A Surfing 21st

Lorna's 21st turned out to be a bit different. Not that holding it in a large byre is particularly unusual but hiring a twelve foot surf board

simulator is.

The music was to start at 7pm and run on till late. Late turned out to be 0130, so a good six and a half hours of tuneage was required.

I was late in the day picking up on the surf theme and only had a couple of nights to dig out as many surf related songs that I could. This is certainly where the internet comes into its own. In the old days this would have meant a frantic rush to HMV or Tower records to grab as many cds with a picture of someone hanging on to a surf board on the front. Now with the immediate help of Google and an i-tunes account you can listen to, sort out what will work, buy it and drag  the song into your playlist. All this in a matter of no time at all and all from the comfort of your own home. Thank You Mr Internet Inventor person.

The indoor surf simulator worked really well. First as an ice breaker as everyone basically just stood and looked at it, and then after some liquid dutch courage as a fun way to get people mixing and so start the party vibe. It helped validate the fact that nearly everyone had made the effort to dress up in a Hawaiian Style.

I started with lots of guitar based, surf sounding tunes mixed in some more modern sounds and, as the oldies were hanging around watching the fun,  some more mature rock. This helped to keep the whole group together and focussed in the party room. Later in when the music went younger the older folk headed off somewhere quieter but the early section went well.

My favourites were 'Surf's Up' by The Atlantics, an obscure , even in The Atlantics own household, Aussie Surf Band from the '60s and 'Southbound' by The Allmans followed by the less well known Skynyrd version of J J Cale's, 'Call me the Breeze'.  Fleetwood Mac's take on 'Shake your Money Maker' and Dick Dale with 'Misirilou' sounded stomping.

Kicked on with the current charts and party tunes from the back of nine on until the oldies commanded the floor at the back of one to rock out.

As ever Mumford & Sons filled the floor, the White Stripes kept the indie kids happy and the very loud Afrojack mix of Sweat followed by this summer's dance anthem 'Badman Riddim brought some serious dancefloor action from the youngsters. I was quite pleased, firstly because I like nothing better than really loud music and secondly because last October I killed a 21st for about 5 minutes when I dropped in a harsh mix of Gold Dust. This part of Scotland was not yet ready to embrace dubstep, But give it nine months and...

As ever, the next day you sit and think of another two dozen songs you could easily of played. When I started this game I used to worry about running out of tunes and playing all the big hits too early. Now I just go for it if it feels right. Get the party going any way you can and the songs will come. 

A fine night with the lights and the smoke and the tunes and the volume turned up and people dancing. Almost made me think about returning to mobile work.   Almost.  Until I had to pack it all away the next day.

Back at the pub soon.

Tracks played are , as ever, here.

