Music for a 50th Birthday

[Paxton]

I have been commissioned to organise the music for a Relative's 50th Birthday Party. My only problem is the lack of knowledge about what music to get. My Relative is male, and listens to Rock, but doesn't mind Blues and Jazz. At a recent family wedding, he was making comments on how good the band was (the band was a Jazz/Blues band, playing Tennessee Ernie Ford, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash). I was thinking of sticking to those artists, with some ACDC, The Offspring, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pete Murray, Billy Joel etc.

What do you guys recommend? I was planning of having a Juke Box set up, with over 1,000 songs in the library, with the guests adding to the playlist.

Thanks for your help.

[Xrsick]

Being 50 dont forget to throw in The Eagles & Fleetwood Mac.cheers
Frank

[deesun]

Maybe you should go the middle ground here and find a DJ. DJ's should have their own recordings and be able to cater for any crowd and also be able to change to the crowds taste.Remember that you are organising for the party as a whole not just the birthday boy. Irrespective of the age of the crowd though and what yours and everyones usual musical taste you need some lively music including 50's+60's rock n roll which EVERYONE dances to then theres the very common dance numbers like Nutbush,Time Warp,Grease mixes, a bit of bootscootin and the like. They may not be to everyones musical taste but they are by far the most popular dance numbers. A decent DJ will know and have them all. There maybe a DJ or two here on the forums so start a thread asking if there is. These numbers will also be on most dukeboxes.

[Doctor Sodways]

For a jazz band i recommend Royal Crown Revue, they were in the film "The Mask" for those that remember it, the scene with cameron diaz in the club. Awesome jazz band with some slower recording and some more up beat music too. They have around 6 albums so there would be no lack of it, if you can find one of their CDs, some arnt available in aus.

[flappist]

If he is 50 in 2006 then he was 20 in 1976, look at the music of that era up to 1982 or so.
Led Zep, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Angles, Skyhooks, Black Sabbath etc.....

I remember when AC/DC played in Bundaberg and Bon Scott was lead singer.... I am sooooooooooo old :(

[vino3o2]

Maybe some Duran Duran??

[MO]

Originally Posted by flappist

If he is 50 in 2006 then he was 20 in 1976, look at the music of that era up to 1982 or so.
Led Zep, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Angles, Skyhooks, Black Sabbath etc.....

I remember when AC/DC played in Bundaberg and Bon Scott was lead singer.... I am sooooooooooo old :(

Flappist...get that foot out of the grave...its not time yet.

[CAMS290]

Perry Como, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra.....and maybe some Englebert humperedink for good measure

[rodderz]

Aker Bilk, Richard Clayderman, John Paul Young, Foster & Allen, Kenny Rogers...

My folks used to listen to their "records" when I was young, gave me the shyzers too!

[max]

Originally Posted by CAMS290

Perry Como, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra.....and maybe some Englebert humperedink for good measure

LAY OFF!!! He's a young fella!!! Don't forget to put in a bit of Hip-Hop.

[Papa Smurf]

Being 53 myself I think your Relative may like some Beatles? They were a great thing back in those long forgotten days

[djjase]

I use to DJ, ie DJJASE. For 50's I would play a few Beatles, Elvis, Buddy Holly,Roy Orbison, the Bee Gees, ABBA, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, The Eagles. The Cars, The B-52's, The Everly Brothers, The Little River Band, The Pretenders, The Righteous Brothers, The Travelling Wilburys, Villiage People, Wham, Elton John, The Eurythmics, Dire Staits,Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Bananarama, The Bangles, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Dr Hook, Jimmy Barnes, Jimi Hendrix, John Farnham, John Lennon, Kylie are just a few I could think of quickly

[HLC]

get some Slayer, Dillinger Escape Plan, Opeth, Megadeth, Testament, Kreator, Carcass, Death, Immortal, Anthrax, Metallica, Sunk Loto, um thats all i can think of at the moment. :sm_headba

[CAMS290]

Originally Posted by HLC

get some Slayer, Dillinger Escape Plan, Opeth, Megadeth, Testament, Kreator, Carcass, Death, Immortal, Anthrax, Metallica, Sunk Loto, um thats all i can think of at the moment. :sm_headba

And everyone will pack up and go home

[normxb]

djjase has "hit the nail on the head" , I'm same age as Papa Smurf and have been a "muso" playing Clubs ,Debut Balls , Weddings , Parties , Anything (mmm sorry for the pun) since 1973 . Played music from 95% of those artists . Good range there , ya can't go wrong.

Couple more (hope they haven't been listed yet)

10CC , Air Supply , Alan Jackson , Albert Hammond , America , Anne Murray , Australian Crawl , Axiom , B.J. Thomas , Bachelors , Badfinger , Beach Boys , Bellamy Brothers , Bette Midler , Billy Ocean , Billy Thorpe , Queen , Black Sorrows (Jo Jo Zep) , Blondie , Blood Sweat & Tears , Bob Seger , Bony M , Bonnie Tyler , Boz Scaggs , Bread , Brooks & Dunn , Carole King , Carley Simon , Creedence Clearwater Revival , Charlie Pride , Cher , Chicago , Cliff Richard , Cold Chisel , Commitments , Crowded House , Daddy Cool (Eagle Rock a must) Sherbet , Dave Edmunds , Del Shannon , Doobie Bros , Doors , Dusty Springfield , Dwight Yoakam , ELO , Eric Clapton , Eric Carmen ..........

