There’s nothing cooler than ordering a beer at the bar, walking over to the jukebox, and plunking a quarter into it. Especially when there’s no music playing at all. When the song kicks on, an atmospere is being created. The old school jukebox in Sacramento is becoming an endangered species. Replaced by the internet jukebox, or the “Downloaders” as Irene Doner, owner of the Tallac Lounge calls them. Can you imagine Fonzie banging his fist on an internet jukebox? Not cool. Bad music can ruin a good time at a cool bar. You’re sipping a pint of Newcastle and some drunk chick in a yellow Juicy tracksuit dominates the room with five songs in a row from Pink. Lets get this party started, right? Wrong! I want no part of that. Unfortunately, the internet jukebox dominates Sacramento’s finest neighborhood bars. Even Henry’s Bar downtown has an internet jukebox which doesn’t really go with the popcorn ceiling and gritty interior. When it comes to a jukebox, I like old school. Gimme some Johnny Cash or The Who and I’m a happy guy. I criss-crossed Sacramento to find the best old-school jukeboxes in town.

Julie Cox of the Pre-Flite Lounge proudly poses with the R-82 (Image by: McGregor)

The Pre-flite Lounge is a vintage gem of a bar tucked beneath the bowels of the Downtown Plaza. It has the most unique old school jukebox in Sacramento. The R-82, as one patron called it, plays strickly vinyl 45’s. This is the mother of all jukeboxes in Sacramento. Arthur Fonzerelli would definitely approve. Some of the greatest music can be found on the R-82. From Fats Domino to Duke Ellington. Willie Nelson singing Blue Skies and Buck Owen’s Crying Time are also on the jukebox play list, and a bargain at 10 songs for a dollar. Crooners like Frank Sinatra and classic rock from the Stones. It’s all good stuff. Even some artists from the 80’s are in there like the Police and Huey Lewis. Luckily it’s a Bangles Free zone at the Pre-Flite. Julie Cox, who’s worked at the Pre-Flight Lounge for 29 years says, “Everything at the Pre-Flite Lounge is old, including me.” Russ the bartender suggested I play song number 169, one of the regulars brought back the Pussycat Song from Mexico. “It’s an adult song” quipped Russ. Uh yeah. A dirty little ditty about a cute little pussy cat, goes perfect with the half naked models on the door. The Pre-Flite Lounge also has a “Last Call” song. It’s Roy Rogers and Dale’s Happy Trails. Til we meet again R-82!

The jukey at The Hideaway (Image by: McGregor)

At The Hideaway, the new retro-hip bar in Curtis Park, Johnny Cash filled the room. “Get Rhythm, if you get the blues, cmon, get rhythm”. Mariah, the owner of the Hideaway says she’s “totally opposed to the internet jukebox. A jukebox is important to the atmosphere and you can’t control the atmosphere with an internet jukebox.” The atmospere at the Hideaway also features jukebox tunes from Rockabilly Queen Wanda Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and the Velvet Underground. It’s easily the most eclectic selection in Sacramento. Most of the CD’s in the jukebox are Mariah’s, some of the discs were given to her from friends. I asked if she had a favorite…“They’re all my favorites”, she said. There’s Cash, Elvis, Patsy Cline and even some Motorhead for the Lemmy fans. Plus cool local stuff from Hellbound Glory, and the Go Getters. I was in a Ramones mood:

Ma-ma-ma-mama’s boy
Don’t want to work in a hot dog stand
Be a busboy messenger or a doorman
It’s an abstract world you’re an Abstract man

The Ramones go good with the $2 Olympia.

Gail Dick and the jukebox at the Backdoor Lounge (Image by: McGregor)

The Backdoor Lounge in Old Sacramento with it’s red velvet wallpaper and mirrored bar has an old school jukebox to match the interior of the joint. “Music is the world” according to Backdoor Lounge’s irascible owner Gail Dick, or Madame Dick as she told me to call her. I asked her if she’d ever switch to the internet jukebox, “God no!“ The bar in the alley of Old Sacramento has a great selection of artists on the Rowe AMI. Elvis, Orbison, James Brown and even some Barry Manilow for those who like “The Copa”. Have a seat at the bar, order a martini, and play some Sinatra. Or maybe order a Fuzzy Navel to compliment the 80’s vocal stylings of Hall & Oates. My advice is a shot of Tennessee whiskey and the Very Best of Outlaw Country on the jukebox, It’s got “Whiskey River Live” by Willie Nelson.

Whiskey river, take my mind
Don’t let her memory torture me
Whiskey river, don’t run dry
You’re all I’ve got, take care of me

I told Madame Dick she needed to get some Buck Owens in the jukebox and she quipped, “ You want Buck Owens, you buy the place!” Then she proceded to play her favorite song on the jukebox, she cranked “I’m Alive” by Celene Dion. Long live the Backdoor Lounge.

Over at Brownie’s Lounge in South Land Park they have the Saturn 11 CD jukebox. When I got there the jukebox was ready to go with 11 songs courtesy of the bartender Patrick McFarlane. If you like classic rock this is the jukebox for you. Gobs of it. They have Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Steve Miller Band and of course, Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero”. Patrick likes the CD jukebox over the internet because you “control the atmosphere with the music”. Where have I heard that? They had an internet jukebox for a few months and it was rap songs with F this F that the N word would freely fly. They got rid of it and went back to the Saturn by Rowe. They have the country and the crooners and also some Irish flava. The Cheiftans and the Clancy Brothers go good with the corned beef and cabbage. Ali, one of Brownie’s regulars says she likes the jukebox at Brownie’s because “she knows what’s in it”. She used her index finger to select something off Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones.

Janet picks Dave Matthews Band at the Tallac Lounge. (Image by: McGregor)

The Tallac Lounge in Tahoe Park is a friendly neighborhood sports bar in Tallac Village. I was excited because they actually had my favorite local band‘s CD, Jackpot’s “Shiny Things”. Tony Caico, the bartender at the Tallac Lounge says, “The drummer comes in here sometimes.“ I had to play “Psycho Ballerina”. They also had Bob Dylan’s “Modern Times” which was a pleasant surprise.

Thunder on the mountain, and there’s fires on the moon
A ruckus in the alley and the sun will be here soon
Today’s the day, gonna grab my trombone and blow
Well, there’s hot stuff here and it’s everywhere I go

The jukebox was just getting started at The Tallac Lounge. A couple of ladies were playing pool when they bounced over to the bar singing to Led Zeppelin’s When The Leevee Breaks. They have Led Zeppelin 4! A sip of an adult beverage and they both went over to the jukebox to pick out a few tunes. Janet was dancing and twirling to Boston, Dave Mathews Band and Frank Sinatra. Jerry and Karen from Tahoe Park were also enjoying the jukebox. Adding that “the selection is the soul of where you’re at”. They played one of their favorites from Santana, “Maria maria”, because it “makes her cry.” Karen gave him a funny look and said, “Oh it does not!” Lots of AC/DC on the Tallac jukebox, Back In Black and Razor’s Edge. The Doors, Tesla, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and even the spandex rock of Cinderella. This jukebox is definitely rockin’. The perfect ambiance if you’re playing the NASCAR pinball or shootin’ pool. As the night wore on it turned into Jukebox Saturday Night at the Tallac Lounge.

The Jukebox at The Tallac Lounge (Image by: McGregor)

The old-school jukebox is true americana, a trip back to simpler times. Now I must go and drive through the Sacramento Delta to get to Foster’s Bighorn. They have a Rockola