July 30, 2006
WHERE TO ENTER SANDMAN?

Throughout the season, Music Producer Elliot Lurie will be taking us through the process by which each episode's music is chosen.

One of my favorite music bits this season is the segue in this episode from "White Room" by Cream ( playing backstage at Crowley's show) into "Mr. Sandman" by The Chordettes, playing in the diner.

The script didn't indicate that the diner was going to be a '50s style joint. When I got the first cut of the show, the editors had placed "Mr. Sandman" in the scene and I loved the way its innocence played against the patrons' horrific reaction to Kevin.

I knew it was a keeper and began the clearance.

Early on, I had provided a bunch of classic rock tracks for the backstage scene. The one that made the first cut was "Love Me Two Times" by The Doors, but the rights wouldn't clear.

We went through quite a few tunes before we could secure the rights we needed.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of great songs from that era. And the juxtaposition of "White Room" flowing directly into "Mr. Sandman" made for a musical contrast that really works for me.

There was a lot of spirited debate over "Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol, for the end of the show. Originally, I had it enter after Kevin and Tess embrace and play through the end of the episode.

Everyone reacted well to the song, but some of the creative crew felt that the images of the Promicin at the end of the show were best served by underscore. The solution was to start the song earlier, have it conclude, and then score the very end of the show.

I think it worked out well.

Past Entries from Elliot Lurie:

• (7/2) Tom Is No Fortunate Son
• (6/25) Back to the Beginning With Billie
• (6/18) Dive Right In
• (6/11) Into the Fire In Season Three
• (6/6) Q&A on Life as a Music Producer