# Which 1960s songs are very danceable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 6, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245 "2009-12-06T23:17:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dorothea\_Book](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dorothea\_Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothea_Book)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/1 "2009-12-06T23:17:54Z")
I’ve been asked to come up with a list of songs for a 60s-themed holiday dance party–possibly leaning toward the early 60s though not necessarily. My question is: what are the most danceable songs from this era? Now I know that you can dance as a couple to smooth Frank Sinatra tunes, but I am thinking more of the kind of dancing people do on their own, just getting into the beat, without any practiced knowledge of dancing. I’m thinking of songs like the Rolling Stone’s “Satisfaction” (1965) and Shocking Blue’s “Venus” (which was actually from 1970 but that’s okay). Songs that make people want to put down their drink and get moving! I need to get this together in a couple of weeks so your help will be _greatly_ appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/2 "2009-12-06T23:26:48Z")
Danceable early 1960s tunes? Wasn’t that all of them? My suggestion: get hold of the _American Graffiti_ soundtrack. You’ll have many of the best from the late 50s and early 60s on one or two CDs. There are, of course, many more than just on this soundtrack, but this soundtrack will certainly be a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/3 "2009-12-06T23:31:27Z")
The 60s is full of dance song. Remember the wild parties on “Laugh-In,” OK look at YouTube for info. 🙂 I loved Petula Clark’s, _My Love_ a very bouncy type tune which went to #1. A lot of bubblegum music of that era is danceable, like “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,” and “Sugar, Sugar” etc are good. BTW Julie London actually does a great remake of “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.” ---
**Author:** ![Dorothea\_Book](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dorothea\_Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothea_Book)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/4 "2009-12-06T23:38:13Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > The 60s is full of dance song. Remember the wild parties on “Laugh-In,” OK look at YouTube for info. 🙂 > > I loved Petula Clark’s, _My Love_ a very bouncy type tune which went to #1. A lot of bubblegum music of that era is danceable, like “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy,” and “Sugar, Sugar” etc are good. BTW Julie London actually does a great remake of “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy.” Thanks! I don’t know “My Love” but will check it out–but just wanted to say that, yes, the go-go dancing from Laugh-In is exactly the mood the hosts want to capture. Maybe some danceable psychedelic-ish music like The Doors. Nothing from the 50s as that will be wrong for the theme. Just noticed while poking around that the Kinks “You Really Got Me” was recorded in 1964; I never would have guessed! But that’s the right kind of song too. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/5 "2009-12-07T00:49:12Z")
“Shout” was released I think in the late 50’s but is super-danceable. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/6 "2009-12-07T01:02:37Z")
If you want dance music from the 60s, why not pick dance songs? The Twist (the only song to top the Billboard harts in two separate chart urns) Chubby Checker Do the Pony (Also Chubby), Mashed Potato Time (Dee Dee Sharp), are all good. Dancin’ in the Streets - Martha & the Vandellas Land of 1,000 Dances - Wilson Pickett Dance to the Music - Sly & the Family Stone Devil with a Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels Louie, Louis - The Kingsmen Mony Mony - Tommy James & the Shondells Travelin’ Band - Creedence Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys Crossroads - Cream That’s some early and some late 60s stuff. If something in that bunch doesn’t get 'em on the dance floor, call 9-1-1; they’re catatonic. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/7 "2009-12-07T01:07:42Z")
Just for the record - I hate dancing. I never dance. My boyfriend and I have been working on the unpacking for the last 3 hours and we have Solid Gold Oldies playing on Music Choice. I have been boogieing my way around the house for all three hours. There just aren’t many songs from the 60’s that aren’t danceable. Right now: Dickey Lee - I Saw Linda Yesterday. I’ve never even heard this song before but if I hadn’t been typing, I’d have been dancing. If you have Music Choice on your cable, just turn this channel on. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/8 "2009-12-07T01:15:51Z")
James Brown, James Brown, James Brown. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/9 "2009-12-07T12:21:07Z")
Every uptempo Motown song from the decade. Go for the Supremes, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, the Miracles, the Four Tops and so on, and everybody will dance like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/10 "2009-12-07T15:46:39Z")
