New Year Party Playlist Helper

Need to season up your New Year's party playlist? Here are some suggestions.

Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones. Most people know this piece as the theme song from the 1997 movie "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," which was the first Mike Myers foray into the spy spoof series. But Quincy Jones actually wrote and recorded this bouncy ditty in 1962 with no film score in mind at all. It only took 35 years for it to become a hit. Play this one early in the party and if you need to break the ice or get the conversation going, you can mention this bit of trivia.

Where Have All the Good Times Gone by The Kinks. A great retro piece of three-chord rock and roll that holds up. If anyone has ever uttered the title's lament, this song smacks them upside the head.

Close To Me by The Cure. Who knows what's actually going on, but with that creaky door opening sound effect, the heavy breathing and the philandering trumpets, this makes for terrific party playing.

High Time For A Detour by k.d. lang and The Reclines. This goes way back to 1987 when k.d. lang was still doing quirky country material. Can be found on the "Angel With A Lariet" album.

Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. Everyone will soon be chanting along with the some of the best party lyrics ever: "I get knocked down, but I get up again. They're never gonna keep me down."

Go Go Dancer by Pizzicato Five. This is such an infectious track that even the most rhythmically challenged of your guests will peel themselves off that Velcro couch. It can be found on the "Made in USA" album.

Woo Hoo by The 5.6.7.8's. Best known to everyone from the Vonage commercials, this bit of skiffle nonsense has become something of a classic. It even turned up in the "Kill Bill" soundtrack. Sprinkle this one into your play list periodically. No one ever seems to tire of it.

Sod The Neighbors by The Toy Dolls. If the party has been successful enough to annoy the neighbors, this is the selection to play. Loud, raucous and hilariously rude.

Party Out of Bounds by The B-52's. Perhaps an obvious choice, but still one of the funniest songs about badly planned parties.

Theme from Fellini's 8 ½ by Nino Rota. When it is time to make your guests think about going home, play this. Fellini reportedly told Rota he wanted music that was happy and sad at the same time and Rota composed this masterpiece of reflection.