99 Songs for a Classic Cocktail Hour Mood
At weddings, it’s customary to have strings or quiet jazz play, but there’s a lot that can be done for background music in cocktail hour. Some folks like to play contemporary jazz, while some opt for the sounds of decades past, and others choose pop music. One thing is important no matter what you decide: don’t over-think it. You’re not supposed to pay attention to it. Cocktail music is meant to be background music, played low, filling the gaps, making it easier to socialize. Your guests are going to talk over it, and aren’t very likely to remember what specific songs were played. When planning this part of an event, it’s easiest to just pick a certain musical aesthetic and leave the playlist up to the DJ.
Without further ado, here’s Disc Jockey Boston’s 99 songs for a classic cocktail hour mood:
Ahmad Jamal – Autumn in New York
Art Blakey – Blues March
Artie Shaw – They Say
Astrid Gilberto – The Girl From Ipanema
Bernie Green – Walkin’ and Talkin’
Bill Evans & Jim Hall – I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
Billie Holiday – The Flat Foot Floogie
Billie Holiday – Comes Love
Blossom Dearie – Thou Swell
Bobby Darin – Beyond the Sea
Brad Mehldau – Nice Pass
Bud Powell – You Go To My Head
Buddy Rich – Giant Steps
Cannobal Adderley – Dancing in the Dark
Carmen McRae – Them There Eyes
Carmen McRae – Ain’t Misbehavin’
Carmen McRae – Doodlin’
Dean Martin – You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You
Diane Schuur – The Best Is Yet To Come
Dinah Shore – I’ll Never Say “Never Again” Again
Dinah Washington – You Stay On My Mind
Eden Atwood – For Every Man There’s A Woman
Ella Fitzgerald – How High The Moon
Ella Fitzgerald – I’m Beginning to See the Light
Ella Fitzgerald – I Love You Madly
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Love Is Here To Stay
Ernestine Anderson – All I Need Is You
Etta James – Don’t Blame Me
Etta James – In My Solitude
Etta James – This Bitter Earth
Frank Sinatra – Luck Be A Lady
Frank Sinatra – I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)
Frank Sinatra – Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Frank Sinatra – I Won’t Dance
Frank Sinatra – It Had To Be You
Frank Sinatra – Fly Me To The Moon
Frank Sinatra – I’ve Got A Crush On You
Frank Sinatra – Come Fly With Me
Frank Sinatra – I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Frank Sinatra – The Way You Look Tonight
Frank Sinatra – That Old Black Magic
Glenn Miller – String Of Pearls
Glenn Miller Orchestra – Chattanooga Choo Choo
Glenn Miller Orchestra – In The Mood
Harry Connick, Jr. – The Very Thought Of You
Henry Mancini – Pink Panther Theme
Jackie McLean – Fidel
James Morrison – Wonderful World
Jennifer Porter – The Very Thought Of You
Johnnie Bassett – I Love the Way You Look
Karrin Allyson – No Moon At All
Kenny Burrell – Lost In The Stars
Kenny Dorham – Buffalo
Kenny Dorham – Lotus Flower
Lisa Ekdahl – I Get A Kick Out Of You
Louis Armstrong – Hello Dolly
Louis Armstrong – I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
Louis Armstrong – C’est si bon (It’s So Good) (Live Recording)
Louis Armstrong – Cheek to Cheek
Louis Armstrong – Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Louis Armstrong – La vie en rose
Louis Armstrong – That Old Feeling
Louis Prima & Kelly Smith – For My Baby
Michael Bublé – Moondance
Michael Bublé – That’s Life (Album Version)
Michael Bublé – I’ve Got The World On A String
Michael Bublé – Everything
Miles Davis – ‘Round Midnight
Miles Davis – Someday My Prince Will Come [Alternate Take][*]
Monica Worth – Shall We Dance?
Nat King Cole – (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
Nat King Cole – It’s Only A Paper Moon
Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E
Nat King Cole – Let There Be Love
Nat King Cole – Walkin’ My Baby Home
Nat King Cole – You Stepped Out Of A Dream
Nina Simone – Summertime
Nina Simone – Love Me Or Leave Me
Nina Simone – Can’t Get Out of This Mood
Nina Simone – My Baby Just Cares for Me
NNenna Freelon – Out Of This World
Perry Como – Catch A Falling Star
Robert Goulet – On A Clear Day
Sammy Davis Jr. & Carmen McRae – A Fine Romance
Sarah Vaughan – Dreamy
Scolohofo – Right About Now
Shirley Horn – Sunday In New York
Sonny Clark – Cool Struttin’
Stephane Grappelli – Moonlight in Vermont
Tina Brooks – Theme For Doris
Tony Bennett – If I Ruled the World
Tony Bennett – I’ve Got The World On A String
Tony Bennett & K.D. Lang – That’s My Home
Various Orchestras – Cheek To Cheek
Willie Nelson – On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Wynton Kelly – Fine And Dandy
Wynton Kelly – Blue Moon
Yusef Lateef – Lateef Minor 7th
Zac Brown Band – Mango Tree (Featuring Sara Bareilles)
You may have 99 problems, but now a cocktail song ain’t one. (Sorry, couldn’t reisist.)
