“The Coffee Song (They’ve Got an Awful Lot of Coffee in Brazil)” by Frank Sinatra & Axel Stordahl – This song plays as Richie introduces Carmine Polito, the mayor of Camden.
“Straight, No Chaser” by Gerry Mulligan – This song can be heard when Brenda is telling Richie and Sydney about her cats.
“Stream of Stars” by Jeff Lynne – This track plays while Richie is eating in the bathroom and his mother is yelling at him.
“It’s De-Lovely” by Ella Fitzgerald – This song can be heard on the American Hustle soundtrack when Irving and Rosalyn are having dinner with Mayor Polito and his wife.
“I Saw the Light” by Todd Rundgren – This song is playing when Irving and Sydney are talking on the street.
“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer – This song can be heard when Irving and Sydney are dancing in a disco.
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes feat. Teddy Pendergrass – This song can be heard in the bathroom of the disco, where Sydney demands “no more fake s***” from Richie.
“Delilah” by Tom Jones & Les Reed – Irving and Mayor Polito sing this song with a crowd at a restaurant.
“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John – This Elton John classic plays when Mayor Polito is introduced to the Sheik.
“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” by The Temptations – This song plays in the casino when Mayor Polito invites everyone to the Ocean Bar.
“Evil Ways” by Santana – This song can be heard when Rosalyn is talking to the gangsters.
“White Rabbit” by Mayssa Karaa – This song plays on the American Hustle soundtrack during Robert De Niro’s cameo appearance as Victor Tellegio. The song continues as Sydney pulls Rosalyn away from the gangsters.
“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” by the Bee Gees – This Bee Gees track kicks in after Rosalyn kisses Sydney in the bathroom and it continues into the scene with the mayor’s speech.
“To the Station” by Evan Lurie – This song plays as Rosalyn’s gangster boyfriend picks her up and takes her to lunch.
“Live and Let Die” by Wings – Rosalyn sings this Oscar-nominated James Bond theme while she’s doing housework.
“Long Black Road” by the Electric Light Orchestra – This song can be heard during the meeting with Tellegio’s lawyer.
“The Jean Genie” by David Bowie – This David Bowie single plays on the American Hustle soundtrack as the cops celebrate the taping of the lawyer’s confession and Richie does a comedic impersonation of his superior.
“10538 Overture” by the Electric Light Orchestra – This song plays over Richie’s voiceover narration at the end of American Hustle.
Where To Listen To The American Hustle Soundtrack
The official soundtrack album for American Hustle, titled American Hustle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), received a Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. The American Hustle soundtrack is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Deezer.