You know how it is: you’re hanging out in some random place (quite possibly a bar), and you spy a jukebox huddled against one wall. All of a sudden, you’re mentally counting the quarters you might find on your person – and all those in your group – and planning out your set list based on the tally.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Here are my favorite tunes to play on a good jukebox run, when I have enough quarters and excellent luck with the music selection. Guaranteed to keep everybody in the place happy, unless you’re in a honky tonk (that’s a whole ‘nother set list). How do I know? Every single tune on this list makes me smile as soon as it comes on.
It Should Have Been Me – Ray Charles*
The Distance – Cake
Get Up (Sex Machine) – James Brown
Miss Me Blind – Culture Club
Shakin’ – Eddie Money
The Love You Save – The Jackson 5
Photograph – Def Leppard
Let’s Go – The Cars
Subdivisions – Rush**
Miss You – The Rolling Stones
Down In It – Nine Inch Nails
Tush – ZZ Top
Athena – The Who
Rapture – Blondie
Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) – Looking Glass
Cross-Eyed Mary – Jethro Tull
Edge Of Seventeen – Stevie Nicks
1999 – Prince
Straight Shooter – The Mamas & The Papas
*If you find this song, play it. No matter where you are, play it. Oh, and double bonus for finding the damn thing.
**Triple bonus for finding this one. I’ve only seen it in Canada and a random Mexican restaurant.
