Great Music for Cocktail Hour Part 6

Cugi's Cocktails by Xavier Cugat is a favorite. All selections are in reference to a cocktail. Notable are One Mint Julep and Rum and Coca-Cola.

Lizz Wright at the Dakota in Minneapolis

Went to see Lizz Wright last night at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. Her voice is exquisite and I can honestly say I'd listen to her sing the phone book. Her version of Neil Young's Old Man was beautifully done. To top it all off the bartender mixed a mean Bombay Sapphire martini.

Poem by Ogden Nash

Reflection on Ice Breaking

Candy
Is dandy
But liquor
is quicker.

-Ogden Nash

Quote - Elliot Gould in M*A*S*H

"Without olives, a Martini just doesn't quite make it."
-Elliot Gould mixes a Martini in the movie M*A*S*H, 1970

Cocktail Hour - A Mini High School Reunion

The world keeps getting smaller and now because of Facebook it's smaller still. A couple of years ago I joined FB and reconnected with a number of high school friends and acquaintances just before and after my high school reunion. Recently one of these people, Mike, actually approached Dale at the gym because he recognized him from a picture posted on my FB account. Dale told me of the meeting and, long story short, Mike and his wife Charisse came over to our place for dinner last night. It was wonderful to reconnect. We had both forgotten in what class we met but determined that we had at least been in Spanish together in 8th grade and also a government class as seniors in high school. There was a lot to reminisce about including teachers, classmates, classes, et cetera. Mike and I martinis before dinner. His was vodka and mine gin. I was able to introduce him to Shakers vodka. Dale and Charisse both had red wine.

Music for Cocktails

I purchased Strings for a Space Age by Bobby Christian and His Orchestra yesterday afternoon and played it during cocktail hour. I discovered the album while doing a google search for 'cocktail hour' images and the album cover came up and then purchased it on iTunes. It goes well with drinks.

Cocktail Hour & Quote

Midweek cocktails tonight. After a particularly brutal day I'm looking forward to a dry Hendricks martini.

[The martini is] . . ."the supreme American gift to world culture."
-Bernard DeVoto

Valentine's Day 2011

The cocktail of choice for Valentine's Day 2011 is a martini with Hendrick's gin. Dale and I had steak for dinner tonight.

Cocktail Hour

I like starting cocktail hour at around 5 or 6:00. If I start too much later it affects my sleep. (Picture by Shag)

Great Music for Cocktail Hour Part 5

The Ultra-Lounge Series: Bachelor Pad Royale is one of the numerous entries in the Ultra-Lounge series from Capitol Records. The series began in 1996 during the swing/cocktail culture revival and has so far continued to 2009. The Theme From Route 66 by Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra is the first track on this disc and it really sets the tone. All of the songs on the disc were recorded between 1956 and 1965. The following is from the liner notes: "There is an abiding coolness in this music, in this philosophy of the bachelor pad. It is tumescent, numbnuts cool, to be sure. But remember, this was a sublimated time, when entertainers twisted hokum into eros like clowns making balloon poodles. You had to pretend the musc was other than what it patently was - this was a time when the very way Milt Buckner 'gently touches the keys of the Hammond organ' (as it said on the back of one of his albums) was supposed to set off other organs. but scintillating his music was, as surely as Senor Wences was the hidden had of eros." -RJ Smith

Quote - Lord Byron

"Gin and water is the source of all my inspiration."
-Lord Byron

Great Music for Cocktail Hour Part 4

Cocktail Mix Vol. 4: Soundtracks With a Twist is the 4th and final disc in the Cocktail Mix series from Rhino Records. Highlights include A Man and a Woman and Stripping Really Isn't Sexy, Is It?

Bernie Fuchs

I don't know that I've ever seen a picture that I've wanted to jump right into more than this. It makes me want to put on a tuxedo, light up a cigarette and drink whatever it is these guys are drinking. The illustration was done by ad illustrator Bernie Fuchs. Very 'Mad Men-esque'.

Great Music for Cocktail Hour Part 3

Cocktail Mix Vol. 3: Swingin' Singles is the third compilation in the Cocktail Mix series. This fun collection includes unique versions of some cocktail music classics. Robert Mitchum sings Calypso(!), Sarah Vaughn takes it to the limit with One Mint Julep, and Della Reese really tears up The Lady Is a Tramp. This is not to be missed.

Quote - E.B. White

"Martinis . . . have a muting effect on the constant ringing in my ears, and as five o'clock approaches, my thoughts turn towar the elixir of quitude. Gin stops the bell from tolling."
- E.B. White

Great Music for Cocktail Hour Part 2

Cocktail Mix Vol. 2: Martini Madness. Released in 1996, this is the second compilation in the series and features a nice combination of instrumentals and vocals. Baby Elephant Walk and Ann Margaret's 13 Men are highlights.