We have to dance for Laura!
From big band music over Broadway show tunes to ’40s novelty songs, Leland Palmer sang it all. Or at least, he danced his signature shuffle to these songs. Following the fan-sourced and regularly updated Nighttime at the Roadhouse playlist, Welcome to Twin Peaks presents a jazzy playlist titled Leland Palmer gets HAPPY!
Among many other classics, the 100-minute Spotify playlist includes all of Leland’s musical intermezzos: Glenn Miller’s Pennsylvania 6-5000, Judy Garland’s Get Happy, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top from Oklahoma!, Getting to Know You from The King And I, and Mairzy Doats. Ray Wise‘s own favorite songs from his character’s repertoire? From a recent AMA with the actor:
I liked all of the songs – when I’m driving around in my convertible – the song “Come On Get Happy” that I did at the doctor’s house, at the dinner, a young gal accompanied me on the piano who later turned out to be a very popular and famous actress by the name of Alicia Witt- my favorite song though, would have to be “Getting To Know You” from The King And I which I sang in The Great Northern to Ben Horne and the Piper Laurie character was also listening, and I sang it on our little stage there, and I think I did a half-decent job. Leland had a kind of a nice tenor baritone voice, and he of course, always had visions of doing a Broadway show, I think.
-Ray Wise (November 2014)
Leland Palmer Gets HAPPY!
This is another evolving playlist, so make sure you follow to subscribe. Song suggestions are definitely encouraged. And stay tuned for more playlists dedicated to Twin Peaks characters. The sleeve is now available as a print here (recommended size: 13×13).
UPDATE: Another character-based playlist is now available. Give a listen to Audrey Horne’s “Isn’t it too dreamy?” playlist.
Spotify
(Open in Spotify and click the FOLLOW button to subscribe)
Fire walk with 
My log is very confused right now and is passing its anxiety on to me. This is the first time either of us have visited your beautiful town’s lovely website and we’d very much like (well, I’d like – the log isn’t much into music; rather tone-deaf and unappreciative) to subscribe to Mr. Palmer’s playlist. Except that the underlined text saying “make sure you subscribe”, which looks like it would be a link (?) doesn’t do anything, and I can’t find the playlist when searching for it by name on Spotify. Help?
Allow me to buy you a slice of pie some day for posting such a wonderful comment. Maybe two, if your log likes the taste (or smell). Oh, and I’ve fixed the link for you. Thanks for reporting.
A great Blue Rose Records release!
Glad you noticed! 🙂
“Pensylvania 6-500″‘s version used in the series was re-recorded in 1990 and – what’s funny – released ONLY on CD the same year. So Leland couldn’t play the analog record with this version 😉
Do you mean the version of the song we hear in the episode wasn’t available at the time they actually filmed the scene?
Yes. It was released on “In the Digital Mood” CD on April 30, 1991.
I dig deeper. It was originally recorded in the 1983 and was one of the first CD’s released. But it was also released on the analog, so I was wrong. Leland could play that song.
Oh, and the version of “What a Wonderful World” used in the series is different form the best known single version, and only available on one CD release as far as I know.
Nice exercise of retro graphic design, the cover. Simply great 😀
You havejust made my day, which was really not aces. I pride myself on my sweet ass Leland dance moves, and shuffle often. This is my favorite TP site, please keep up the damn fine work. See you in the trees!
Lizzie
If you could actually put those songs on a vinyl LP and make that cover, I’d make you take my money.
I’d add Steve & Eydie’s “This Must Be The Start Of Something Big” and Artie Shaw’s “Frenesi,” possibly the most upbeat song ever recorded.
I’m cut
How about My Heart Belongs to Daddy, this version fits the mood quite well:
https://open.spotify.com/track/6e38HvOxLS1j0TCAhGFz2Z?si=4i7poEuoTyyD5Y4O1Bbz3A