Music for baby boomers to get down to

August 9, 2012 4:44 PM

Need suggestions for funky tunes for baby boomers to get down to.

I'm in my early 30s and am putting music together for my wedding reception. The list so far has lots of 90s jams and recent stuff. However, I'd love to add a handful of songs that will get the older crowd dancing - and not just slow dancing! What would be some good choices? Stevie Wonder? Marvin Gaye?

posted by emily37 to Society & Culture (19 answers total)

As a proud member of the baby boomers, I am here to tell you in no uncertain terms that we do not get down. We Get on Up!
posted by netbros at 4:54 PM on August 9, 2012 [5 favorites]

Thank You by Sly and the Family Stone
posted by 4ster at 4:55 PM on August 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

KC & The Sunshine Band.
posted by phaedon at 4:55 PM on August 9, 2012

The Big Chill soundtrack?
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:56 PM on August 9, 2012 [2 favorites]

ABBA
Parliament
posted by trip and a half at 5:00 PM on August 9, 2012

If I ever get married again, Brick House will be played.

As will Bizarre Love Triangle, since that's likely the only way I'll ever get married again.
posted by vers at 5:00 PM on August 9, 2012

Google "dance classics top 100". You will find many entries for Dutch sites (the term 'dance classics' is used over here for this music) with playlists compiled by DJs or voted on by radio program listeners. And CDs you can buy. And sites where you can, well...
posted by likeso at 5:10 PM on August 9, 2012

I came to vote for Sly and the Family Stone, so there's that.

Ohio Players
Earth, Wind and Fire
Anything Motown

That's a good start right there.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:18 PM on August 9, 2012

Husbunny and I first danced to Marvin Gaye, Let's Stay Together. Excellent "our song".

We had a Soul Train Line.

Also we boomers (I only count technically, being at the very tail end of the boom) love our dances:

Electric Slide
Macarena
Chicken Dance
Hora
Hokey Pokey

And the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:20 PM on August 9, 2012

Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight
posted by fuse theorem at 5:22 PM on August 9, 2012

Donna Summer
posted by trip and a half at 5:27 PM on August 9, 2012

Mambo No. 5
posted by capricorn at 5:36 PM on August 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

How could I forget my jam????

SuperFreak by Rick James. Don't get much funkier than that!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:42 PM on August 9, 2012

I was just at a wedding featuring guests drawn from at least four generations and one thing I can tell you is that everyone from age 85 on down will dance to "The Twist."

Other, more recent songs that killed with that crowd: "Love Train," "Superstition," "Celebration."
posted by escabeche at 5:53 PM on August 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sugar, Sugar by the Archies
Top of the World by the Carpentars
The Twist by Chubby Checker
Disco Inferno by The Trammps
Splish Splash by Bobby Darin
At The Hop by Danny and the Juniors
posted by Flood at 7:14 PM on August 9, 2012

Seriously, Big Chill soundtrack.
posted by fyrebelley at 10:20 PM on August 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Every wedding MUST include Proud Mary
posted by HuronBob at 5:16 AM on August 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Here are a few that seemed to work well at my wedding:

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown
Steely Dan - Peg
Earth Wind & fire - September
posted by crLLC at 7:10 AM on August 10, 2012

Cut the Cake is obligatory.
posted by troywestfield at 8:17 AM on August 10, 2012