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.)