Steve Hopkins Web Pages

New Archangel Orchestra: Track Suggestions

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OK I admit it. I've suggested most of these tunes, but not all of them. And they are just the tip of the iceberg.
Every time I hear a tune and think 'Oooh, maybe we could do that', I dump it here, along with suggestions from band members. They might be here because they're good to dance to, or because I like the piano part, or because the tune is catchy or because of the complex jazz chords etc etc
So this is me being a DJ, and now you know what kind of band you're getting into....quite retro I suppose....

Track Artist version
(link to YouTube etc)
Comment
'What's going on'
Marvin Gaye
Everette Harp
Alan Haven
Crowd-pleaser. Who could sing it?
'Rescue Me'
Fontanella Bass Great retro soul
'Funkin for Jamaica'
Tom Browne Bass player's orgy. Good chord sequence when it gets going. Probably not
do it.
'Forest Flower'
Charles Lloyd Quartet My favourite piece of jazz for all time. I'm working on it.
'On a clear day'
The Peddlers Love the song, this sixties arrangement and the organ solo. And the button down collars.
'Somebody Else's Guy'
Jocelyn Brown You gotta dance to this...after the intro that is.
'Green Onions'
Booker T and the MGs A soul classic instrumental and a chance to demonstrate my organ in action. Maybe
'Wave'
Oscar Peterson version Inspirational. More practice needed, Hopkins!
'There it ise'
Shalamar Love the sequenced arpeggios. need a strong b. vox section
'Young Hearts'
Candi Staton Seventies classic. Needs b. vox.
'San Lorenzo'
Pat Metheny I always loved this, especially the combined zither and piano from pianist Lyle Mayes.
'Ain't no stopping us now'
McFadden & Whitehead Floor-filler. Needs great harmony vox section.
'Move on up'
Curtis Mayfield Do-able floor-filler with right singers?
'Let's stay together'
Al Green Lovely but not a big 'dancer'
'Every kinda people'
Robert Palmer Do-able dance tune with catchy tunes, hooks.
'1999'
Prince I love it. But a challenge to get the sound right...very produced. Maybe later when there's a second keyboard player...dream on.
'Afro-cuban jazz suite'
Machito and his cuban all stars Only 17 minutes long with amazing changes of texture.. check out at 3 mins 20 seconds...just need several baritone saxes...
'Street Life'
Randy Crawford and The Crusaders I could be persuaded I suppose
'Vitamina'
Noro Morales A chance for me and percussionists to show off
'I wish i knew how it would feel to be free'
Billy Taylor
Nina Simone
A bit of fun as everyone know the film night theme. Maybe a sung version.
'Venus'
Bananarama Everyone has a guilty pleasure, I suppose. Disco classic.
'Closer then close'
Rosie Gaines
Happening club version
I love this for dancing. Elastic electro-bass drum etc.
'Take Five'
Tito Puente Used to do this in the old Archangel Orchestra, but that had 8 brass players!
'Smack dab in the middle'
Ella Mae Morse Cheeky song, originally from King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys!
'Twisted'
Annie Ross Vocalese suggested by Lauren
'Desafinado'
New York Voices Super-smooth singing somewhat like Bossa No No
'I want a little sugar in my bowl'
Nina Simone Nina in raunchy mode
'Tell it like it is'
Aaron Neville Sixties classic played by Radio Caroline
'The look of love'
Nina Simone Nina in sultry mode
'Guilty'
Bonny Raitt Another great singer that Lauren follows
'I'm hip'
Blossom Dearie Another great singer that Lauren follows
'Angel Eyes'
Ella Fitzgerald Another great singer that Lauren follows
'In the mood'
Bette Midler Another great singer that Lauren follows
'Soul bossa Nova'
Quincy Jones Shagadelic! let's frug, baby!
'Tranquility'
Tania Maria Lovely jazz track with nice dynamics and cool keyboard chords
'It's a shame'
Detroit Spinners Happy memories. Lovely bass lines,. Again, need full-on b.vox section.
