Right you lot!
Get them thinking caps on!
We have a forum member who has contacted me via msn, who needs help with some 70's tunes, and as much as I love 70's tunes, I cant be there forever advising or sending over lists, so you lot can help by posting up yours!

Here's some so far!

Contact – Edwin Starr
I will survive – Gloria Gaynor
Shake your groove thing – Peaches & Herbs
He’s the greatest dancer – Sister Sledge
Cool for cats – Squeeze
Haven’t stopped dancing yet – Gonzalez
Knock on wood – Ammi Stewart
Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind & Fire
Aint no stopping us now – Mc Fadden & Whitehead
We are family – sister sledge
Ring my bell – Anita Ward
Lost in music – Sister Sledge
Don’t stop till you get enough – Michael Jackson
Gonna get along without you now – Viola Wills
Gimme Gimme Gimme – Abba
Ladies Knight – Kool & the gang
Que sera mi vida – Gibson Brothers
She’s a lady – Tom Jones
Waterloo – Abba
That’s the way I like it – KC & the sunshine band
Heaven must be missing an angel – Tavares
I love to love – Tina Charles
Kung fu fighting – Carl Douglas
You make me feel like dancing – Leo Sayer
Disco inferno – Trammps
Blame it on the boogie – Jackson 5
I’m every woman – Chaka Khan
I’m in the mood for dancing – The Nolan’s
Never had love like this before – Detroit Emeralds

Hi folks

Feels like ages since I was here last.

Ok, here's a list off the top of my head...and sorry about spelling, what can I say, I'm just crap.

Donna Summer, I feel love.
Eruption, I can't stand the rain.
Knack, My cherona.
Earth Wind and Fire, September.
B A Robertson, Bang bang.
Elvis Costello, Oliver's army.
Ian Durey and the Block head, Hit me with your rythm stick.
Blondie, heart of glass.
Ike and Tina Turner, Nutbush city limits.
David Bowie, Jean jeanie
Clout, Substitute.
Chickery Tip, Son of my father.
Elton John, Crocodile rock.
Racey, Lay your love on me.
Showaddywaddy, Under the moon of love.
Sailor, Girls girls girls.
Typically Tropical, I'm going to Barbados.
Jacksons, Blame it on the boogy.

I'll stop hogging the danceflor now.

Nice to be back.

Darren

If you are not too "hot" on any genre of music - and your client wants you to play ie., 70s, Always ask the client exactly what they like...... Some people who ask for 70s are looking for 70s rock and hate 70s disco... so Lets stick together - Roxy Music would go down better with some clients than Boogie Wonderland would with another!

If you really arent up to speed with a good sound knowledge of any particular type/era of music, my advice would be not to take the gig in the first place - I still pass over bookings if I know I dont know enough about the music that the client wants - its ok if they only want a little bit of the stuff... but when they want a whole evening its a different matter.

There are hundreds of 70s compilations available - so my advice is to go buy and have a listen. Remember - always ask your clients specific questions about their music tastes and you should be ok.

You guys covered most of mine except for the Pistols!

This aint based on a 70's night, it's based on a person not really knowing the 70's era, and with you lot advising on what you play etc.....will help!

Paula, hope you didn't think I was being "cheeky" (I think that's what you folks on that side of pond call being a smart-ass) in earlier post. Just that I believe you're 28/29? and know 70's titles that many who danced to them in the 70's don't know. I'm impressed You can play at my 50th b-day party any time!

You're absolutely correct: if you don't have a wide knowledge of all musical genres/periods, you're not much of a dj/kj (kj's are almost non-existant here in the US).

Here's some non-disco:

Hotel California-The Eagles
Rhianon-Fleetwood Mac (just saw them in concert 3 mos. ago-still great)
Young Americans-David Bowie
Saturday Night's Alright-Elton John
Jumpin' Jack Flash-Rolloing Stones
I Wanna Be Sedated-The Ramones
God Bless the Queen-Sex Pistols
Rock n Roll All Night-Kiss
Show Me The Way-Peter Frampton
I Shot The Sheriff-Eric Clapton
Frankenstein-Edgar Winter
Smoke on The Water-Deep Purple
Celluloid Heroes-The Kinks
Oye Como Va-Santana
Born To Be Wild-Steppenwolf
Freebird-Lynnyrd Skynyrd
Dream On-Aerosmith
White Rabbit-Jefferson Airplane
White Room-Cream
Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen
Light My Fire-The Doors
Layla- Derek & The Dominoes
Evil Woman-Electric Light Orchestra
Fly Like an Eagle-Steve Miller
Locomotive Breath-Jethro Tull
My Generation-The Who
Gimme Some Lovin'-Spencer Davis Group

That's all for now...

