Denver's ten best jukeboxes

Jim Wills

4. Skylark Lounge, 140 South Broadway
The music on the Skylark's juke perfectly complements the rest of the retro-centric spot, which is lined with vintage movie posters. There's plenty of rockabilly and country a la Johnny Cash, Bob Wills and Hank Williams, but there ain't a whole lot of stuff that's been released in the past few decades. Depending upon your perspective, that can be a damn good thing.

Jim Wills

3. The Cruise Room, 1600 17th Street
Out of this top-ten list, the Cruise Room is the only juke that plays vinyl. The Seeburg Select-O-Matic 100 from the '50s doesn't skimp on crooners like Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, or legendary jazzers like Louis Armstrong or Woody Herman. But it's also got a little bit 'o soul with Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. Although there are coin slots on the juke, it's actually free.

Jim Wills

2. Lion's Lair, 2022 East Colfax Avenue
Winner of the best juke box last year and in 2004, Lions Lair's juke has one of the most eclectic collections in town. It's stocked with everything from Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters to the Stones and Zeppelin to Hendrix and Iron Maiden. Oh, and there's some Black Sabbath and AC/DC thrown in for good measure. Of course, punk is present and accounted for, too, with the likes of the Clash (Joe Strummer drank here), X (John Doe plays the Lair nearly every time he comes to town) and Iggy. And along with at least five discs by Bruce Springsteen and a few by soul singers such as Otis Redding and Curtis Mayfield, you'll even find Miles Davis's watershed recording, Kind of Blue.