Compiled from fan/episode-guide sources (Spotirama blog, jimcofer.com). Each track listed once per show even where it recurs across multiple episodes (e.g. Bowie's "Life on Mars" plays in S1E1, S1E8 and S2E8). "First ep." gives the earliest episode it's known to appear in.
Set in 1973 Manchester. Series 1: 8 episodes; Series 2: 8 episodes.
| Track | Artist | First ep. |
|---|---|---|
| Life On Mars | David Bowie | S1E1 |
| Stairway To The Stars | Blue Öyster Cult | S1E1 |
| I'm So Free | Lou Reed | S1E1 |
| Baba O'Riley | The Who | S1E1 |
| Rat Bat Blue | Deep Purple | S1E1 |
| Fireball | Deep Purple | S1E1 |
| White Room | Cream | S1E1 |
| Easy Livin' | Uriah Heep | S1E1 |
| Look At Yourself | Uriah Heep | S1E1 |
| Live And Let Die | Wings | S1E2 |
| No One Came | Deep Purple | S1E2 |
| Saga Of The Aging Orphan | Thin Lizzy | S1E2 |
| Lazy | Deep Purple | S1E2 |
| Dream Land | The Upsetters | S1E2 |
| Ballroom Blitz | The Sweet | S1E3 |
| Gypsy | Uriah Heep | S1E3 |
| Wishing Well | Free | S1E3 |
| Head In The Sky | Atomic Rooster | S1E3 |
| Brainstorm | Hawkwind | S1E4 |
| The Jean Genie | David Bowie | S1E4 |
| Cross Eyed Mary | Jethro Tull | S1E4 |
| Silver Machine | Hawkwind | S1E4 |
| Wild Horses | The Rolling Stones | S1E4 |
| Blockbuster | The Sweet | S1E4 |
| Call The Police | Thin Lizzy | S1E5 |
| Good Thinking | Status Quo | S1E5 |
| The Rocker | Thin Lizzy | S1E5 |
| Jeepster | T. Rex | S1E5 |
| Would You Believe | Roxy Music | S1E5 |
| Urban Guerilla | Hawkwind | S1E5 |
| Ejection | Hawkwind | S1E5 |
| I Can't Live Without You | Colosseum | S1E5 |
| Mother Of Pearl | Roxy Music | S1E5 |
| I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free | Nina Simone | S1E5 |
| What A Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | S1E6 |
| I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top | The Hollies | S1E7 |
| Toxic | Britney Spears | S1E7 |
| Welcome Home | Peters and Lee | S1E7 |
| Disco 2000 | Pulp | S1E7 |
| Sinnerman | Nina Simone | S1E7 |
| Friday 13th | Atomic Rooster | S1E8 |
| The Rock | Atomic Rooster | S1E8 |
| Tokoloshe Man | John Kongos | S1E8 |
| In The Snow | Atomic Rooster | S1E8 |
| Devil's Answer | Atomic Rooster | S1E8 |
| See My Baby Jive | Wizzard | S1E8 |
| Meet Me On The Corner | Lindisfarne | S1E8 |
| Little Bit Of Love | Free | S1E8 |
| Street Life | Roxy Music | S2E1 |
| Son Of My Father | Chicory Tip | S2E1 |
| Everybody Gets To Go To The Moon (live) | Three Degrees | S2E1 |
| Spooky | Dusty Springfield | S2E1 |
| Year Of Decision | Three Degrees | S2E1 |
| Starman | David Bowie | S2E1 |
| Sweet Jane | Mott The Hoople | S2E2 |
| In The Summertime | Mungo Jerry | S2E2 |
| Ain't Got No (from Hair) | Derek Wadsworth | S2E2 |
| Love Machine | Uriah Heep | S2E2 |
| Bird Of Prey | Uriah Heep | S2E2 |
| Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress | The Hollies | S2E2 |
| Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | Elton John | S2E2 |
| How Can I Be Sure | David Cassidy | S2E3 |
| The Big Spell | Audience | S2E3 |
| Hellraiser | The Sweet | S2E3 |
| Poor Old Ireland | Lindisfarne | S2E3 |
| When The City Sleeps | Barclay James Harvest | S2E3 |
| Lay Down | The Strawbs | S2E4 |
| I'm Ready | Frankie Miller | S2E4 |
| Court In The Act | Lindisfarne | S2E4 |
| Samba Pa Ti | Santana | S2E4 |
| Coz I Luv You | Slade | S2E4 |
| Aladdin Sane | David Bowie | S2E4 |
| Rock On | T. Rex | S2E4 |
