i would like to know what songs you think every dj should have in his collection,i know this is a matter of opinion and could be endless just tell me the ones you would expect me to have if i was doing a disco for you,i hate it when someone asks for a song and i havent got it i always write them down and get them for the next show
thanks jamie

Jackson 5 - I Want You Back



This may be a good place to start - Essential Series

Hard to say for specific songs. I would strongly recommend getting msny 70's CD's with music such as car wash and so on.
Also party and cheese music albums are good.
Do some searches on Amazon.

this is my own personal choice, so of you were doing a gig for me I would like the following

Foundations - Build me up buttercup
Darude - Sandstorm
Dario G - Sunchyme
Whigfield - Saturday Night
Bon Jovi - Living On a Prayer

young heats run free
sombody elses guy
I will survive
love shack

i know its hard to name all the songs,i have what i think is a good collection i just dont want to get caught out like stevjams friend so name your favourites,so i can make sure that ive got them, i know the different eras but not all the songs from them eg i never heard of the jacksons i want you back ive got it but never heard of it until tonight,also the love shack was mentioned on another post again ive got it but never played it
thanks jamie

Jamie - don't waste your money buying Jacksons - i want you back, as you'll never, ever, ever get asked for it.

I have a largish 'core' list of 'essential' oldies tracks listed in Microsoft Access which I can send you if you want - about 800 or so. If you have Access installed on your computer and want the list, PM me your e-mail address and I'll send the file to you.

These could make a good check list, combined with any other suggestions you may get on here.

Barry White - You're My First, My Last, My Everything
Robbie Williams - Angels, Rock DJ
Abba - Dancing Queen
Steps - 5,6,7,8
S-Club 7 - Don't Stop Movin'
Shania Twain - Man, I Feel Like a Woman
Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
Beatles - Twist and Shout
Guns n Roses - Sweet Child o' Mine

Something for everyone there!

Don't forget Let's Twist Again, Kylie (Can't Get You Out Of My Head), Queen ( Don't Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody & We Will Rock You) Madonna (Like A Virgin) and Tina Turner (The Best)


And you need some motown like Chain Reaction & Baby Love.

Not forgetting Grease tracks and Staying alive.

Robbie - Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody?
How often have you played that at a party?

Hey baby - dj whats his name?
Armarillo
Cha Cha slide for kids and its fun to watch the oldies try to do it - which is left which is right?
I got you babe - sonny + cher ?
Summer o' 69
Cant belive that DJ? chap didnt have the classic JOVI track, wait till I see them in Coventry I have a word with Jon and the boys!!!
Queen - Dont stop me now
Van Morrison - Brown eyed girl . Unless the brides got blue eyes
Wham -I'm your man
60s stuff - play some 60s songs please ?!


I'll wait and see what everybody else things of and add some more again

(Requests based on films...)
Tracks from:
Grease
Dirty Dancing
Full Monty
Coyote Ugly

I recently attended an 18th birthday party and the floor was empty until the dj played Bohemian Rhapsody, then Don't stop me now then the floor was packed and from there he went into Build me up Buttercup and the usual floorfillers and the floor stayed full for the rest of the evening.

I was amazed when he put Bohemian Rhapsody on, and even more amazed that this 'hip' bunch of 17-18 years olds decided that this was the music they were gonna dance to, especially after some of the newer stuff the dj was playing.

Mastermix "Jock in a box" series is very useful for £35

Cinema and DVD are having a big influence on tha dance floor. I think this is why people are surprised when old or obscure classics get such a great reaction.

Its great for me cos my kids (8 to 24) think its so cool that I know them all.

A few others:

The Sweet - Block buster -Ball Room Blitz
Suzi Quattro - Devil Gate -Drive Can The Can
Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

War - lowrider.
Martha Reeves and the vandellas - Dancing in the street
Diana ross - you keep me hanging on




Jimbo

Hmmm
How about,
The Macerena, Los Del Rio
Boot scootin boogie, Brooks and Dunn
Baby got back, Sir mix alot
Venus, Bananrama
The electric slide, Bob marley and the Wailers
Never seems to fail. A great mix of old and new. Play these and you will have a pumped up crowd in no time,,,lol

You`ve got the right idea by writing them down when asked for. This is the only way to get your collection up,

As for buying as you go along think more of catagories of music,

ie, Motown, 60`s, 70`s 80`s etc party tunes this way if you don`t have the one they want then its possible you will have a good substitute. There is millions on compilations in the shops.

You are doing it just right by taking note of what you are asked for. And as always some good clues have been mentioned above as to what you should have.
It will take you years to get a really good selection of music to suit most functions.
Remember this you will never have everything that you are asked for, and people often ask for the most obscure tracks just to test you so don't worry about those too much.
Also never assume that you will never get asked for a track (Andy Westcott -regarding the Jackson track) this simply is not true as I often get asked for "I wan't you back", so you see you should not always take everything you are told as fact. If you did a gig on my patch you would probably be asked for it.
We have most of the tracks that are needed for our gigs but on the odd time that we get caught out I write it down and if it's a worthy track I will add it to the collection.
Another thing to remember is that often old forgotten tracks make a return due to TV adverts or programmes. And you may find that you need to get these. I reckon that at the price of downloads it not a big price to pay if it keeps the job interesting and gives you extra tools to keep the dance floor busy.
By asking the question you have proved that you care and are doing the job just right DJwesty -

I think you will also find that some records are popular in some parts of the country and others in other parts. "I want you back" might be big in Liverpool but not in Exeter as it were. Steve mitchell has the right idea, buy compilations !

if your talking of real disco cheese well what about the "nolan sisters" i'm in the mood for dancing,attention to me,pull myself together and dont make waves to name a few............fill the dancefloor and smell the cheese.

ive seen some recommendations for queen on ere.....dont stop me now has probably been requested at evry gig ive done (not that many yet) and i do the same..if i dont have a song or dont intend on playing it i be polite and write it down............i also have a very long list of tunes at home i got off the internet....not sure if they r any good!!! but if you want the list just pm me n ill send it


jules

thanks for your answers so far a lot of interesting songs there,luckily i have most already, i get a lot of compilations by going around the different shops and getting the ones in the sales,i do find a lot of them tend to repeat the songs so i end up carry four or five copies of the same track on different disc,but if im only paying £3 or£4 i only need a couple of new songs to make it worth while as a matter of interest i always end with bohemian rhapsody,something about the track i turn all my lights out and let the song and the crowd do the rest.
if you can think of any more please put them up heres a couple of mine
can you feel it
spirit in the sky (dr and the medics version)
dancing queen
the only way is up
walking back to happiness
tainted love
itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini
feel free to comment on them
thanks jamie

Brian Hyland's original isn't too bad

Wackaday!!! Remember the cockiteal(SP) what was it called?

Started to use the theme to hit man & her at the start of gigs recently, it is good. You can see people trying to remember where they know it from.