TV Tuesday S01E06: ASHES TO ASHES

In 2006, the BBC premiered Life On Mars, a show about Sam Tyler, a police detective who is in a near fatal car crash in 2006 and comes to in 1973.  The show ran for two eight episode seasons and was even adapted into a ill-fated U.S. version (which lasted a single season) as well as a Spanish series (La Chica de Ayer.)  HERC enjoyed the series immensely and especially the 70s Brit-centric songs that filled the soundtrack - each episode averaged about seven songs - and one CD was officially released.  The series takes its title from the David Bowie song of the same name - it is the song playing on his iPod when he crashes.

After Life On Mars ended its run, another show from the same writers and production team with a similar premise began airing: Ashes To Ashes. This time around Alex Drake, a (female) police detective, is shot and finds herself in 1981 after regaining consciousness. Gene Hunt, Alex's immediate supervisor served in the same capacity in the preceding series, portrayed by the same actor.  Several other characters return from Life On Mars as well, appropriately aged and styled.  Of course, the soundtrack was updated accordingly, filled with the wonderful sounds of early 80s British music and another title borrowed form David Bowie.  The series lasted three seasons (they call seasons "series" in the land of the Clash) of eight episodes each with a soundtrack CD issued for each season/series.

Three CDs for three seasons is all fine and dandy but that means more than 100 songs were left stranded on the show's soundtrack because of record label politics, rights holder refusals or some other silly reason.  Spotify to the rescue - sort of.  Most of the songs heard in the show are included the playlist below.  Join HERC each Tuesday for a column somewhat remotely related to television including an upcoming feature on Life On Mars.

Thanks to Spotify users spookaap and Alexander Melhuish for their suggestions