Little Known Grooves
November 27, 2023 5:26 PM   Subscribe

Looking for ear worms that never hit that charts. I am DJ'ing a dance party and would like to mix it up with grooves that most people have never heard. The only requirement is that the beat or riff gets people dancing. Pop / R&B / Funk preferred but Soft Rock or Rock will work as well. Just dance!
posted by jasondigitized to Media & Arts (46 answers total) 52 users marked this as a favorite
 
Not sure if it meets your dance needs, but it's certainly upbeat and catchy. Hear by Moonpools and Caterpillars has been stuck in my head for 25 years.
posted by phunniemee at 5:32 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]


Jim Stafford - Spiders and Snakes
posted by rhizome at 5:33 PM on November 27, 2023 [3 favorites]


How well known is Walk on Water ? It barely hit the charts, entering the UK Singles Chart in 2009 at 92, rising to 76 the following week, then dropping off. Very catchy.
posted by evilmomlady at 5:40 PM on November 27, 2023


The Chubukos - House of Rising Funk
posted by rhizome at 5:46 PM on November 27, 2023


Looks like you're in Austin, which makes me think regional music might be worth a look—for instance, I doubt Washington DC's go-go gets much play there, but Rare Essence's smokin cover of "Holy Ghost" has never failed to get people on the floor in my experience—or, perhaps for Texas, E.U.'s "Shake It Like a White Girl" might be more appropriate. Similarly, some bhangra might be both sufficiently danceable and unfamiliar.
posted by vitia at 5:48 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]


Much of the album Classifieds by Monica Rypma (Bandcamp). Folk-disco-sythpop?

The Beastie Boys and Daft Punk are of course well known, but some guy called Coins remade a bunch of Beastie Boys songs with Daft Punk samples. Daft Science

For a goldmine of this type of thing, check out the soundtracks to the video games Jet Set Radio, Jet Set Radio Future, and the recent Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.

How well known is Ben Harper? I don't actually know. Bring the Funk or Brown Eyed Blues among others.

Sly & Robbie Billie Jean Dub

Lee Moses - Time and Place

As I try to think of more, I am realizing that I have little idea what music people have heard of or not.
posted by cmoj at 5:54 PM on November 27, 2023


Loungemeister by Ugress?
posted by dreamphone at 5:56 PM on November 27, 2023


Bang Bang!
posted by nixxon at 6:01 PM on November 27, 2023


Best answer: Also, searching the WFMU archives of Pseu Braun's "Thing with a hook" show will be a goldmine.
posted by nixxon at 6:03 PM on November 27, 2023 [4 favorites]


Is early-'90s swing/ska with lots of brass your thing? Check out Lawsuit!
posted by heatherlogan at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2023


"Sound System" by Operation Ivy is a pretty danceable genre break.
posted by Text TK at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2023


Hypnotic Clambake is also a lot of fun.
posted by heatherlogan at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Donora - Think I like you
posted by unreasonable at 6:15 PM on November 27, 2023




Best answer: They had a small amount of international commercial success but Yellow Magic Orchestra is one of the most influential groups in the world on genres full of intense dance bops like afrofuturist hip hop, synthpop, chiptunes, and tons more. A lot of people will recognize their music but not quite be able to place it, or think it’s from decades later than when it was produced. A lot of other people will know their work and be psyched to hear it played during a set. I suggest the album Solid State Survivor.
posted by Mizu at 6:22 PM on November 27, 2023 [10 favorites]


MUNA has some great bops. I love Silk Chiffon and I Know a Place.
posted by lunasol at 6:48 PM on November 27, 2023


Best answer: Okay Okay (1981) by Pino D'Angió.
posted by xueexueg at 7:02 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]


Couple deep cut 90s faves Queen of Darkness by Tony Banks off the Bankstatement album, also Taylor Dayne's Original Sin off The Shadow OST.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:11 PM on November 27, 2023




Check out Nicolette Larson's covers of Lotta Love (Neil Young) and Rhumba Girl (Jesse Winchester) on YouTube.
posted by Scout405 at 7:53 PM on November 27, 2023 [1 favorite]


Lots of people will recognize it as a sample, but the original Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club (Tina Weymouth, also known as a member of Talking Heads) absolutely slaps
posted by pullayup at 7:57 PM on November 27, 2023


Womack & Womack - Teardrops
posted by wats at 8:57 PM on November 27, 2023


The psychedelic Cambodian band Dengue Fever
posted by matildaben at 9:51 PM on November 27, 2023 [2 favorites]


If “most people” means sheltered North Americans who don’t listen to euro charts then alors on danse is a transcendent song from club dancing angels
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:03 AM on November 28, 2023 [4 favorites]


George Benson - Give Me the Night and Tarkan - Kil Oldum are my suggestions. I've taken the liberty of adding to them a Spotify playlist along with everyone else's tunes from this Ask, thanks for all these great sounds!
posted by Lluvia at 1:58 AM on November 28, 2023 [5 favorites]


I don't know that I've correctly clocked the vibe you're going for but these are some of the things I think of when I think groove.

Eumir Deodato: Also Sprach Zarathustra & September 13.

Dave Pike Set: Mathar is his standout hit, I like Salomao a lot, but that's probably not as dance conducive.

People will have heard of Herbie Hancock of course, but maybe not so many will be familiar with his Fat Albert Rotunda album, the opening song is killer.

