Was interested to read Spin's account of the rude punters reaction to hearing medley's.
Thought I'd try and get an indication of whether many DJ's on here use them much.
My opinion is that many people don't like them, and so I very rarely will play any type of medley or artist megamix.
Probably stems from an intense dislike of the Jive Bunny, Tight Fit, Stars on 45 crap that suddenly became popular in the 80's.
The only artists megamix I ever liked was the Cameo one done by The MixDoctor for DMC in 85. (Single Life, Attack Me With Your Love & She's Strange).

Hmm yes I'm interested in the answers to this.

Having said that I think perhaps the accusation of playing medleys all night was because of the mixing between records even from one artist to another!! After all that is what the vast majority of Mastermix is and to a certain extent what we all do on a nightly basis!!

It was quite funny after she had left the stage because my roadie Mark kept on saying "Don't mix into the next record too well Tone, you know she won't like it"!! Funny thing was because she was such a cow I found myself letting one record fade out and then playing another just to impress the point that they were whole records!

Spin (Watching with interest)

Ive used them at the end of a karaoke night, usually as Im only dying for a pee!
But Neeeevvvvverrrr the Tight fit mix (soorrry spin) I like the Abba one and the Technotronic one but I think the main one Ive played is the Grease megamix!

Well I'm sorry but I must be an old geezer like Spin!. Although I hate (with a passion) the Medleys myself, I admit to playing the tight fit, Stars on 45, and Abba Medleys at more than one occasion .

Of course, it would depend on the audience and the age range but the oldies love 'em.

But I would draw the line at 2 per night, and within a hour or so of each other, I would never play them one after the other.

Avoid em like the plague tone! Have played the grease one at a wedding once and all of them in the 80`s when they were popular but otherwise no.

I'm probably with eskie on this one, I very rarely play them, about one every 1-2 months.

If theres only a handful of 60's fans (old coggers) in the audience, then the B-side of the Tight Fit "Back to the 60's" 12'' single gets played. Else I'll play original 60's tunes.

But thats about the only medley I play now. I used to play the "Glen Miller medley" until Jive Bunny went and nicked the main drum pattern for his errm st st style of music (c'mon!). And no, I didnt play Jive Bunny unless I really really had to.

Grease megamix at most gigs other than that don't like them, used to play them years ago but I think people think that by putting a mix on, for 10 minutes you are not 'working'.


Talking of going for a pee Paula, I found some old records in the garage yesterday whilst clearing up, amongst them was my 'peeing' record for the late 80's, Aretha Franklin - Who's Zooming Who, and as soon as I saw it I said to my wife '8 minutes 36 seconds'. And nearly 20 years on I was spot on to the second, isn't it funny what we remember !

Only play the grease megamix, the others are left in the case...

Hooray i've hit the 100 mark!!!

I hate them with an intensity that cannot be explained !
It stems from the Jive Bunny days - utter cr ap.
Like Spin, years ago I played a 'stars on 45 - abba medley', got slated by the whole room, thankfully in a joking way, and have never played them since.
Spinko

I rarely play them from my own choice. Jive Bunny!!! It is not nice! I always play them if requested. Grease megamix does get requested the most, I have a good party album that has a good Snap megamix.

Megamix's are a complete no-no with me! I do use a 60s megamix on the very odd occasion if I have been doing a dinner/dance and only have about an hour to play... but during the course of a normal function NO!
Grease megamix - also no..... play the whole track that I want off the album.

I have an ABBA mix that I use quite a lot, it lasts about 6 mins and is my own compilation of other ABBA mixes chopped around a bit.

Like many others I also use the Grease mix and occasionally the Hermes House Band Megamix (13mins) which gives me a teabreak in the middle of a 5 hour gig when the clients have forgot to order a buffet (Pringle anyone?)

PaulS

Chris mate. You were my roadie in the early 90's and as I remember you quite happily played the entire Jive Bunny collection. Sometimes three in a row, whilst I was having my mis evening break.

I clicked never but come to think of it Once or twice a year i would play the 5ive Megamix if there's a few people in who would like cheese.If i was a mobile/party DJ i would definately play more..

I think the Kate Bush medley is worth a spin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2IZwOOGGrU

I voted sometimes as I often place the Greece Megamix. Other than that I can recall playing Jive Bunny twice and Abba Stars on 45 once in the last 12 months

I can't stand Jive Bunny, Stars on 45 or the Tight Fit mixes, so I don't play them unless they're asked for. I do use the Grandmaster series to provide background music while I set up. If I'm doing a 80's night I would usually get the sound system pluged in and stick the masternix grandmaster 70's compilation on at half volume while I got the rest of the kit set up, tidied up and ready for the start. I doubt the older audiences even know when you are using pre mixed mix's, especially if you use them intellegently, and not try to put a set together, using nothing but these mixes (I have seen this done!!!!!)

