Good Birthday Jam Songs

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Hopkid · #1 Post by **Hopkid** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 7:23 am

I need ideas for new tunes to play during b'day jams. I've been using Basie's "Corner Pocket". It's a nice length at 4'45" but I'm getting bored with it. I recently used "A Girl Named Jack" by City Rhythm Ork which was OK.

What do you all like to spin for b'day jams?

Lawrence · #2 Post by **Lawrence** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 2:29 pm

Are people really still playing "Corner Pocket" for birthday jams? I always try to fit the music to the person whose birthday it is: play what they like, not some canned song.

Nonetheless, I do play The Love Dogs' "Too Old to Die Young" more than any other, if it fits.

Toon Town Dave · #3 Post by **Toon Town Dave** » Fri Apr 04, 2003 4:37 pm

I'm kind of partial to I Feel That Old Age Comin' On (Swing Session off their Whispering Grass CD). Not super long for a jam but then our birthday jams don't last long when/if we actually have one.

Drew · #4 Post by **Drew** » Sat Apr 05, 2003 2:47 am

The last couple times I've had to spin birthday jams, it's been on five minutes' notice for someone I didn't really know, or maybe had met once. In which case, I usually go for some sort of crowd-pleaser. "Bye Bye Blackbird" usually does fine, but "Sent for you yesterday and here you come today" off Basie @ Newport is one I usually do more often.

For my birthday, my favorite has long been "Blues for Stephanie," but only if it's a crowded room full of people that like me. Otherwise, that's a long seven minutes I won't get back.

But yes, "Corner Pocket" off Golden '58 was the birthday tune last year.

Downeastdancer · #5 Post by **Downeastdancer** » Sat Apr 05, 2003 7:13 am

I had a big birthday bash in October. Here are the songs I had them play for me!
Happy Birthday Song - Sammy Mayfield - 4:44 (for the Westies)
I'll Die Happy - Louis Jordan - 3:06 (You've gotta love it!)

Platypus · #6 Post by **Platypus** » Sat Apr 05, 2003 5:20 pm

If you want a New Orleans feel to the song, Kermit Ruffins has a version of Happy Birthday. It is on emusic, for those who subscribe.

CafeSavoy · #7 Post by **CafeSavoy** » Sun Apr 06, 2003 12:18 am

Downeastdancer wrote:I had a big birthday bash in October. Here are the songs I had them play for me!
Happy Birthday Song - Sammy Mayfield - 4:44 (for the Westies)
I'll Die Happy - Louis Jordan - 3:06 (You've gotta love it!)

louis jordan also has a happy birthday song. it's on that big boxset.

szarka · #8 Post by **szarka** » Mon Apr 07, 2003 4:52 pm

I used Bruce Cockburn's cover of Monty Python's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" for the first half of a jam recently. It's not exactly a tune that will fit for everyone, but it worked surprisingly well in this particular case...

I got jammed to Dany Doriz' "Vine Street Ramble" (mi idea) and The Blue Saracens' "Let's Turn Gay" (my twisted friends' idea) last week and I had fun dancing (following, mostly!) to both.

cybermaximus · #9 Post by **cybermaximus** » Wed Apr 09, 2003 12:19 pm

One I've used and liked is Duke's Place (the Ella Version). It's a little shorter (4 mins) but it's still a good one

djstarr · #10 Post by **djstarr** » Tue May 20, 2003 1:14 pm

two of my favorites:
Ernestine Anderson's "I love being here with you" off the live Concord album
Roy Milton's "Porter's Love Song".

They are both mid-tempo, around 3 minutes - easy to dance to by everyone.

I always wanted to have a Bal bday jam, but as a follow that would be hard to orchestrate!

Thanks for the tip on "I feel that old age coming on" - I might use that tomorrow for a bday encore if needed.

djstarr · #11 Post by **djstarr** » Wed May 21, 2003 4:32 pm

Here's another one I came across when listening to Roy Milton today "It's later than you think".....

SwingDJs

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