Sunday, December 24, 2017

Cocktail Nation Evenings at the Penthouse - Merry Christmas

As Koop takes his annual vacation, please enjoy hand-picked highlights from past seasons, including this very special Evenings At The Penthouse Christmas show. So grab yourself a smart cocktail, sit back in front of the fireplace and Christmas tree, and enjoy some swanky seasonal sounds.

Merry Christmas from the team at Cocktail Nation with a special show for Christmas!


Peggy Lee - White Christmas
Lou Rawls - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Tiki Joes Ocean - We Three Kings
Julie London - I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Michael Buble - I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Dean Martin - Winter Wonderland
June Christy - I’m Sorry To See You leave
Nancy Wilson - What Are You Doing For New Year
Renzo Cesana - I Bought You Violets
Al Caiola - Holiday On Skis
Tiki Torches - Do You Hear What I Hear?
Tiki Torches - Quiet Christmas Village
Tiki Joes Ocean - Dance Of The Sugar Fairy
Tiki Joes Ocean - Angels Have Heard On High
Royal Crown Revue - Christmas Greetings
Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr - Baby It’s Cold Outside
Bing Crosby - Frosty The Snowman
Dean Martin - Winter Wonderland
Nancy Wilson - That’s What I Want For Christmas
Peggy Lee - White Christmas




Sunday, December 17, 2017

Cocktail Nation 384 Best of the Best 2015

As Koop takes his annual vacation, please enjoy hand-picked highlights from past seasons, including a very special (by popular demand) Christmas show, coming the weekend before Christmas. So grab yourself a smart cocktail, sit back, and reminisce over past shows. Let's jump in the wayback machine to November of 2015 for the Best of the Best of 2015.

Some stand out tracks for 2015 in the world of Lounge and Exotica, and this week we play some of them as we count down the tracks in what I like to call The Best of the Best for 2015. Plus, we replay some of our interviews with the stars of lounge and tiki.

Tiki Delights - Cosmopolitian
Kim Nazarian with John Pizzarelli - Gotta Be This Or That
James Spencer - In a Blue Mood
Jimmy Borges - Luck Be A Lady
Jetset Unlimited - Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Daniel Pemberton - Bugs, Beats and Bow Ties
Perry Beekman - S'Wonderful
Tikiyaki Orchestra - Idol Worship            
Seth McFarlane - No One Ever Tells You
Uptown Jazz Quartet - He Was The Cat
Satin Chaps - Stompin
Jimmy Psycho - Thunderbirds
Codename Carter - Perfect Clarity Perfect Cut
Tiki Delights - Swank
Robert Drasnin - La Mer Azure
Tiki Cowboys - Blue Tiki


Saturday, December 16, 2017

The Top Ten - week ending 16 December 2017


Brrrrrr......

It's brutally cold in my part of the world. Desperately seeking a warm state of mind..... and a fireplace and hot toddy and some chilled music.

Thankfully, there are many options, including This is Lounge to make my space warm.

Matt Bianco remains at number one this week. Kant Sleep's chillhop follows at number two, and Phigroa's Headed Home (for Christmas?) rounds out the top three.

I've noticed a bit of a drop in listeners lately, no doubt due to everyone doing seasonal things - shopping, partying, visiting friends. That's to be expected. But don't forget that we're here. Have some friends dropping by? Be sure to have us on in the background for a romantic seasonal mix.

Celebrating the season, my friends in the acappella sensation, 4Skor, have released a seasonal gift for their fans. Be sure to listen as we share their take on Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

I hope you are also enjoying the title track from Velvet Dreamer's new album, out on Lemongrassmusic.  It's a wonderful album. Be sure to check it out.

Making the jump from Bubbling Under this week finds Soundcloud find, Flughand, coming in at number ten. Enjoy.

Thanks for the comments posted at www.thisislounge.com. Everyone seems to be enjoying the mix of Christmas tunes and jazz and chill. Thank you for your kind words. Thanks for spreading the news about the station.

Enjoy your weekend, and the Christmas season.

Stay chilled.


Bubbling Under


Sunday, December 10, 2017

Cocktail Nation 433 Twilight - Best of the Best 2016

As Koop takes his annual vacation, please enjoy hand-picked highlights from past seasons, including a very special (by popular demand) Christmas show, coming the weekend before Christmas. So grab yourself a smart cocktail, sit back, and reminisce over past shows.  To begin, let's take a listen to the best of last year, 2016.


As the year grinds to a halt we check out the best music releases of the year and speak to the people who created them!

