BARBELITH underground
 

Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.


Underground > Radio & Music >

Help Needed: Outfitting a Club with Tunes

  
 
Seth
00:01 / 15.08.02
Here's the deal: a friend of mine is starting a club night for 3rd September. The idea is to make it a big mess of glamour, identity games and fucking great tunes from a broad spectrum. However, it's loosely based on swing and big band stuff, so the evening will use this as a base to leapfrog into different genres that carry the same kind of energy. She intends to have a male and female chorus line, that kinda vibe.

So the question is, what music would you play? Names of tunes, and artists (and possibly even URLs of where it can be downloaded) would be a definite plus: as much stuff as you can think of.
 
 
Saveloy
08:12 / 15.08.02
Are you after yer proper swing & big band tunes?
 
 
No star here laces
08:14 / 15.08.02
Lord Creator - "The big bamboo"

Early 60s rocksteady with a big-band, latin feel. The lyrics are all about cock size. Very funny and has a nice rhythm for dancing unlike most ska which is horribly pedestrian and repetitive.

Willie Nelson and someone else - "And they called it swing"

Vexing myself by not being able to remember the right name for this. Anyway, it's kind of a paean to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, but also to Glenn Miller. Willie manages to join up country to its swing roots and chuck a bit of jazz in there while he's at it. Incredibly clever and fun record.

Unknown - "Batucada por favor"

Batucada! For those that don't know, this is big band Brazilian-style. i.e. every single instrument is a drum. Kind of like swing in that there are loads of instruments and it has that real forward driving momentum that good swing has, and the headlong pace. This particular tune is basically a great polyrhythmic drum phrase repeated again and again with slight variations and speeding up the whole time. It'll stop dead, a whistle will blow, and then it starts up again only faster. Mentalist.

James Last - "Everybody get together"

Hammond-heavy big band take on some bit of sixties frippery. "Come on you people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together try to love one another right now..." Er, not much you can say. I don't normally go for Kitsch, but this is irresistible. Available on Readers Digest compilations.

Al de Lory - "Jesu Christo"

Utterly unexplainable. Don't know where I got it from, or why, but it really does rock. It's kind of one of those slightly camp late-period Wigan casino type records with really saccharine strings and disco-style builds, but really Spector-esque production. It has what sounds like a 20-piece choir doing the choruses, and therefore making them utterly incomprehensible. It is, of course, a religious thing.

Bob Wilson Sounds - "Strings a go-go"

Similar style string ensemble big-band soul, but instrumental, and much higher energy (and the last record was pretty high energy anyhow). Sounds like swing, if swing had been strings instead of brass.


I can go on and on. But given that these are some of the more obscure records I own, dunno if you're likely to be able to find 'em that easily. But there is loads of mental swing-influenced stuff out there. I just personally know fuck all about swing itself.
 
 
Saveloy
09:15 / 15.08.02
Even if you can't find the specific examples he gives, Lyra's post makes a good guide to the genres to check out. Jamaican, funky Latin and Lounge (especially) are good places to look for wham-bam brass and percussion.

A lot of the people involved in big bands seem to have ended up doing the kind of thing that gets filed under lounge/easy/exotica. There's a brilliant guide at:

http://www.spaceagepop.com

I particularly recommend the works of Enoch Light and Terry Snyder, who were big names in the persussion craze of the early 60s (popular tunes done in an OTT cartoon fashion, with as many different types of perc crammed into the mix as possible). I've got a couple of the Persuasive Percussion series and "Terry Snyder: Mr Percussion" which I can sort you out with, if you like.
 
 
Saveloy
09:45 / 15.08.02
Ooh, ooh, there's a track on the 'West Side Story' soundtrack (every charity shop has one) which you've GOT to use - 'Dance at the Gym'. It's the ultimate knock-you-out "Get a loada ME!" stripper theme. It slides in on nervous 'uh-oh' violins and, just as they reach a peak of, um, anxiousness, the brass comes crashing down with a BA-DA-D-DA-DA-D-DA-DA-D-DA-DA-D-DA-DA-D-DAH DA!
(tiny pause)
Ba-da da-da-da POW! POW! POW!
and so on.

The perfect combination of sleaze and upfront brassiness. You couldn't dance to it without totally going for it in a high-kicking, tush-shaking stylee, mind.
 
 
Seth
22:45 / 15.08.02
Thanks peeps. I'm emailing this thread to my friend as we speak (as well as being damn curious to check out some of this stuff myself). Keep 'em coming.

Lyra: I almost stuck your name in the thread title to get your attention. Thought this might be your thing.
 
