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Dance-able Bluesy Song Suggestions...


BlueJer

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Hi all!  One of my bands recently broke up, and I have a Casino gig booked for March 18th that I've already signed a contract for.  My other band can't do the show as the bassist will be on vacation.

I contacted a local bass wizard and my drummer from the other band...and both can do the date.  I am also thinking about adding either a harmonica player or keyboard player to the lineup...and my plan is to put together a 3+ hour set of good blues and/or motown style cover songs. 

With that, I don't want to do all the super popular ones that many bands already cover (sweet home chicago, pride & joy, superstitious, etc)...but I don't want super complicated stuff either as I have to learn to sing/play all of this by March 18th. 

If you have any song suggestions that you think would be a good fit...I'd love to hear it!  What I am specifically looking for are bluesy or motown style songs that people know but don't hear often.  I am just getting started on my list, but this is what I have so far so you have an idea.  They don't have to fit the blues or motown genre per say, but would like them to be dance-able and/or upbeat for the most part.

Lastly, I don't cover things note for note.  I play the blues mostly, and will twist anything I cover to be more bluesy/my style...

Song List (so far):

Soul Man -Blues Bros
Big Leg Woman -Freddie King
Love Potion #9 -Searchers
St James Infirmary Blues -My Version
Oreo Cookie Blues -Lonnie Mack/SRV
Funky Bitch -Son Seals
Ready or Not -Jackson 5
Love Man -Otis Reading
On My Way To Atlanta -Freddie King
Kick Around -Samantha Fish



 

 

 

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Here I go again - Whitesnake. Original bluesy version though.

The Jack - ACDC

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After recently seeing people dancing to the music played by Big Block Dodge, it proves that people will dance to anything with a groove.  Who knew Jeff Beck wrote dance music? 

Among the videos I have watched more than once lately is Unknown Hinson doing the Paul Revere and the Raiders song Stepping Out.  It is bluesy, and learning it would help if you ever get a gig playing 60's rock hits.  Following that approach you could do The Beatles' song Yer Blues which Beware Of Darkness played live on tour.  No one thinks of The Beatles as a blues band.  Buddy Miles' Them Changes is bluesy and gives you a Jimi Hendrix connection.  Clapton and Winwood included it in a show, so it might be familiar enough to an older crowd. 

Hip Hug Her by Booker T. and the M.G.'s is danceable.  You will need a keyboard player with an organ, or a second guitar player with an ehx pedal to get organ sounds.  The way Booker T. Jones current band plays Take Me To The River is upbeat and fast, but hits a great groove. 

Every time my last band played The Joker by Steve Miller, people got up and danced.  It never failed to get that reaction. 

Led Zeppelin's I'm Gonna Crawl would give you a heavy blues song that also would work for a slow dance.  It is also a keyboard song. 

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My Babe, Thrill is Gone, Born in Chicago, Still Got The Blues. Red House. There are a lot of great tunes from Robert Cray that most folks overlook.....Phone Booth, Don't Touch Me Baby, for example. Ditto Booker T.

While much maligned, things like Mustang Sally DO tend to get people up on the dance floor.

 

For some "energy", try The Stumble (Freddie King).

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Mustang Sally

Stop Messing Around Fleetwood Mac

Around and Around Chuck Berry

Let Me Love You- Buddy Guy

Let The Good Times Roll-Freddy King

House is Rocking SRV

Tina Marie-KWS

Measin with the Kid--Junior Wells

Strut--Taj Mahal

Phone Booth-Cray

Sugar Coated Love- t birds

Nutbush City Limits----Ike and Tina

Saint on Sunday--James Cotton

Bottle of Red Wine--EC

She's Tuff--Tbirds

Get Your Business Straight-Magic Slim

Wrap It Up-Sam & Dave

Thirty Days--Chuck berry

 

 

and the list goes on....so many great dancing blues to do.....

 

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BTW, the tunes that have a great (simple but distinctive) riff do tend to get the toes tapping. Besides Born in Chicago:

Feel So Bad   Little Milton

One Way Out   Allman Bros

Damn Right I Got The Blues   Buddy Guy

Green Onions   Booker T (Or Help Me)

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13 hours ago, LucSulla said:

I quite like this spin on a Janis Joplin tune:
 


My country band used to do it, and it always went over well. 

Smart! I just thought I had seen our very own Belgian in the video. Might even have his living room featured.  B)

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14 hours ago, django49 said:

BTW, the tunes that have a great (simple but distinctive) riff do tend to get the toes tapping. Besides Born in Chicago:

Feel So Bad   Little Milton

One Way Out   Allman Bros

Damn Right I Got The Blues   Buddy Guy

Green Onions   Booker T (Or Help Me)

Played Born in Chacago just last night at a blues jam.....one of the few songs where people danced.....the riff compels the feet to move or the hips to sway!

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Idolize You   Ike & Tina Turner    great groove and lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-pqTW5gd3Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbcXTP7MNbs

I heard this for the first time a few nights ago while listening to the Austrian national radio station that broadcasts to the minority Slovenian community. (Gorch, how about that!)

There are several versions. Late 50s? 1960. 1970s.  The first one above is smoother. The second one is pure fire. YMMV

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I'd throw in some slightly off-genre crowdpleasers unless its a dedicated blues audience.

My go-to filler material list includes mostly frat rock classics like:

Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran

Shakin All Over - Joe(?) Kidd and the Pirates

Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett

Kicks -Paul Revere & the Raiders

Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five

Little Bit of Soul - Music Explosion

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On 2/10/2016 at 5:30 AM, Jakeboy said:

Played Born in Chacago just last night at a blues jam.....one of the few songs where people danced.....the riff compels the feet to move or the hips to sway!

If we could get the "younger girls" up and moving (and calling their friends to come down and join in!), even with me vocally goofing on "improvised lyrics" ("My girl friend went down, when I was nineteen years.....Yes, my girl friend went down, when I was nineteen years.....One thing I can say about that gal, she could blow.......Now play your harp, Mark!") ;)

 

Harpo Mark has to keep reminding me it is "Blow and DRAW", not "Blow and SUCK".

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