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Lindy Exchange Classics - your top 25?

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:43 am
by scorpio
I wont' even pretend to be a DJ, but it's sometimes my job to make sure there are tunes playing (at practices I host, in my classes, etc). I live in a small scene with very little exposure to the bigger world of swing and especially lindy.

So, I'm kind of on a mission to expose this crowd to the 'golden oldies' of the lindy exchange world. (and also just have this stuff for my own reference and nostalgic purposes). What I'm looking for are the songs that have been played time and again for the last 5 years. The staples, the hits, teh crowd favorites. Stuff some of you may even be sick of, but which became popular in the scene because they're great songs, and imminently danceable.

So, what over your DJ career, what have been YOUR 25 most spun tunes (longterm)?

Thanks!

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:28 am
by mousethief
Oh man. Five years is like forever for most of us. Going back that far, you might get "Jump, Jive and Wail" as a good contender.

Kalman

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 11:36 am
by LindyChef
Not to mention who keeps set lists for that long? I've only got mine going back since I've been a digital DJ, for about the past year.

If you're asking to go from memory, I'm sure we'll give you a list, but it's not going to be representative since memory has this way of changing over time ...

Now if you wanted a list of overplayed songs ...

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:41 pm
by scorpio
in a sense, yes, i'm looking for overplayed stuff. But the good stuff, that was overplayed with good reason. I'm looking for the classics, ones you might STILL pull out even though you've been using them for years.

There are a good bunch of song which I mostly hear at exchanges, that area as comfortable and familiar and beloved as a well-worn sweater. But i have NO IDEA whta they are. Yes, i should know, but i don't.

Those are the gems I'm seeking.

(some examples that I do have names for: Splanky, Fine Brown Frame, and yes, even Wade In the Water, etc)

Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:29 pm
by trev
Well I can' speak so much for exchanges, but around these parts, this would be the list of songs that have a well-worn-groove, so to speak;

C-Jam Blues - Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra
All The Cats Join In - Benny Goodman
Splanky - Count Basie
Corner Pocket - Count Basie
Every Day I have The Blues - Joe Williams/ Count Basie
Smack Dab in The Middle - Joe Williams/ Count Basie
Alright, Okay, You Win - Joe Williams/ Count Basie
Woodchoppers Ball - Woody Herrman
One O'Clock Jump - Basie
Jumpin at the Woodside - Basie
Flying Home - Lionel Hampton
Jeep Jockey Jump - Bill Elliott
720 in the Books - Ella Fitzgerald
Shiny Stockings - Ella & Basie
Mack the Knife - Ella [live berlin]
I'm Beginning To See The Light - Ella
Let's Get Together - Duke Ellington
T'ain't What You Do - Jimmie Lunceford
Why Don't You Do Right - Peggy Lee
My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone
Put a Lid on It - Squirrel Nut Zippers
Stuff Like That There - Bette Midler
Sing Sing Sing - Swing Kids Sountrack
Fine Brown Frame - Lou Rawls
Hoodle Addle - Ray McKinley

Man, that list is scary.

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:30 am
by djstarr
Trev - that's a great list.... certainly applies for Seattle.

Some others:
Shout, Sister, Shout - Lucky Millinder
Lavendar Coffin - Lionel Hampton
Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington
Opus One, Watch the Birdie, Thanks for the Boogie Ride - Anita O'Day/Gene Krupa
Rum and Coca Cola - Andrew Sisters
Whistle Stop - Louis Prima
Apollo Jump, Let me Off Uptown - Lucky Millinder
Stormy Monday - Lou Rawls
My Blue Heaven - Artie Shaw
Darktown Strutters Ball - Alberta Hunter
Evening - Count Basie/Jimmy Rushing

and on my personal overplayed list:
Mr. Five by Five, Rip van Winkle - Lily Wilde
He Ain't Got Rhythm - Benny Goodman w/Jimmy Rushing
Miss Brown to You - Billie Holiday
Goody Goody - Ella Fitzgerald
Shiny Stockings - Count Basie [instrumenal - on Ken Burns Jazz]
Sent for You Yesterday - Count Basie/Mills Bros.

