What a delight to welcome back as a guest the amazing Gina Stark, who knows a thing or two about dancing, with a Top 10 compilation to get your hips moving.  Gina, who tweets under the name of @SuuperG is one of the first people I connected with on Twitter and what a fun ride it’s been ever since!

You can connect with Gina on Twitter by clicking the image below and I also recommend you pay her excellent Gitana Blog a visit.  She’s also climbing a mountain this year to raise money for a great cause, click here to find out what it’s all about and maybe give her your support.

From Wikipedia: “According to music writer Piero Scaruffi the disco phenomenon spread quickly because the “collective ecstasy” of disco was cathartic and regenerative and led to freedom of expression.”

Call it what you like, “collective ecstasy” or just plain fun,  Disco Fever infected me again at a 70’s themed party this last New Year’s Eve.  There is that element of joyful let-loosing-ness to it, music that doesn’t take itself so seriously, as much of our current choices do.

And so I was moved to share my favorites.  Phew! Not an easy task…narrowing down suuper funk-a-delic disco tunes to ten must-hears.  I think perhaps I should make my next blog post a discussion of the engineering merits of Leonardo Da Vinci’s sketches.  That would be easier!

My selection here is based purely on movement motivation…those tunes that, from the very first few bars, you are drawn irresistibly to dance – even if there IS no dance floor. Oh come on, you’ve chair danced, I know you have; I have pictures – I’m just nice enough not to post them :D

OK so Tony (he runs this here blog) has a steadfast rule of 10, to which I will adhere.  Kinda. However, comma, I am a rebel. So I shall here insert a recommendation for virtually every.song.by.K.C.and.the.Sunshine.Band.  Ssshhh don’t tell him.

And all you lovely Twitter folk, I made up yet another hashtag: #HipCandy

Seriously, big boogie-tastic thanks to Tenny -I mean Tony – for inviting me once again to contribute to his awesome blog!  I had a lot of fun compiling this list; I hope you have fun reminiscing and/or discovering. Enjoy!

1. Boogieman – K.C. and the Sunshine Band

I dare you…to not dance to this one. C’mon. Send in your videos of you sitting calmly, sans toe tapping ;)

2. Brick House – The Commodores

“She’s mightah mightah…” Let it all hang out! No night is complete until this one plays.

3. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

Possibly my #1 all-time forever favorite. I liked this one way back even when I was an acid rock snob Led Zeppelin/Pink Floyd/Rolling Stones purist who looked down my ignorant nose at all disco.

4. Party Train – Gap Band

Don’t miss it…shake your caboose ;) Solid, steam-engine funk. I’ve liked this lesser-known song for a while and just had to include it in the hopes that some of you will discover it for the first time!

5. I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

Best lip-syncing song for the dance floor. I mean, when she starts a capella with “First I was afraid, I was petrified…” it is a moral imperative to follow along in dead-pan dramatics and share her story of feminine empowerment! Go Gloria!

6. Heart of Glass – Blondie

OK, this one breaks my rules a bit in that I actually enjoy listening to it! J I still think Blondie is an under-appreciated group from that era. Debra Harry did the first mainstream rap (Rapture)!

7. The Hustle – Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony

So classic. It makes you attempt to line dance and spin into each other and kick each other’s shins. Good giggling fun! (I vaguely recall I once kinda knew the moves…ack!)

8. I Feel Love – Donna Summer

I don’t know…something about this one grabs me. It almost has a techno-trance type feel to it.  And helloooo, Donna Summer? I’d be mob-silenced if she weren’t on this list! (Good driving song, too)

8b) Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey

9. Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees

Goes without saying. Iconic song for an iconic movie about Disco.  And don’t we ALL do the classic Travolta finger-point /hip thrust move? Oh heck…we don’t all? Did I just give myself away?

10. Get Down Tonight K.C. and the Sunshine Band

Quintessential Disco Delight.  They have the best intros…gives you time to grab your friends and stake out a place on the dance floor (or your living room ;) )  “Do a little dance, make a little love…get down tonight!”

And there you have it. Whereas I DO encourage your comments and look forward to hearing your favorites, I ask that you please be kind…don’t make me flinch with a “Why the HECK didn’t I think of that!” reaction ;) Remember, I agonized over this and some very great songs (Le Freak, Got to Give it Up, Love Roller Coaster, Shame, Love Hangover, and Suuper Freak) are on my “reserve” list! Heehee Cheers and happy hip-shakin’!

Bonus track that Gina and I found that we wanted to share just because we like it!

