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FDP Forum / Performer's Corner / Song suggestions for retro rock & roll

Next 20 Messages

Beatlefreek

Canada

Living is easy with eyes closed
Apr 10th, 2012 08:35 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Hi all.

Okay ... so we've done the Classic Rock/Pop Rock thing for quite awhile (years!!) but we're now thinking of going even further back in time to more basic, retro, vintage — whatever you wanna call it — Rock & Roll. Actually, it doesn't have to be from that time (the 50's), per se, just of that sound and style.

So, I would like to know if any of you might suggest songs that would fit into that category. Song title AND artist/band name would be much appreciated.

And if it's not the original artist or composer, then perhaps the artist/band who made it famous or offered a great version of the tune in question.

Just to start it off, and so you're all clear about the kinda thing we're looking for ...

Memphis Tennessee (Chuck Berry)
Flying Saucer Rock & Roll (Brian Setzer)
Splish Splash (Bobby Darin)
Lawdy Miss Clawdy (Little Richard)
Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)
Matchbox (Carl Perkins)
Ole Vee (Buddy Holly)
Long Tall Sally (The Beatles)
One Night With You (Elvis Presley)
Ain't That A Shame (Fats Domino)
Not Fade Away (The Rolling Stones)
Twenty Flight Rock (Eddie Cochrane)
Bye Bye Love (The Everly Brothers)

... you get the idea.

Thanks in advance!

RonC_Picker
Contributing Member
**

Az

It's A Dry Heat
Apr 10th, 2012 10:23 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Holy rock &roll Batman!

Old Time Rock & Roll-Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Devil With A Blue Dress--Huey Lewis & the News
Blueberry Hill--Fats Domino
Twist & SHout--the Isley Brothers
La Bamba--Ritchie Valens
Louie Louie--The Kingsmen
House of the Rising Sun--The Animals
Kansas City--Wilbert Harrison
Good Luck Charm, Return To Sender, It's Now Or Never--Elvis
Turn Me Loose--Fabian
Wild One--Bobby Ridell
...
And about nine million others

Have Fun!

BrentD
Contributing Member
****

Lansing, MI

Apr 11th, 2012 09:57 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I will submit that you should - nay, everyone should - know "I Fought the Law" by the Bobby Fuller Four. It is insanely helpful when a member of the audience gets arrested *during* your show, and thus should be an instantly-usable item in your bag of tricks.

professor
Contributing Member
**********
****

North Gnarlyington

Apr 11th, 2012 10:35 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I'll suggest:

Hanky Panky- Tommy James & The Shondells

Little Sister- Elvis

I Saw Her Standing There- Beatles

6L6
Contributing Member
**********
***

Lago, CA

Kick the tires, Light the fires!
Apr 11th, 2012 10:42 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Yep, "Hanky Panky" is a must! But you'll need a guitar with a whammy bar to do it correctly...

Basically, anything by Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly will keep your crowd smiling.

Turn on the amp tremolo and cover the Everly Brothers "Dream" and the ladies will love you. Follow that with Conway Twitty's, "It's Only Make Believe".

And by all means don't overlook "Be Bop A Lula" by Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps!

6
Gene Vincent
(This message was last edited by 6L6 at 10:47 AM, Apr 11th, 2012)

scott-s
Contributing Member
*

juneau ak.

scott-s
Apr 11th, 2012 03:52 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Rock around the clock -Bill Hailey & the Comets
Maybelleen - Chuck Berry
Before you Accuse Me - CCR
Satisfaction - The RollingStones
and just to change things up, Sleepwalk - Johnny& Santo. Also check out Jeff Beck's DVD Rock'n Roll Party for some more killer song ideas!

JimmeR
Contributing Member
*****

Colorado

If I had a tail, I'd be waggin' it
Apr 12th, 2012 06:35 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Anything by the "Stray Cats"

DrKev
Contributing Member
*

Irishman in Paris

Forget Tone - go with Note Choice
Apr 12th, 2012 09:09 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
...and anything off Huey Lewis's first album.

