The Black Cake soundtrack includes music by Nina Simone, The Shirelles and Bob Dylan. This info article contains spoilers and song details for Marissa Jo Cerar’s Hulu series. Visit the Soundtracks of Television section for more Vague Visages music guides.

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Black Cake stars Mia Isaac as Covey, a West Indies native who flees to London. Adrienne Warren co-stars as Benny, the protagonist’s daughter who learns the truth about her mother’s past. The storyline examines the events that led Covey to begin a new life as Eleanor Bennett. Composer Adam Taylor (The Handmaid’s Tale) scored the Hulu series; music supervisors Kristen Higuera (Somebody I Used to Know) and Maggie Phillips (Fargo) selected the featured needle-drops. Here’s every song in Black Cake, an adaptation of Charmaine Wilkerson’s 2022 novel.

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 1 “Covey”

• “This” by DEPUTY (00:03): The Black Cake soundtrack song scores an interior scene. Benny rests on a bedroom floor. She ignores a phone call from Byron (Ashley Thomas).
• “Sound Pressure” by The Soul Brothers (00:14): An exterior montage begins. Eleanor narrates about growing up in the West Indies. Lin (Simon Wan) talks to Matilda (Jade Eshete).
• “Home Home Home” by Ken Boothe (00:20): The music plays during an exterior scene. Covey talks to Gibbs (Ahmed Elhaj). She wades on a surfboard.
• “Carry Go Bring Home” by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes (00:31): Eleanor narrates about Little Man (Anthony Mark Barrow). Covey plays a record. She dances to the Black Cake soundtrack song.
• “The River” by Cast (00:46): A wedding reception scene begins. Musicians perform a tune. Covey sits alone at a table.
• “Lilac Wine” by Nina Simone (00:54): Covey hugs Bunny (Lashay Anderson). The music continues during a transition scene. Covey boards a ship and arrives in London as the episode concludes.

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 2 “Coventina”

• “Easy Come Easy Go” by The Pioneers (00:21): The Black Cake soundtrack song scores an exterior scene. Covey walks in London. She wears a dark blue outfit and carries a brown bag.
• “Ride Away” by The Revlons (00:30): Eleanor narrates about the past. Covey prepares a meal. Music plays from a speaker system.
• “Have a Good Time” by The Skatalites (00:33): Covey attends a party. Music plays from a speaker system. Covey dances with Elly (Karise Yansen).
• “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” by The Shirelles (00:49): Lin visits a store. The Black Cake soundtrack song continues during a transition scene. Eleanor narrates about her father’s willingness to take risks.
• “The River” by Cast (00:53): Lin chats with Pearl (Faith Alabi). A band performs a song. Lin talks to Pearl about Gibbs.

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 3 “Eleanor”

• “I Need Your Love” by Toots & The Maytals (00:10): Covey talks to her landlord in Scotland. The Black Cake soundtrack song continues during a transition scene. Covey wears a brown hat and learns that a job position has been filled.
• “Man Smart, Woman Smarter” by The Duke of Iron (00:13): The music plays during an exterior scene. Covey approaches Gibbs. The characters meet for the first time.
• “Du Du Wap” by Aubrey Adams, Chuck Josephs & Dobby Dobson (00:17): Covey lands a new job. The music continues during a transition scene. Covey looks at a pink outfit.
• “Perfidia” by Phyllis Dillon (00:21): Covey repeats her new name. The Black Cake soundtrack song continues during a transition scene. Covey hangs out with Gibbs and explains how to pronounce her name.
• “All the Tired Horses” by Bob Dylan (00:54): Pearl quits her job. Covey spots Gibbs in London. The track scores the episode’s final moments and end credits.

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 4 “Mrs. Bennett”

• “My Baby Just Cares for Me” by Nina Simone (00:08): Gibbs proposes to Covey. The Black Cake soundtrack song sets in as the characters kiss. Eleanor narrates about beginning a new life.
• “Sandman” by Tameca Jones (00:18): Benny talks to Steve. Byron greets his wife. Benny discusses a sculpture with Steve.
• “Thanks to You” by Ronnie Walker (00:25): Benny and Joanie kiss. The music continues during a transition scene. Joanie arrives at Benny’s home with a bottle of wine.
• “Crushing On You” by Brijean (00:32): Benny arrives at an art gallery. The Black Cake soundtrack song plays from the speaker system. Benny meets Steve for the first time.
• “Optimist Hight” by Chris Cohen (00:37): Steve talks about Benny’s “feminine” hairstyle. The track continues during a transition scene. Benny exits the Venice 3 Cinema with Steve.

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 5 “Mother”

• No Featured Songs

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Black Cake Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 6 “Ma”

• “TBA” by TBA (00:07): Eleanor talks about history repeating itself. The Black Cake soundtrack song continues during a transition scene. Covey dances with Bunny.
• “For You” by Muzi feat. Espacio Dios (00:19): An interior scene begins. Benny treats Byron’s injuries. Music plays from a speaker system.
• “Way Over My Head” by Love Taps & Cha Duly (00:33): Benny prepares a meal. She dances to the music.  Benny talks to Byron during a kitchen scene.
• “Slip Slide On By” by Valerie June (00:35): Mabel meets with Benny and Byron. Music plays from a speaker system. Mabel inquires about Charles Mitch.

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Black Cake airs weekly on Hulu. New episodes premiere every Wednesday through December 6, 2023. This article about Black Cake soundtrack will be updated as the series progresses.

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.