Many thanks to Gina for getting us all moving as we start the new year.

You have really taken me back to my youth Gina, I used to dance to most of these first time around, long hair, flares and all! Oh Dear – showing my age again.

Has Gina missed any of your favourites, please do let us know.

* Image Credit Glitterball Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It’s a great pleasure to welcome Julie Spira as a guest on the blog.  Julie is well known as a dating and relationship expert but on this occasion she has used her musical background to compile a list of her favourite ‘spooky’ tunes.

You can follow Julie on Twitter @juliespira, connect on Facebook and also find out all about what she does by visiting the excellent Cyber Dating Expert.

Halloween isn’t all about candy and costumes. The season also features some of my favorite songs to get you in the mood for a fun and flirty holiday week. Here are my Top 10 Favorite Halloween Songs. Enjoy!

1. Spooky – Classics IV

One of my favorites, because it’s about love and romance.

2. Thriller – Michael Jackson

No Halloween would be complete without the excitement of this thrilling bestselling song from the late King of Pop.

The mystery of the woman in this song made it a hit for the Eagles.

4. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett

You might not know who the artist is, but you’ll certainly recognize the song. No Halloween party would be complete without this seasonal favorite.

5. Witch Queen of New Orleans – Redbone

Another personal favorite that I enjoyed playing on the radio. You’ll be humming Marie, Marie, da voodoo veau, she’ll put a spell on you.

6. Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.

The title theme from the soundtrack film will fill you with laughter on Halloween

7. Black Magic Woman – Santana

This song by Carlos Santana will always will be an incredibly sexy and classic tune that will never go out of style.

8. I put a Spell on You – Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)

This bluesy song is one of my favorites.

9. Frankenstein – The Edgar Winter Group

No vocals, but the title alone merits its inclusion on the list this Halloween.

10. Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon

Although he is resting in peace, the Werewolves will always be around to help us howl during Halloween and Warren continues to make us laugh.

Do you have any other favorites to add to this list? Best wishes for a happy, spooky, fun and flirty Halloween from your friends at CyberDatingExpert.com

For more great Halloween party game and Halloween Make Up tips try 30 Halloween Songs, Party Games & Make Up Artists!

Julie Spira is known worldwide as the Cyber-Dating Expert. She creates irresistible online dating profiles for singles in the dating scene. . She’s the author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating: Confessions of a Hopeful Romantic Looking for Love Online.  In a prior life, Julie was the first female rock-and-roll disc jockey at WAAL in Binghamton, NY.

Many thanks for visiting The Top 10 Blog. If You have enjoyed this post I hope you will share it with the world. If you would like to see more like this you can Subscribe, Follow, Like and Add to your Circles using the options at the top of the sidebar.

*image source Happy Halloween – Flickr pareeerica

You may have noticed that there was no Top Twitter people list last week and that was because I was saving this special guest edition to coincide with #MusicMonday.  I am indebted to a previous guest on the blog for this one, namely Lori, better known to all you Twitter people as @loripop326, just give the image below a click to follow Lori and be sure to check out her excellent Oh, Shit… She’s Awake Blog.

I am a big fan of music.  Any kind of music.  Without it, my days would feel so empty.  There is rarely a time when I do not have some form of music playing in the backdrop of my life.  And since Twitter came along, I’ve been able to have a peek in to see what everyone else listens to as well.

This week, in honour of all of the great music that gets shared on Twitter, I present you with the Top Ten Twitter DJs. Just click on the images to pay them a visit.

@krystynchong

Not only one of the most adored tweeters out there, but this girl is tuned into all things musical.  From her soulful grooves, to the rarest and coolest mashups, if you’re into music, you should be following Krystyn.  Why? Because #krysrocksyousilly!  Krys uses every platform under the sun to showcase her tunes, and brings you awesome new talent as well.  She is even one of the members of the collaborative #BITD website.  #BITD, or Back in the Day, serves up some terrific tuneage from days past, and with her partners @iamkhayyam, @kim, @chloroformdays and @iconic88 you will never be disappointed if you’re looking for the greatest hits.

@TheDrDon

A DJ of a different (and sometimes off) colour.  Almost exclusively musical parody tweets, The Doc is the person to follow if you need a hilarious earworm for the day.  Not only does Doc keep you in stitches with the music that he plays, but he does a great job at showcasing talent in this genre that you wouldn’t find anywhere else.  Want the funny?  Follow The Doctor Don.  There isn’t a situation he won’t have a song for, I can guarantee it.