6L6
Contributing Member
**********
***

Lago, CA

Kick the tires, Light the fires!
Apr 12th, 2012 11:16 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
And if you're really feeling "on" that night, see if you can keep up with Gene Vincent on this one (sad to see the awful effect polio had on Gene's leg):
Long Tall Sally
(This message was last edited by 6L6 at 11:19 AM, Apr 12th, 2012)

gweimer

OH

Telling tales of drunkeness and cruelty
Apr 12th, 2012 03:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"Lonesome Town" - Ricky Nelson

Beatlefreek

Canada

Living is easy with eyes closed
Apr 12th, 2012 05:17 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
"... sad to see the awful effect polio had on Gene's leg"

— Polio?? I thought he got that from a motorcycle accident.

SpinDoctor
Contributing Member
*****

Ohio USA

Apr 12th, 2012 05:19 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
There's gotta be some Ventures tunes that you could do.

mroulier
Contributing Member
*****

Suburban MD.

Ask me about my BlowCoat(tm)!
Apr 12th, 2012 06:00 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Rave On - Buddy Holly
Whole Lotta Shakin - Jerry Lee
Hound Dog - Elvis
You're So Square - Elvis
Something Else - Stray Cats (among others)
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
It Wasn't Me - George Thorogood
Party Doll - Buddy Knox

Lots more ideas here...
Top 100 of 1959

Beatlefreek

Canada

Living is easy with eyes closed
Apr 12th, 2012 07:31 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Thanks guys. The Stray Cats are certainly a great source, and besides their original stuff, I really like their (or perhaps more accurately Setzer's) interpretation of various covers. I caught him on a Buddy Holly Tribute on youtube from years ago and he did "Ollie Vee" and "Oh Boy". Really great!

Actually, both Setzer and Lee Rocker on their own have put out some excellent records all in the 5o's rock & roll/rockabilly style.

Another awesome interpreter is Paul McCartney. Some of the covers he does on the albums "Choba B CCCP" and "Run Devil Run" are just outstanding!

DrKev mentioned Huey Lewis. "Buzz Buzz Buzz" Wow! I remember hearing that for the first time when Lewis' first album came out. I was so impressed. Of course I was completely unaware at the time that The Hollywood Flames did first back in 1957.

Actually another one somebody mentioned to me yesterday is Chris Isaak. His roots are clearly in the slapback of Sun. In fact, he put out a Sun tribute album last year with nothing but recognizable covers. Very well done.

mroulier: Thanks, man! I did some further snooping for other top 100 lists and found a site that has a list for each separate year: '50, '51, '52, etc.

Peegoo
Contributing Member
**********
**********

That chicken

is WRONG, baby.
Apr 12th, 2012 08:36 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Toss in a few instrumentals, like the Peter Gunn theme, and some Ventures stuff. Wipeout is another 'gotta have'. Secret Agent Man (Johnny Rivers), and the theme from Batman, too. The James Bond Theme (rock it up!) is another crowd pleaser.

6 Cylinder Slim

New England

Shoes for Industry
Apr 12th, 2012 09:02 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I love that kind of music. If it were up to me, I'd put tons of it on the playlist. Just finished working up Hawaii 5 0. Don't think it will ever make the stage, but it's the kind of thing I like to do when I play guitar at home. My band does play T.R.O.U.B.L.E. by Elvis. Seems a modern country band covered it recently so it's new again. Goes over great.

Stephene

Australia

Apr 12th, 2012 10:41 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Have a look at the Anniversary Waltz stuff that Status Quo did...most of those are probably already on the list suggestions...but they get the crowd dancing.....

Beatlefreek

Canada

Living is easy with eyes closed
Apr 13th, 2012 12:23 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Ahhhhh! Instrumentals! Never thought of that. Excellent suggestion.

mroulier
Contributing Member
*****

Suburban MD.

Ask me about my BlowCoat(tm)!
Apr 13th, 2012 09:26 AM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
I forgot Runaway by Del Shannon, always a fave sing-a-long...

littleuch
Contributing Member
*********

Michigan

T-boned and punctured
Apr 13th, 2012 04:18 PM Edit Profile Print Topic Search Topic
Don't know if they'd fit into the line up, but 3 occurred to me from the old classic rock days;

Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders
Expressway To Your Heart - The Soul Survivors
Mercy Mercy Mercy - Buckinghams

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