Rock and Roll Swing Tunes

[Spitfire]

Which rock and roll tunes from the mid-sixties to present do you like for swing dancing?

Something Good - Herman's Hermits
Same Old Song and Dance - Aerosmith
Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen.

These are but a few on my list - I admit I've never actually danced to the first two since I've never heard them played at any dance, but all one has to do is hear a song to know. :D

[pygmalion]

Does Motown R&B count? If so, I can add a few tunes to your list. Mostly ECS from the late fifties and early sixties. Then lots of WCS starting in the mid-to-late sixties.

Or do you mean rock and roll, as in "classic rock"?

Please advise.

Jenn

[d nice]

Very little to be honest. A huge amount of the RnR music from any ear doesn't swing at all (musically). Straight beats, little in the way of rhythmic complexity or improvised syncopation (Bill Haley is the example Grover Sales uses).

Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, Early Elvis, Gene Vincent are good examples of stuff that works for me.

[Vince A]

A lot of that music "IS" tough to dance to . . . you actually have to dance to the rhythm . . . although I will try any song at least once.

Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
But It's Alright - JJ Jackson
In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett

[Spitfire]

Does Motown R&B count? If so, I can add a few tunes to your list. Mostly ECS from the late fifties and early sixties. Then lots of WCS starting in the mid-to-late sixties.

Or do you mean rock and roll, as in "classic rock"?

Please advise.

Jenn

Yeah, Motown counts. :wink:

[Spitfire]

Very little to be honest. A huge amount of the RnR music from any ear doesn't swing at all (musically). Straight beats, little in the way of rhythmic complexity or improvised syncopation.

Jackie Wilson, Chuck Berry, Early Elvis, Gene Vincent are good examples of stuff that works for me.

You're right; most of it doesn't, but there are some that at least to me are very swingable such as the tunes I mentioned.

[pygmalion]

Needless to say, I've gotta get my two cents in on this one.

1. I always rise to a challenge. Will go off this weekend and listen to my Motown CD's (cool compilation -- "Hitsville" Motown stuff from 1959 to 1971), and come back with some ideas. :)

2. Most music is danceable, if you're doing the right dance. A lot of the music I remember from early childhood is really not ECS or WCS. It's a sort of hybrid, and that's the dance my (much older) siblings did for years when they held many a rockin house party.

Dance called the bop. Remember it? Hand to hand hold and counterbalanced feeling like WCS. Down on two feeling like ECS. Definitely not a slot dance. More like a rotating around a spot dance. Double swing sort of tempo, but a little bouncier. Touch-step, touch-step, coaster-step was the basic. Way fun! And not just a Philly dance, either. I've met some folks from Kansas City, of all places, who could really bop.

[d nice]

Bop is, pardon the vernacular, one bad-azz dance.

I don't know nearly enough of it.

[Black Sheep]

R&R Lovers'
Ask your D.J. to spin, Bill Haley's, 'Rip it Up' from 'Don't Knock the Rock' and watch the dance floor get over crowded.
If you realy want to get turned on to the great classic dance music, Check the long list on the thread, 'Songs You Have to Dance To'.
Black Sheep, Rock & Roll, Yeah!

[Spitfire]

Three more that come to mind:

Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Moondance - Van Morrison; one that get's a lot of play at the dances.
Little Girl - Syndicate of Sound; kind of a forgotten tune.

[pygmalion]

1. I always rise to a challenge. Will go off this weekend and listen to my Motown CD's (cool compilation -- "Hitsville" Motown stuff from 1959 to 1971), and come back with some ideas. :)


Guys, guys! There is SO much Motown-type music out there that's danceable! I have to admit that there's a lot of stuff out there that's a not-ECS, not-WCS tempo, so it's kinda hard to dance to. But there's a lot of other stuff as well.

I'm still working on this one, and compiling a LONG list.

And I'm having a blast with it too. :D Pulled out CD's I haven't played in years.

I'll report back in a few days with dates, titles, artists and names of CD's.


In the meanwhile, I'm a car-dancin fool! :lol:

Okay?