| Alone Again (Naturally) | Gilbert O'Sullivan | S2E4 |
| You Shouldn't Do That | Hawkwind | S2E5 |
| Just Like You | Roxy Music | S2E5 |
| 10538 Overture | ELO | S2E5 |
| Dance With The Devil | Cozy Powell | S2E6 |
| Breathless | Atomic Rooster | S2E6 |
| Snow Flower | Ananda Shankar | S2E6 |
| Rocket Man | Elton John | S2E6 |
| I Had A Dream | The Audience | S2E6 |
| Hot Sand | Shocking Blue | S2E6 |
| Traveller In Time | Uriah Heep | S2E6 |
| Whiskey In The Jar | Thin Lizzy | S2E6 |
| Many A Mile To Freedom | Traffic | S2E7 |
| Evening Blue | Traffic | S2E7 |
| Virginia Plain | Roxy Music | S2E7 |
| Cindy Incidentally | The Faces | S2E7 |
| Done Me Wrong Alright | The Sweet | S2E7 |
| Crossroads (live) | Cream | S2E7 |
| Rock 'n' Roll Disgrace | The Sweet | S2E7 |
| One Of The Boys | Mott The Hoople | S2E7 |
| My Coo Ca Choo | Alvin Stardust | S2E8 |
| Funeral For A Friend | Elton John | S2E8 |
| Decision/Indecision | Atomic Rooster | S2E8 |
| I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You | Tom Waits | S2E8 |
| Over The Rainbow / What A Wonderful World | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | S2E8 |
| Changes | David Bowie | S2E8 |
Set 1981–1983 London. Series 1, 2 and 3, 8 episodes each.
| Track | Artist | First ep. |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna | Ultravox | S1E1 |
| I Fought The Law | The Clash | S1E1 |
| Are 'Friends' Electric? | Tubeway Army | S1E1 |
| No More Heroes | The Stranglers | S1E1 |
| Ashes To Ashes | David Bowie | S1E1 |
| I'm In Love With A German Film Star | The Passions | S1E1 |
| Hungry Like The Wolf | Duran Duran | S1E1 |
| Careless Memories | Duran Duran | S1E1 |
| Same Old Scene | Roxy Music | S1E1 |
| Swords Of A Thousand Men | Tenpole Tudor | S1E2 |
| The Prince | Madness | S1E2 |
| Body Talk | Imagination | S1E2 |
| Money | The Flying Lizards | S1E2 |
| Fade To Grey | Visage | S1E2 |
| Souvenir | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | S1E2 |
| Geno | Dexys Midnight Runners | S1E2 |
| We Are All Prostitutes | The Pop Group | S1E2 |
| (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang | Heaven 17 | S1E2 |
| I Hear You Now | Jon and Vangelis | S1E2 |
| Show Me | Dexys Midnight Runners | S1E2 |
| Gertcha | Chas & Dave | S1E2 |
| Staring At The Rude Boys | The Ruts | S1E3 |
| It's Different For Girls | Joe Jackson | S1E3 |
| Let's Stick Together | Bryan Ferry | S1E3 |
| Over You | Roxy Music | S1E3 |
| Making Your Mind Up | Bucks Fizz | S1E3 |
| Ai No Corrida (Aye Aye Aye Moosey) | Modern Romance | S1E3 |
| Planet Earth | Duran Duran | S1E3 |
| Happy Birthday | Altered Images | S1E3 |
| Autonomy | Buzzcocks | S1E3 |
| Doors Of Your Heart | The Beat | S1E3 |
| To Cut A Long Story Short | Spandau Ballet | S1E4 |
| Girls On Film | Duran Duran | S1E4 |
| Enola Gay | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | S1E4 |
| London Calling | The Clash | S1E4 |
| Love Action (I Believe In Love) | The Human League | S1E4 |
| Reward | The Teardrop Explodes | S1E4 |
| Green Door | Shakin' Stevens | S1E4 |
| Police And Thieves | The Clash | S1E4 |
| One Step Beyond | Madness | S1E5 |
| I Travel | Simple Minds | S1E5 |
| Sergeant Rock (Is Going To Help Me) | XTC | S1E5 |
| Turn To Red | Killing Joke | S1E5 |
| I Feel Love | Donna Summer | S1E5 |
| Love Magic | John Davis | S1E5 |
| Don't You Want Me | The Human League | S1E5 |