_Cool Jerk_ by the Capitols _She’s About a Mover_ by the Sir Douglas Quintet _Over and Over_ by the Dave Clark Five _It’s Not Unusual_ by Tom Jones _She’s Just My Style_ by Gary Lewis and the Playboys _Five O’Clock World_ by the Vogues _Keep On Dancing_ by the Gentrys _Secret Agent Man_ by Johnny Rivers _See See Rider_ by Eric Burdon and the Animals _Wooly Bully_ by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs _Higher and Higher_ by Jackie Wilson _Expressway to Your Heart_ by the Soul Survivors _Little Latin Lupe Lu_ by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/11 "2009-12-07T16:16:50Z")
[QUOTE=Dorothea Book;11857140…but just wanted to say that, yes, the go-go dancing from Laugh-In is exactly the mood the hosts want to capture.[/QUOTE] That was pretty much the style though. You had the harder edge sounds like the Beatles and the Stones, the you had some acid type Janis Joplin or Sly Stone, and while you can dance to them, I guess I don’t consider that dance music, so to speak. You may want to Google around for Shindig or other shows like that. Maybe you can find a clip on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/12 "2009-12-07T16:48:13Z")
Some 1963-1966 stuff: Beach Boys – Shut Down, Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin’ USA Jan & Dean – Surf City Beatles – Please Please Me, She Loves You Stones – The Last Time Freddie & the Dreamers – I’m Telling You Now Herman’s Hermits – I’m Into Something Good Manfred Mann – Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Sha La La Dave Clark Five – Catch Us If You Can Rascals – Good Lovin’ And Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” from 1967 ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/13 "2009-12-07T19:18:16Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > You had the harder edge sounds like the Beatles and the Stones, the you had some acid type Janis Joplin or Sly Stone, and while you can dance to them, I guess I don’t consider that dance music, so to speak. Sly Stone not dance music? Are you kiddin’? How can you not move your ass to “I Want To Take You Higher”, “Family Affair”, “Thank You (Falettinme Mice Elf Agin)”? In fact, Sly and the Family Stone is a good suggestion for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_eliss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@miss\_eliss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_eliss)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/14 "2009-12-08T11:46:27Z")
OS MUTANTES! and “I Just Want to Make Love to You” by Muddy Waters ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/15 "2009-12-08T11:59:26Z")
Here’s a groovey dance. Nigel Lythgoe from back in the day showing that he is very qualified to judge other people’s dancing skills. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p83ppwGa4MM) ---
**Author:** ![Dorothea\_Book](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dorothea\_Book](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorothea_Book)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/16 "2009-12-08T15:10:41Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > James Brown, James Brown, James Brown. Now that sounds like the Tom Tom Club! Thanks, everyone, for these really excellent suggestions: a great blend for me of the familiar and the unfamiliar and all very danceable. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/17 "2009-12-08T15:32:17Z")
_Satisfaction_? I dunno. This always strikes me as the kind of song where people will typically just shake around. In other words, I think it’s “danceable,” but only in the sense that you can dance to just about any song with a strong beat. I hereby nominate _Runaround Sue_. It helps if you have a background in swing or jazz dancing, but even if you don’t, the rhythm helps you do more interesting moves than just wiggling around. (It’s from 1961, which may explain why it’s somewhat reminiscent of the more danceable music of the 50s.) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/18 "2009-12-08T16:11:54Z")
A few other early- to mid-60s selections: Gary “U.S.” Bonds: Quarter to Three Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon: Palisades Park Marcie Blaine: Bobby’s Girl Swingin’ Medallions: Double Shot of My Baby’s Love Bobby Fuller Four: I Fought the Law Del Shannon: Runaway ---
**Author:** ![Negative\_Lite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Negative\_Lite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Negative_Lite)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/19 "2009-12-08T21:45:34Z")
A few that leap to mind: Little Eva - The Locomotion (1962) ? and the Mysterians - 96 Tears (1966) Spencer Davis Group - Gimme Some Loving (1967) ---
**Author:** ![independentminded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed8c4c/32.png) [@independentminded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/independentminded)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245/20 "2009-12-15T15:52:17Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Every uptempo Motown song from the decade. Go for the Supremes, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, the Miracles, the Four Tops and so on, and everybody will dance like crazy. Yup. Not to mention the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Rolling Stones, and far too many others to mention. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-1960s-songs-are-very-danceable/520245.md?page=2)