Need suggestions for party music please :)

[Miss Vixen]

I am having a retro cocktail party in a month and have everything set except the music. Does anyone have any good suggestions of good cds that are out there?? I want old style cocktail lounge music and I do not own any any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Vix

 

[BinkieBaumont]

"Blossom Dearie is always good, also Carmen Cavallero, think Cocktail Piano, you want background music that does not drowned out polite conversation"

 

[Shangas]

Perhaps some Dave Brubeck? I find it brings a nice, relaxed, jazzy feel into any room.

 

[tbrunke]

Try Sinatra, Dean Martin, old swing music from the 30's, Benny Goodman and Bunny Berigan is a good start.

 

[Lily Powers]

Oooh, picking the music is the fun part!

You might like the Ultra Lounge CDs: http://www.ultralounge.com/
Maybe one of the Wild, Cool and Swingin' CDs or the Vegas Baby Too! CD. You can also get them on iTunes - pick and choose the tracks you like.

 

[Shangas]

Try Sinatra, Dean Martin, old swing music from the 30's, Benny Goodman and Bunny Berigan is a good start.

Nice suggestions. You forgot Glenn Miller.

 

[Miss Vixen]

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions, they are all fab!!! thanks!!

 

[djhatman]

Richard Cheese can be very fun. He covers modern song in a lounge style of sing. I would warn you he does keep the swearing in the song so that may offend so people.

 

[klind65]

Suggestions

Hello. Take a look at "Cocktails with Cole Porter", Paul Desmond's "Take Ten", " Stan Getz plays", " Capitol sings Jimmy McHugh", Steve Lawrence, "Ella Fitzgerald sings...": Rogers and Hart or Jerome Kern, or Gershwin etc... (All available on Amazon). Good luck, kind wishes, klind65

 

[John in Covina]

Esquivel, pretty much anything by him will give it a zippy upbeat yet retro swing. Do a search in AMAZON the first page of hits is some of the best.

 

[John in Covina]

Perez "Prez" Prado is the Mambo King and there's nothing more retro than Mambo. Again do an Amazon search to see what comes up. Prez did a number of original Mambos and was a whiz at Mambo-izing many familiar hit songs too!

 

[Corky]

If you don't have all the Pink Martini albums, get them immediately.

If you don't have all the Pink Martini albums, get them immediately.

 

[BinkieBaumont]

Richard Cheese can be very fun. He covers modern song in a lounge style of sing. I would warn you he does keep the swearing in the song so that may offend so people.

"Thanks for alerting me to Richard Cheese, Similar to Australia's Mr Frank Bennett"

 

[Talbot]

Try the Martini Kings

These guys are terrific. I have some of their CD's and plan to get many more.

If you are running to a tight budget and have a computer, there are a few stations over on live365.com that cover cocktail or lounge music.

This blog is also very informative http://xtabaysworld.blogspot.com/

Talbot

 

[Ethan Bentley]

I think the Original Charleston is a great party song.

 

[dhermann1]

If you want a taste of what folks considered risque stuff in the 50's, check out Rusty Warren's classic album "Knockers Up". It's a hoot.

 

[conrad5157]

All good choices so far, I'll recommend the Nat King Cole Trio. You can get the excellent "Cool Cole" box set for about 25 bucks. The sound quality is superb, like they've setup in you living room.

 

[Shangas]

I think the Original Charleston is a great party song.

Listen to Mr. Bentley, for he speaks an undeniable truth.