| I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper | Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip | S1E5 |
| Where Did Our Love Go | Soft Cell | S1E5 |
| Tainted Love | Soft Cell | S1E6 |
| Into The Valley | The Skids | S1E6 |
| Mirror In The Bathroom | The Beat | S1E6 |
| Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) | Spandau Ballet | S1E6 |
| Kids In America | Kim Wilde | S1E6 |
| Golden Brown | The Stranglers | S1E6 |
| Ghosts | Japan | S1E6 |
| Police On My Back | The Clash | S1E7 |
| The Man With The Child In His Eyes | Kate Bush | S1E7 |
| Whine & Grine | The Beat | S1E7 |
| One Day In Your Life | Michael Jackson | S1E7 |
| Fame | David Bowie | S1E7 |
| Too Much Pressure | The Selecter | S1E7 |
| Reunited | Peaches & Herb | S1E7 |
| Dancing In The City | Marshall Hain | S1E7 |
| 2-4-6-8 Motorway | Tom Robinson Band | S1E8 |
| Take The Long Way Home | Supertramp | S1E8 |
| The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum) | Fun Boy Three | S2E1 |
| Rio | Duran Duran | S2E1 |
| Love Plus One | Haircut One Hundred | S2E1 |
| The Look Of Love | ABC | S2E1 |
| Stand And Deliver | Adam and the Ants | S2E1 |
| The Model | Kraftwerk | S2E1 |
| Working For The Rat Race | The Specials | S2E1 |
| You Sexy Thing | Hot Chocolate | S2E1 |
| Mirror Man | The Human League | S2E1 |
| The Back Of Love | Echo & The Bunnymen | S2E2 |
| Stool Pigeon | Kid Creole & The Coconuts | S2E2 |
| Tempted | Squeeze | S2E2 |
| I Second That Emotion | Japan | S2E2 |
| In The Air Tonight | Phil Collins | S2E2 |
| Town Called Malice | The Jam | S2E2 |
| Come On Eileen | Dexys Midnight Runners | S2E2 |
| Messages | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | S2E2 |
| Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) | A Flock Of Seagulls | S2E2 |
| I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) | Hall & Oates | S2E3 |
| Food For Thought | UB40 | S2E3 |
| Da Da Da | Trio | S2E3 |
| Eye Of The Tiger | Survivor | S2E3 |
| Is There Something I Should Know? | Duran Duran | S2E3 |
| Lies | The Thompson Twins | S2E3 |
| Can't Get Used To Losing You | The Beat | S2E3 |
| The Lion Sleeps Tonight | Tight Fit | S2E3 |
| Ebony And Ivory | Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder | S2E4 |
| Harry | Bauhaus | S2E4 |
| It Ain't What You Do, It's The Way That You Do It | Fun Boy Three & Bananarama | S2E4 |
| The Three Shadows (Part 1) | Bauhaus | S2E4 |
| We're In This Love Together | Al Jarreau | S2E4 |
| The Token Man | Modern English | S2E4 |
| Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag | Pigbag | S2E4 |
| Hair Of The Dog | Bauhaus | S2E4 |
| Love Hangover | The Associates | S2E4 |
| In Fear Of Fear | Bauhaus | S2E4 |
| Under Pressure | Queen & David Bowie | S2E4 |
| Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime | The Korgis | S2E4 |
| Funeral Pyre | The Jam | S2E5 |
| Going Back To My Roots | Odyssey | S2E5 |
| Atomic | Blondie | S2E5 |
| Temptation | New Order | S2E5 |
| Should I Stay Or Should I Go | The Clash | S2E5 |
| Speed Of Life | David Bowie | S2E5 |
| Just The Two Of Us | Bill Withers | S2E5 |
| Embarrassment | Madness | S2E5 |
| The Man Who Sold The World | David Bowie | S2E5 |
| Happy Talk | Captain Sensible | S2E6 |
| Pull Up To The Bumper | Grace Jones | S2E6 |
| Ace Of Spades | Motörhead | S2E6 |
| Thriller | Michael Jackson | S2E6 |
| Favourite Shirt (Boy Meets Girl) | Haircut One Hundred | S2E6 |