The Sharps - Tenor Madness
Tony Felicetta of The Sharps interview

Narco Lounge Combo - My Night With Sinatra
Richie Paradise of Narco Lounge combo interview

Tikiyaki 5-0 - Supernova 
Jim Bacchi of Tikiyaki 5-0 interview

Codename Carter - Perfect Clarity Perfect Cut
Out Of Abingdon - Three Piece Suit
Warwick Hargreaves of Out of Abingdon Interview

Roland Remington - Martinique
Roland Remington Interview

Ixtaheule - Call Of the Islands
Mattias Uneback of Ixtaheule Interview


Saturday, December 9, 2017

The Top Ten - week ending 9 December 2017


The weekend is finally upon us! But since it is the festive season, relaxing seems to be the last thing on anyone's mind right now.....what with shopping and parties, it's a whirlwind of social appointments!

Rest easy, my friends, as the time for relaxing approaches. Once the big guy in the red suit makes his rounds, you can finally put your feet up and chill with some cocktails and music.

If you're looking for some Music To Wrap Presents By, then you've come to the right place. Our smooth mix of jazz and chill and Christmas tunes is the perfect holiday accompaniment.

On to the chart now, as we are proud to announce Matt Bianco's Heart in Chains as the new number one this week! Nice one, Matt.

The smooth sounds of Five Seasons and Kant Sleep round out the top three for a really chilled triumvirate.

Best of all this week, Stacey Kent's Photograph makes the jump from Bubbling Under, adding a Brazilian song into the chart mix.

As if you need another reason to tune in, the title track from the new release from Velvet Dreamer's album, Different World has been added to the playlist. 

As always, thanks for the support and thanks for tuning in. It is truly appreciated by the artists and myself.

Stay chilled.


Bubbling Under



Sunday, December 3, 2017

Cocktail Nation 474 The Best of The Best 2017

Tune in Saturday nights at 18:00 EST Toronto time (6:00 pm) for a Sneak Preview of the week's show. Shake that martini, and relax in your bachelor pad as Koop Kooper takes us on a musical journey through that Exotica and Tiki world of the 50's and 60's.

It's that time of the year again with the new final show of 2017, and we take a look at the best music and product releases of the year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2018 after the holidays! Enjoy the "Twilight" best-of's through the following weeks.

Robert Hamilton (Tiki Torches)
Tiki Torches - Miserlou 
 
Christopher De Groot - Sailing Ships and Tarrot Cards Album
Christopher De Groot - Sailing Ships and Tarrot Cards
James Spencer - Exotica The Cocktail Piano Hour 
James Spencer - Mysterious Jade Temple Of Dakla
Tiki Delights - Swank album 
Tiki Delights with Nicole Witt - Fashionably Late 
Korla Pandit Documentary
Korla - Remember
Laura Ainsworth - New Vintage Album
Laura Ainsworth - An Occasional Man
Out Of Abingdon - Another Story Album
Out Of Abingdon - Change It
Lynn M Zook - Gambling on A Dream 
Brent Laidler - Meet Me At The Havana Hotel (No Matter Where Noir)
James Spencer - Jewels of Jazz
Lyn Stanley - How Insensitive- (Moonlight sessions 2)






Saturday, December 2, 2017

The Top Ten - week ending 2 December 2017


Welcome back my fellow loungers!

The final month of the year has begun, and the good news, besides Christmas, is the Winter Solstice is weeks away, marking the beginning of the hours of sunlight growing daily. Something that we all cherish.

Speaking of Christmas, I have kept my promise and thrown the Christmas tunes into the mix beginning yesterday. So tune in and enjoy the seasonal fare.

This week on the Top Ten, we find the sounds of Citrus Jam making it's way to the number one spot. Matt Bianco slides into second, and Five Seasons' chilly sound rises to number three.

This week also sees some new music from Naomi Kenji make the jump from Bubbling Under. We also see some interesting chillhop from a German artist named Flughand. If you've been listening, you would have heard Hylla. Scroll down past the chart for a cool video of another track.

Lastly, I'm humbled to admit it, but with shopping for the season, it's put a little strain on station work, like seeking out some new music for you all. Not to worry, as I will endeavour to grap a minute here and there. We must have our music!

Thanks, as always, for the support of the artists and the station. It is most greatly appreciated. Thanks for dropping some change in the digital tip jar known as Paypal. 

Best of all, thanks for tuning in! Spread the word! Listen at work! Play us in the store where you work!

Enjoy the chill....enjoy the jazz...enjoy the Christmas music....

Stay chilled.



Bubbling Under