 
Saveloy
10:28 / 16.08.02
Got some more. Bear in mind the fact that I too know f' all about this sort of thing, when I say:

Gene Krupa is good for energetic, up-tempo, big band tunes (the 30s - 40s stuff, at least), some with vocals (mostly Irene Daye and Anita O'Day). Can't listen to some of these without picturing Tom or Jerry in triumphant 'man, it's good to be alive' strut mode. Lots of cheapo comps about, of varying quality, but I can vouch for 'Drums Drums Drums' (Castle Records, available from Amazon for 4.99). Includes his best known tunes - "Drummin' Man", "Drum Boogie" and "Rhumboogie" - and the sound quality is as good as you'll probably get for that era. As well as the aforementioned I recommend:

"Bolero at the Savoy"
"Lover"
"Massechusetts" (mid tempo, fantastic tune and vocal)
"Opus One" (mid tempo, lovely bouncy bass)
"After You've Gone" (frenetic)
"Do You Wanna Jump, Children?" (stabbing intro riff, Leo Watson vocal)

Jimmie Lunceford - from the stuff I've heard and the opinions I've read he can be a bit so-so on record. But I still recommend:

"Tain't What You Do"
"Bug's Parade" (nice jerky rhythm)


If you want to go out on a limb, Jim Foetus has done some great stuff with big band samples. Try:

Wiseblood - "Pedal to the Metal" (Vocal "I may be a geek, but I'm a geek with a purpose!" EP, released in '92 or thereabouts)

Foetus - "Heuldoch 7B" (from the recent album "Flow". About 7 mins long, lots of breaks, changes in dynamic etc but driving overall)

Steroid Maximus - "Quilombo" and "Life in the Greenhouse Effect" (both from the album "Gondwanaland". Both instrumental, first is similar to Heuldoch, slightly snappier, v. quick, builds to apocalyptic ending. Second is closer to 50s exotica; mid-tempo, sleazy Tarzan stripper vibe).

Probably not what you're after at all...
 
 
Seth
18:00 / 19.08.02
Please don't stop suggesting stuff - we need as many as possible!
 
 
Grey Area
18:32 / 19.08.02
New(ish): James Taylor Quartet
Old (but good): Glenn Miller (drop it in late in the evening when everyone's pished and watch the fun...hey, it works when I do it )
 
 
at the scarwash
19:13 / 19.08.02
Don Byron plays the songs of Mickey Katz

Avant-garde clarinetist Byron and his band pay faithful tribute to the novelty Kletzmer bandleader Mickey Katz. "The Hawaiian War Chant" is a stand out, as is "Haim Aufen Range," a matzoh version of the American Cowboy classic.
 
 
Stone Mirror
19:51 / 19.08.02
Four words: "Big Bad Voodoo Daddy".
 
 
Saveloy
07:56 / 20.08.02
Sparks - 'Looks Looks Looks'

A straight pastiche of a swinging 20s musical number (pre big band, in other words, but it'll fit, trust me) done with full orchestra. Think "Thoroughly Modern Millie" with extra pop power. Definitely makes you want to move, though I'm not sure exactly how you'd go about it without looking like a damnable silly-arse. Super camp lyrics:


Looks, looks, looks
You had sense, you had style, you had cash galore
Looks, looks, looks
You employed her and dressed her in formal fashion
Still you bore her because you ain't got a
Nose that's straight, a set of perfect teeth
You got a built-in seat, that makes you look effete
You know that looks, looks, looks, are why you rely on books

Looks, looks, looks
From the eye to the brains just an inch or two
Looks, looks, looks
From the eye to the heart's only slightly farther
The smart grow smarter, but still can't compete
And they know deep down that they are scarred for life
And that a face can launch a thousand hips
It's gonna be all right
If it ain't, don't blame me, it's your looks!

Can be found on the album "Indescreet".
 
 
No star here laces
09:56 / 20.08.02
Trojan Records have a comp out called "Shuffling on Bond Street" which is all instrumental ska, much of it with a soundtracky/big band feel. Definitely worth picking up if you spot it anywhere.

Another area is big 70s tv theme tunes - think Theme from Joe 90. Sure there are more around like this for the taking.

Big band/swing always reminds me of military music. I have an album of "Classic War Movie Themes", some of which would definitely fit. Also just marching band music. I was once unfortunate to go to the Edinburgh tattoo and can vouch that marching band music is just about the most depressing thing you can hear after about the third hour of it. However I was saved by the Turkish Mehte (sp?) band that played there - military music with an Ottoman swirl and twizzle to it. Pretty cool, actually, if a little bit of a stretch away from swing.
 
 
grant
17:12 / 20.08.02
Steve Albini and members of Austin, Texas outfit Glass Eye (various members of which cameoed in Richard Linklater's "Slacker") released a single album under the band name "Prohibition."