'Ain't no mountain high enough'
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Two top voices on a superb tune
'Superstition'
Stevie Wonder A world of riches.
'Like Sugar'
Chaka Khan Bass groove. Let's steal it for something else...
'Seven days is too long'
Chuck Wood Northern soul classic with an intro that really means business before the anthemic chorus
'Can't go for that'
Hall and Oates Man that's a sexy record
'Native New Yorker'
Odyssey Great song. Don't forget to book the orchestra too
'Get down on it'
Kool and the Gang Precisely. Get down on it, man.
'Good times'
Chic A production number. leave it to the DJ, I think
'Baby don't make me change my mind'
Gladys Knight and the Pips One of my fave eighties disco tunes.
'Just walk in my shoes'
Gladys Knight and the Pips Another favoutite of mine. Northern soul with pumping bass and Phil Spector sound
'Thinkin' of you'
Sister Sledge Catchy tune with prominent congas at start
'Oh Sheit, It's X'
Thundercat Ultra-modern groove production number about being high on the dance floor. Wild bass effect.
'And the beat goes on'
The Whispers So many disco classics to choose from. Most need good b. vox section.
'Pull up to the bumper'
Grace Jones Good dancer, but maybe not much for the band to do.
'Check yourself'
The Intruders Northern soul classic
'Some day'
Sir Douglas Band Little known groover with nice vocal and brass
'One more time'
Daft Punk These production numbers present a challenge for conversion to live band...later down the line maybe.
'Don't you worry about a thing'
Stevie Wonder Another great tune from the master
'Funky Nassau'
The End of the Beginning Hmm maybe. It's funky alright.
'You are the sunshine'
Stevie Wonder Nice but probably won't do this.
'Midnight Mambo'
Daniel Poncé Hard core latin jazz. I love it, but need a team of enthusiasts.
'Buttercup'
Stevie Wonder A nice little known Stevie Wonder tune
'Milestones'
Mark Murphy Vocal version of the cool Miles Davis hit
'Who's that lady'
Isley Bros Groovy tune. needs the singers to pull it off.
'Night and Day'
Artie Shaw Let's really get all those dance genres covered off.
'Samba Pa Ti'
Santana Lovely guitar tune, but not much room for slow tunes like this
'Now'
Dave McKay and Vicky Hamilton A tricky latin vox thing to suit PC
'Pastime Paradise'
Ray Barretto and Charlie Palmieri Mainstream latin jazz. Top tune by Stevie Wonder
'Lotus (7 Summers)'
Shaun Martin Great jazz fusion
'Stolen Moments'
Oliver Nelson septet Great cool jazz from the sixties
'Dos Dias'
Sergio Mendes Brasil '66. Time to celebrate life and love on the beach at Copcabana
'Shoshana'
Cal Tjader Some excellent Latin piano/vibes with a great groove
'Bet you thought I'd never find you'
Jon Hendricks Super Latin jazz fast groove with vocal
'No more blues'
Dizzy Gillespie This is another version of the A C Jobim tune 'Chega de Saudade' which translates as ' No more blues'
'Psychedelic Love'
Natalie Williams Slinky groove. Pass the acid. Like the high heels too...
'Harbour Lights'
Boz Scaggs Possibly my favourite slow song...although it does take off at 5 minutes in
'Sombras'
Concha Buika Fab cool, sultry songstress with top Cuban pianist Chucho Valdes. To die for.
'Jojo'
Boz Scaggs Cool blue-eyed soul groove
'Reach out, I'll be there'
Four Tops Back to the school disco for me
'Higher and Higher'
Jackie Wilson More old school disco. Check out the trumpet refrain when it comes.
'Brick House'
Commodores Now that's what I call funk.
'Hold on, I'm coming'
Sam and Dave It's gonna be a long night Pass the pep pills.
