I'm starting a classic rock/country band - need song suggestions

[TrogL]

I'm starting a band to play dances for boomers and other people enjoying a good dance to older music - perhaps 35-55 - the kind of thing you'd hear on a "classic rock" station and want to dance to it.

I've lost all my set lists, cheat sheets, lyrics etc. - I'm starting from scratch.

If you could suggest song titles I'd do the rest of the work myself or if you can provide links to lyrics that would certainly help.

Oh, and how about a name?

I play keyboards and I've got a bass player and lead guitar and a lead on two drummers. We've got enough PA to do a midsize stadium (just need power amps, which we'll rent). We've all been in bands before and we've found a niche market that will give us as much work as we want/need.

Finally, vocals. I'm no lead singer but I would like to do a few songs. My vocal range in low bass. Think Leonard Cohen. I can get to a D above middle C and that's pretty much it without screaming. I can just barely do "Comfortably Numb".

Any songs in my range?

[yorgatron]

1. FREEBIRD!!!

yeehaw :evilgrin:

[buddhamama]

2. Allman Brothers

:thumbsup:

[Drum]

5. I was just gonna write that!

:thumbsup:

And now I'm gonna put on "Tied to the whippin' post"!

[buddhamama]

6. hell yes !

:bounce:

[speedoo]

35. Hot 'Lanta!!

Allmans rock. Seriously.

[MissMillie]

3. For a name I always liked "Your Name Here"

like they put on stuff sold in a catalog that can be personalized.

If "Comfortably Numb" is the high end of your range, I'm a little lost as to what to suggest for songs. I think REM might be ok for you, and I keep hearing "Sweet Melissa" from the Alman Bros.... I'm not sure any of that is danceable.

:shrug: what do I know?

[6000eliot]

4. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" by the Byrds?

http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/kadler/public_html/rmcguinn/youaint.pdf

[Bassic]

7. Take it Easy is a no brainer.

And a sure hit every time.

[Drum]

8. Other good songbooks to explore:

Doobie Brothers
Marshall Tucker Band
Blackfoot
Eagles (plus spin-offs: Joe Walsh, John Fogerty, et al)
Bad Company
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Deep Purple

...playlists upon request.

Gotta jet to work now, but happy to provide some suggestions...will rejoin this thread later.

:hi:

[TrogL]

15. Oh yeah, we gotta do Smoke on the Water

Deep Purple didn't even occur to me.

Wonder if I can do any Chicago?

[Drum]

29. Got horns?

I haven't heard much of Chicago in a looong while, but I do recall a horn section. Or would your keyboard cover that?

As a great great Deep Purple tune (among the many on the Machine Head album) I recommend you take a look/listen at "Lazy". It's a really great jam song, a tight fast 6 (I think) with almost no vocals to sweat. Give it a listen. If you wish, send me a PM here and I can e-mail you a "sample."

Best of luck...I'm jealous as hell.

Drum

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. Got a fiddle player?

You gotta do "Orange Blossom Special." :bounce:

But, names... names should just happen. They're personal.

[sakabatou]

10. Guitar Hero may have some tracks that you can do.

[chaska]

11. Take This Job and Shove It....

Johnny Paycheck, baby!

Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more
My woman done left and took all the reasons
I was working for
You better not try to stand in my way
As I'm a walking out the door.
Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more

Ive been workin in this factory
From now on fifteen years
All this time I watched my woman
Drowning in a pool of tears
And I've seen a lot of good folk die
Who had a lot of bills to pay
I'd give the shirt right off of my back
If I had the nerve to say

Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more
My woman done left and took all the reasons
I was working for
You better not try to stand in my way
As I'm a walking out the door.
Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more

Well that foreman, he's a regular dog
The line boss, he's a fool
Got a brand new flat-top haircut
Lord, he thinks he's cool
One of these days, I'm gonna blow my top
And that sucker, he's gonna pay
Lord I cant wait to see their faces
When I get up the nerve to say

Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more
My woman done left and took all the reasons
I was working for
You better not try to stand in my way
As I'm a walking out the door.
Take this job and shove it
I ain't working here no more

[chaska]

12. "Kickin' hippies asses and raisin' hell". 'Up against the wall you redneck mother'

Jerry Jeff Walker

He was born in Oklahoma
His wife's name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz
He's not responsible for what he's doin' cuz
His mother made him what he is
And it's up against the wall Redneck Mother
Mother who has raised a son so well
He's 34 and drinkin' in a honky tonk
Just kickin hippies asses and raisin' hell

Sure does like his Fallstaff beer
He likes to chase it down with that wild turkey liquer
He drives a 57 GMC pickup truck
Got a gun rack
"Goat ropers need love too" sticker
And it's up against the wall Redneck Mother
Mother who has raised a son so well
He's 34 and drinkin' in a honkey tonk
Just kickin hippies asses and rainin' hell

Aw play it for mama

M is for the Mudflaps you give me for my pick-up truck
O is for the oil I put on my hair
T is for T-bird
H is for Haggard
E is for eggs, and
R is for REDNECK

Up against the wall Redneck Mother
Mother who has raised a son so well
He's 34 and drinkin' in a honkey tonk
Just kickin' hippies asses and raisin' hell (2X)

[Bridget Burke]

19. Ray Wiley Hubbard actually wrote "Redneck Mother"

Although Jerry Jeff did a fine version.

