The good news is that Rockstar has officially confirmed that each game’s soundtrack is returning from their most recent re-releases in full. So if anyone’s played Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, or Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on iOS, Android, or on PC via the Rockstar Game Launcher, the soundtracks will be identical. In other words, the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition re-release won’t be removing any further tracks.
RELATED: Rumor: Grand Theft Auto 4 Remaster Could Be in Development
The bad news is that Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition unsurprisingly won’t be bringing back any of the previously removed tracks from each game. For example, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City had two Michael Jackson songs removed: “Billie Jean” and “Wanna Be Startin’ Something.” Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, too, has been hit over the years. Both “Express Yourself” and Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” were removed from the game. Even Grand Theft Auto 3 had “O Mio Babbino Caro” removed from releases beyond the original PlayStation 2 version of the game. And those are just a handful of the songs removed from port to port over the past two decades.
GRAND THEFT AUTO III – THE SOUNDTRACK
FLASHBACK FM
Rush Rush – Debbie Harry Shake It Up – Elizabeth Daily Scarface (Push It to the Limit) – Paul Engemann She’s On Fire – Amy Holland I’m Hot Tonight – Elizabeth Daily
HEAD RADIO
Stripe Summer – Dil-Don’t Good Thing – Whatever Fade Away – Craig Gray Change – Conor and Jay See Through You – Frankie Fame Electronic Go Go – Scatwerk Life Is But A Mere Supply – Dezma
RISE FM
Shake (Revolt Clogrock Remix) – Chris Walsh & Dave Beran Deep Time – Shiver Innerbattle – R. R. D. S. Score (Original Mix) – Slyder Neo (The One) – Slyder
GAME FM
Scary Movies (Instrumental) – Reef We’re Live (Danger) – Royce Da 5’9″ Nature Freestyle – Nature JoJo Pellegrino Freestyle – JoJo Pellegrino Spit Game – Royce Da 5’9″ & Pretty Ugly I’m the King – Royce Da 5’9″ Instrumental Bed 1 (Andy Thelusma) – Rush By a Stranger – Black Rob Rising to the Top – Agallah & Sean Price Instrumental Bed 2 (Andy Thelusma) – Rush
MSX FM
Quagmire – Calyx (2001) Get Wild – Rascal & Klone Judgement Day – Ryme Tyme Force – Hex First Contact – Omni Trio Spectre – Aquasky Winner Takes All – Rascal & Klone T Minus – Ryme Tyme Spasm – nCode Monolith – D. Kay Iceberg – Dom & Ryme Tyme Agent 007 – TJ Rizing
LIPS 106
Bump To The Music by Fatamarse Feels Like I Just Can’t Take No More – April’s in Paris Forever – Lucy Pray It Goes OK? – Boyz 2 Girls Grand Theft Auto – Da Shootaz Rubber Tip – Funky BJs
K-JAH
Dance of the Vampires – Scientist Your Teeth In My Neck – Scientist The Corpse Rises – Scientist The Mummy’s Shroud – Scientist Plague of Zombies – Scientist
DOUBLE CLEF FM
Non più andrai farfallone amoroso – Mozart O mio babbino caro – Puccini Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (La Traviata Drinking Song) – Verdi Chi mi frena in tal momento – Donizetti La donna è mobile – Verdi Finch’han del vino – Mozart
GRAND THEFT AUTO VICE CITY – THE SOUNDTRACK
EMOTION 98.3
Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner Tempted – Squeeze Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon (I Just) Died in Your Arms – Cutting Crew More Than This – Roxy Music Africa – Toto Broken Wings – Mr. Mister Crockett’s Theme – Jan Hammer Sister Christian – Night Ranger Never Too Much – Luther Vandross
V-ROCK
I Wanna Rock – Twisted Sister Too Young to Fall in Love – Mötley Crüe Dangerous Bastard – Love Fist 2 Minutes to Midnight – Iron Maiden Cumin’ Atcha Live – Tesla Turn Up the Radio – Autograph Peace Sells – Megadeth Madhouse – Anthrax Raining Blood – Slayer You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’ – Judas Priest Yankee Rose – David Lee Roth
WAVE 103
Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human League Atomic – Blondie 99 Luftballons – Nena Kids in America – Kim Wilde Pale Shelter – Tears for Fears Sunglasses at Night – Corey Hart I Ran (So Far Away) – A Flock of Seagulls Love My Way – The Psychedelic Furs Gold – Spandau Ballet Hyperactive! – Thomas Dolby Never Say Never – Romeo Void