1 Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter

2 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's

3 Guantanamera - The Sandpipers

4 Oye Como Va - Santana

5 Conga - Gloria Estefan

6 Cada Vez - Negrocan

7 Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings

8 Cuba - Gibson Brothers

9 Guaglione - Pérez Prado

10 Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

11 Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como

12 Tequila - The Champs

13 A Minha Menina - The Bees

14 Cantaloupe Island - Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers

15 Surf's Up - The Atlantics

16 Shindig - Shadows

17 Good Vibrations - Beach Boys

18 Beach Baby - First Class

19 Hawaii Five O - The Ventures

20 Freakout - The Atlantics

21 Seven Nation Army ( Patchworks Mix) - The Dynamics

22 Beach Side - Kings Of Leon

23 Rock This House - B.B. King

24 Shake Your Money Maker - Fleetwood Mac

25 Misirilou - Dick Dale

26 Juicebox - The Strokes

27 Down On The Beach Tonite - The Drifters

28 Wake Up Little Susie - Everley Brothers

29 Surfin' Usa - Beach Boys

30 Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend

31 You Can Call Me Al - Paul Simon

32 Everywhere - Fleetwood Mac

33 Feeling Groovy - Simon And Garfunkle

34 California Girls - Beach Boys

35 Pipeline - The Chantays

36 Southbound - Allman Brothers Band

37 Call Me The Breeze - Lynyrd Skynyrd

38 Molly's Chambers - Kings Of Leon

39 Wipeout - The Surfaris

40 Tequila - The Champs

41 Bossa Nova Baby - Elvis Presley

42 Bamboleo - Gipsy Kings

43 Sun Is Shining - Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe

44 Sunchyme - Dario G

45 Chase The Sun – (Ibiza Beat Remix) - David Tort, Norman Doray

46 Shelter ( Talabot's Feel It Too Remix) - The Xx

47 Clocks Cuba - Coldplay

48 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's

49 Cuba - Gibson Brothers

50 Apache - The Shadows

51 Cha Cha Twist - Detroit Cobras

52 Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochrane

53 I Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller Four

54 Johnny Got A Boom Boom - Imelda May

55 Toss The Feathers - The Corrs

56 I Usta Love Her - Saw Doctors

57 The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

58 Forget You - Cee Lo Green

59 Tonight_(Im_Lovin_You) - Iglesias Vs. Eurythmics

60 On The Floor (Ccw Radio Mix) - Jennifer Lopez

61 It Just Won’t Do - Tim Deluxe

62 Hotel California (Latino Summer Mix) - Nils Vs Eagles

63 The Cave - Mumford & Sons

64 The Galway Girl - Steve Earle

65 If I Should Fall From Grace - The Pogues

66 It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones

67 Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter

68 Twist And Shout - Beatles

69 Baby Love (Halfby Shambles Remix) - The Supremes

70 Working My Way Back To You 45 - Detroit Spinners

71 Show Me In The Deep (Djs From Mars Bootleg) - Adele Vs. Robin S

72 Raise Your Glass - Pink

73 Love Takes Over - David Guetta

74 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

75 Don't Bring Me Down - Electric Light Orchestra

76 Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - Kt Tunstall

77 I Usta Love Her - Saw Doctors

78 Candy - Paolo Nutini

79 Hold Up A Light - Take That

80 Walking On A Dream (Treasure F Remix) - Empire Of The Sun

81 Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People

82 Love Shack - B 52s

83 Message In A Bottle - The Police

84 Summer Of 69 - Bryan Adams

85 Kids (Skyve Reuters Bunkalifony Edit) - Mgmt

86 Mr Brightside - The Killers

87 Papillon (Tiesto Remix) - Editors

88 The Girls - Calvin Harris

89 Written In Stars Vs Pass Out Vs Kickstarts - Tinie Tempah Vs Example

90 Prayin' - Plan B

91 Horse Outside - The Rubberbandits

92 Little Lion Man - Mumford & Sons
93 Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

94 Congratulations - Cliff Richard

95 Hotel Yorba - White Stripes

96 Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealer's Wheel

97 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party - Paolo Nutini Vs Lou Bega

98 The Lazy Song - Bruno Mars

99 S&M (Come On) - 128 - 2a - 128 - Rihanna

100 Bass Down Low (Explicit Edit) - Dev Feat The Cataracs

101 Hips Don't Lie - Shakira

102 Badman Riddim ( Friction Mix) - Vato Gonzales

103 Sweat (Afrojack Dub Mix) - Snoop Dogg & David Guetta

104 Sweet Dreams Tonight - Iglesias Vs. Eurythmics
105 Soul-Limbo - Booker T. & The Mg's
106 Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of ...) - Lou Bega
107 Macarena - Los Del Rio
108 9 - 5 - Dolly Parton

109 Crazy In Love Feat. Jay Z - Beyonce

110 Pon De Replay - Rihanna

111 Superstition - Stevie Wonder

112 Kickstarts - Example

113 Bounce  - Calvin_Harris

114 Yeah 3x - - Chris Brown

115 I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

116 Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon

117 A-Punk - Vampire Weekend

118 All The Small Things - Blink 182

119 Rock The Boat - Hues Corp

120 Oops Upside Your Head - The Gap Band

121 Dancing Queen - Abba

122 Back In Black (Powerpack Vocal Mix) - Acdc

123 Ace Of Spades - Motorhead

124 Rock And Roll - Led Zeppelin

125 Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como

126 Brown Eyed Girl - Reel Big Fish

127 Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond

128 New York New York - Sinatra

Sun in Drizzleland

Sun shone today up here in Drizzleland. What a pleasure driving back from work with this track playing loud.
The perfect soundtrack for summer.
Makes me dream again of returning to Ibiza.