[Rambis]

21. I bought the RWH CD

if anybody wants a free CD I will send it to you. An old girlfriend's mother used to sit and listen to London Homesick Blues and sing I want to go home with the Armadillo and cry for hours.

[u4ic]

13. Ralph Klein's Stash

:rofl:

[Phillycat]

14. Poop Deck?

:shrug:

[Efilroft Sul]

16. Band name idea: White Ford Bronco

You could have fun with that one.

[Westegg]

17. "Uneasy Rider" by the C.D.B.

..."I'm a faithful follower of Brother John Birch/I belong to the Antioch Baptist Church/and I ain't even GOT a garage-- you can call home and ask my wife!"

[NMDemDist2]

18. one of my old bands was named Blue Dawg Band

i liked it then and i especially like it now

break a leg!

:hi:

[Richardo]

20. John Cage's 4'33"

:D


And for a band name: Led Skynyrd

[jobycom]

22. Doobie Brothers stuff. "Listen to the Music," "China Grove." The latter

would be a neat name for a band, if it hasn't been used. It captures the whole cover band sentiment, as well as hinting at the snappy dance theme of the band. Plus, it's a southern town, sort of, which fits with the country theme.

Also, CCR and Fogerty stuff is danceable, and has that country cross-over sound. "Centerfield," "Memories and Elephants" come to mind. The latter one there could be an interesting band name, too.

Just some thoughts. I'm a goober, though, so you should probably ignore them. :)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

32. China Grove

China Grove is a little bitty town not far south of San Antonio, to be specific.

I did not see any statues of the famous Doobies when I was there. FYI.

[jobycom]

34. That much is in the song! lol Unlike the Doobie Brothers, though,

it sounds like you've actually been there! :rofl:

Still a great song.

[Frank Cannon]

23. Investigate the Johnny Cash catalog

He was another bass with a limited range who performed a lot of songs in the rock and country genres. He was a friend of Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson and helped put (and keep) a lot of their songs at the tops of the charts.

And in my karaoke experience, performing "Ring of Fire" or "Walk the Line" earnestly never fails to bring the house down.

[Lyric]

37. I agree. I suggested Walk The Line too, but

Ring of Fire is tougher to perform without someone playing the horns. It doesn't sound right without the blaring Mexican brass. :)

[Frank Cannon]

38. Ah, yes. I forgot about the horns.

Did you know that they weren't originally part of the song? Johnny Cash heard the mariachi horn part in a dream and insisted that they be added.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

24. Can't help you with what songs

you could sing but can suggest a few that would round out your sets.
For example, no band worth its' salt (imho)would take the stage withour being able to do a couple Hank Williams tunes. "I saw the light', regardless of whether you agree wtih his message, is a great little ditty. "I'm so lonesome I could cry" is a classic. Simple, to the point, mournful. "Jumbalya" which introduced the country to Cajun music is another.
I always enjoy "Gimme 3 steps" by Lynryd Skynrd because of the little story it tells.
Rock and Roll? - "Rip this joint" by the Stones,short and powerful. A Beatle tune or two if you guys can do the harmonies, likewise the Beach Boys would require nailing the harmonies to get it right.
Good luck! Music is the universal language and always makes me feel good! :)

[Burma Jones]

25. Hocus Pocus - and

Walk Away
The Lido Shuffle
Brown Eyed Girl
Amie
Cover of The Rolling Stone
Spirit in the Sky
Colour My World
I'm a Believer

[mac56]

26. Dixie Chicken by Little Feat

Close All The Honky Tonks by Flying Burrito Brothers
Old 55 by Tom Waits (probably should try the Eagles' version)
Garden Party by Rick(y) Nelson
The Race Is On by George Jones (try the Sawyer Brown version)
Third Rate Romance by Amazing Rhythm Aces

As far as band names are concerned, I've always liked "Too Many Tractors".

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. My brother works with a successful local band...

They play a variety of tunes, and have quite a following. Here's a link to their song list: http://www.oracleband.net/songlist_by_category.html

[speedoo]

28. Check out what Dylan has been doing in concert.

He does all the vocals and plays keyboard and harmonica. He has a drummer, a bass player (electric and acoustic) a lead guitarist of course, a guy who plays rythym guitar and a guy who plays steel guitar, banjo and fiddle.

The band has been described by informed people as "American roots" .... they are great and even the most recent songs Dylan has recorded really come alove and sound very different in concert.

PM me if you'd like to download some of his concerts... it's really amazing stuff and people in the audience boogie like crazy.

[last_texas_dem]

30. "Green Grass and High Tides" by the Outlaws

Well, I love many songs from that era and most of the ones mentioned in this thread, but that one just popped into my head 'cause I heard it the other day. I love the fast guitar work at the end.

[hsher]

31. "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith

[leftofthedial]

33. Don't It Make You Wanna Dance?

Rusty Weir

[Lyric]

36. For a name--how about The Silver Dollar Band?

I just think it's cool. :)

For song suggestions--

Walk The Line
Wildwood Flower (instrumental, to give your voice a rest. But you'll need a really good picker for it.)
Diggin' Up Bones by Randy Travis. (This is a good one for someone with a bass voice.)
I'd Love To Lay You Down, by Conway Twitty. This song *requires* someone with a bass range, because it drops lower and lower in the ending refrain.