New Year's Party Music

Are you planning a New Year's bash and need the right music to play?  We asked DJ Christopher Sprinkle for a playlist that will bring your party a hip and nostalgic vibe and start the new year with a party to remember.

1 - Frank Sinatra - Let's Start the New Year Right

How can anyone really go through a New Year's celebration without a little ditty from ol' Blue Eyes?  Frank Sinatra's version of the classic tune Let's Start the New Year Right is the one you're going to want to hear as you pull in your sweetheart for that midnight kiss.

2 - U2 - New Year's Day

Another must have for any New Year's evening is U2's classic, New

Year's Day.  So, maybe it is a little bit political, but just this week John Edwards declared he's running for President and former Iraq President Sadam Hussein was denied his appeals.  The holidays - no matter how hard we try - just cannot escape a little politics here and there, so why should your party?

3 - Robert Earl Keen - Merry Christmas from the Family

If you've been visiting the family all this week and are starting to feel that maybe you should have moved further from home than you did, well, Robert Earl Keen's holiday classic Merry Christmas from the Family will at least remind you that it could be worse.

4 - Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life

After you've kissed your sweetheart and while your pondering your next year together, be sure to have Bright Eyes' First Day of My Life playing in the background.  No song could better bestow your future with good karma than this wonderfully romantic one.

5 - Ella Fitzgerald & Louie Armstrong - Cheek to Cheek

A bit of champagne in hand, your closest friends surrounding you, your beloved holding your hand ... What else would do than Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong singing Cheek To Cheek?  It's not truly a holiday song, but it always reminds me of the holidays.

6 - ABBA - Happy New Year

From time to time, it is accepted to bring out some rare jewels from the past.  So, why not on New Year's Eve?  Happy New Year by ABBA is not only kind of retro-cool, it's straight up Swedish-cool, which we all know is so cool, it's cold.

7 - B.B. King - Bringing In A Brand New Year

Few things are as truly American as the blues, and if one man could truly personify the blues, it would have to be B.B. King.  If you're watching the ball drop in the States this year, show your pride and play this quintessentially American musician during one of his happier moments.

8 - Galaxie 500 - Listen, the Snow Is Falling

When most of your guests have left, and your night is winding down, grab the diehards and take them to window to watch the first snowfall of the year, while listening to Galaxie 500's nearly eight minute epic Listen, the Snow Is Falling.

9 - Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - Love Is In the Air

After you watch that first snowfall and the last chords from Galaxie 500 fade, you're seriously going to want to follow that with Tom Jones.  I mean, how could you not?  His version of Baby, It's Cold Outside will be the perfect backdrop for one more smooch.

10 - Mirah - Promise

The New Year is a time for resolutions - both to yourself and to your loved ones.  "I will lose weight" is as much for you as for them, right?  Well, Mirah's hauntingly beautiful Promise is the most beautiful resolution I can think of - "promise to be kind" to your loved one, to yourself, to the world.

11 - James Brown

Finally, at your New Year's Eve party this year, be sure to pay your respects to the Godfather of Soul.  He passed away earlier this week, and the man will be missed, but his music will live on.

Christopher Sprinkle began sending out emails of music recommendations to friends in early 2006.  From his email's popularity sprung his blog - visit Christopher Sprinkle's List for his daily song recommendations and random thoughts.