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What music do I play for my Beginner Swing Dance classes?
People often ask me about the music that I play during my Lindy Hop classes. Here’s a quick copy & paste from my frequent teaching playlists.
The original artist and/or album is not always listed since some of these are from other playlists from my old collection, but it can give you a good place to start your research.
8 COUNT PLAYLIST – Lindy Hop Teaching / music that I often play for my Beginner swing dance classes
All that Meat and no Potatoes Fats Waller 2:50 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong 3:41 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Be Careful Buddy Johnson Orchestra 3:13 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Frim Fram Sauce Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong 3:16 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Feets Too Big Fats Waller 3:10 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Is You Is Dinah Washington 3:29 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Fine Brown Frame Nellie Lutcher 3:03 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Kansas City Wilbert Harrisson 2:27 50s Greatest Rock N Roll 1 of 1 28/04/2010 2:31 PM
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love Louis Armstrong 2:54 Jazz for Dinner 1 of 1 26/04/2009 2:33 PM
On The Sunny Side Of Street Benny Goodman w/ Peggy Lee 3:08 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Beginning to See the Light Ella Fitzgerald 3:34 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Bye Bye Blackbid Not Carmen Mcrae 3:21 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Chattanooga Choo Choo Andrew Sisters 2:55 24/10/2010 9:06 PM
Lavendar Coffin Lionel Hampton 2:51 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Baby Just Cares For Me Nina Simone 3:05 17/07/2006 11:46 AM
Cheek to Cheek Louis & Ella 5:55 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Corner Pocket Count Basie 5:19 April In Paris 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Shiny Stockings Count Basie 5:19 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
You Gotta Walk The Chalk Line Buddy Johnson Orchestra 2:41 17/07/2006 11:46 AM
Atomic Cocktail Slim Gaillard 2:42 17/07/2006 11:46 AM
Doodedoo Blossom Dearie 2:23 02/06/2006 9:02 PM
Knock Me a Kiss Louis Jordan 2:50 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Tuxedo Junction Glenn Miller 3:34 Glen Miller Collection, Vol. 1 1 of 1 20/05/2010 10:51 AM
Easy Does It Count Basie 5:27 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Fever Peggy Lee 3:23 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
When the Saints Go Marching In (Live) Louis Armstrong 4:26 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 25/02/2008 10:54 PM
It’s a Pity to Say Goodnight Ella Fitzgerald 2:43 Lindy Hop Stroganoff 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Jersey Bounce Benny Goodman 3:11 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off Ella & Louis 4:18 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Mack The Knife Louis Armstrong 3:27 25/07/2006 5:59 PM
Perdido Duke Ellington 3:18 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Sit Right Down Ella Fitzgerald 2:31 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Who Walks In? Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald 2:20 17/07/2006 11:46 AM
Yes Indeed Tommy Dorsey 3:36 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
In a Mellow Tone Duke Ellington 3:27 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
Ain’t Misbehavin’ Louis Armstrong 3:26 The Essential Louis Armstrong 1 of 2 25/07/2006 5:58 PM
Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well Lucky Millander 2:58 17/07/2006 11:46 AM