It's basically what you'd expect - Big Black meets jangly post-punk to sing Prohibition-era songs. Unfortunately, they released it about 10 years before the swing craze took off. Some of it sounds a bit too 80s, but there are a couple good tracks on there. I'm fond of "Primitive Man" myself (Not the kind of man who belongs to a club, but the kind with a club that belongs to him!)

Lyle Lovett has some good swing-ish numbers (the albums "...And His Large Band" and "Pontiac," if I remember right). They're a little slower and slinkier than the stuff I recognize recommended here.

Buddy Greco's beat poet swing stuff is pretty, well, swingin'. Does these little raps about the kids in the middle of "That's Why the Lady is a Tramp".

I've got a distant friend who releases albums of loungey techno cocktail stuff under the name DJ Ursula 1000. I've heard him mix live with a group, and he's good.

You might consider some songs by Brave Combo. They sort of marketed polka, if that makes any sense. They play weddings, did an album of Beatles covers with Tiny Tim (his last) and were very popular on the independent circuit a while back. Accordions & guitars.

Tom Waits Step Right Up. Half sales-pitch, half hepcat rant, upbeat with a jumpin' standup bass. A good song for strutting.

Once you've done a couple nights, you might consider Teisco Del Rey's Madison Time. The song/dance was used in "Hairspray," if you remember that - a guy calling out various dance steps over an instrumental background. But when Del Rey (an electric guitar instrumentalist) does it, he features a caller who sounds perfectly reasonable and normal at first. But slowly loses it.
Fun.
 
 
No star here laces
08:52 / 21.08.02
Oooh. Reminds me. Felix Da Housecat - "cosmic pop" off "I know elektrikboy" would be grate too.
 
 
Seth
20:05 / 01.09.02
My mate who's organising this passes her thanks on to all of you for your recommendations. Particular grateful to Sav, who sent not one but five CDRs crammed with great stuff. Thanks everyone!
 
 
Saveloy
07:35 / 04.09.02
So, how did it go? Is it going to be a regular thing? Facts! Details! Details! (Please)
 
 
Seth
19:07 / 04.09.02
[Looks sheepish, shuffles feet uncomfortably]

Erm... I didn't go.

I had an awful day yesterday. I mean awful - one of the worst in recent memory. Here's the lowdown from the organiser, though:

Went much better than I expected - very pleased and relieved.
The responses were excellent.
I've now just got to see how to move forward.

It's a going concern now, I guess, so I'll keep you posted on future events. It'd be good to make a Southampton meet out of it...

[/Looks sheepish, shuffles feet uncomfortably]
 
 
Saveloy
15:23 / 05.09.02
[Looks sheepish, shuffles feet uncomfortably]

*shakes head slowly*

Dear oh dear oh dear. When will they ever learn?

Glad it went well. I don't want to be pushy, but would your friend mind telling us even more? Just basic stuff, like, did people dance, what's the venue like, how long did it go for, what sort of stuff did she end up playing? etc. I have friends who'd probably be up for going to any future events, and the more I can tell them, the more likely I'll get them down there.
 
 
reddog
21:03 / 18.09.02
Well, I can now thank you in person as it were for all the suggestions, some I used, some other people also suggested and some I need to look into for future nights.

Saveloy you wanted details; people did dance, cyber punks to college boys,

the venue is the Greene Cellar in Southampton; bar down stairs and upstairs old small dance hall kinda feel. Time 9pm to 1am.

Here is a snap shot of music in order that was played on 03.09.02:

The bare necessities - Harry Connick Jr.
The girls danced to Little red riding hood by Sinister Dexter, ( which they and the boys will be dancing repeating on the 16th of October, I also hope to have a breakdance crew doing some stuff if we can work something out in time).
Hot dog - Yallopin' Hounds
King Kong - Big T. Tyler
Not Not Bad - The goats
The Quik - Berts Apple Crumble
BBC - Ming Tea
Money, Bitches and guns - Yer Mom
Turn me round - Caffeine
Young hearts run free - the film version
Pepe Deluxe - Super Sound
Ya Mama - Fat Boy Slim
Baby it's cold outside - Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews.

The night is really embronic and will become some thing if people get the vision, put the effort in, let go and enjoy themselves.

For me the big challenge is to put together a range of music that is eclectic but unified whilst sounding new, 'messy glamour' and raw. I don't really want to do the music myself , so I'm looking for people who wouldn't mind me over seeing the feel of it.

I am in the process of putting up a website with pics and details, www.apocalipstick.co.uk. It should be up in the next few days.

Any questions and stuff please do contact me.
 
 
Domestiques
03:14 / 19.09.02
Shirley Bassey - Light my fire. Knocks bloody talent show winner Will Youngs into space.
 
  
Add Your Reply