The last set I played in Melbourne before moving up to Sydney was an after party for a large competition event (17th July). This thread had been rolling along, and I was thinking a lot about overplayed stuff. I know I tend to lean on some of my favourites, and have been (and continue) trying to throw away the crutches.
By the time I played this set it was midnight on the Saturday after we'd packed and cleaned our house and the movers had taken away all our stuff. We were flying out the next Monday. So I was kind of wacky in the head.
There were enough of my close friends at the gig to prompt bad behaviour, and I figured I'd see what would happen if I played a set made up entirely of old favourites - you know, embrace the badness. So I did (with a couple of newer obsessions for my sake).
The floor was packed and people danced like crazy fools - all that sitting and watching other people compete had riled them up. Every now and then someone would yell out "I love this song!" There were a lot of interstaters and the room was absolutely heaving - it was like a moshpit. So I was kind of playing to the perfect room: crowding + endorphines + post-comp excitement = sweet DJing op.
This is what I played. The room was empty til 'Lemonade' - that's when people finally started arriving from the comp. So everything up til then was testing the sound and then just my playing songs I'm fond of in no particular order. From about 'Fiddle Diddle' there were about 20 people talking and drinking and generally catching up. By 'Lemonade' I decided I wanted them to dance a bit, so I got into the old faves).
I've added comments about when I hear a song and whether I think it's overplayed. So this is an indication of where I dance(d) in Melbourne and the exchanges I go to interstate. So it's probably not a comprehensive overview of Australian overplayed music.
Russell, Trev, Gunther, etc could probably give a better idea of the other local scenes and what's overplayed elsewhere in Australia.I like imagining that there are lounge rooms full of kids dancing like maniacs to Mills Blue Rhythm Band, Jimmy Noone and Fats Waller all over Australia.
Blue Skies - Peggy Lee and The Four Of A Kind 136 1998 [This was a request from the door bitch. I love this song. I never play it for dancers. It's from the Peggy Lee/June Christy Mosaic set (which is lovely, but which I rarely use for DJing). I hear other versions of this overplayed.]
Wake Up! Chill'un, Wake up! - Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra 125 1929 [Noone is my latest passion. I have a morbid, miserable version of 'Love me or leave me' of his that I'm trying to find the right crowd to play for. I love it. I never play this song for dancers and I don't hear it. But it's lovely.]
Laff, Slam, Laff - Slam Stewart 156 1945 [I love this, but never play it. I don't hear it out.]
Florida Flo - Fats Waller And His Rhythm 156 1937 [I never play this. I love it. I think I've heard it once or twice at an exchange, but not in Melbourne.]
Evenin' - Count Basie and His Orchestra with Lester Young and Jimmy Rushing 164 1940 [One of my new obsessions. Each time I've played it for dancers it's bombed. I will keep trying. It's from the newest Mosaic Basie set. I don't hear anyone else play it.]
Bearcat Shuffle - Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy with Mary Lou Williams 160 1936 [I am currently trying to overplay this song. I love it. Dancers love it. I hear it occasionally at exchanges but not in Melbourne.]
Algiers Stomp - The Mills Blue Rhythm Band 219 1936 [Popular with balboa dancers in Melbourne. I don't hear it anywhere else (though I'd say Perth kids were into it. I adore it.]
Fiddle Diddle - Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra with Lionel Hampton 143 1938 [This is where I started DJing properly, as a few people had arrived. I love this song and am also currently trying to overplay it. It's from the Mosaic Hamp set. I don't hear other people play it, though I'm sure people like Trev and other Perthies play it.]
Loch Lomond - Chu Berry with Wingy Mannone & His Orchestra 153 1938 [More Mosaic (Chu Berry goodness). This one goes down well with dancers. I always think of Maxine Sullivan when I play it. I don't hear this one.]
Lemonade - Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five 117 1950 [This is where I started getting serious. Blokes shouting about women and drink make people want to dance. I don't know anyone else who plays this.]
Blue Monday- Jimmy Witherspoon With Jay McShann And His Band 125 1957 [I am overplaying the Witherspoon Mosaic single I bought. It's either this or 'Froggy Bottom' that I overplay. I only hear Russell play this album in Aus.]
Every Day I Have The Blues - Count Basie and His Orchestra 116 1959 [This is massively overplayed in Melbourne, mostly by me. I've moved on a bit from this one (it's the one from 'Breakfast Dance and BBQ'), but it's still a neat song. If you can stand to hear it. Again.]
Blues For Stephanie - George Gee And His Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra 140 [Overplayed for hundreds of years by everyone everywhere. Nostalgic sighs from the crowd.]
Massachusetts - Maxine Sullivan 147 1956 [I don't hear many other people play this, but I seem to play it every single set I do. It will always get people up on the floor. Always. It's from the Andy Razaf tribute album. I am trying to move on. But can't. Curse Hey Mr Jesse and those recommendations.]
C-Jam Blues - Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis 143 1999 [No overplayed set would be complete without it.]
Blues In Hoss's Flat - Count Basie 144 1958 [Nor this. Both of these are seriously overplayed everywhere, and are also wonderful. This version is from 'Chairmen of the Board' - another recommended on Hey Mr Jesse (or on swingdjs... I forget)].
Mr. Ghost Goes To Town - Mora's Modern Rhythmists 170 1991 [I've only recently bought this MMR CD, so I'm playing it to death. This used to get played _all_ the time everywhere, someone did a routine to it, but it's less common now. Some of the newer dancers are getting into MMR and Campus5 in Melbourne, so it's popped up a few times lately. I love it.]
Lavender Coffin - Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra with Sonny Parker and Joe James 134 1949 [Overplayed everywhere. Still an effective crowd-starter. I'm almost completely over it.]
Cole Slaw - Jesse Stone and His Orchestra 145 [Overplayed and beginning to make me feel a bit cranky when I hear it. There's a Louis Jordan version making the rounds in Melbourne and Sydney, but this one is better. Thank you Hey Mr Jesse - you rock.]
Bearcat Shuffle - Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds of Joy with Mary Lou Williams 160 1936 [Yes, I played this twice. Because no one heard it the first time.]
Shortnin' Bread - Fats Waller 195 2005 [I overplay this but I don't hear anyone else play it. It's awesome.]
Savoy Blues - Kid Ory 134 1945 [This version of 'Savoy Blues' is seriously overplayed in Melbourne (and everywhere else in Australia). I am currently loving a Louis Armstrong Hot Five version but I haven't played it for dancers yet.]
I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate - Muggsy Spanier and his Ragtime Band 155 1939 [This is overplayed in some towns, and is often overplayed at exchanges. I still love it, and I love the idea of shaking it like jelly on a plate. Yes, please.]
Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho - Kid Ory And His Creole Jazz Band 160 1946 [I play this version of 'Jericho' a LOT. I prefer it to the Bechet one - it has vocals and some really nice sauce. I found it on a cheap, dodgy 'best of' Kid Ory CD on amazon for $2.]
Blues My Naughty Sweetie - Sidney Bechet 140 1951 [This is overplayed in Melbourne. I'm sick of it.]
A Viper's Moan - Willie Bryant And His Orchestra 153 1936 ['Viper's Moan' is overplayed everywhere I've been in Aus, both the Bryant version and the MMR's version. I still love it to bits.]
Bli-Blip - Jonathan Stout And His Campus Five 140 2007 ['Blip Blip' is an old, overplayed fave (the LCJO and Ella versions), but this Campus 5 one is less common. I am overplaying it everywhere I go.]
)
