Your Imaginary Disco's Playlist

[srg]

I keep getting the feeling that a lot of posters here were/are disco djs, or, like myself, would LOVE to be one. IF you were the dj at your own disco, and you could play WHATEVER you wanted, what tracks would I find in your crates?
At my club I would (obviously) play the standbys (Gaynor/Summer/KC/Barry White/etc,etc) but whenever possible I'd play my own personal favorites, classics that you feel HAVE to be shared.

Here's my playlist, in no particular order:

*Law of the Land- Temptations -where it all began- Message with beats.
*Real Thing- Sergio Mendes/New Brasil 77- Underrated breezy, sexy vibe, on a par with Boz Scaggs' "Lowdown"
*Supernature-Cerrone- Prime Eurodisco, still sounds current.
*Doctor Love-First Choice- Tom Moulton's l-o-n-g breakdown included...
*Magnifique- Magnifique- Manic Disco Dolly vocals over a bed of synths- gotta love it
*Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet- Gonzales- resistance is futile- Percussive Disco at its best.
*Follow Me- Amanda Lear- for the late night trippers...
*At Midnight- T-Connection- Love the energy in this one...didn't hear it enough BITD IMHO
*Panic- French Kiss- Sirens, percussion, "hoo-hoos"- pandemonium on the floor. Possibly the best AND worst example of the "Disco Sound" at the same time- you either got it or you didn't
*Moody- ESG- Where disco met punk- one for the "rockers" on the floor
*Don't Bring Back Memories- Passion- Eurodisco meets Philadelphia meets Motown meets Latin meets 50's DooWop- I can't get enough of this one!!
*Boo Hoo Hoo- Solomon Burke- from a forgotten 1979 LP- preacher vocals (like a male Lolleatta H.) with a down-in-the-Mississippi blues flavor, strings,plonking piano riffs, a 5-minute masterpiece- my own personal BEST discovery of the last few years- completely missed it the first time around! (Anyone else discover it? NOT on Youtube yet)
*Buk-in-hamm Palace- Peter Tosh-disco meets reggae- for the stoners
*Dance Yourself Dizzy- Liquid Gold- disco meets bubblegum...sugary sweet but oh-so-addictive.
Strawberry Letter 23- Brothers Johnson- late night funk/ progressive groove, almost like a lost "Prince" track (he really should cover it!)
*Hills of Katmandu- Tantra- MY personal #1- I gotta spread the word to the "unwise" on this one

SO...What would I dance to in YOUR club??

[remicks]

Originally Posted by srg

Strawberry Letter 23- Brothers Johnson- late night funk/ progressive groove, almost like a lost "Prince" track (he really should cover it!)
*

wow good observation ...I think that's a great suggestion !!!!

SO...What would I dance to in YOUR club??

many of yours srg


some others :

LOVE'S THEME LU Orch --- first song of the night
UNDECIDED LOVE Chequers --- for romantic hustling
FIRST ROUND KNOCK OUT David Ruffin --- in house special
BORN TO BE ALIVE Patrick Hernandez ---12:00 am every night like clock work
TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY Barbara Pennington --- for those knife jabbing strings
SAVE ME Silver Convention a song that needs to fallen in love with again
TRY ME Donna Summer --- classically Summer and yet sorta forgotten
BACK IN LOVE AGAIN LTD ---gotta have some funk
DOWN TO LOVE TOWN Originals --- for the memories
TRIPPIN' ON THE MOON Cerrone ---'cause there are always those who will be trippin'
BEAUTIFUL BEND --- hey its a smart crowd comin' here
MOONBOOTS OSR -- 'cause above all else ... its a wild and zany kinda club !!
THE BOSS Diana Ross -- the floor is full and i want to keep them there
DANCING QUEEN ABBA --goodnight and lights out !
*****

[SandraDee]

I often wonder what I'd play when I fantasize about being a DJ & I find it seems so daunting - where do you start? I don't think I've got the creative imagination that those top DJs had. I've read that some DJs have to read the crowd they're playing to & then decide what will go down well, but there are other DJs who seem to have every track edited & ready to go in a particular order 'cos that will mix well into that....it seems terrifying! I'd dread the crowd not liking what I played (I'm so insecure!)
Whenever I've tried mixing on my twin decks & played to an imaginary crowd (oh my god, I sound like those weird kids who have imaginary friends now don't I?!) I've noticed how there are certain tracks that I choose more often than any others though; these tend to be 'Dancer' by Gino Soccio, 'Hit & Run Lover' by Carol Jiani, 'Bustin' Out' by Material/Nona Hendryx, 'Baby Baba Boogie' by Gap Band & 'Space Bass' by Slick.

