When I moved here in 1993, age 31, my criteria for what makes for a great town was a little different than it is in 2024, at 62. I’d probably place it somewhat lower today, but upon arrival in ’93 I had my doubts about this place until I stumbled across (perhaps literally) the jukebox at Jack’s Lounge and it immediately became a Top Five Reason to live here.

I never lived at Jack’s Lounge, but every one of the few times I visited I was once again reminded that a true cultural sanctuary existed in a town seemingly not offering much in my first few months here. I was wrong about that lack of culture, but in the time it took to find what was under the metaphorical Bud, Coors, and Miller Light surface of ABQ, the Sinatra and other tunes on that jukebox helped fill a gap felt since leaving Seattle in its very circa-92 heyday.

Oh, the stories this jukebox told and could tell…

Having bought Jack’s after their original downtown haunt, Mori’s Lounge, was sold to the City to be razed and replaced with a parking lot, the owners spent a ton of money turning the gritty wonder that was Jack’s into the culturally devoid banality that was/is Copper Lounge. They even sold the jukebox.

It’s true that my 2024 self would probably no more walk into Jack’s circa-1993 today than I would stay up past 11:30 PM or even drive after dark. Our criteria for what constitutes good living changes. But Sinatra and those other tunes found on that “Rock-Olla,” they’re forever.