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:47 am
by mousethief
Oh, you classic kids, you.

Kalman

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:15 am
by Lawrence
I guess this is what happens when you don't do Exchanges every third weekend.

The Good
djstarr wrote: Evening - Count Basie/Jimmy Rushing
Great song!! There are a handful of songs that made such an impression on me that I still remember the first time I heard them, and this is one of them. But I've never heard it played by anyone in five or more years (since I last played it), and definitely not at an Exchange.


The Bad
djstarr wrote:Whistle Stop - Louis Prima
People still play this song, no less overplay it?!?! I thought it went out in '98!!

The Ugly
Sing Sing Sing - Swing Kids Sountrack
No way. This still gets played?

Re: Lindy Exchange Classics - your top 25?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:24 am
by JesseMiner
scorpio wrote:So, I'm kind of on a mission to expose this crowd to the 'golden oldies' of the lindy exchange world. (and also just have this stuff for my own reference and nostalgic purposes). What I'm looking for are the songs that have been played time and again for the last 5 years. The staples, the hits, teh crowd favorites. Stuff some of you may even be sick of, but which became popular in the scene because they're great songs, and imminently danceable.
I'm sure I've missed a bunch of essentials, but these are some of my favorites that have regularly packed the dance floors over the past 5 years:

Alright, Okay, You Win - Joe Williams (Swingin' Night At Birdland)
Bli-Blip - Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (Like In Swing City)
Blues For Stephanie - George Gee (Swingin' Live!)
C-Jam Blues - Lincoln Center Jazz Orcestra (Live In Swing City)
Corner Pocket - Duke Ellington/Count Basie (First Time)
Duke's Place - Ella Fitzgerald (Bluella)
Easy Does It - The Big 18 (Live Echos)
Exactly Like You - Carmen McRae (Priceless Jazz)
Face It Here It Is - Al Grey (Grey's Mood)
Goin' To Chicago - Ernestine Anderson (When The Sun Goes Down)
Hallelujah - Joe Williams/Sammy Davis Jr (Basie's Golden '58 )
I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - Lou Rawls (Stormy Monday)
I Love Being Here With You - Erinestine Anderson (Great Moments With...)
Kansas City Riffs - Buster Smith (The Legendary Buster Smith)
Massachusetts - Maxine Sullivan (A Tribute To Andy Razaf)
Moten Swing - Oscar Peterson (Night Train)
On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Dizzy Gillespie (The Champ)
Rockhouse - Ray Charles (Blues + Jazz)
Sassy's Blues - Sarah Vaughan (Verve Jazz Masters 18 )
Smooth Sailin' - Ella Fitzgerald (Bluella)
Splanky - George Gee (Swingin' Live!)
Stormy Monday - Barbara Morrison (I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright)
Take The A-Train - Betty Roche (Take The A-Train)
Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough - Jimmy Witherspoon (Jazz Me Blues)
Wade In The Water - Eva Cassidy (Sophisticated Swing Vol 1)

This is most definitely Lindy comfort food. Yum! :)

Jesse

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:29 am
by mousethief
Depends on which version of "Evenin'" gets played (like most things). I have a great swinging version that's 7 minutes plus. I've got another on "Basie Plays Newport" that rocks, provided you throw out or cover up dry-ass Jim Hammond.

Kalman

Re: Lindy Exchange Classics - your top 25?