WILDSTYLE
Pump Me Up – Trouble Funk One for the Treble (Vocal Mix) – Davy DMX Clear – Cybotron Al-Naafiysh (The Soul) (B-Side) – Hashim Get It Girl – 2 Live Crew Rock Box – Run-D. M. C Bassline (Club Version) – Mantronix Magic’s Wand – Whodini More Bounce to the Ounce – Zapp & Roger The Message – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five The Breaks – Kurtis Blow Hip Hop, Be Bop (Don’t Stop) (Remix) – Man Parrish
FEVER 105
And the Beat Goes On – The Whispers Act Like You Know – Fat Larry’s Band Get Down Saturday Night – Oliver Cheatham Automatic – The Pointer Sisters I’ll Be Good – René & Angela All Night Long – Mary Jane Girls Ghetto Life – Rick James Shame – Evelyn “Champagne” King Behind the Groove – Teena Marie Juicy Fruit – Mtume Summer Madness – Kool & the Gang Last Night a DJ Saved My Life – Indeep
FLASH FM
Out of Touch – Hall and Oates Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung Self Control – Laura Branigan Call Me – Go West Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain) – INXS Run to You – Bryan Adams Four Little Diamonds – Electric Light Orchestra Owner of a Lonely Heart – Yes Video Killed the Radio Star – The Buggles Japanese Boy – Aneka Life’s What You Make It – Talk Talk Your Love – The Outfield Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson One Thing Leads to Another – The Fixx
RADIO ESPANTOSO
A Gozar Con Mi Combo – Cachao The Bull is Wrong – Alpha Banditos Yo Te Miré – Tres Apenas Como Eso Latin Flute – Deodato Mama Papa Tú – Mongo Santamaría Me and You Baby (Picao y Tostao) – Mongo Santamaría Mambo Mucho Mambo – Machito and his Afro-Cuban Orchestra La Vida Es Una Lenteja – Unaesta Expansions – Lonnie Liston Smith Super Strut – Deodato Jamay – Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra Maracaibo Oriental – Benny Moré Mambo Gozón – Tito Puente
GRAND THEFT AUTO SAN ANDREAS – THE SOUNDTRACK
BOUNCE FM
Let It Whip – Dazz Band Hollywood Swinging – Kool & the Gang Candy – Cameo Love Is The Message – MFSB Odyssey – Johnny Harris Love Rollercoaster – Ohio Players Between The Sheets – The Isley Brothers I Can Make You Dance – Zapp Cold Blooded – Rick James West Coast Poplock – Ronnie Hudson and The Street People Loopzilla – George Clinton Funky Worm – Ohio Players Twilight – Maze Fantastic Voyage – Lakeside
CSR 103.9
I’m So Into You – SWV Keep On Movin’ – Soul II Soul So You Like What You See – Samuelle Rub You the Right Way – Johnny Gill Sensitivity – Ralph Tresvant Groove Me – Guy Don’t Be Afraid – Aaron Hall Motownphilly – Boyz II Men Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe I Got the Feeling – Today New Jack Swing – Wreckx-n-Effect Don’t Be Cruel – Bobby Brown My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) – En Vogue
K-DST
Slow Ride – Foghat Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival Barracuda – Heart Strutter – Kiss Hold the Line – Toto Young Turks – Rod Stewart Get Down to It – Humble Pie Some Kind of Wonderful – Grand Funk Railroad Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd A Horse with No Name – America Eminence Front – The Who Smokin’ – Boston Somebody Up There Likes Me – David Bowie Two Tickets to Paradise – Eddie Money White Wedding – Billy Idol
K-JAH WEST
Wicked Inna Bed – Shabba Ranks Batty Rider – Buju Banton King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown – Augustus Pablo Revolution – Dennis Brown Armagideon Time – Willi Williams Sidewalk Killer – I-Roy Funky Kingston – Toots & The Maytals Cocaine In My Brain – Dillinger Pressure Drop – Toots & The Maytals Bam Bam – Pliers Here I Come – Barrington Levy Drum Pan Sound – Reggie Stepper Great Train Robbery – Black Uhuru Chase The Devil – Max Romeo & The Upsetters
K-ROSE
Amos Moses – Jerry Reed Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man – Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn Hey Good Lookin’ – Hank Williams Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton New York City – Statler Brothers The Letter That Johnny Walker Read – Asleep At The Wheel One Step Forward – The Desert Rose Band Crazy – Willie Nelson Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray – Patsy Cline Bed of Roses – The Statler Brothers Make the World Go Away – Mickey Gilley Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys – Ed Bruce Always Wanting You – Merle Haggard All My Ex’s Live in Texas – Whitey Shafer I Love a Rainy Night – Eddie Rabbitt