Tuxedo Junction Glenn Miller 3:23 Beginner Teaching Mix 17/07/2006 11:40 AM
6 COUNT PLAYLIST – These songs tend to have clear phrasing which makes them easier for practicing your 6-counts.
Ain’t Misbehavin’ 3:24 Maxine Sullivan Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 11 30/04/2010 12:47 PM Mandi’s Songs
All That Meat and No Potatoes 2:52 Fats Waller Beginner Teaching Mix 13 20/03/2010 12:53 PM Mandi’s Songs
Atomic Cocktail 2:42 Slim Gaillard Jazz 21 09/02/2011 7:59 PM Mandi’s Songs
Comes Love 4:05 Billie Holiday Beginner Teaching Mix 13 14/02/2011 8:09 PM Mandi’s Songs
Doodedoo 2:23 Blossom Dearie 60 Swinging 29 11/02/2011 3:25 PM Mandi’s Songs
Everybody Eats When They Come To My House 2:47 Cab Calloway Hi De Ho Man 60 Jazz 31 09/02/2011 8:44 PM Mandi’s Songs
Feets Too Big 3:10 Fats Waller 100 58 10/02/2011 8:12 PM Mandi’s Songs
Fine Brown Frame 3:03 Nellie Lutcher Beginner Teaching Mix 53 09/02/2011 7:15 PM Mandi’s Songs
Flat Foot Floogie 2:57 Slim and Slam (Devon’s) 27 17/02/2011 9:24 PM Mandi’s Songs
Free Eats 2:59 Slim and Slam 20 Freakin’ Amazing Tracks 21 25/11/2010 8:06 PM Mandi’s Songs
Goody Goody 2:42 Ella Fitzgerald Mandi Time 21 30/01/2011 4:19 PM Mandi’s Songs
Hit that Jive Jack 4:57 Slim and Slam Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 8 31/12/2010 8:15 PM Mandi’s Songs
I’m Beginning To See The Light 3:10 Time-Life Swing Era Vol. 09 1942 to 1945 Disc Two Big Band 5 25/09/2010 12:53 AM Mandi’s Songs
Jersey Bounce 3:11 Benny Goodman Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17 04/11/2010 8:12 PM Mandi’s Songs
Jungle King 3:18 Cab Calloway Hi De Ho Man 40 Jazz 10 04/11/2010 8:15 PM Mandi’s Songs
Knock Me a Kiss 2:52 Louis Jordan Beginner Teaching Mix 16 14/06/2010 8:03 PM Mandi’s Songs
Lawdy Clawdy 3:00 The Cats And The Fiddle Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 60 27 24/01/2011 8:21 PM Mandi’s Songs
On The Sunny Side Of Street 3:08 Benny Goodman w/ Peggy Lee Big Band 34 30/01/2011 5:13 PM Mandi’s Songs
Straighten Up and Fly Right 2:31 Nat King Cole Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 11 27/01/2011 7:55 PM Mandi’s Songs
Taint What Ya Do 3:10 Mandi’s Classic Hit Parade 28 26/11/2010 7:24 PM Mandi’s Songs
Twelfth Street Rag 3:10 Louis Armstrong The Hot Fives & Sevens – Vol. 2 Jazz 9 25/09/2010 6:09 PM Mandi’s Songs
Yes Indeed 3:36 Tommy Dorsey Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 19 03/02/2011 8:35 PM Mandi’s Songs
CHARLESTON PLAYLIST – Charleston Teaching / music that I often play for my Beginner Charleston classes
Charleston 2:25 Pee Wee Hunt 20 Freakin’ Amazing Tracks 13 07/02/2011 10:00 AM Mandi’s Songs
Georgia Swing 2:36 Charleston! 8 25/09/2010 7:06 PM Mandi’s Music
Sugar Foot Stomp 2:51 Louis Armstrong The Essential Louis Armstrong Jazz 9 06/06/2010 12:24 PM Mandi’s Songs
Lawdy Clawdy 3:00 The Cats And The Fiddle Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 60 27 24/01/2011 8:21 PM Mandi’s Songs
Who Walks In? 2:20 Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald Swinging 21 16/02/2011 8:16 PM Mandi’s Songs
Everybody Eats When They Come To My House 2:47 Cab Calloway Hi De Ho Man 60 Jazz 31 09/02/2011 8:44 PM Mandi’s Songs
Straighten Up and Fly Right 2:31 Nat King Cole Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 11 27/01/2011 7:55 PM Mandi’s Songs
