As anyone who has thrown a dinner party knows, a good soundtrack can be as important as what’s served. It’s a delicate balance: Too busy and you distract from conversation, too subtle and you lose the warm, convivial ambiance the right music provides. It’s a lot to think about, especially considering you have a table to set and a meal to serve—remember? With that in mind, here’s a seamless set of must-hear classics from soul and R&B, low-key electronic pop, folk, indie, and international music, designed to carry you from the first doorbell through the last dish.