[kdavid13]

OK I would play :

Curtis Mayfield Love me,love me now (1980's slow soul/disco masterpiece)
Cerrone Call me tonight (Still my #1 Cerrone song)
France Joli Can we fall in love again (I love that song.Should have been huge)
Jacksons Lovely one (Been playing this one a lot lately...)
Donna Summer Now I need you/Working the midnight shift (The Queen !!)
John Davis & Monster Orchestra Ain't that enough for you (Wonderful)
Rolling Stones Emotional rescue (Dance rock hybrid yet so funky)
Grace Jones On your knees (Grace + attitude = Greatness)
Pat Benatar We live for love (She got some disco action with this one)
Arthur Prysock When love is new (Soulful,laidback dance classic)
Ritchie Family I'll never be able to set you free (My all-time fave from 1980)
Linda Clifford Shoot your best shot (So addictive...)
Frankie Valli Let it be whatever it is (Still sounds great today)
Debbie Harry Backfired (12in) (I adored the whole Koo Koo album)
Norma Jean High Society (I really love Chic and this one is special to me)

[Dayna]

Debbie HarryBackfired (12in) (I adored the whole Koo Koo album)
OMG..I LIVE for that song and the Koo Koo lp as well

Not a DJ nor have I ever been BUT I know what I would LOVE to hear and dance to in my club.. "If I had one"Or one that I was making an appearance at..
Was That All It Was-Jean Carn-effortlessly float across the floor with this one
Pilot Error-Stephainie Mills-because I Live for it
I'm Ready-Kano-Pure body envading beat
Must Be The Music-Secret Weapon-Same as Kano but a lighter less intense feel
Romeo & Juliet-Alec R.Costandinos-gotta have the pretty Disco to twirl to
Give Me Love-Cerrone-gotta have some cerrone
Shame-Evelyn King-My favorite
If My Friends Could see me Now-Linda Clifford-Feel Good twirl track
In The name of Love-Sharon Redd-Slow's it down a bit but still intense
You and I-Rick James-Funky and hot
Hot Shot-Karen Young-U can really twirl to this
Dance across the Floor-Jimmy Bo Horne-a great mix of funk and disco
Shake You're Pants-Cameo-OMG..the funkiest
Summer Fever-Donna Summer-beautiful ,slower and u can dance so sensually to it
No one gets the Prize/The Boss-Diana-self explanitory
Bad Habits-Jenny Burton-great strutting song
In The Socket-Shalamar-fast paced no nonsense dance yo a** off song
Standing Right Here- Melba Moore-Beautiful and danceable
That's The trouble-Grace Jones-give them attitude dance track
This is The House where love died-Pattie Brooks-because i't genius
Double Cross-First Choice-because Rochelle can blow and what would a playlist be without some First Choice~!

[markydefad]

Good Topic! I'm thinking of so many possibilities... this would be an ideal evening at a Disco for me...............

My night starts with...

(slow build to a dance tempo)
YOUNG AMERICANS - David Bowie
LOVE HANGOVER - Diana Ross
HIGH ENERGY - The Supremes
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

(Take it up a notch to funky)
DO I DO - Stevie Wonder
MAMA USED TO SAY - Junior
SAVE YOUR LOVE (FOR #1) - Rene & Angela
(Every Time I Turn Around) BACK IN LOVE AGAIN - L.T.D.