That Desperate Thing - U2

Many moons ago,around about 1981ish, I was quite into U2. I asked for a copy of Boy the week it was released for my 21st birthday. I had heard their first ep on John Peel and liked the tumbling, rushing guitar sound and the lead singer's breathless vocals. They seemed a band to name drop to the trendies. I also caught them a couple of times live. Once at a stadium gig at Gateshead where the band were  low down the running order, I think, but maybe they weren't, how am I supposed to remember it was 30 odd years ago? And once at a gig at the Playhouse in Edinburgh. This I remember better because I still have the ticket stub. 

I perversely quite liked October when it was released and also thought highly of War. But then equally thrawn, I was disappointed by 'The Joshua Tree' and our paths separated. Although I had nothing against 'One' or 'The Sweetest Thing' neither did I find the time to play them very often.

I mused on all this when watching the band play at Glastonbury. I was trying to figure out why it is difficult to love U2. I think they try too hard and are too desperate to be loved. It is as if this anxiousness to please drives out any real emotion. But looking back it appears that this breathless rush to engage has been their focus since '11 0'Clock Tick Tock'. 

In my years of djing, I don't play U2 often. I once dropped in' Stories for Boys' when I was going through some energetic tunes about 5 years past. Obviously, I gave 'Vertigo' a good airing when it was high in the charts and likewise with 'One' and 'Sweetest Thing' but no-one really asks for them anymore and I don't see  any great need to play them.

Strange then, how a band so desperate to be loved have one of the most ridiculed frontsmen around whilst everyone else just yawns with indifference.

Now Pendulum. I thought they were great.

Prom Night 2011

A change of pace as I was asked to do the end of term Prom for the local Primary School. This mean the youngsters are about 11 years old. I have done this party for a few years now and it is always enjoyable.
A lot of the time the dancing is organised around a selection of Scottish Country Dances like The Gay Gordons, The Dasing White Sergeant or a good old time Barn Dance. These tunes are played off a cd, how Old Skool, so the computer doesn't keep a log of them.
The rest of the time it is a selection of happy tunes which are the background to some games or some 'Disco Time' as the supervising teachers call it.
What I have learned is.

1. The youngsters don't wish to be patronised and expect to hear the same Top 40 stuff as there pub going elders.
2. They lose interest quickly and really only want to hear the chorus and maybe one verse.
3. Justin Beiber isn't as popular as you  might think. So who is buying his records?
4. They like happy party sing-along songs. Same as the pub at closing time crew.

So before the Prom, I go through the likely Top 20 hits of the day and cue up start points just before the chorus or on the beat of the first verse. Then when the evening is in full swing I can rapidly kick off the tunes right at the interesting bits. This seems to work well and I would recommend this to any dj working with a young audience.

Health and Safety Tip. When you have 50 soprano youngsters bellowing out 'Don't Stop Believing' at the night's end you know your job is done but it don't half hurt your ears.

Tracks Played Here.

1 Somebody To Love  - Glee

2 S&M (Come On)  -Rihanna

3 Raise Your Glass - Pink
4 Where Them Girls At - David Guetta
5 Bad Romance Lady Gaga
6 Mr. Saxobeat (Extended) Alexandra Stan
7 Skinny Genes Eliza Doolittle
8 I'm On My Way  - The Proclaimers
9 S&M (Come On) -  Rihanna
10 Here Come The Girls  - Ernie K Doe
11 Run The World (Girls) - Beyoncé
12 Crazy In Love Feat. Jay Z  - Beyonce
13 I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
14 Sweat  - Snoop Dog Feat David Guetta
15 Give Me Everything  - Pitbull

16 Yeah 3X   - Chris Brown

17 Just Dance  - Lady Gaga

18 Celebration  - Kool And The Gang

19 Party Rock Anthem  - LMFAO

20 Boom Boom  - Outhere Bros

21 Jumping All Over The World - Scooter
22 Bounce  - Calvin Harris
23 Carnival De Paris - Dario G
24 The Lazy Song  - Bruno Mars
25 Paolo's Pencil Full Of Party  - Paolo Nutini Vs Lou Bega
26 (Is This The Way To) Amarillo -  Tony Christie
27 Cotton Eye Joe-  Rednex
28 Where Them Girls At  - David Guetta
29 Sweat -  Snoop Dog

30 Grease Megamix  - Megamix

31 Footloose - Kenny Loggins

32 La Bamba  -Los Lobos

33 I_Need_A_Dollar  - Aloe_Blacc

34 Black And Yellow  -Wiz Khalifa

35 Heaven  - Dj Sammy

36 Save The World (Radio Mix)  - Swedish House Mafia

37 Cha Cha Slide

38 I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)  - The Proclaimers

39 Auld Lang Syne  - Gay Gordons

40 Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast

May 28th Tracklisting

Was due to play on the previous Saturday but got a call late on that day and asked to swap to the following week, which didn't cause a problem.

