The soundtracks to our lives are changing -- at least when it comes to night life. Now that every bar and restaurant can stream Spotify, iTunes and 1,000-plus satellite radio stations, anyone, anywhere can hear just about anything at their favorite hangout.

But what's the fun in that? Fortunately, the random thrill of the jukebox lives on at these bars and eateries. We sent three writers out with a fistful of quarters in search of three minutes of sonic bliss.

They found rare blues and punk rock; classics and local favorites; jazz and electronica; mod faves and stoner rock; country standards and psychedelic obscurities; a jukebox filled with Zappa; and even one stocked with 45s. -- Laura DeMarco, Friday Magazine Editor

17105 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland, 216-531-4900.

Wine, music and corner-bar aficionados -- all under one roof? Yes, and throw in working-class types and folks with a "discriminating" take on life. The Grovewood manages to appeal to a diverse crowd without watering down what it does -- behind the bar or on the jukebox. I don't know much about wine pairings. But I can saying pairing Nina Simone with Desmond Dekker, Django Reinhardt, David Bowie, Portishead, Esquivel, Built to Spill, the Jam and John Coltrane is a drink I could guzzle all night. Look, man, a lot of boxes toss out best-ofs by bands accepted in the canon of cool. But this one has the verve to include the underrated "Obscured by Clouds" by Pink Floyd. Or that third Velvet Underground disc. Bravo.

Three plays: Blaring Little Richard's "Lucille" will get you jumpy. "Bessie's Blues" by king saxman John Coltrane will get you drinking Scotch. By closing time, Pink Floyd's "Wot's . . . Uh the Deal?" will make even cheap wine taste fine. -- John Petkovic

Handlebar

24951 Aurora Road, Bedford, 440-439-7365.

Note the absence of a website. This is a biker bar, and they don't need a stinkin', fancy-schmancy Internet link; besides, bikes have a built-in homing device that will take you to the spacious lot. Located just down the street from Southeast Harley, Handlebar throbs with the sound of motorcycles, the perfect accompaniment to a jukebox laden with exactly what you'd expect to find in a biker bar. The pool table in the middle of the lower level has a dolly underneath so it can be moved to accommodate live bands.

Three plays: When bands don't take the stage, the jukebox is busy here. It's more diverse than you might expect, including rapper Wiz Khalifa. Some of the most popular spins range from Bill Withers to Johnny "Guitar" Watson to a version of "Simple Kind of Man" by Florida-based Shinedown that's as good as the Lynyrd Skynyrd original. Goes great with a Yuengling that's just a degree or two above freezing, and a healthy pour of Jack Daniel's. -- Chuck Yarborough

5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-651-9474.

Just completely restocked with 100 new selections by bartender Paul Weaver, the Happy Dog's jukebox is as well-curated as any in the area. A good selection of indie, soul, punk and local acts complements the standard classic rock and pop picks. Where else are you going to line up Pere Ubu, Wanda Jackson and Mission of Burma?

Three plays: A near West Side hangout for Cleveland's cool kids, we're going with the stylish punk of The Jam's "In the City," the classic, lo-fi mess of Pere Ubu's "Non-Alignment Pact" and then something made by those cool kids: Little Bighorn's "The Others." -- Emmet Smith

Little Kings Lounge

3009 Payne Ave., Cleveland, 216-621-2888.

Yes, they come for the cheap drinks. Yes, they come for the inventive limericks on the bathroom walls. But check out that jukebox! Actually, Little Kings has two of them -- and they're stocked with more Frank Zappa than you'll find anywhere. The bar also rolls out deep cuts from the 1960s through the '80s, along with real mind-bogglingly cool choices. Wire, Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Fall, Big Brother and the Holding Company. Whoa, Captain Beefheart!

Three plays: Motorhead, "Ace of Spades" will make you pound a shot of Jack. Local heroes Quasi Modo's "Automatic" will make you slam a Miller High Life. And, whoa, Captain Beefheart's "I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby" will drink you crazy. -- John Petkovic

1261 West 58th St., Cleveland, 216-961-1341.

Mott the Hoople, Godsmack, the Boss and ol' Slowhand share space on the Parkview's box. Fronted by some excellent house mix options, there are country, alternative and, of course, gobs of classic rock. But for a place that hosts one of the best blues jams in town, we were surprised not to find more blues options.

