The #1 most frequently used "Search" term that people are using to find my website...by a HUGE margin is "baby boomer playlist." There are a dozen variations on that, including "boomer dance music" and "baby boom song list."  They all seem to be looking for one thing: the essential dance tunes. I don't mean listening tunes. I mean the tunes that get people on the dance floor.

Keep in mind that even the best tunes need a little "context." There is a start, a middle, and an end to every dance party. There are slow tunes that tend to exclude singles because, well, you don't want to be dancing to a smoldering slow tune with a married colleague or neighbor.  If the room is too brightly lit, some dancers are inhibited and may sit out even the best tunes. Save the funky stuff until you have a few bodies up and dancing...stick with the "gateway" tunes to start...tunes that are familiar and...well...beloved.

That said, here are my recommendations. They are guaranteed to get a reaction and if the crowd is primarily boomer-aged, they will hit the floor without an elevated blood-alcohol level.

One other thing...there are distinct sub-groups in Baby Boomer dance music. The holy trinity are 1) late 50s, 2) 60's, and 70's up to classic disco. Those groups make more sense than "Motown, Funk/Soul, and what I like to call (snob alert) "Happy Days" which is late 50's sock-hop music that has been famous in movies, most notably "American Graffiti." (A GREAT movie!) Real 50's music is a different animal. All partner dancing, vocalist-heavy tunes that are great over dinner, good used sparringly, but otherwise will drive people right off the dance floor. Pronto, Tonto. Early and mid-50's is good enough for pledge night on KQED, but no...not in your playlist! 


Late 50's (The Golden Age of dance-worthy Elvis)

• Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & the Comets
• At The Hop - Danny and the Juniors
• School Day - Chuck Berry
• Jailhouse Rock or Hound Dog -  These are the reason Elvis is THE KING
• Smoke Gets in You Eyes - The Platters
• Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
• Chance Are -  Johnny Mathis
• Tequila - The Champs
• I Only Have Eyes for You - The Flamingos
• I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank (the version arranged by Nelson Riddle and performed with the N. Riddle Orchestra)
• Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins

In Part 2 I will cover the "heavy lifter" tunes that are the core of a Boomer Dance party...the incredible explosion that was the Sixties.
As always, if you don't agree with my list...go out and make your own. 

Just read this morning that there is a slew of proposed legislation in Congress dealing with privacy privacy disclosure requirements for commercial websites. I guess that would include me.

One proposal limits how many characters can be used to explain the policy. I know that they mean well, but damn, what's next...which fonts can be used? 

[Disclaimer:]  I find the recent overturning of an important part of the Civil Rights Act just as scary as the recent disclosure that the government that I voted for is eavesdropping on just about anything they feel like. All day. Every day.

As a child of the 60's, a decade of protest and civil rights activism, I am concerned. Not concerned enough to join the GOP and try to restore the United States of the 1950s, but concerned nonetheless. 

And so, in a spirit of cooperation and transparency, here it is, my privacy policy: (drumroll please!)

I don't collect anything. I therefore have nothing of value to share with financial, marketing, social networking, or any other agency or organization. I log in once a month to see which key words are used to find my website, and I can also see which search engines have pointed the curious in my direction. Oddly enough, aside from Google (naturally) the overwhelming number of search engines are all in Russia. I am guessing they are searching for weaknesses in my website that they can exploit for names, email addresses,  or credit cards. Sorry comrades. Don't have any of that in my website. Just good music and fun ideas.

It also occurred to me that now that I have added juicy terms like "Russia"  and "GOP" to a blog page I will see the number of hits increase dramatically as the NSA and Russian intelligence try to figure out the obviously encrypted meaning behind words like "Boogaloo" or "Watusi."  

Caught the Contra Costa-based Damn Dirty Apes band at Handles Brew Pub in Pleasanton  on a recent saturday night. Handles is located in what used to be the bar of the Pleasanton Hotel & Restaurant on Main St. The new owners spent a chunk of money renovating the  building, and nowhere was the renovation more badly needed than the bar, which was a dark musty cave with too many tufted vinyl chairs. Trapped in the sixties...and not in a good way.

The DDA play straight-ahead rock and roll classics and have a great deal of fun doing it. This is the real deal, so if you are waiting for the usual wedding reception band blah blah blah, you're out of luck. This is good time party-rock. Jeans, tee-shirts and sneakers, and enough big heaping sets of AC/DC, Tom Petty, Grand Funk Railroad, to get your feet moving on the dance floor.

DDA is blessed with three strong guitars, an obvious asset for a band that plays this genre of music. No over-indulgent extended solos to slow things down. Steve Chapman's lead guitar work and strong vocals will resonate with baby boomers.  Craig Lyons'  (guitarist and lead vocals) is at his best on the Tom Petty tunes. His powerful, versatile voice on "American Girl" was a high-point of the night. 

Setting the DDA apart from other classic rock bands is keyboard player and vocalist Charlotte Stephens. Charlotte channels Pat Benetar and Joan Jett like she was born to it, and her background, or should I say "co-vocals" with lead guitarist Steve Chapman add a richness that takes the music up several notches. Did I mention she also plays a mean harmonica?

Enthroned behind the "wall of guitarists" is Charlotte's hub and my boss, Mike Stephens. His drumming style is punchy, precise, and energetic. You can tell he is having fun, and his energy and personality reach all the way to the far side of the dance floor. Mike and bass guitarist Dave Mercurio team up to pound out an infectious rythym from the first tune to the last.

From the opening bars of "We're an American Band" you will feel like you are back at that dive bar on First Street.  Without the cigarette smoke. They will be playing Handles in Pleasanton again on December 15th.

For great musicianship, a solid playlist of classic rock, and an overall good time, check out the Damn Dirty Apes.

Here is a link to their webpage:  http://www.damndirtyapesband.com/index.htm