So May 28th it is then. The Champions League Final was on until the half nine mark so I didn't kick off until the match was finished which is why there is less tracks than usual in the list below.

Upbeat to start with. Don't often play James Last, much to my father's dismay, but the Happy Brasillia track pounds along with strong tribal drums and the blowing of whistles. It is similar to the cliched 'Carnival De Paris' but less well known. I doubt even if Mr Last remembers recording it.

Otherwise the usual bar mix. Hopefully something for everyone. Pixies for the wife who has no idea how difficult it is fitting one of their tunes into the expected happy, toe tapping tunes that are wanted, Figured that at half past midnight no-one would notice.

Tracks Played, including 'Alison; here..

1 Celebration  - Kool & The Gang
2 Happy Brasilia  -Paolo Scotti & James Last
3 Rockit - Herbie Hancock
4 Theme From S-Express -  S'Express
5 Rapper's Delight (Hip Hop Remix '89)  - Sugarhill Gang
6 Strut Your Funky Stuff  - Frantique
7 Do What U Do  - How2 Groove & Audio Jacker
8 Ibiza ( Babanow Jazz-Funk Remix) -  Yuriy Poleg
9 Let The Music Take You   - House Bros
10 Lady ( Allure & Syntheticsax S-Beat Remix)  - Modjo
11 Chase The Sun (Alex Lamb Bootleg)  - David Tort & Norman Doray
12 Flashback (Danny Dance 2011 Remix)  - Calvin Harris
13 One For Me - James Talk & Ridney
14 Lovely Day (Phatt Mix)  - Bill Withers
15 I_Need_A_Dollar  - Aloe_Blacc

16 Bright Lights Bigger City  - Cee Lo Green

17 Rollin' Stone  - Benny Royal

18 Groove Is In The Heart (Barclay & Cream Club Mix) -  Barclay & Cream

19 You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

20 Street Life  - The Crusaders

21 Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind And Fire

22 Move On Up -   Curtis Mayfield

23 Rock The Casbah (Rhythm Schola mix) -  The Clash

24 Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag  - Pig Bag

25 Sweat   - Snoop Dog Feat David Guetta

26 Beautiful People (Club Mix) -  Chris Brown And Benny Benassi
27 Let's Dance Chris Rea
28 Walk Of Life Dire Straits
29 The Lazy Song Bruno Mars
30 Haven’T Met You Yet Michael Buble
31 You Can Call Me Al Paul Simon
32 Feeling Groovy Simon And Garfunkle
33 Love X Love George Benson*
34 Seven Days In Sunny June Jamiroquai
35 It Just Wont Do Tim Deluxe
36 Romeo Basement Jaxx
37 I Gotta Feeling Black Eyed Peas*
38 Rolling In The Deep(Elektrokatz Big Room Remix) Adele
39 Personal Jesus (The Stargate Mix) Depeche Mode
40 All The Small Things Blink 182
41 Last Nite The Strokes
42 A Hard Day's Night The Beatles

43 All Day And All Of The Night Kinks
44 Satisfaction Rolling Stones
45 Judy And The Dream Of Horses Belle And Sebastian
46 Time Of Your Life Green Day
47 Little Lion Man Mumford & Sons
48 Stuck In The Middle With You Stealer's Wheel
49 The Galway Girl Steve Earle
50 Mrs. Robinson Simon And Garfunkel
51 The Lazy Song Bruno Mars
52 Bed And Breakfast Man Madness
53 Too Much Too Young Special Aka
54 Allison The Pixies*
55 Another Saturday Night Sam Cooke
56 Cupid Amy Winhouse
57 Everybody Needs Somebody To Love Jools Holland
58 Sunday Morning The Velvet Underground
59 It's Going To Take Some Time Carpenters
60 Mack The Knife Bobby Darin

* Request.