I was invited to host/bartend a Christmas gathering downstairs in the party room/game room of our apartment building. It’s something I enjoy doing because my neighbors can have a good time knowing I’ll make sure they get home all right since I no longer drink.

I’d listened to this new CD only once in my car, not really paying attention to it, but had a vague memory of enjoying it while trying to find my way to Akron without getting lost. It’s the kind of music you find yourself absently playing drums to on the steering wheel, so I took it with me to the party.

After I set up the bar and most of the guests had arrived, I switched from more current music to this CD and relaxed in my role playing bartender/chef. The guests were of every age, color, and background, some sitting around talking and eating Christmas cookies and sandwiches, others playing billiards, and two quarter-bet poker games started. While pouring drinks, icing down beer, and warming up snacks in the microwave, I noticed a sudden change in the guests.

Track 1. "For the Love of You, Pts. 1 & 2"

A young couple at the pool table stood leaning shoulder against shoulder watching balls whiz around the table, vaguely swaying side-to-side holding their cues waiting for their turn. Stuffy Mr. Turner seated in the far corner was heard to remark, “Now this is more like it!” and began tapping his foot to the beat without realizing it under the poker table while dealing a hand of seven card stud. I smiled as heads all over the room began bobbing to the beat.

As I suspected, this was the perfect background music, because it gave a good mood beat that didn’t interfere with conversation, but at the same time I could tell they were enjoying it. Mrs. Anderson began softly mouthing the words to the chorus.

Track 2. "Groove with You"

Cheryl began slowly swaying her hips to the beat, occasionally shimmying them without realizing it. Every guy at the snack table was hypnotized… so were a few turned heads at the pool table. Candy jammed her pool cue into her boyfriend’s foot to recapture his attention. Old Mr. Turner was now smiling to himself trying to dance to the gentle rhythm in his seat.

Track 3. "Between the Sheets"

LaQuisha came up to me and asked who was singing this. I smiled and told her and she actually went to her purse and wrote it down. The conversation started getting loud and laughing at the poker tables. As I delivered a tray of sandwiches everyone complimented me on how much they were enjoying themselves. One of my shy neighbors sitting next to the snack table actually got up and asked Cheryl to dance and people began making comments and smiling when they did.