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:44 pm
by Lawrence
JesseMiner wrote: Alright, Okay, You Win - Joe Williams (Swingin' Night At Birdland)
Bli-Blip - Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra (Like In Swing City)
Blues For Stephanie - George Gee (Swingin' Live!)
C-Jam Blues - Lincoln Center Jazz Orcestra (Live In Swing City)
Corner Pocket - Duke Ellington/Count Basie (First Time)
Duke's Place - Ella Fitzgerald (Bluella)
Easy Does It - The Big 18 (Live Echos)
Exactly Like You - Carmen McRae (Priceless Jazz)
Face It Here It Is - Al Grey (Grey's Mood)
Goin' To Chicago - Ernestine Anderson (When The Sun Goes Down)
Hallelujah - Joe Williams/Sammy Davis Jr (Basie's Golden '58 )
I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water - Lou Rawls (Stormy Monday)
I Love Being Here With You - Erinestine Anderson (Great Moments With...)
Kansas City Riffs - Buster Smith (The Legendary Buster Smith)
Massachusetts - Maxine Sullivan (A Tribute To Andy Razaf)
Moten Swing - Oscar Peterson (Night Train)
On The Sunny Side Of The Street - Dizzy Gillespie (The Champ)
Rockhouse - Ray Charles (Blues + Jazz)
Sassy's Blues - Sarah Vaughan (Verve Jazz Masters 18 )
Smooth Sailin' - Ella Fitzgerald (Bluella)
Splanky - George Gee (Swingin' Live!)
Stormy Monday - Barbara Morrison (I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright)
Take The A-Train - Betty Roche (Take The A-Train)
Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough - Jimmy Witherspoon (Jazz Me Blues)
Wade In The Water - Eva Cassidy (Sophisticated Swing Vol 1)
Now I feel less out of touch. 8)

Add:

Never Make You Move Too Soon/Smack Dab in the Middle-Barbara Morrison
Summertime - Gene Harris
Blues for Stephanie - Corner Pocket version
Cherry - Yoko Noge

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:45 pm
by Lawrence
mousethief wrote:Depends on which version of "Evenin'" gets played (like most things). I have a great swinging version that's 7 minutes plus. I've got another on "Basie Plays Newport" that rocks, provided you throw out or cover up dry-ass Jim Hammond.
Basie at Newport.

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 1:58 pm
by Moonmist
Don't forget:

Massachusetts - Maxine Sullivan
Surrey w/ the Fringe on Top - Mary Stalling
Flat Foot Floogie - Cab Calloway
Ain't Nobody but us Chicken - Louis Jordan
Just a Gigalo - Louis Prima

I was actually advised that some certain venues banned Bli Blip because it was so overplayed.

Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 2:42 pm
by djstarr
Lawrence wrote:I guess this is what happens when you don't do Exchanges every third weekend.

The Good
djstarr wrote: Evening - Count Basie/Jimmy Rushing
Great song!! There are a handful of songs that made such an impression on me that I still remember the first time I heard them, and this is one of them. But I've never heard it played by anyone in five or more years (since I last played it), and definitely not at an Exchange.


The Bad
djstarr wrote:Whistle Stop - Louis Prima
People still play this song, no less overplay it?!?! I thought it went out in '98!!

The Ugly
Sing Sing Sing - Swing Kids Sountrack
No way. This still gets played?
Lawrence, version of Sing Sing Sing is requested frequently here when all the new kids are out; maybe BBVD and Brian Setzer's latest tours sparked the revival we've seen.....[/quote:f9e6a9f28f]

[i:f9e6a9f28f][b:f9e6a9f28f][color=red:f9e6a9f28f]NO!!!!! STOP!!!!![/size:f9e6a9f28f][/color:f9e6a9f28f][/b:f9e6a9f28f][/i:f9e6a9f28f]

No, seriously, it actually is a great CD with great sound production despite the bad rep it gets for being so damn overplayed in 1997 and 98.

Also, keep in mind the above post (and this one) was done tongue-in-cheek, like most posts. 8)

Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 10:23 am
by scorpio
Thanks people, good stuff... lots of those familiar song names on the list, great to see who's actually singing/playing them.

Keep it coming!
I'll owe you my non-existent DJ life :)

(yes, I tried for the first time last week, and it definitely wasn't very successful. Will keep trying.)

Angelica