Jenn

[d nice]

Guys, guys! There is SO much Motown-type music out there that's danceable! I have to admit that there's a lot of stuff out there that's a not-ECS, not-WCS tempo, so it's kinda hard to dance to. But there's a lot of other stuff as well.

Jenn

That is why there are so many swing dances. Carolina Shag, Hand Dancing, Chicago Steppin' etc.

I love swing dancing to Motown.

[pygmalion]

One of these days (maybe soon, I'm planning a trip in November) I'm going to come out to wherever you are in Cali, and take a couple lessons from you. My swing is fun, but atrocious. And I would love to learn from one of the best! :D

Jenn

[d nice]

You come out to Northern Cali and we will definitaley hook up.

One of the best? All things are relative.

[pygmalion]

Don't give me that modesty thing, guy. I googled you. :shock:

Therefore, I know of which I speak.

Actually, that's one of the nicest things about this board, I think. With the caibre of some of the people involved, I would have expected "attitude" and conceit. Instead, there's much humility, fun, and kindness all around. :D

[d nice]

Don't give me that modesty thing, guy. I googled you. :shock:

Therefore, I know of which I speak.

Damn... Google is evil! It is all lies. ;)

I've just been doing this for a while. Anyone willing to put time in can achieve whatever skill or prestiege may be associated with me. Hell, they could do more pretty easily. I'm pretty lazy. 8)

[pygmalion]

And you're kinda cute when you're being modest! :D

[Swing Kitten]

And you're kinda cute when you're being modest! :D

of course he's kinda cute when he's being arrogant-- very few people can pull that off!

[suek]

i'm lucky to one of damon's students. here's my two cents about arrogance.

i can introduce you to many swing dancers who ooze "you're not good enough to shine my shoes let alone dance with me." that's arrogant, off-putting, and certainly does nothing to encourage new dancers (i have just about two years dancing lindy).

and then there's the confidence that comes from knowing. knowing that comes from studying, application and practice. that voice isn't arrogant and for me is worthy of my best listening.

it's funny...the same person (damon, me or most anyone) can speak wisdom and arrogance. and in conversation i find myself retaining much more of the wisdom and automatically tuning out most of the arrogance.

sue

[Swing Kitten]

Hello suek!! I'm glad you decided to join us a the forums!

I agree with what you said, it's very true.

What got you started dancing those two years ago?... and how did you end up finding D nice as an instructor?

I'm really interested in learning more about you and for the sake of keeping these forums as organized and user-friendly as possible I look forward to hearing all about you in the Hello thread of the Dancer's Annonomouse Forum!! That is, if you haven't done so already! :wink:

[SwinginBoo]

Any NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet) song, according to my boyfriend.

6345789 Call on Me -- Wilson Pickett
I Saw her Standin' There -- The Beatles
Rockin Robin
A Taste of Honey -- Herb Alpert and the Tiawana Brass (though I'm not sure if this is considered Rock and Roll)

There are so many, but hard to think of them on the spot. It's the sort of thing where I'll be listening to the radio station that plays 50's and 60's and I'll think "That would be a great song to dance to."

[Swing Kitten]

Hey, is that you with your very own It Don'y Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing license plate frame??


Swank!

[SwinginBoo]

It sure is! :lol:

[Swing Kitten]

awesome girlie!

[Spitfire]

It sure is! :lol:

Welcome to this forum SwinginBoo. :D

Seems like there is a new member here everytime I get on; the rate is greater then for any other forum I use. I'm wondering how people are finding out about this forum. Is it mainly from doing a web search or referral? 8)

[SwinginBoo]

SwingKitten introduced me to it. :)

[Swing Kitten]

And I'm ever so glad I did!! I've said it before, you're one of my favorite leads!!

[DanceMentor]

Colin James - Let's Shout
Colin James - Mercury Blues
Colin James - Breakin' Up the House
Colin James - Safronia B

I love Wilson Pickett's music. I like "Land of 1000 Dances" and "Devil with a Blue Dress".

[Spitfire]

Doin' Fine - Savoy Brown

Champagne Jam - Atlanta Rhythm Section