Sometimes - only ever played Grease Megamix though and don't really own any other 'mixes' apart from the couple of jive bunny ones from years ago

dont really use the mixes however watched a dj once try and look as if he was really mixing to a master mix he was giving large and obviously assumed no one would know the track, poor lad

Grease of course!

Tight Fit Back To The Sixties on occasions, generally for parties when i wouldnt play much 60's (younger crowd) so the megamix goes down a treat and handy for going to the toilet for (or trying to get a coke at the bar when its busy)

i have a few of the Grandmaster and Flashback discs and they are great for Warmup's and/or buffet breaks (these also come in handy when the venue wants to play music after you've finished, just lend them a Grandmaster Party disc)

It always causes considerable amusement when megamixes are mentioned. I simply play what the client has requested or in my professional opinion is sutiable for the function.

Personally, I don't like them at all, but professionally they can be quite good. They seems to be better for the family party type disco.

Popular ones are:

Boney M Megamix (very popular early 90's track)

Abba (mastermix)

Dirty Dancing (mastermix)

Jive Bunny - Swing the mood/Now that's what I like

Tight Fit - back to the 60's

Kool & the Gang - Throwdown mix (mastermix)

I did a 21st birthday party last week rammed full of young women. They requested the Dirty Dancing Megamix, I played it and they went mad for it.

Mind you, most of them were that drunk I could've played Ernie The Milkman and they'd have danced to it.

Very popular track to play towards the end of a wedding but it's a bit too long at 10mins.

Surely mixing tracks together for 10 mins is the same as playing a 10 min medley ?

The punters won't know the difference.

often these medleys are not just the same songs mixed together. The Tight Fit medley has a extra thumpey beat to it, which i find helps so much. The dirty dancing megamix often gets asked for, if you go into Yates and those sort of bars, the DJ's play it there and they want you to play it too :)

id forgotten about the Boney M megamix, i do play it occasionally, i dont play any other Boney M

true, but some of us are not 'mixdoctors' or just welcome a longer break. some punters know the megamix well, and expect it to be played in it's original entirety.

I play the Five megamix at pretty much every gig - never fails ever!

That's what I was trying to say too. Those that know the megamix will want it played normally and those that don't won't know you're not mixing it yourself.

I tend to only use the Soul Banana and grease megamix. I would not use them if they bombed but suprisingly they are good floor fillers around here so what the hell.

Only rarely play them if then only the Grease Megamix or the Ska Megamix

Me too!
Heard you mention it ages and ages ago on another forum and it got me into the habbit!

So I had to vote "every gig" in the poll coz I allways play this one.
Tightfit - Back to the 60s somtimes gets a play when I need a break for 10 minutes too.
I also have a number of mastermix grandmaster discs, they are handy when I need to go Toilet/Bar/Smoke.

The other one I play fairly regualrly is the Grease Megamix, possibly the best known megamix amongst party crowds, they know the mix so well I find, you couldnt get away with playing anything other than the megamix.

I tried the Boney M mix the other day, and it bombed in spectacular fassion! NEVER AGAIN!

What is this Soul Banana mix I have heard about? Never have managed to find out where to get it from.

yes the Five 'megamix' is fine track, pity that i always forget to play it

i often play the dirtydancing megamix but might drop it out just as he says "sorry about the disruption folks, but i always do the last dance of the evening" well something like that!

I use the Boney M one , now and then but its in a pub after about 11pm lol. I do use Dirty Dancing, Grease, a 60's mix and an awesome 4 track 80's mix (for toilet break ;0) )

What 80's mix is it please?

It starts with madonna (holiday) , forrest (rock the boat) kool and the gang (fresh) and micheal jackson(billie jean)

Its on a DMC number 211 cd 2 track 4

The ones I use (but only when requested) are Grease Megamix - Dirty Dancing Megamix and the brilliant 70s Rock Pub Mix.

Have used the 'Have You got any Take That' mix and Soul Banana in the past.

To be honest, I don't really like megamixes so avoid them as I'd rather play the complete original.

Thanks I might check it out

i take them with me and if asked will play

i play them quite a bit, depends on the gig tbh