Playlists for three kinds of parties

Every party needs music. David Malitz, who writes about pop music for The Washington Post, put together playlists for three very different outdoor parties: a grown-up sit-down dinner, a brunch with lots of children and a big cocktail party.

Intimate dinner for six

"Come Away With Me," Norah Jones

"My Baby Just Cares for Me," Nina Simone

"Alison," Elvis Costello

"Blue in Green," Miles Davis

"Songbird," Eva Cassidy

"Ordinary People," John Legend

"Summer Wind," Frank Sinatra

"Break Your Promise," the Delfonics

"Harvest Moon," Neil Young

"Changes," Seu Jorge

Brunch with kids

"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," the Beatles

"Stay Up Late," Talking Heads

"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding

"Me Myself and I," De La Soul

"Jump Up," Dan Zanes

"I'm a Little Dinosaur," Jonathan Richman

"Eastern Standard Time," the Skatalites

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," They Might Be Giants

"Rock Lobster," the B-52s

"Three Little Birds," Bob Marley

Cocktail party for 50

"Dance With Me," Nouvelle Vague

"A Minha Menina," Os Mutantes

"Everyday People," Sly and the Family Stone

"The Noise of Carpet," Stereolab

"Lebanese Blonde," Thievery Corporation

"Where It's At," Beck

"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'," Nancy Sinatra

"Let Me Down Easy," Bettye Lavette

"One (Blake's Got a New Face)," Vampire Weekend

"Playa Azul," Los Amigos Invisibles