Geesh better stop there . PM me if you want some more . (Taken from my old band lists , didn't realise how much stuff we used to do : )

[HLC]

Originally Posted by CAMS290

And everyone will pack up and go home

well that's their fault. besides, more beer for you.

[GRNKPR]

Johnny cash ,Nana Masqurie ,Demis rousos and Buster hymen and the penetrators and Mervin and the magic tones

[FGX-351]

dont forget kiss(best band ever!!):p

[Martyvan]

What about Neil Diamond???

[deesun]

Originally Posted by djjase

I use to DJ, ie DJJASE. For 50's I would play a few Beatles, Elvis, Buddy Holly,Roy Orbison, the Bee Gees, ABBA, Lionel Richie, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, The Eagles. The Cars, The B-52's, The Everly Brothers, The Little River Band, The Pretenders, The Righteous Brothers, The Travelling Wilburys, Villiage People, Wham, Elton John, The Eurythmics, Dire Staits,Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Bananarama, The Bangles, Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Dr Hook, Jimmy Barnes, Jimi Hendrix, John Farnham, John Lennon, Kylie are just a few I could think of quickly

Damn right

[olfella]

and dont leave out Tiny Tim tiptoeing thru the tulips!!....

[deesun]

Don't forget a bit of knee slappin' John Denver.

OH Life on the farm is kinda laid back.............

[olfella]

Originally Posted by deesun

Maybe you should go the middle ground here and find a DJ. DJ's should have their own recordings and be able to cater for any crowd and also be able to change to the crowds taste.Remember that you are organising for the party as a whole not just the birthday boy. Irrespective of the age of the crowd though and what yours and everyones usual musical taste you need some lively music including 50's+60's rock n roll which EVERYONE dances to then theres the very common dance numbers like Nutbush,Time Warp,Grease mixes, a bit of bootscootin and the like. They may not be to everyones musical taste but they are by far the most popular dance numbers. A decent DJ will know and have them all. There maybe a DJ or two here on the forums so start a thread asking if there is. These numbers will also be on most dukeboxes.

Deesun is right on the money here. I went to a surprise 50th recently and the music was organised and played by one of her sons. While he had a great selection, when it came time to get everyone up and dancing, not all the songs allowed this so everone sat down and stayed in their little groups...

[sbutler]

Originally Posted by flappist

If he is 50 in 2006 then he was 20 in 1976, look at the music of that era up to 1982 or so.
Led Zep, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Angles, Skyhooks, Black Sabbath etc.....

I remember when AC/DC played in Bundaberg and Bon Scott was lead singer.... I am sooooooooooo old :(

I can beat that one flappist.
We had AC/DC for our school formal in the 70s. I think we paid them $200. :sm_drool:

[GRNKPR]

Originally Posted by sbutler

I can beat that one flappist.
We had AC/DC for our school formal in the 70s. I think we paid them $200. :sm_drool:

Do you think this is still their going rate : : : :



if so ill book em for a week :thebirds: :thebirds: :thebirds: :thebirds:



There are some old rockers on this forum isnt there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by olfella

Deesun is right on the money here. I went to a surprise 50th recently and the music was organised and played by one of her sons. While he had a great selection, when it came time to get everyone up and dancing, not all the songs allowed this so everone sat down and stayed in their little groups...

This is one of my worries. What can you suggest that will get people up to dance (bar the obvious ones such as Nutbush and The Macarena). I have put aside a slow one (Michael Buble - Sway), and also a couple of blues ones (I found Tennessee Ernie Ford 16 Tonnes)

The Royal Crown Revue is a bugger to find, however I bought two of their albums off their site. I can't wait to get them, because I personally like that style of music.

Sbutler - I bet you never imagined that the band at your school formal would become one of Australia's best Rock Bands.

Thanks for your help folks - keep it coming. I've got 200 songs set aside for the G3, and I will let the guests add songs to the playlist, however I will not let them change the song that's playing at the current time.

[djjase]

Originally Posted by olfella

when it came time to get everyone up and dancing, not all the songs allowed this so everone sat down and stayed in their little groups...

This is where DJ's if they are good should know what to play. You have to be able to read the crowd and see what they like.

Weddings are the hardest because you can have such a large age bracket to cater for.

[deesun]

djjase,you didn't do one in Goulburn in March did you? Best Dj I've heard.

[MO]

Why not some Van Morrison or anything that is easy listening and easy dancing...or just hire a juke box from the era and let them choose.....

[Doctor Sodways]

Originally Posted by Paxton

Royal Crown Revue is a bugger to find, however I bought two of their albums off their site. I can't wait to get them, because I personally like that style of music.

Damn straight its hard to find, took me and dad about 2 years to get all their albums, awesome stuff. They are here in aus about october november each year, hopefully they should be back this year, and once again ill probably road trip to a few other shows as well as the local one. You wont regret getting their album thats for sure. May i ask which ones you bought?