Hey Paula admit it you are getting on luv! I know nothing about pre-war blues does this make me a bad dj?

Like a fine wine Paula! Yeah bring back the bouncy ones

Ere you lot.... leave my little mate alone! She is on 27! And, as I keep telling you all, age aint nothing but a number.... and so what if mine just happens to be 42!

I believe Dancing Queen by Abba was a 'hot little ditty' from the era you speak of.

Jorge,

We don't really bring age into discussions about D.J'ing experience or music "programming", since I know that people will often take offence. I've previously helped at D.J'ing workshops where 16 or 17 year olds are happily playing music from era's well beyond their "time" most of these are now in their early 20's and will happily play a quick step or a waltz at Grandma's 80th Birthday!.

Equally I have met "newbies" in their 40's who, through inexperience, would think nothing of playing a 60's track followed by a hard house track...just because it had been requested and they thought that it was their duty to play it next (to impress) regardless of the reaction of the dancefloor or whether it was even appropriate!.

I'm 30 - not THAT much older than Paula, and if you don't want to do the math that puts my birthdate at 1973. Now I often do entire retro nights of 50, 60 and 70's music or even soley 60's nights. I don't like the music personally, but I have no objection to playing it and making a living from it!. Would you consider me to be any less of a D.J than a 56 year old for example? - purely because of a date of birth?.

Don't confuse people's age with their music experience or how good they are as a D.J sometimes people can surprise you. There are good D.J's and bad D.J's around and those who will only play what they want to hear and that can apply to D.J's of any sex or any age!. So, far safer not to generalise!.

Age is never(and should never be an issue) when talking about djing or any kind of work....

Many people under 40 do great 60's etc discos, and many over 40's do great Dance/R&B etc nites....

Its if the DJ can hold a crowd that really matters, not what year they were born!

as cuban pete says, if you only have a knowledge of hard house or obscure Detroit techno, you are going to find yourself with a large record collection, but not too many regular bookings, unless your name is Fergie or Judge Jules!

although many people here clearly have a wide knowledge of many genres of music

I plays lots of different kinds of music doing discos, but I know how programme a set and keep a crowd dancing, and that with microphone and people skills etc means I keep working..you can do that at any age....

As with any job, music etc research counts, this is where a good small cd shop is always good

three reasons:

1/ They will let you listen to stuff, which a major chain generally doesn't..
2/They will give you discount on bulk purchases(ie more than 1)
3/ Most people when they are looking for a dj for a party will ask someone in the local record shop if they know anyone....a few business cards are always handy!

I'm as happy playing quickstep music, as Bill Haley, as the Beatles, as Loletta Holloway, as ABC, as Bon Jovi, as S Club 7, as Beyonce...(note from the 50's- this year!)

As long as you can read a crowd, keep a crowd happy, you stay in business

Now Classic 70's dance floor fillers

there are many
heres a few popular ones

Boogie Wonderland EWF
Le Freak Chic
We are Family Sister Sledge
You Sexy Thing Hot Chocolate
Trammps-Disco Inferno
Keep on Dancin-Gary's Gang
Loletta Holloway and the Salsoul Orchestra(conducted by Vince Montana, who now makes music for weddings!) Runaway
anything from the first Salsoul Orchestra LP
O'Jays I love Music
Intruders I'll always love my mama
Dr Buzzards Original Savannah Band I'll play the fool
Abba Dancing Queen

For the non disco stuff(great background music too!)

anything by
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Ringo Starr
Carpenters
Billy Joel, Piano man etc
Tina Turner, The Best, Private Dancer etc
anything from the Eagles Greatest Hits


check out the DMC and MUsic Factory websites lots of great 70's and 80's etc

I seem to have touched a very delicate nerve. As I have noted previously, I did not intend to imply that age has anything to do with being a good dj; simply that Paula's knowledge impresses me.

Perhaps it's something in the water on this side of the pond, but I have met many, many US dj's (both mobile & club venues) who know only the most popular (i.e. radio edits) tracks prior to their own generation. Those who are truly multi-dimensional are few and far between.

I myself, though I haven't been in the business for over 15 years, am familiar with BT, The Chemical Bros, Paul Oakenfold, etc. as equally as - yes, Robert Johnson, the self-taught blues pioneer from the Mississippi delta who influenced many, including Muddy Waters and T-Bone Walker.

Age IS irrelevent and has little impact on talent.