| Streets Of London | Anti-Nowhere League | S2E6 |
| Hot In The City | Billy Idol | S2E6 |
| Goody Two Shoes | Adam Ant | S2E7 |
| All Cats Are Grey | The Cure | S2E7 |
| Music For Chameleons | Gary Numan | S2E7 |
| Ideas As Opiates | Tears For Fears | S2E7 |
| Hunter And The Hunted | Simple Minds | S2E8 |
| While My Heart Is Still Beating | Roxy Music | S2E8 |
| Club Country | The Associates | S2E8 |
| Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Joan Of Arc) | Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark | S2E8 |
| Sex On Fire | Kings Of Leon | S3E1 |
| Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) | Eurythmics | S3E1 |
| Electric Avenue | Eddy Grant | S3E1 |
| Promised You A Miracle | Simple Minds | S3E1 |
| Blue Monday | New Order | S3E1 |
| Walking On Sunshine | Katrina and the Waves | S3E1 |
| Every Breath You Take | The Police | S3E1 |
| Uptown Girl | Billy Joel | S3E2 |
| Let's Dance | David Bowie | S3E2 |
| This Is Not A Love Song | Public Image Ltd. | S3E2 |
| Being With You | Smokey Robinson | S3E2 |
| Red Red Wine | UB40 | S3E2 |
| Give It Up | KC and The Sunshine Band | S3E2 |
| War Baby | Tom Robinson | S3E2 |
| Video Killed The Radio Star | The Buggles | S3E2 |
| Girls Just Want To Have Fun | Cyndi Lauper | S3E2 |
| Anarchy In The UK | Sex Pistols | S3E3 |
| Two Tribes | Frankie Goes To Hollywood | S3E3 |
| Volare | Dean Martin | S3E3 |
| Shipbuilding | Robert Wyatt | S3E3 |
| Ain't That A Kick In The Head | Dean Martin | S3E4 |
| My Way | Frank Sinatra | S3E4 |
| Watching The Detectives | Elvis Costello | S3E4 |
| Theme From Shaft | Isaac Hayes | S3E5 |
| The Lovecats | The Cure | S3E5 |
| Sharp Dressed Man | ZZ Top | S3E5 |
| The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up) | Level 42 | S3E5 |
| Rockit | Herbie Hancock | S3E5 |
| I.O.U. | Freeez | S3E5 |
| Mama | Genesis | S3E5 |
| Only You | Yazoo | S3E5 |
| Sunday Bloody Sunday | U2 | S3E6 |
| Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) | David Bowie | S3E6 |
| The Cutter | Echo & The Bunnymen | S3E6 |
| I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles | Cockney Rejects | S3E6 |
| Abide With Me (hymn) | Traditional | S3E7 |
| I Don't Wanna Dance | Eddy Grant | S3E7 |
| Couldn't Love You More | John Martyn | S3E7 |
| Free Nelson Mandela | The Special AKA | S3E7 |
| True | Spandau Ballet | S3E7 |
| Victims | Culture Club | S3E7 |
| Club Tropicana | Wham! | S3E8 |
| Wonderwall | Oasis | S3E8 |
| Holiday | Madonna | S3E8 |
| Beat It (replaced by "Adrenaline" on some streaming releases) | Michael Jackson | S3E8 |
| Chariots Of Fire (main theme) | Vangelis | S3E8 |
| Heroes | David Bowie | S3E8 |
• Some tracks recur across episodes in their own show (e.g. "Same Old Scene" by Roxy Music, "Da Da Da" by Trio, "Town Called Malice" by The Jam in Ashes to Ashes; "Life On Mars", "Head In The Sky", "One Of The Boys", "When The City Sleeps", "White Room" in Life on Mars). Each is listed once here against its first known episode.
• Sources: Spotirama blog (Life on Mars, sourced from the official BBC site) and jimcofer.com's "definitive playlist" for Ashes to Ashes (series 1–3), cross-checked against WhatSong/Tunefind episode listings. Fan-sourced lists; a small number of tracks (especially incidental/background cues) may be missing or mis-attributed, and some songs have been swapped for rights reasons on later streaming/DVD releases (noted where known, e.g. S3E8).