(A Little Jazzier)
ALWAYS THERE - Side Effect
HI-JACK - Herbie Mann
BOURGIE, BOURGIE - Ashford & Simpson
STAR CHILD - Level 42

(Can you feel the Rock?)
LOWDOWN - Boz Scaggs
WHEN I'M WITH YOU - Sparks
HEART OF GLASS - Blondie
STAND BACK - Stevie Nicks
GLAD TO KNOW YOU - Chas Jankel

(Funky Up The Tempo)
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? - Labelle
MIGHTY HIGH - Mighty Clouds of Joy
MAKE ME BELIEVE IN YOU - Patti Jo
GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE - Fantastic Four
FEEL THE NEED IN ME - Detroit Emeralds

(Mid-tempo Classics)
DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH - Michael Jackson
THIS TIME BABY - Jackie Moore
FOUND A CURE - Ashford & Simpson
VERTIGO/RELIGHT MY FIRE - Dan Hartman w/ Loleatta Holloway
CAN YOU FEEL IT - The Jacksons

(1977/76 Classics: because I love them!)
GOT TO GIVE IT UP - Marvin Gaye
DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO - T-Connection
DEVIL'S GUN - C.J. & Company
THAT'S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO - The Trammps
YOU + ME = LOVE - Undisputed Truth

(Ladies Choice/Choice Ladies--workin' to a peak)
USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT - Odyssey
THINK IT OVER - Cissy Houston
DOIN' THE BEST THAT I CAN - Bettye Lavette
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO (If You Ever Left Me) - Sweet Cream
DO YOU LOVE ME? - Patti Austin
LOVE'S UNKIND - Donna Summer
HOLD YOUR HORSES - First Choice

(Classic Troc Peak)
LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME - ABBA (Disconet Remix)
AIN'T NOTHING GONNA KEEP ME FROM YOU - Terri DeSario
LOVE IS IN YOU - Nightlife Unlimited
LOVE INSURANCE - Front Page featuring Sharon Redd
ANGEL EYES - Roxy Music

(Soulful Peak)
DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares
THIS WILL BE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - Eddie Holman (peak time sweeping Salsoul treat!)
LOVIN' IS REALLY MY GAME - Brainstorm
CRANK IT UP - Peter Brown
CAN'T BE LOVE (Do It To Me Anyway) - Peter Brown
LOVIN' LIVIN' GIVIN - Diana Ross (Moroder-esque mix)
SUNSET PEOPLE - Donna Summer

PEAKED!!!

(Take it down several notches BPM-wise: Rockish to Trippy to Pretty)
THE RUNNER - The Three Degrees
BEAT THE CLOCK - Sparks
I FEEL LOVE - Donna Summer
SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME - Space
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH - Metropolis
NOW I NEED YOU - Donna Summer
FILL MY LIFE WITH LOVE - St. Tropez
GOT TO HAVE LOVIN' - Don Ray

(Take it down another notch/'Doomed Romantics')
BLACK JACK - Baciotti
MAGIC BIRD OF FIRE - The Salsoul Orchestra
IT'S MY LIFE - Talk Talk
IN PRIVATE - Dusty Springfield
MASTERPIECE - Gazebo

(A Little Rock/Punk/Darker Side Popper Set)
CONTROVERSY - Prince
WALKING ON THIN ICE - Yoko Ono
EVOLUTION - Giorgio Moroder
WHITE LINES (Don't Do It) - Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel

(Make it sweeter, prettier-add dash of Drama)
SEARCHIN' - Change
GONE, GONE, GONE - Johnny Mathis
DON'T MAKE ME WAIT TOO LONG - Roberta Flack
VICTIM - Candi Staton

(A Bit of Disco Bubblegum)
FULL TIME THING (Between Dusk & Dawn) - Whirlwind
I CAUGHT YOUR ACT - The Hues Corporation

(Make it jungle/primal/S.E.X.Y.: love to hear percussion!)
QUIET VILLAGE - The Ritchie Family
COME LET ME LOVE YOU - Jeanette "Lady" Day
I DON'T WANNA BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) - Dynasty
A-FREAK-A - Lemon
THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS - Ray Martinez

(Gotta have the Funk)
GIVE IT TO ME BABY - Rick James
YOU CAN DO IT - Al Hudson & The Partners
DON'T PUSH IT, DON'T FORCE IT - Leon Haywood
SHE'S A BAD MAMA JAMA - Carl Carlton

(Smoove it out)
GET DOWN - Gene Chandler
AND THE BEAT GOES ON - The Whispers
THE SECOND TIME AROUND - Shalamar
PILOT ERROR - Stephanie Mills

