Funk/Reggae/Soul experts needed

Far too much stereotyping goin on here...good luck Ehren!

ehren, I think you need to define age groups.
Grannies won't get up for newer reggae, but will for Lover's Rock.

Most guests will be 30-60 years old.

Hit me up if you need some stuff efc, I've got shitloads of stuff mp3'd that I can stick on a DVD for ya... Soul, funk and ska as well as some cheesy wedding disco stuff...

That's the spirit! I will never earn any credibility as a DJ. I just want to make an effort and don't ask people to bring their own music.

Thanks for everybody's suggestions.

ehren, just download the first few bright times comps. job done.

See fuck spectrum from Keb Darge. I have got days of funk and soul on the PC. let me know if you need some stuff.

....

If this aint a stupid question, why don't you ask the canadian-jamaican side of this union to provide some music? Then you should do a german v jamaican soudclash, one deck each, and ratchet up the atmosphere like that. Get everybody up at the same time, rather than trying to do sections of different muzak.

What's the german stuff gonna be like? Are you gonna play '99 luftballons?' David Hasselhoff?

But Funk music? Which black people dance to that at a wedding? I've never seen it.

That's cos you weren't at mine!

Best thread for ages though, need to clean the coffee off my keyboard now.....

agood place to start would be to tune in to Craig Charles funk and soul show on 6 music, sat nights 7-9, he plays the whole range from great commercial tunes to the most obscure cult singles. fantastic music all the way.

could also just pick up mix c.ds and get the hard work selecting done for you, tons out there,
one I love is DJ KICKS- DADDY FREDDY, rockin all the way through, make my funk the p-funk, I wants to get funked up.....

Craig Charles on Sats - essential! yes yes

David Hasselhoff?

I was wondering how long it would take for David Hasselhoff to be mentioned.

Why does it have to be mainstream?

because it's a wedding, and a wedding means inclusivity. And that means tracks that stand at least a chance of being recognised by a few people. Funk and soul aren't mainstream in the first place, and apart from Bob Marley, most reggae isn't either. At a wedding you want cheers going up and girls dragging their partners onto the dancefloor when you put a tune on, not a bunch of specialists nodding sagely at the bar.

This is coming from someone who went to a family friend's wedding at 15 and spent most of the night haranguing the dj to play "Trans Europe Express", so bear with me...

Hmm, "I've been looking for freedom" on the weeding night?
Is that not a a bit of a juxtaposition? ;)

...not a bunch of specialists nodding sagely at the bar.

phil man, you crack me up every time :)

If this aint a stupid question, why don't you ask the canadian-jamaican side of this union to provide some music? Then you should do a german v jamaican soudclash, one deck each, and ratchet up the atmosphere like that. Get everybody up at the same time, rather than trying to do sections of different muzak.

What's the german stuff gonna be like? Are you gonna play '99 luftballons?' David Hasselhoff?

Agreed. I'm doing the same thing myself in about 3 weeks - i.e. DJing at a mates wedding. I've asked the guests to all mail me a song that is guaranteed to make them dance. I've filtered through them & come up with a decent set list (I let them know that I couldn't guarantee to play everything.) Good luck.

because it's a wedding, and a wedding means inclusivity. And that means tracks that stand at least a chance of being recognised by a few people. Funk and soul aren't mainstream in the first place, and apart from Bob Marley, most reggae isn't either. At a wedding you want cheers going up and girls dragging their partners onto the dancefloor when you put a tune on, not a bunch of specialists nodding sagely at the bar.

This is coming from someone who went to a family friend's wedding at 15 and spent most of the night haranguing the dj to play "Trans Europe Express", so bear with me...

I suppose your right in some respects, I've DJ'd weddings and It always drives me nuts that I could slap on the funkiest mind blowing tune that no one had ever heard of, but there would always be someone who would ask if I had anything they could dance to? or Do you have any James Brown? I don't get it? Isn't good music good music?