For something more contemporary there's Khruangbin: Evan Finds the Third Room & The Olympians: Mercury's Odyssey

In general the Daptone, Truth & Soul, and Big Crown record labels are all worth a listen. Big Crown head honcho El Michels is pretty great as a musician too: Ala Vida with El Michels Affair & Thunder Chicken as The Mighty Imperials.
posted by juv3nal at 3:52 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Oh forgot The Bongolian: Flight Through The Five Galaxies & Bongohead.
posted by juv3nal at 4:22 AM on November 28, 2023


Oppenheimer Analysis, The Devil’s Dancers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caP3tAmMEbc

Sparks - Tryouts For The Human Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-iw3yyLApQ

Fantastic Mr Fox - Evelyn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY5L85DQMW8

KAYTRANADA - Weight Off (Ft. BADBADNOTGOOD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik48Gp0N2q0

Daniel Avery - Drone Logic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS0CO-yPmO4

CARIBOU - Sun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euS2SlC68q8

(I make no claims about these being “deep cuts” as it were but maybe some people there won’t know these)
posted by cotton dress sock at 4:47 AM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Anything by The Rapture, especially How Deep Is Your Love and In the Grace of Your Love.
posted by dobbs at 6:09 AM on November 28, 2023


I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but I find these tunes to be quite danceable:

Get Innocuous by LCD Soundsystem
Genesis by Justice
Chapita by Mind Enterprises
Funky Drummer by James Brown
posted by carnival_night_zone at 7:14 AM on November 28, 2023


Oh what about Loose Joints "Is It All Over My Face?" (Male Vocal, Female Vocal)
posted by kensington314 at 7:32 AM on November 28, 2023


Bileo — You Can Win
Luther Davis Group — You can be a star
posted by sucre at 12:26 PM on November 28, 2023


(Oh my God, I had clean forgotten "Shake it Like a White Girl." Ahhhhhhh, I am sliding down a rabbit hoooooole!)
posted by wenestvedt at 1:16 PM on November 28, 2023


What a fun question! This is kind of cheating because the cover was a hit, but the original 1964 recording of Tainted Love, by Gloria Jones, is such a banger and everyone I've ever played it for has been impressed.

I used to live in New Orleans and Little Darling by Sweet Crude, with its weird minor breakdown in the bridge, was a local jukebox and party favorite--there are some good live versions floating around too.

I've always been partial to Ramalama (Bang Bang) by Roisin Murphy. It's real weird but still danceable.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 2:10 PM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Best answer: A couple of tweaks: for YMO you're probably best playing "Firecracker" (itself a cover) was sampled by Mariah Carey some years ago. Relatable!

And as for Tom Tom Club, "Wordy Rappinghood" is a touch more obscure but every bit as good.
posted by rhizome at 3:19 PM on November 28, 2023


A couple of lesser known gems from the 70s (what other dance decade is there?)

Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay It was off my radar when I was a kid, but prob my favorite of his now

Rufus - Love the One You're With
- starts off slow but explodes around 1:30. Up to you whether to play the second part of this medley or not. People are definitely going to ask who the singer is doing the Steven Stills song (it's Chaka Khan)
posted by morspin at 3:39 PM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


Are you the hip-hop kind of DJ, who blends and cuts and mixes and whatnot?

Because if I went to a dance party and heard the DJ doing a little routine at some point mid-set, with the late (she passed this week) Jean Knight's Mr. Big Stuff and the Heavy D and Queen Latifah songs of the same name (it's rap, but not the kind that scares white people) (not the whole songs, just Hev's first verse and Latifah's verse), maybe TLC's 'Switch' or Lyn Collins' cover or Jimmy Hicks's response song worked in there, I would just be overcome with joy.

(There are also some reggae versions that I like, but ''70s reggae isn't really going to move a crowd.)
posted by box at 4:37 PM on November 28, 2023


Best answer: You might like Flamingosis to scratch that saturated-groove vaporwave itch
posted by daisystomper at 9:34 PM on November 28, 2023 [1 favorite]


I love the groove of the Mark Ronson/MNDR track bang bang bang and I want it to have a second life.
posted by umbú at 5:29 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]


Here's another vote for "Bang Bang Bang" by Mark Ronson. Such a fun tune!
posted by carnival_night_zone at 6:11 AM on November 29, 2023


Let it Whip - Dazz Band
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 9:48 AM on November 29, 2023


Zeroleen - All Good
posted by Ardea alba at 3:06 PM on November 29, 2023


Gunboat - Spoek Mathambo
posted by mrsbartolozzi at 6:46 PM on November 29, 2023


1968 - Archie Bell & the Drells - Tighten Up
2009 - Tony Allen - Secret Agent (Afro Beat)
1971 - Billy Preston - Outa-Space Funky Organ
2016 - The Bongolian - Googa Mama
2008 - The Herbaliser- You're Not All That Jazz Funk?
1971 - Joe Tex - I Gotcha Soul Train classic
posted by kaymac at 12:43 PM on November 30, 2023


I don't see mashup listed, try out surprising and danceable mixed-up tracks from Bootie Mashup, especially DJ's From Mars, Lobsterdust and huge party banger editions mashed together by Titus Jones.
posted by k3ninho at 9:03 AM on December 3, 2023




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