This is truly a must have for all the wire fans – the Wire soundtrack. I got my copy a while back a go, and there’s some really good tracks on there, not the least the different version of the lead motive.
The cd has 35 tracks (23 songs and 12 dialogue clips), including several versions of the wire opening theme song and real Baltimore grown artists never before released on a major record label.
The record with the nice long title ‘The Wire: And All the Pieces Matter – Five Years of Music from the Wire: original soundtrack‘ is available at Amazon for only $17.97 (and save $6.01!), GET IT HERE !!
I’ll be posting a full review whenever it arrives. If you have it already, please drop a short review in the comments 
19 Comments
January 29, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Ordered it on Amazon just now.
Even from the picture I know it’ll be one helluva CD.
David Simon, I admire you with my whole heart!
January 30, 2008 at 10:31 pm
the album is simply badass.
Has every version of Way Down in the Whole(except the current one by Steve Earl)
Has every song that is played over the season ending montages: Jesse Winchester-Step by Step,Steve Earl-I Feel Alright,Solomon Burke-Fast Train and Paul Wellers-Walk on Guilded Splinters
plus “The Fall” by Blake Leyh which is the instrumental played during the credits of each episode.
35 tracks total
February 18, 2008 at 9:50 pm
know i promised a full review, and it might get published later, but man – this shit it tight! love the soundtrack!
November 17, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hi-
I have a SOUNDTRACK question and I hope somebody can answer it. On “One Arrest”, Season One, in a scene in Avon’s back office (timecode 37:20), there’s a great rap song that doesn’t appear to be on the soundtrack album. Can anybody tell me what that song is????
thanks,
jadair@gene.com
February 21, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Holy fucking shit, the album is amazing!
You can listen to it from the beginning till the end just as if it was a single masterpiece song!
I mean, there are many prominent short dialogs from the show and then that trademark WHOOOOOSHHHHHHH sound and there goes ‘Way down in the hole’ by some artist, then some other music and the same starts again, dialog and the theme song by another artist! Wonderful!
I put my computer speakers on max volume, bass beating on full force, walls trembling, but fuck the neighbors, “THE WIRE” is bangin’ in my house!
10 outta 10, the beast, THE best music CD I’ve ever purchased!
Plus. I bought “Beyond Hamsterdam” album, that piece is brilliant too!
May 14, 2008 at 2:18 am
Great album but no theme song from season 5…
August 28, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Anyone know the song in season 1 episode 13 ’sentencing’ which is the finale, playin in the background when bodie is on the phone wanting his re-up then looks up at towers?? dont think its on soundtrack!
March 12, 2009 at 10:58 pm
In season 2, “So Fine” was on the radio when Tilghman was in his car. Who sang this version? I haven’t been able to find it.
January 5, 2010 at 9:52 pm
The Chambers Brothers. Hard to get tho..
April 22, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Hello.
I am a fan of The Wire, and am struggling to identify the title of a piece of music which appears in Episode 12 of Series 1, about 12 minutes in, when Shardene is getting ready in Orlando’s club (she has the hidden microphone in her hair). It would be classified as ‘dance’ music, and is playing downstairs in the club, but subtly turns from diegetic to non-diegetic soundtrack.
Could anyone please help me identify this fantastic piece of music?
It does not appear on the soundtrack CD.
Any help / advice would be very much appreciated!
Thanks,
Ray Green
June 29, 2009 at 4:23 am
What the h*ll is the second house track playing @ Cutty’s homecoming party in the 3rd season espisode Hamsterdam – The first track is by DJ Technics – My life Extra. The second…..if you know this then your a legend!
July 7, 2009 at 11:54 pm
hey, does anyone know the name of the song playing in season 1, episode 6, when deangelo is getting dressed? it sounds like they’re saying ‘respect’
July 21, 2009 at 9:01 pm
hi there ! i just wanna ask if any chance that u know now what u ask before i mean the song from the first season episode6- u know… i really really gonna thank u if u know and tell me
August 17, 2009 at 12:30 am
Note to all:
This is a good resource for finding music from season 1 not included in the soundtrack:
http://www.film.com/features/story/catching-up-wire-season-1/17733682
A favorite of mine, Lorem Ipsum – Wax Music Box.
BR,
January 14, 2010 at 9:40 am
Thanks for that season one music tip! Season one, episode 6 has some great tracks in it, like the song playing when Avon gets out of his car and goes over to talk to D about Omar — it really says “AVON IS THE KINGPIN” — and I agree that the track playing while D is dressing is fantastic.
August 28, 2009 at 1:26 pm
[...] for current, post-show material and news on Wire alum. It also has tons of links to fun stuff like soundtrack listing, discussions on Wire actors with British accents, and, prior to Season 5, ponderings of the [...]
October 13, 2009 at 10:38 am
does anyone know who sings ‘way down in the hole’ in series 1 … it sounds like Bubs ..
November 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm
the p man: i just submitted the following question — maybe you know the answer ? thanx
JimA
November 17, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Hi-
I have a SOUNDTRACK question and I hope somebody can answer it. On “One Arrest”, Season One, in a scene in Avon’s back office (timecode 37:20), there’s a great rap song that doesn’t appear to be on the soundtrack album. Can anybody tell me what that song is????
thanks,
jadair@gene.com
Reply
January 28, 2010 at 11:53 am
Guys, excuse me for my bad english. But can someone help me finding whos song plays in episode 30 (s03e05) when Avon comes to his homecoming party and asks Slim to throw out 2 stoned guys from the club… what is the song … MAAaan im gonna pay anyone whos help me =)
Please if anyone knows… mail me please.