Mr chicken go here for all your funk, soul ,philly and reggae mixes,just stream or download, great sounds all free
http://www.sixmillionsteps.com/drupal/node/20

It Ain't Really Reggae But It's Funky - Instant Funk

I suppose your right in some respects, I've DJ'd weddings and It always drives me nuts that I could slap on the funkiest mind blowing tune that no one had ever heard of, but there would always be someone who would ask if I had anything they could dance to? or Do you have any James Brown? I don't get it? Isn't good music good music?

The majority dance with familiarity- if they aint heard on X factor they aren't very open to using their ears.
You cant go wrong with anthologies from:

Stevie Wonder,
James Brown,
Soul 2 Soul,
Jackson 5/Micheal Jackson,
Curtis Mayfield,
Cool and the Gang,
Prince,
Aretha Frankin,
Jamarioquai,
Marvin Gaye
Lionel Ritchie
Diana Ross
Fugees
Macfadden & Whitehead "Aint No Stopping Us Now"
Rick James "Mary Jane"
Etta James "I Just Wanna Make Love to You"
Jackie Wilson "Your Love"

Mixing it up with slightly lesser known stuff:
Omar "Essensual"
Mark Ronson stuff
Sean Escoffery"Days Like These"
10cc "Dread Lock Holiday"
Leon Ware "Why I Came To California"
Jeff Mills: The Kat Moda EP

Hope these help.

I suppose your right in some respects, I've DJ'd weddings and It always drives me nuts that I could slap on the funkiest mind blowing tune that no one had ever heard of, but there would always be someone who would ask if I had anything they could dance to? or Do you have any James Brown? I don't get it? Isn't good music good music?

The fact they you've played 5 really obvious tracks on the bounce, you then play just one track they may not have heard and they bounce straight off the dance floor.

I guess by that logic if you drop in the News at Ten theme they'll be having it, yelling BRRRRAAAAPPPPP! doing that gun signal with their hands to the ceiling?

DJ-ing is all about pumpin' the dancefloor, most people won't dance unless they know the tune... I hate that... I see the whole playing-records-at-places thing as an evangelical teach-the-world-about-great-music exercise... Bit worthy but I get really bored playing 'records that people will know' now...

+1

try to keep in mind that its a party and the key is to entertain and not educate. as pajamas says dont worry about the nodders at the bar. sneaky trick is find out maybe five dance songs that the bride really likes. if she's moving ehhbodys gotta move.
keep it tight, unless the song is super special dont play drawn out 12 inch versions. if you can't mix or scratch dont try. when you do get everybody dancing beware, a person will come to you asking you to play a ballad - they are evil and are sent from party spoiler incrporated.

Have fun but more importantly let the guests have more fun than you.

Have fun but more importantly let the guests have more fun than you.

In a nutshell... Nice one, G...

Bob Marley is the most famous Jamaican who ever lived, most jamaicans know pretty much all of his songs word for word, you can play anything by Marley and all the Jamaican will love it. If you drop Steel Pulse or any UK 'stepper' dance hall they won't know what you are on about and Jamaican dancehall is probably not appropriate for an engagement party. Jamaicans are also happen to be big fans of country music, play them some Kenny Rogers, they'll love it.

YouTube - Kenny Rogers - The Gambler

The fact they you've played 5 really obvious tracks on the bounce, you then play just one track they may not have heard and they bounce straight off the dance floor.

I guess by that logic if you drop in the News at Ten theme they'll be having it, yelling BRRRRAAAAPPPPP! doing that gun signal with their hands to the ceiling?

I think I'm just used to playing at soul parties with other soul people who do listen, So it's always a bit crushing when you play a Freddie Terrell tune or Funky Nassau and it fails to get people out dancing. I'll never understand.

tune into 6 music right now, he just played the original tune containing the killer riff off beyonces 'crazy in love'---magic show!

Sean Escoffery"Days Like These"

What a choon! Loving the suggestions so far.