Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, an expansion for the original GTA 1, introduces a unique soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience. Unlike its predecessor, this installment features a variety of radio stations that players can listen to while driving vehicles, alongside a police radio station.

Capturing the Era

To authentically capture the essence of late 1960s London and reflect the British crime scene of the period, Rockstar Games decided to license music from that era. This marked the first use of licensed songs in the game series, a feature that would become a staple in subsequent games. The soundtrack blends early reggae, Italian pop, beat, soul, and jazz from film scores of the period. Alongside these licensed tracks, Rockstar also created some original songs that fit the depicted era.

Running Time

The running time for all radio stations in Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 is relatively short, as each station plays only one or two songs, except Westminster Wireless, which plays three. In fact, all 12 stations rank among the shortest in the series.

Radio Stations

The following are the radio stations available in GTA London 1969:

1. Bush Sounds: Reggae
   • The Upsetters – “Return of Django” (1969)
   • The Upsetters – “Dollar in the Teeth” (1969)
2. Heavy Heavy Monster Sound: Reggae, Ska
   • Harry J All Stars – “The Liquidator” (1969)
   • Symarip – “Skinhead Moonstomp” (1969)
3. Blow Upradio: Beat
   • Riz Ortolani – “Beat Fuga Shake” (1967)
4. Kaleidoscope: Pop, Beat
   • Francesco De Masi & Alessandro Alessandroni – “Hot Camera Shake” (1967)
   • Francesco de Masi & Alessandro Alessandroni – “L’Uomo Che Saprà” (1967)
5. Sound of Soho: Jazz
   • Francesco De Masi & Alessandro Alessandroni – “Tema di Londra M. 1” (1967)
   • Riz Ortolani – “Latin Quarter” (1969)
6. Radio Penelope: Pop, Soul
   • Riz Ortolani – “The Roaring 20’s” (1969)
   • Riz Ortolani – “Teresa L’Illusa” (1973)
7. Radio Andorra: Pop, Beat
   • Riz Ortolani – “Tiffany Sequence M. 8” (1967)
   • Riz Ortolani – “Tiffany Sequence M. 22” (1967)
8. Westminster Wireless: Soul, Jazz
   • Piero Umiliani & Gian Franco Reverberi – “Le Malizie Di Venere – Seq. 3” (1969)
   • Piero Umiliani & Gian Franco Reverberi – “Le Malizie Di Venere – Seq. 4” (1969)
   • Piero Umiliani & Gian Franco Reverberi – “Le Malizie Di Venere – Seq. 6” (1969)
9. Radio 7: Beat, Funk
   • Rockstar Games – “Saturday Nite at Dirty McNasty’s”
   • Rockstar Games – “BOOK ‘EM (Murder One)”
10. GTA Pomp: Classical
    • Rockstar Games – “GTA Pomp”
11. GTA Spy Theme: Jazz
    • Rockstar Games – “GTA Spy”
12. Austin Allegro Chase: Funk
    • Rockstar Games – “Austin Allegro Drag Race”

Trivia

• The year with the most licensed songs is 1969, featuring nine songs.
• This is the first instance of licensed music usage in the game series.
• Both Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 share the same soundtrack, creating an anachronism in London 1961, as the earliest song on the soundtrack is from 1967. Riz Ortolani’s “Teresa l’illusa” is anachronistic in both games, having been released in 1973.
• This is the first game in the series to feature an original police radio track.

Conclusion

Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 enriches the gaming experience with its unique soundtrack, capturing the vibrancy of 1960s London. The introduction of licensed music and original tracks set a precedent for future installments, making it a memorable entry in the GTA series.