RADIO LOS SANTOS
Hood Took Me Under – Compton’s Most Wanted Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg The Ghetto – Too $hort Alwayz into Somethin’ – N. W. A. Check Yo Self (The Message Remix) – Ice Cube feat. Das EFX La Raza – Kid Frost How I Could Just Kill a Man – Cypress Hill Fuck wit Dre Day – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg It’s Funky Enough – The D. O. C. It Was a Good Day – Ice Cube Eazy-Er Said Than Dunn – Eazy-E Murder Rap – Above the Law Deep Cover – Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg Guerillas in tha Mist – Da Lench Mob feat. Ice Cube
RADIO X
Unsung – Helmet Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode Midlife Crisis – Faith No More Mother – Danzig Cult of Personality – Living Colour Movin’ on Up – Primal Scream Welcome to the Jungle – Guns N’ Roses Pretend We’re Dead – L7 Rusty Cage – Soundgarden Been Caught Stealing – Jane’s Addiction Fools Gold – The Stone Roses Them Bones – Alice in Chains Plush – Stone Temple Pilots
PLAYBACK FM
Road to the Riches – Kool G Rap & DJ Polo Warm It Up, Kane – Big Daddy Kane The Godfather – Spoonie Gee Me and the Biz – Masta Ace Children’s Story – Slick Rick Rebel Without a Pause – Public Enemy I Know You Got Soul – Eric B. & Rakim It Takes Two – Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock B. Y. S. – Gang Starr Vapors – Biz Markie Brand Nubian – Brand Nubian
MASTER SOUNDS 98.3
Cross The Tracks (We Better Go Back) – Maceo & The Macks Smokin’ Cheeba Cheeba – Harlem Underground Band Jungle Fever – The Chakachas Nautilus – Bob James Green Onions – Booker T. & the MG’s Hot Pants – I’m Coming, I’m Coming, I’m Coming – Bobby Byrd Rock Me Again And Again – Lyn Collins Soul Power’ 74 – Maceo & The Macks I Know You Got Soul – Bobby Byrd Think (About It) – Lyn Collins Low Rider – War Tainted Love – Gloria Jones (I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind – Sir Joe Quarterman & Free Soul
SF-UR
Promised Land – Joe Smooth feat. Anthony Thomas Pacific 202 – 808 State Voodoo Ray – A Guy Called Gerald Your Love – Frankie Knuckles feat. Jamie Principle Break 4 Love – Raze Ma Foom Bey – Cultural Vibe Make My Body Rock – Jomanda Someday – CeCe Rogers Let The Music Use You – Nightwriters Can You Feel It? – Mr. Fingers Move Your Body – Marshall Jefferson This Is Acid (A New Dance Craze) (K & T Mix) – Maurice Weekend – The Todd Terry Project The Morning After (Sunrise Mix) – Fallout I’ll Be Your Friend (Original DEF Mix) – Robert Owens I Need A Rhythm – The 28th Street Crew
The track cuts over the years have been disappointingly harsh, but that’s just the nature of music licenses in the video game industry. Few in 2001 could have predicted Grand Theft Auto 3 would be released across a dozen new platforms over two decades, each requiring ironclad licensing agreements for each individual featured song. Even with Rockstar’s experience on the matter, Grand Theft Auto 5 has had music removed, too – “Can’t Hold Back (Your Lovin’)” by Kano.
Grand Theft Auto fans with a keen ear have noted one potential ray of light. Leaked Grand Theft Auto: Vice City remaster footage from the upcoming trilogy re-release has included some music that isn’t included on the list. As such, some fans hope that the list is evolving. It’s more likely, however, that this is the final list and any leaked music is just that – unofficial.
While it’s easy to focus on the absent music in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, it remains true that there’s a lot of great music still in each game. That’s 56 songs in Grand Theft Auto 3, 84 tracks in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and a whopping 138 tracks for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. While losing some of this iconic music is a big loss, especially Vice City’s Billie Jean opener, players may otherwise never notice a difference.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition releases November 11 on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Grand Theft Auto’s History of Removing Music
Source: Video Games Chronicle