(Morning treats)
HOLIDAY - Madonna
I CAN'T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO) - Hall & Oates
YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls
WAS THAT ALL IT WAS - Jean Carn
YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - Candi Staton
THE GLOW OF LOVE - Change
MUSIC IS MY WAY OF LIFE - Patti LaBelle

(Take the tempo down: destination 100 BPM)
SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
NATIVE NEW YORKER - Odyssey
RUNAWAY LOVE - Linda Clifford
MORE, MORE, MORE - Andrea True Connection
IT'S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY DOWN NEXT TO ME - Barry White
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW - Hi-Gloss
RISE - Herb Alpert

(Take it below 100 bpm)
LOVING YOU, LOSING YOU - Phyllis Hyman
HANG ON IN THERE BABY - Johnny Bristol
TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP - Lamont Dozier
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME - Yvonne Fair
HITTIN' ME WHERE IT HURTS - Roberta Flack
LOVE FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE - Claudja Barry

(Last dance, last chance...)
LA VIE EN ROSE - Grace Jones

Encore
YOU SKY ME - Five Letters


That would make me happy!

[drlove]

I have lots of faves, but your lists sound so fun, I just wanna attend your disco parties !!!!

[SandraDee]

Blanche! Your list is amazing! You should do a future 'Remember The Party' if anything happened to Jerry B!

[JussiK]

Markydefad's programming - I would be dancing with a smile on my face right from the beginning, first one on the floor and the last one to leave, screaming for more. What a beginning with Bowie&Diana&Supremes&The Buzzards. Not too crazy about Junior or Rene&Angela so I'd check the balcony area during those. But then I'd have to run back down not to miss a second of LTD, long version no doubt! Make Me Believe In You - I'd be singing along and ruining the track for those dancing next to me. Michael Jackson...time to take a break for the first (soft) drink of the night :-)

( However, just in case there are aspiring djs here planning to try out a non-commercial ( meaning no abba, no madonna, no micheal jackson, no weather girls or gloria gaynor etc) 70's&early 80's disco/italo night, if we're talking real life, a word of advice. The kids check the gigs out carefully in the net before they pay at the door. If you plan to spin stuff like Ashford&Simpson, you target a crowd of soulboys. If you plan to spin electronic stuff and euro tunes, have the manager use words like Space and Cosmic in the flyer. Go for the one sound you're strongest with and hit them hard with it, never any compromising whatsoever. Don't mix styles, changes are you can't pull it off. If they don't dance to your stuff too bad, their loss. Of course, you may never get another booking... )

[kdavid13]

Originally Posted by markydefad

Good Topic! I'm thinking of so many possibilities... this would be an ideal evening at a Disco for me...............

My night starts with...

(slow build to a dance tempo)
YOUNG AMERICANS - David Bowie
LOVE HANGOVER - Diana Ross
HIGH ENERGY - The Supremes
CHERCHEZ LA FEMME - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

(Take it up a notch to funky)
MAMA USED TO SAY - Junior
SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR YOUR #1 - Rene & Angela
(Every Time I Turn Around) BACK IN LOVE AGAIN - L.T.D.

(A Little Jazzier)
ALWAYS THERE - Side Effect
HI-JACK - Herbie Mann
BOURGIE, BOURGIE - Ashford & Simpson
STAR CHILD - Level 42

(Can you feel the Rock?)
LOWDOWN - Boz Scaggs
WHEN I'M WITH YOU - Sparks
HEART OF GLASS - Blondie
STAND BACK - Stevie Nicks
GLAD TO KNOW YOU - Chas Jankel

(Funky Up The Tempo)
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? - Labelle
FEEL THE NEED IN ME - Detroit Emeralds
GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE - Fantastic Four
MAKE ME BELIEVE IN YOU - Patti Jo
MIGHTY HIGH - Mighty Clouds of Joy

(Mid-tempo Classics)
DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH - Michael Jackson
THIS TIME BABY - Jackie Moore
CAN YOU FEEL IT - The Jacksons
FOUND A CURE - Ashford & Simpson
VERTIGO/RELIGHT MY FIRE - Dan Hartman
GOT TO GIVE IT UP - Marvin Gaye

(Take it up another notch -Classics)
DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO - T-Connection
DEVIL'S GUN - C.J. & Company
THAT'S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO - The Trammps
YOU + ME = LOVE - Undisputed Truth

