Warning! SPOILERS ahead for The Tender Bar!
Featuring songs from legendary artists like Paul Simon, Jim Croce, and Jackson Browne, memoir by J. R. Moehringer, The Tender Bar viewers should prepare for a trip back in time with hit songs like Radar Love and Shotgun.
Set in Manhasset, Long Island, The Tender Bar follows JR, seen first as a 9-year-old boy (played by Daniel Ranieri) moving into his grandfather’s house after he and his mother are abandoned by his father. JR’s struggle with his father’s abuse is offset by his relationship with his Uncle Charlie, who acts as a father figure to JR while running the local bar, The Dickens. In a dual storyline, JR is also seen as a young man, setting off for his college interview at Yale University under the heavy weight of trying to make something of himself.
Throughout The Tender Bar, JR struggles with abandonment issues, letting his father’s failures affect his life and relationships. Heavy-hitting subjects like alcoholism and emotional abuse take center stage in franchise actor George Clooney’s The Tender Bar but are offset by the soft-rock classics of The Tender Bar’s movie soundtrack. Here’s every song in The Tender Bar movie soundtrack, and what’s happening in The Tender Bar when the song is heard.
“Radar Love” by Golden Earring: Opening credits role as Golden Earring’s "Radar Love" sets the mood. Young JR rides in the packed station wagon with his mom as they journey to JR’s grandfather’s house.
"Sooner or Later" by The Grass Roots: Having just moved back in with JR’s grandfather, JR es a room full of his young girl cousins dancing to "Sooner or Later" by The Grass Roots.
"Love Will Find a Way" by Pablo Cruise: The first family meal at JR’s grandfather’s house is set to the tune of "Love Will Find a Way" by Pablo Cruise. The song plays on the radio as the family eats until JR’s dad (The Purge’s Max Martini), a radio VJ nicknamed “The Voice,” comes on and young JR’s aunt throws the radio from the shelf.
"Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & The All Stars: "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & The All Stars plays just after young JR has been stood up by his dad, The Voice. It is the first time the interior of The Dickens bar is shown with Uncle Charlie teaching young JR about the “male sciences.”
"A Long Time Ago" by Jim Croce: As young JR drives in the car with his father, Jim Croce’s "A Long Time Ago" plays on the car’s radio.
"Magic" by Pilot: Pilot’s song "Magic" plays in The Dickens while young JR sits at the end of the bar. Young JR tells Uncle Charlie that his mom (played by Misty, Lily Rabe) can’t take him to a meeting with the school psychologist, so Uncle Charlie goes.
"Turn Back The Hands of Time" by Tyrone Davis: At the end of the scene on the train with the priest with older JR, "Turn Back the Hands of Time" by Tyrone Davis begins, introducing another scene at The Dickens when young JR is at the bar to buy cigarettes for his grandfather. Young JR “backs up Bobo” with his grandfather’s money.
"Two Of A Kind" by Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer: A throwback even for The Tender Bar movie soundtrack, the 1961 song "Two Of A Kind" by Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer plays as young JR’s grandfather (played by Back To The Future’s beloved Doc, Christopher Lloyd) is preparing to take him to the Father-Son Breakfast at young JR’s school.
"My Opening Farewell" by Jackson Browne: "My Opening Farewell" by Jackson Browne plays as young JR’s mother returns from having her malignant tumor cut out. Young JR watches from behind the screen door as Uncle Charlie helps her out of the car.
"Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest: After young JR proves to be a prodigy at Uncle Charlie’s Wordy Gurdy puzzles, the classic hit "Dancing in the Moonlight" by King Harvest accompanies young JR as he rides with Uncle Charlie and the bar regulars to go bowling.
"It’s Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers: The Isley’s Brothers’ massive hit, "It’s Your Thing," plays as young JR bowls with Uncle Charlie (The Last Duel’s Ben Affleck).
"Modern Life" by Devo: Devo’s "Modern Life" plays while JR moves into Yale.
"Dynaflow" by Parish Hall: "Dynaflow" by Parish Hall fills The Tender Bar’s movie soundtrack as JR brings his roommates to The Dickens for the first time. They are all freshly 21 years old and Uncle Charlie makes them martinis.
"Good Times" by Chic: At JR’s first Yale party, "Good Times" by Chic is playing. He sits on the porch of a house swarming with college kids and talks to his roommate Wesley. Sidney is leaving the party when she and JR meet for the first time.
"Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae: "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae plays during JR and Sidney’s first love scene after they arrive at her parent’s house in the upscale neighborhood of Westport.
"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon: After meeting Sidney for Christmas at her family home, JR suffers through an abusive breakfast with Sidney and her parents before leaving abruptly to return home. While he is walking away from Sidney’s home, Paul Simon graces The Tender Bar’s movie soundtrack with his iconic "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover."
"Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues" by Danny O’Keefe: "Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues" by Danny O’Keefe plays as JR dives into drunken oblivion after discovering Sidney is getting married.
"I Thought I Was A Child" by Jackson Browne: Jackson Browne’s "I Thought I Was A Child" is heard as JR leaves his father’s girlfriend’s house. His father is seen in the background being loaded into a police car after JR has called the cops, citing domestic abuse.
"Different Drum" by Stone Poneys: JR sits in The Dickens talking to Uncle Charlie about JR’s mom’s new job as "Different Drum" by Stone Poneys plays in the bar.
"Do It Again" by Steely Dan: As JR (the X-Men movie franchise’s recast Cyclops, Tye Sheridan) drives away en route to Manhattan after Uncle Charlie gives him the car, "Do It Again" by Steely Dan plays. It continues to play over The Tender Bar’s end credits and is the grand finale of The Tender Bar’s incredibly mood-setting soundtrack.
