Im booked to do my first ever Retro/70's theme night next friday night. This is where im putting it out to ask some of the ( and I say it lightly ...) older DJ's. I have the usual well known 70's tracks but what i'd love to know is some of the older, possibly underated disco classics that I would have heard, but possibly dont know the name of, that will keep me going all night - and of course the birthday girl

Gary's Gang - Keep On Dancing.
O'Jays - Put Your Hands Together
Frantique - Strut your funky stuff

here is my three choices,

alicia bridges i love the nitelife
players accociation turn the music up
crown heights affair galaxy of love

Dunno if punters would know whats been mentioned I know I didn't lol

3 for me are:

Boney M - Rivers of Babylon
Mud - Tiger Feet
Candi Stanton - Young Hearts

Fern Kinney - groove me
Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
K.C. and the Sunshine Band - I'm Your Boogie Man
Shalamar - Uptown Festival

Don't forget that the seventies went all the way back to 1970...

That takes in all the glam rock movement, which gives you a nice little set on its own.

Also includes the classic tunes often assumed to be sixties tracks, such as Rolling Stones' 'Brown Sugar'.

So many tracks to choose from - all depends really if they just want a 70s night, or a disco night. Which is it to be? Most of the better known disco classics come from the late 70s and early 80s. Best discuss exactly what is expected with the client.

You cant do a 70's nite without giving James Brown Sex Machine an airing, Another funky little number is Shame Shame Shame by Shirley & Company and a personal favourite Swing your Daddy by Jim Gilstrap (great key change). Well if nothing else their different!!
Good luck

With such a wide choice of music, you must discuss with the client what she is expecting.

I would only be looking for the popular tracks or stuff just below the usual must play tracks. Anything obscure should be avoided. I think you could get away with 1980/81 stuff as well as disco tracks from these years were the same as the stuff from 1977-1979.

Consider

Dooleys - Wanted/Choosen Few
Real Thing - Can't get By Without You
Whispers - And The Beat Goes On
Kool and the Gang - Ladies Night
O'Jays - Love Train
Melba Moore - This Is It
Jacksons - Shake Your Body Down
Tourists - I Only Want To Be With You

Can I do a 70s week?

I could start a list that would take a week to play.

There are some crackers from the early 70s, but Sounds Superb just reminded me of a few to which I would add 'Armed & Extremely Dangerous' by First Choice and 'I wanna Dance wit choo' & 'Get Dancin' by Disco Tex & the Sex O Lettes.

I'm gonna shut up now because if I don't I'll be here all day!

Thanks for the replies ...

I spoke to her just to touch base before the weekend. They are all dressing up in 70's theme clothes and basically anything retro or cheesy from the 70's will go. I think I will go with some tracks from the 80's as well cos if its a 30th birthday then she's more likely to remember those tracks.

Some good tunes mentioned ... I'll keep you updated

Is it just me but I aint heard of half the tracks mentioned lol