Members sventvkg Posted October 3, 2011 Members Share Posted October 3, 2011 If you were giving advice to someone just starting out as a solo performer what are the 50 or so tunes you would tell them to learn? My uncle who was doing the solo thing very successfully gave me my first 50-100 bread and butter tunes to learn and he was right. Anyway, I have someone asking me and i'm a bit out of the loop as to newer tunes that may have become bread and butter standards. Whatcha got? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EightString Posted October 3, 2011 Members Share Posted October 3, 2011 Live, I only play a handful of songs written after 1989, and no one seems to care, even the younger crowd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted October 3, 2011 Moderators Share Posted October 3, 2011 I don't know that there is a generic list of absolute/must play/surefire songs, alot depends on the style, the room, the crowd....the time of day, the city... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted October 3, 2011 Members Share Posted October 3, 2011 Live, I only play a handful of songs written after 1989, and no one seems to care, even the younger crowd. +1 When I do get a younger crowd, they want me to play the retro stuff. They actually like to show how "hip" they are by requesting tunes from back in the day. And the older crowd stopped listening to top 40 radio when rap took over. Maybe in a band situation current stuff would fly, but I don't get many (if any) requests for new material on my circuit. Other circuits are probably different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ProToneThinline Posted October 3, 2011 Members Share Posted October 3, 2011 When I do get a younger crowd, they want me to play the retro stuff. They actually like to show how "hip" they are by requesting tunes from back in the day. And the older crowd stopped listening to top 40 radio when rap took over.Maybe in a band situation current stuff would fly, but I don't get many (if any) requests for new material on my circuit. Other circuits are probably different. It's pretty much the same here. I do a few newer tunes, but the classic stuff is what seems to sell best. As far as specific songs, you can't go wrong with anything by Van Morrison. I do a few - Moondance, Caravan, Wild Night, Brown Eyed Girl, and Jackie Wilson Said. I also do some Motown things that go over surprisingly well. It's Alright (Curtis Mayfield), Let's Stay Together (Al Greene), and a few others. I was worried about doing these with just vocals and guitar, but the crowds really seem to enjoy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Top of my head surefire killers: Jessie's GirlJenny JennyAmerican GirlFree fallingBrown eyed GirlPour Some Sugar on MeMargaritaville (Hate it but people love it)Running on EmptyLaidJack & DianeMelt With YouDelilahPatienceThe WeightThe BoxerSweet Caroline So many more...check out our set list on our website, the majority of them work like a charm, a few are for my self indulgence like Skid Row and Rush but people still goes nuts for them! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dparr Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Live, I only play a handful of songs written after 1989, and no one seems to care, even the younger crowd. ^ This! I play mainly play songs from the 60's and 70's with a few older ones and newer ones thrown in. It's the older people who leave the big tips and hire you for gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted October 4, 2011 Author Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Wow, so nothing new huh? I will say that after playing EU for a few years there are some standards there that differ from over here but still it amazes me that nothing new has become a standard! I know all that old stuff for sure and it's on my list to tell this guy..Crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 The only new songs we added that stuck as sure fire: Forget You (CEELO)The Way You Are (Bruno Mars)not new but newer...Ricky Martin...Vida Loca... Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 There are many other songs but "bread and butter" songs for me are songs that any bar nad should know before they go out to play in public, things that are expected and requested every night...like the list I posted or even songs like Sweet Mellisa, Friends in Low Places, Born To Be My baby, Sweet caroline, Runaway...songs that get requested all the time. Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ProToneThinline Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Rod, you guys have a really cool song list. I do a lot of those tunes as well, and you're right, they're all crowd pleasers. Personally, I especially like "Rodeo Song"............ ;-) Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jayare Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Wow, so nothing new huh? I will say that after playing EU for a few years there are some standards there that differ from over here but still it amazes me that nothing new has become a standard! I know all that old stuff for sure and it's on my list to tell this guy..Crazy! so..whats hot in EU?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Must know tunes (for they WILL be requested, at least, around here): Mr. BojanglesTequila SunriseYour Cheatin' HeartCrazyHouse of the Risin' SunMe 'n Booby McGeeCity of New OrleansAmandaFolsom Prison BluesUnder The BoardwalkWind Beneath My WingsDanny's SongSummertimeBlue Spanish EyesPancho and LeftyLondon Homesick BluesThe Thrill is GoneRedneck MotherAlmost Like A Song Sweet CaolineAmerican Pie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Must know tunes (for they WILL be requested, at least, around here):Mr. BojanglesTequila SunriseYour Cheatin' HeartCrazyHouse of the Risin' SunMe 'n Booby McGeeCity of New OrleansAmandaFolsom Prison BluesUnder The BoardwalkWind Beneath My WingsDanny's SongSummertimeBlue Spanish EyesPancho and LeftyLondon Homesick BluesThe Thrill is GoneRedneck MotherAlmost Like A Song Sweet CaolineAmerican Pie these are core solo act songs for sure in texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 The only new songs we added that stuck as sure fire:Forget You (CEELO)The Way You Are (Bruno Mars)not new but newer...Ricky Martin...Vida Loca...Rod Yea, I've done Forget You a few times, but really I think they'd be just as happy (or happier) with I Feel Good or whatever else. In lounges I get a few requests for Michael Buble, but except for his originals it's all old stuff anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Must know tunes (for they WILL be requested, at least, around here):Mr. BojanglesTequila SunriseYour Cheatin' HeartCrazyHouse of the Risin' SunMe 'n Booby McGeeCity of New OrleansAmandaFolsom Prison BluesUnder The BoardwalkWind Beneath My WingsDanny's SongSummertimeBlue Spanish EyesPancho and LeftyLondon Homesick BluesThe Thrill is GoneRedneck MotherAlmost Like A Song Sweet CaolineAmerican Pie About 75% of those tunes were on my 1975 set list when I used to play the Canadian Legions (they're taverns/pubs run by the war veterans). Through in a bunch of Eagles, a few more Country tunes, and a Polka Medley and I'm right back in the seventies. Nice to see those tunes live on. Matter of fact I still get requests for a few of them like Under The Boardwalk, Summertime..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted October 4, 2011 Members Share Posted October 4, 2011 Buble...we did Quando, Quando, Quando and someone asked if we knew any more Buble songs...everything old is new again... I think there is only one song in the world that will always work, no matter where, no matter what...from funerals to arena gigs this song will light up a crowd like no other song ever has and ever will...ladies and gentleman I give you the absolute, all time best bar band song eva! Sometimes we need to play more than once in a night... DON'T STOP BELIEVING! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 5, 2011 Members Share Posted October 5, 2011 It's going to depend on your audience. You can see our song list at http://www.s-cats.com Note: We play to an adult audience, mostly from forty until they get too old to drive. We've tried learning newer tunes in the past, but they end up either being ignored or alienating a portion of our audience, especially the retirees (note YMMV). On the other hand, sometimes a new tune catches on with the adult crowd, so if we get enough requests for something, we will learn it. Advice: Go out and listen to your competition, and see what is working in your area. Start with these, and when you start playing out, pay attention to your audience as you try new things out. If you stay on stage long enough, the audience will tell you what they want to hear. Notes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rodclement Posted October 5, 2011 Members Share Posted October 5, 2011 Great advice and song list! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Notes_Norton Posted October 5, 2011 Members Share Posted October 5, 2011 Thanx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassred Posted October 6, 2011 Members Share Posted October 6, 2011 Great thread. I have just ended a 5 year cover band and am thinking of putting together a solo show! I was going to focus on the classics, since that is what the cover band did, but I have a Youtube playlist of 40 newer songs I am also going to have on-hand. Everything from Bruno Mars to Lady Gaga (just for fun). To be clear, I make a playlist on Youtube for learning purposes, so I don't have to look up each song every time I want to practice them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted October 6, 2011 Author Members Share Posted October 6, 2011 bassred, the Youtube Cover playlist is a Brilliant idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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