Three plays: This box is deep on the classics, so we're sticking with them, and they don't get much more classic than The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Woman," Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" and the Eric Clapton version of Robert Johnson's "Crossroads." -- Emmet Smith

Pride of Erin

12228 Lorain Ave., Cleveland; 216-251-2922.

Cleveland has a ton of bars and not too many remaining "joints." So says Pride of Erin regular John McLaughlin, a second-generation Irishman who was bussing tables at the bar owned by John Campbell for 30 years now, today along with his son, Jimmy. It is the definition of cool, with six dart boards featuring some of the best players in Northeast Ohio, a slick, good ol' days shuffleboard -- and a jukebox with a strong Irish accent.

Three plays: Pride of Erin's jukebox has a decided brogue but spans the British Isles. Pressing the "hits" button reveals the top three plays: Irishman Van Morrison's "Real, Real Gone"; Scottish-Irish-English band The Waterboys' "Fisherman's Blues"; and Mumford and Sons' "Little Lion Man." -- Chuck Yarborough

1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland, 216-937-1938.

Imagine a vibe that crosses vintage style with comfy hospitality. Imagine old world decor and a laid-back crowd. OK, now walk up to the jukebox and imagine the soundtrack to all that at this Tremont stalwart. The selections are tasteful and wide-ranging -- things that all kinds of different people can agree on and feel good in the process. Like Sam Cooke's "Everybody Loves to Cha Cha Cha." The box features three Johnny Cash discs -- yes, an obvious, smart choice. Most interesting thing is you get discs, side by side, that compliment one another: Roxy Music and David Bowie; Tom Waits and Curtis Mayfield; Deee-Lite and Adele.

Three plays: Yes, playing Miles Davis' "Flamenco Sketches" will impress your dates over a fine wine. New Order's "Age of Consent" will put them in a good mood. And if they walk out on you? Can't lose with Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." -- John Petkovic

11213 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-221-8576.

Now That's Class owner Paul Shlachter is a fine connoisseur of raunch 'n' roll. Not just when it comes to the bands he books. Walking up to the jukebox is like entering his punk warped mind. "Dude, you got GG Allin on the brain!" Yes, the notorious punk renegade is on the jukebox, sitting beneath Venom and alongside countless killer discs. Alice Cooper Band, Rocket From the Tombs, Blitz, Iron Maiden, Blue Cheer, Bo Diddley, Sparks, Screaming Jay Hawkins, the Stooges and Negative Approach. Whoa, now how do I get out of Paul's brain? -- 'cause I need a drink.

Three plays: Is there a bigger adrenaline rush than hearing Radio Birdman's "New Race," Annihilation Time's "Teenage Rebel" and Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" in a row? No? OK, now please stop hopping on the bar. -- John Petkovic

A vintage countertop Seeburg Consolette at Steve's Lunch features, fittingly, Buck Owens' "Hot Dog."

1539 West 117th St., Cleveland, 216-226-7748.

Every January, this punk hideout transforms into a metal joint called Hulett -- "the World's Best (Temporary) Metal Bar." The jukebox has followed suit, with hard-rock and metal offerings that are as deep as the February-to-December punk fare. Dude, check out the local bands -- Keelhaul and Boulder. Whoa, when's the last time you saw Voivod, the Sword and Steel Panther on a jukebox? Kyuss might fit on the Hulett box, but it could just as well remain when the joint goes back to the Spitfire again. It would sound snazzy in between the Saints and the Dead Boys.

Three plays: Whoa, you can go wild, because the jukebox is F-R-E-E! "Eyes and Teeth" by High on Fire will make you bang your head (and probably spill your beer on your lap). Kyuss' "Green Machine" will provide the soundtrack to sloppy beer-chugging. And Steel Panther will declare this some enchanted metal evening with "Death to All But Metal." That is, until it's back to the Spitfire and we're cranking out the Saints and the Dead Boys.-- John Petkovic

Steve's Lunch

5004 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-961-1460.

The jukebox plays memories, not just songs. It's old and out of some other time. Well, it fits in perfectly at Steve's Lunch, a hot-dog diner where little has changed since it opened in 1953. That's before Elvis -- so when you play "Heartbreak Hotel," you can let your mind wander and imagine that you're anticipating the musical revolution that was The King. The Seeburg Consolettes sitting on the counters play vinyl 45s, which spin in the basement of the joint, with the sound running through a wire into the machine.

Three plays: Elvis' "Heartbreak Hotel" might make your mind imagine some other time. Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee" will make think you're in the opening scene of some old movie. But Buck Owens' "Hot Dog" will bring you back, especially when the waitress brings you a couple of dogs and says, "Ketchup?" -- John Petkovic