Planning Your Next Dinner Party: Dinner Music
The 'Dinner Party Planning Site' (http://www.thedinnerpartyplanningsite.com/DinnerMusic.html) advises its readers about how to host a dinner party. They have a whole section on music and advise against choosing music that calls attention to itself. "Dinner music," they write, "is one of your best tools for creating a soothing, pampering atmosphere for your guests. But choose music that stays in the background. Your guests and your conversations need to predominate, not loud or attention-getting music."
Oops.
I hope I didn't offend!
Last night, I hosted a dinner for a couple of friends - kind of a regular reading, eating, and drinking club - and improvised 'dinner music' as the evening progressed. Starting with some early, bluesy rock, quieting down some during the main course, and then heating up as the meal progressed, I let my mood and the evening dictate the music. I think it was alright, but it definitely didn't always 'stay in background.' Sometimes, but not always...
This is what I played, five hours of music....
1. The Animals 'Animalism' - This was their last album together but one of their very best. Eric Burden's voice is an expressive instrument and the rhythm section is hot! We heard both sides over cheese, crackers, olives and rum. Thanks, James, for bringing 'Zaya,' an outstanding Trindadian rum.
2. Tim Buckley 'happy sad' - A favorite of mine, so beautiful, complex and... fresh. What genre is this music? Jazzy rock pop blues psych? I can listen to this over and over...we were cooking 'Cuban' food and this was in the background when the food was in process, both sides.
3. Richie Havens - I am still listening to this after a few weeks...we listening to one side ending in Billie Holiday's 'God Bless the Child' - but it got kind of lost.
4. Foghat 'Fool for the City' - Really! We heard both sides, starting with the title track and ending with 'Slow Ride.' This seemed to capture one of my guests' imaginations especially and fit the mood of this part of the evening.
5. Manfred Mann's Earth Band - My latest Half-Price Books find and a good one with their cover of Dylan's Basement Tapes treasure 'Please Mrs. Henry,' Randy Newman's 'Living Without You,' well-sung by Mick Rogers and Mann. This was the Earth Band's 1972 debut.
So, at this point it seemed like it was time to quiet things down a bit...
6. The Nat King Cole Story, Volume 2: 'Unforgettable.'
7. Donna Summer 'Love to Love You, Baby' - We listened to side one in its entirety, the original 16 minute version of the title track....wonderful and... hilarious.
8. Roxy Music 'Sirens' - Can you tell me the name of the siren slithering on the album cover? Hint: she was dating Bryan Ferry at the time and went on to marry a very famous rock star...
9. Neil Young 'Tonight's the Night' - It was getting late, nothing better. Nils Lofgren's solos sound great.
10. Moody Blues 'Days of Future Past' - We almost made it through the first side before skipping over to hear 'Nights in White Satin.' Spacey late night mood-y.
11. Number eleven at eleven - 'Ultimate Spinach' - Thanks, Patrick. This is really good, crazy good.
So that was it. I don't think a musical sequence like this would fit EVERY occasion
but I think it fit the spirit of the evening. Cuban food would normally be backed by Ry Cooder's 'Buena Vista Music Club.' But not last night.
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