"dance tunes"

[sandman@midlife]

I play in a classic rock band, and we've been asked to play a large Christmas Party this year. They know what we play but they're going to want some tunes to dance to. We're a 4 piece (2 guitars). No disco please. Any ideas?

 

[scottie]

Hey Sandman,

Well, how about the obvious? It is a Christmas party... how 'bout some holiday tunes? A bunch of bands have put out Holiday themed albums.

Here's my favorite:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Tis-Season-Los-Straitjackets/dp/B00006JM99/sr=8-5/qid=1159236145/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-8852036-6449537?ie=UTF8&s=music"]http://www.amazon.com/Tis-Season-Los-Straitjackets/dp/B00006JM99/sr=8-5/qid=1159236145/ref=pd_bbs_5/104-8852036-6449537?ie=UTF8&s=music[/ame]

Another good one:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Ho-Hoey-Complete-Collection/dp/B0000CD5JU/sr=1-4/qid=1159236270/ref=sr_1_4/104-0850805-1467142?ie=UTF8&s=music"]http://www.amazon.com/Ho-Hoey-Complete-Collection/dp/B0000CD5JU/sr=1-4/qid=1159236270/ref=sr_1_4/104-0850805-1467142?ie=UTF8&s=music[/ame]

Then there's these guys:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/104-0850805-1467142?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=trans+siberian+orchestra"]http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/104-0850805-1467142?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=trans+siberian+orchestra[/ame]

I think those are mostly instrumentals though. Maybe you need stuff with more vocals?

Help this helps,

--scottie

 

[SharonG]

We did 10 nights of Christmas "Carols" for a Longwood Gardens last year. We did a mix of actual carols and secular stuff. One of the biggect hits was Tommy's SRV-like version of Santa Claus is comin to town (not like the Springsteen version - more blues feel) It rocked!

 

[adouglas]

My band has never been real big on dance tunes, but once people get up you have to do SOMETHING, so we've started paying attention to how danceable a song is.

Good dance songs that appeal to a wide variety of people (meaning all ages) in my experience tend to be of the lighter-weight pop variety with a swingy-boppy type beat. The teenagers and college crowd will think it's lame, but it's fun and will appeal to most of the crowd.

The song we play that started this...and which NEVER FAILS to get people dancing for some reason, is "My Music" by Loggins & Messina.

ObLaDi by the Beatles works well. Or any of the earlier Beatles stuff (e.g. Don't Bother Me, Twist and Shout, etc. etc.)
19th Nervous Breakdown by Jason & the Scorchers (not the Stones version)
Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer's Wheel
Good Girls Don't by The Knack (GREAT song)
Bad Case of Loving You by Robert Palmer
Walk Like an Egyptian by the Bangles

 

[AnthonyD]

We consider "danceability" in our song selection, though we're not talking disco...

Some of the rock tunes that have folks hopping:

Boot Scootin' Boogie
Good Lovin'
Devil with the Blue Dress
I"m a Believer
Sweet Home Chicago
I Saw Her Standing There

Really, it could be anything with a groove - heck, we just had a crowd doing the Electric Slide to CCR's version of Proud Mary.

 

[sandman@midlife]

Thanks, there's some good ones in here, several we already do. If we can get them to Electric Slide to Proud Mary, we'll be fine.