Recs sought: Alternative patter music

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I'm in the process of changing from calling to records on a turntable to calling from a laptop. One of the key upgrades this will allow me to do involves the expansion of my patter music repertoire.

Patter music, also called hoedown music, is the highly rhythmic, not necessarily melodic music that a caller chants to. The old traditional fiddle tunes are typical: Ragtime Annie, Chinese Breakdown, Boil 'Em Cabbage, etc. Like most callers, I have always used (almost exclusively) records specifically made by the square dance record companies for my patter music. (And I will continue to use only s/d industry records for my singing calls, because they have to conform to a tight structure. A typical "tip" or set consists of about 8-10 minutes of patter followed by a 4 minute singing call.)

The computer -- with its looping options, tempo+pitch-shifters, editing features, etc. -- allows much freer use of non-square dance music for patter, and that's where I'm asking for suggestions. I'm looking for danceable grooves, any and all genres, that might serve my purpose. Vocals on the record are a negative (it's distracting to the dancers, who need to hear the calls), but they can be worked with. Around 128 beats per minute is ideal, although the computer can adjust for tempos

The new patter pieces I've put on the computer so far and am currently rehearsing may give you an idea of what I'm looking for. The two "naturals" so far are Bob Will's and The Texas Playboys' "Fat Boy Rag" (no surprise there!) and Booker T. & The MGs' "Soul Limbo" (a perfect example of a great alternative patter record from another genre). I'm also working with Basie's "Jumpin' At the Woodside," Stuff Smith's version of "Take The A Train," CCR's "Poor Boy Shuffle," Flatt & Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," Elliott Sharp (the outer limits -- my teenaged school dancers will love it!), Darol Anger, Deep Forest, Tabla Beat Science, etc.

Here's a link to articles summing up recent workshops on Alternative Patter at the most recent Callerlab conventions, alhough I find the choices there unhealthily slanted toward smooth jazz and smooth R&B. Alternative Patter archives


Any sugestions will be appreciated! My ASCAP/BMI license (through Callerlab) is current and covers the use of any and all music at my dances.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Next I'll be trying out some Fela Kuti and Beausoleil.

[Chris D]

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Next I'll be trying out some Fela Kuti and Beausoleil.

Beausoleil's "Bayou Cadillac" might work in that context.

How about some Meters? Or were they a little too lean?

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Link Wray's "Rumble"? The Ventures (hey what happened to them!),
Old Daune Eddy tracks - 3-30 Blues,

The Ev's "Nashville Blues"...Love that track...bought it for my first girlfriend in Germany ... then she dumped me!

I blame the Evs for my life thereafter!

[walto]

I thought patter songs were those Gilbert and Sullivan tongue twisting vehicles.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by walto

I thought patter songs were those Gilbert and Sullivan tongue twisting vehicles.

Where do you think they got the idea from??

"Chicken in a breadpan pickin' out dough,
Granny does your dog bite? No, child, no!"

[Jon Abbey]

speaking of which, how about Charlie Daniels-Devil Came Down to Georgia? how about Sugar Hill Gang-Rapper's Delight?

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

how about Sugar Hill Gang-Rapper's Delight?

Or just eliminate one level of indirection and go straight to 'Good Times'

[Dr Dave]

This is going to sound kinda off the wall, but what the hell:

Paris Lounge Vol. 1 is the cleverest of all the "lounge" collections; you'll find all kinds of interesting vamps and grooves, and you'll even find a 1962 recording of Jeanne Moreau.



Supperclub 2 lacks the sonic variety of Paris Lounge, but it has lots of glossy dance grooves, especially on the second disc.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

speaking of which, how about Charlie Daniels-Devil Came Down to Georgia?

Jon: "Devil Went Down To Georgia" (on Chapparral records) is the all-time, best-selling square dance singing call, so it's kind of pre-empted from being used as a patter record. Everybody does the singing call! (Of course, that 'chicken in a breadpan' riff predates Daniels by over a century.)

Chris & Richard: I have the Meters and Link Wray only on old tapes. I'll need to listen again to them again -- both sound like good prospects. The Ventures sound promising -- again only on tape, but I know where that one is!

Sergio: Chic! Yes!! I'm on it! I do like the idea of old school rap, though -- some of the guys are using House Music. (I'm not quite sure of the disctinctions.)

Doc: I like the Lounge recs! Could be promising, and not something that occured to me!

Walter: actually I think both the callers and Gilbert & Sullivan took their patter style from a common earlier source, The Hey-Nonny-Nonny-No School Of Aulde Fasttalking Jyve.

[Boris Badenov]

Hey, square, how about "Walkin' One and Only" by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks?
Or, if you want something purely instrumental, their "Flight of the Fly"?

[Chris D]

Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys do a loopy instrumental called something like "Barnyard Boogie" that could be cool.

Richard Thompson's "Tear-Stained Letter" off "Hand of Kindness" has a great flying reel feel with smokin' squeezebox and fiddle.

Of course the Chieftains have a lot of appropriate tunes, like "Boil the Breakfast Early" or "Carolan's Welcome."

Could you do something with a space funker, like Preston's "Outta Space"?

Some blue beat or ska could work to your advantage too, like the early Studio One instrumentals.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Boris Badenov

Hey, square, how about "Walkin' One and Only" by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks?
Or, if you want something purely instrumental, their "Flight of the Fly"?

There is also "Jukie's Ball" on the first album, "Original Recordings." Come to think of it, "Shorty Takes A Dive" from the same album has that hep beat and "So I caught him, the little bastard" and other memorable lines. Ahem. Yes.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Thanks for all great ideas, guys! I will track them down!

Boris and Doc -- Dan Hicks is a GREAT sound for dancing. I'm sure I'll find something of theirs that will work.