(Ladies Choice/Choice Ladies--workin' to a peak)
DO YOU LOVE ME? - Patti Austin
THINK IT OVER - Cissy Houston
DOIN' THE BEST THAT I CAN - Bettye Lavette
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO (If You Ever Left Me) - Sweet Cream
LOVE'S UNKIND - Donna Summer
HOLD YOUR HORSES - First Choice
USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT - Odyssey

(Classic Troc Peak)
LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME - ABBA (Disconet Remix)
AIN'T NOTHING GONNA KEEP ME FROM YOU - Terri DeSario
LOVE IS IN YOU - Nightlife Unlimited
LOVE INSURANCE - Front Page featuring Sharon Redd
ANGEL EYES - Roxy Music

(Soulful Peak)
DON'T TAKE AWAY THE MUSIC - Tavares
THIS WILL BE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER - Eddie Holman (peak time sweeping Salsoul treat!)
LOVIN' IS REALLY MY GAME - Brainstorm
CAN'T BE LOVE (Do It To Me Anyway) - Peter Brown
CRANK IT UP - Peter Brown
SUNSET PEOPLE - Donna Summer

PEAKED!!!

(Take it down a notch: Rockish to Trippy to Pretty)
THE RUNNER - The Three Degrees
BEAT THE CLOCK - Sparks
I FEEL LOVE - Donna Summer
SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME - Space
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH - Metropolis
NOW I NEED YOU - Donna Summer
FILL MY LIFE WITH LOVE - ST. Tropez

(Take it down another notch)
BLACKJACK - Baciotti
MAGIC BIRD OF FIRE - The Salsoul Orchestra
IT'S MY LIFE - Talk Talk
IN PRIVATE - Dusty Springfield
MASTERPIECE - Gazebo

(A Little Rock/Punk/Darker Side Popper Set)
CONTROVERSY - Prince
WALKING ON THIN ICE - Yoko Ono
EVOLUTION - Giorgio Moroder
WHITE LINES - Grandmaster Flash

(Make it sweeter, prettier)
SEARCHIN' - Change
GONE, GONE, GONE - Johnny Mathis
QUIET VILLAGE - The Ritchie Family
DON'T MAKE ME WAIT TOO LONG - Roberta Flack
VICTIM - Candi Staton

(Make it jungle/primal/S.E.X.Y.)
COME LET ME LOVE YOU - Jeanette "Lady" Day
I DON'T WANNA BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) - Dynasty
A-FREAK-A - Lemon
THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS - Ray Martinez


(Make it funky)
GIVE IT TO ME BABY - Rick James
YOU CAN DO IT - Al Hudson & The Partners
DON'T PUSH IT, DON'T FORCE IT - Leon Haywood
SHE'S A BAD MAMA JAMA - Carl Carlton
AND THE BEAT GOES ON - The Whispers

(Mid-tempo morning treats)
HOLIDAY - Madonna
FULL TIME THING (Between Dusk & Dawn) - Whirlwind
I CAUGHT YOUR ACT - The Hues Corporation
WAS THAT ALL IT WAS - Jean Carn
MUSIC IS MY WAY OF LIFE - Patti LaBelle
YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - Candi Staton
YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls

(Take the tempo down)
SWEARIN' TO GOD - Frankie Valli
NATIVE NEW YORKER - Odyssey
RUNAWAY LOVE - Linda Clifford
IT'S ECSTASY WHEN YOU LAY NEXT TO ME - Barry White
MORE, MORE, MORE - Andrea True Connection
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW - Hi-Gloss
LOVING YOU, LOSING YOU - Phyllis Hyman
RISE - Herb Alpert

(Take it below 100 bpm)
HANG ON IN THERE BABY - Johnny Bristol
TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP - Lamont Dozier
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME - Yvonne Fair
HITTIN' ME WHERE IT HURTS - Roberta Flack
LOVE FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE - Claudja Barry

(Last dance, last chance...)
LA VIE EN ROSE - Grace Jones

Encore
YOU SKY ME - Five Letters


That would make me happy!

What ????? You forgot to list the BPMs ????
This is not a random list - this is a fantastic night on the town...Turn on the lights and watch us dance to your stellar selections. Great Job Marky.