Johnson Rag 2:49 Glenn Miller Swinging 16 16/02/2011 8:54 PM Mandi’s Songs
Jump Session 2:43 Slim and Slam Beginner Teaching Mix 46 10/02/2011 6:37 PM Mandi’s Songs
Alright, Okay, You Win 2:59 Peggy Lee Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 17 19/01/2011 8:14 PM Mandi’s Songs
Honeysuckle Rose 3:15 Fats Waller Cleveland CD1 12 25/09/2010 12:32 AM Mandi’s Songs
South 3:56 Lindy Hop Heaven Charleston! 34 17/02/2011 7:09 PM Mandi’s Songs
I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby (And My Baby’s Crazy ‘Bout Me) 2:42 Casa Loma Orchestra Maniac’s Ball Jazz 6 16/02/2011 9:17 PM
Hit that Jive Jack 4:57 Slim and Slam Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 8 31/12/2010 8:15 PM Mandi’s Songs
Potato Head Blues 3:03 Louis Armstrong The Essential Louis Armstrong Twenties 8 31/12/2010 8:18 PM Mandi’s Songs
You Made Me Love You 3:03 Louis Armstrong The Hot Fives & Sevens – Vol. 2 Twenties 5 31/12/2010 8:21 PM Mandi’s Songs
Heebie Jeebies 3:04 Louis Armstrong The Essential Louis Armstrong Twenties 8 03/07/2010 7:17 PM Mandi’s Songs
Irish Black Bottom 2:51 Louis Armstrong The Hot Fives & Sevens – Vol. 2 Twenties 7 25/09/2010 12:12 AM Mandi’s Songs
Jazz Lips 3:14 Louis Armstrong Charleston! 3 30/04/2010 9:53 AM Mandi’s Songs
Big Butter And Egg Man 3:11 Louis Armstrong The Hot Fives & Sevens – Vol. 2 Twenties 3 19/11/2009 12:25 AM Mandi’s Songs
Flat Foot Floogie 2:57 Slim and Slam (Devon’s) 27 17/02/2011 9:24 PM Mandi’s Songs
Hit That Jive Jack * 3:07 Slim and Slam Mandi Time 10 31/01/2011 6:17 PM Mandi’s Songs
It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing 3:12 So Good Mandi Time 14 06/12/2010 9:53 PM Mandi’s Songs
Fifteen Minutes Itermission 2:54 Cab Calloway Hi De Ho Man 60 Jazz 13 06/07/2010 11:11 AM Mandi’s Songs
On The Sunny Side Of The Street 2:59 Louis Armstrong The Essential Louis Armstrong (Disc 2) Swinging 12 25/09/2010 5:22 PM Mandi’s Songs
Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree 3:13 Glenn Miller 80 Swinging 12 30/01/2011 1:34 PM Mandi’s Songs
Ampola 3:09 Mandi’s Classic Three Ring Circus 6 15/05/2010 2:17 PM Mandi’s Songs
You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams 2:53 Fats Waller Portrait Vol. 2 – CD07 – Squeeze Me (1939-40) Jazz 8 24/01/2011 6:27 PM
The Breakaway 2:52 Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Charleston – Great Stars of the 1920s Jazz 1 30/01/2011 10:28 AM
I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby (With Una Mae Carlisle) 2:40 Duke Ellington The Early Duke Ellington Jazz 2 09/12/2010 7:00 PM
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby 3:03 Ace Brigode & His Fourteen Virginians 100 Roaring Classics Of The 1920s Jazz
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby! 2:10 Eddie Cantor Classic Years of Eddie Cantor Vocal 2 17/02/2011 9:33 PM
Yes Sir, That’s My Baby (Digitally Remastered) 2:27 The Four Aces Essential Original Recordings – Volume 2 Pop 35 11/12/2010 10:48 PM (Digitally Remastered)
Happy Feet 2:59 Manhattan Rhythm Kings The Aviator [Original Soundtrack] Other
Willie The Weeper 3:14 Louis Armstrong The Essential Louis Armstrong Twenties Mandi’s Songs
~ Mandi Gould
Mandi Gould is Director & Head Dance Instructor for Bees’ Knees Dance in Toronto and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.