'Do I do'
Stevie Wonder This tune makes everybody happy
'Boogie Oogie Oogie'
Taste of Honey The disco classic. Nice clav and guitar parts
'Samba do Brazil'
Bellini A possible encore number, if done closer to the orginal, which I coudn't find. Never mind, enjoy.
'Soul Man'
Sam and Dave Famous guitar part to this classic.
'Clean up woman'
Betty Wright Somewhat similar to a slow version of Soul Man (above)
'Tuesday Heartbreak'
Stevie Wonder So good. We could just become a Stevie Wonder cover band
'Reelin' in the years'
Steely Dan Also so good. That's quite enough Steely Dan, thank you. Nearly Dan have got this covered off.
'Move me no mountain'
Love Unlimited All good stuff. Needs b. vox section
'Ask me'
Ecstasy passion and pain Depp into seventies disco. Nice bass work
'Ain't nothing like the real thing'
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell Great tune. Almost enough to make me feel romantic again.
'Groovin''
The Young Rascals Makes me feel good all over
'Shotgun'
Junior Walker Now wer'e cooking. Time for another pep pill.
'Na na na na Hey hey'
Steam I think I'm indulging in a bout of nostalgia. And why not?
'Knucklehead'
The Barkays Uncompromising forward movement. Good for my 'train dance'
'Sex Machine'
James Brown Keep the party on its feet
'Help Me'
Joni Mitchell Love this, but it doesn't fit into the dance concept.  Could be in the first set. Needs a shit-hot singer. K D Lang and Chaka Khan did great versions too.
'Waterfall, may this be love'
Jimi Hendrix Pastoral tune from the guitar hero. Nice drum work
'Tighten Up'
Archie Bell and the Drells Hi everybody!
'Abba zabba'
Captain Beefhart Would take an afro jungle back beat very well
'Memphis soul stew'
King Curtis Did this in my first band when I was 17 years old.
'Uptight, Outasight'
Nancy Wilson Nice! It's 3.30 am, more pep pills please. Great brass...
'Never can say goodbye'
Gloria Gaynor Another disco classic. So many of them need good strings..
'Light of Worlds'
Kool and the gang Nice contrast between verse and chorus
'Party down'
Little Beaver I love the totally laid back vibe on this one
'Give me your love'
Curtis Mayfield Another great laidback groove. Very long intro.
'Mo's scocious'
Dr John Bluesy tune. Nice backing vocal line
'Image'
Alan Haven or Hank Levine Now I'm showing my age. A guilty pleasure I guess.
'Up from the sea'
George Duke Fairly frantic Latin samba
'Traffic jam'
Chick Webb Hot club style retro dance for jitterbugging
'Caravan'
e.g. Arturo Sandoval Watching this gives me another 'Why I don't give up?' moment
'Hightimes'
Martin Goodall
Jazz Biscuits A hi-life number is a good idea. We will develop this orginal idea (of our ex-trumpet player Martin).
'Let's get started'
The Commodores Yeah! Let's party!
'Walk Tall'
Cannonball Adderley Neil's suggestion. This version is faster and cooler than original. Yey!
'El rico mambo'
Perez Prado Exciting direction for an augmented brass section
'Guaglione'
Perez Prado As above more fun mambo
'The peanut vendor'
Stan Kenton and his orchestra As above more fun mambo. Terrific arrangement.
'Batucada'
Marcos Valle and Stacey Kent Nice hair, Marcos; nice jacket Stacey
'Smooth'
Carlos Santana Rock / Latin
'Krigsgaldr'
Heilung I like the general idea of Viking earth music
'Tristeza'
Sergio mendes and Brasil '66 Uplifting samba feel
'Hanging on a String'
Loose Ends Cool soul
'Sun Goddess'
Earth, Wind and Fire Cosmic Funk
'It was only yesterday'
Larry Carlton Beautiful slow-burner guitar epic
'Blank'
Blank Blank

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