OK guys, I'm 16 (use your imagination), I've brought some half reasonable kit and a truck load of compilations, covering the 60's, 70's and 80's. I don't know any of the songs they could be good, bad or whatever. what tracks from these era's should I play and which should be avoided - if you follow my drift.

Sorry to take so long to reply I'm STILL TRYING to imagine you being 16

very simple.... ASK! If you dont know what popular music came from whatever era, Im sure most of us know somebody old/older! Also I would have a look at the numerous books detailing charts of the 50s/60s etc... this gives a good guide as to what people were listening to back in the good old days!
Its all a bit like crossing the road....STOP.... Look and Listen!

I would advise to take the CD's into the car and listen to every track, then you will know if Abba Dancing Queen works to follow it will something Candi Staton or Billy Ocean not 1cc or Sweet.

I personally used a site I found on a search engine, just typed "number one hit's" and it gave me results of every number one ever made

But to listen to new material, I listen to it just before I go to bed, and skip through the new CD. Listening to about a min/half of the tune, if i like it, and think it would work at a disco, i'd play it and see how it goes.

Just be experiental (sp )

The only thing with charts alone, is that not all number ones were/are good Party/Danc-able songs.

For example: Queens Boheimian Rhapsody, eventually got to number one...but its almost impossible to dance to.. although its still worth a play during the buffet, for sing along/toe tapping purposes.

I'd go along with the idea of listening to (at least the first 30 secs) of each track, even though that could mean 20 minutes per compilation album, and then writing down the "good dance tunes", "Good Ballads" and "Avoid like the plague" tunes on each album.

... hence the need for research!

This is slightly "off" the original question but..... Last christmas I got myself into a bit of a dilemma where I had taken on a booking for a bowls club and then the hotel I resident at insisted I work for them.... My colleague who usually works kids parties with me "volunteered" to do the bowls club - but she really didnt know what to play or how to put the tunes together.
Fortunately, Having worked for the bowls club before, I knew exactly what they would want to hear. The only way I could make sure Dawn was confident about putting the tunes together and "knowing" what she was playing was to code up the discs. I got stickers and put one dot for "slowies" - two dots for mid tempo stuff and three for fast tunes. I also sorted out the discs into sections so that she had all the r&r together etc.......... She pulled it off brilliantly and we have got the booking again for this year!
So a bit of advice to anybody who wont remember what a particular song sounds like... code up the cds .... Its easy and effective.. It may take a little time to do but at least you will have a bit more confidence about playing these tunes.

When I get interviewed on here, I'll let you know how I chose the music for my first ever 60's gig...

Subtle as a fire engine me... I nearly got interviewed about 2 or 3 members back, but got sadly cast aside like a broken toy...




Pssst! I've changed it to "When".

Sorry Gary ,I was going to pick you but somebody warned me that if i did you might go on about how you picked the music for your first 60`s gig! Nice hint Dj Subtle!