@lilbirdman

Steven is one of those DJs that you have to follow if you like a wide variety of music.  His musical tweets are golden, from oldies and soul, to personalized tweets of music that he finds just for the people he follows. And he pays attention.  One of the awesome things about Steven is that when he notices what you’re playing, he joins in your groove and tweets you tunes that suit your musical moods.  Awesome tunes, from an awesome guy.

@DirtyUrine

One of the most prolific music tweeters there is.  He is exclusively on Blip, and can Kenny ever tweet the tunes.  One of the nicest people you will find, supportive of new members and personally, I don’t think you could ask for a better representative of a community builder.  Get thee to Blip, and ready yourself for some of the best rocking tweets you’ll ever find.  The man knows how to bang his head.

@Shaman777

Michael is not only shares great informational content on Twitter, he is also one of the most eclectic musical tweeters I’ve encountered.  Everything under the sun – spanning all genres, all tastes and all of it most excellent.  He was one of the first DJs that I ever followed on Twitter, and I am still astounded at the quality and variation in his tunes.  Looking for something to expand your horizons?  Look no further than Michael.

@SinsoftheEldest

is one of those women that you will want to follow for many reasons.  But one of my favourite ones is her music related tweets.  Dina tweets tunes that will sink into your skin and settle into your bones.  Her tunes stay with you, and they’ll calm your jangled nerves.  The woman knows her music, and isn’t afraid to share it with the Twitterverse.  Something I am very grateful for, indeed.

@MadMan459

Looking for bluesy, hard rocking tunes to get you through the hours?  Darren is the dude to look to.  Some of the best rocking music out there, to be sure.  But it’s not just about the music.  When Darren hits his groove, it’s also about sharing his vast knowledge of music – with trivia, information and extras that will keep you hanging on to see what he’s got up next on deck.  And when he falls into one of his theme nights, be ready to hear some of the best music you’ve never heard before.  He’s tops at finding those rare tunes and stellar tracks.

@brucefraser

Will rattle your bones, and you’ll thank him for it.  When you need something to crank up to eleven and scare away the neighbours, this is the man to turn to.  Some of the best musically maniacal tracks out there, from all of Bruce’s favourite artists.  You won’t find a better collection to soothe the metal beasts in your head.  Find Bruce on Blip, to get a taste of the good medicine.

@TropicsZ4

Will is one of those people that just plain knows music.  Be it recent or past, rocking or a bit on the soft side, you will find it streaming daily from his tweets.  Awesome mix of tuneage and always available to listen to.  There is a reason he has so many listeners on Blip, and you should check it out to see for yourself.  If Will had a radio station, I’d be tuning in all the time.

@Sylak

A mystery, wrapped in a lot of really good music.  He can rock the hardest of metal, but still finds it in his playlist to get into the occasional classic rock and roll.  His blips are hand-picked to showcase some rare bands, and if you listen in for a while, you will get an idea of just how tuned-in this dude is to what he’s playing.  A song for all occasions, and one all-around fun guy to have in the Blip community.

Twitter is a great place to share music, and there are several music sharing sites that make tweeting your tunes even easier.  Two of the most popular are Blip.fm and Grooveshark.  Pick your tune, and tweet it for the world to see!  And if you just want to listen in on the fun, I can’t recommend the above DJs highly enough.

\m/ \m/

Rock on.

Thanks for a fantastic list Lori, some great music people to check out there! Please let us know of any other Twitter DJ’s you enjoy listening to.

*Twitter bird designed by Misty Belardo

I am extremely pleased not to mention honoured to bring a fascinating music Top 10 to you from the superb Rosanne Cash.  Rosanne has had an amazing musical career and most recently won the ‘Album of The Year’ at the prestigious ‘Americana Music Honors and Awards’ for her album The List

Rosanne was also the winner of the recent Top 10 Blog Top Musical Tweeter Award and I was delighted when she accepted my invitation to be a guest on the blog with a Top 10 of her own.  You can find out a lot more about Rosanne on rosannecash.com and you can follow her on Twitter @rosannecash

My top ten songs about Southern places, because I love the South and because some day I want to do a record of the same. Not in any order.

‘Biloxi’ written  by Jesse Winchester and performed by Jimmy Buffett

‘Georgia on My Mind’ written and performed by Hoagy Carmichael.

‘Big River’ written and performed by Johnny Cash.

‘Memphis In The Meantime’ written and performed by John Hiatt

‘Tennessee’  written and performed by Cory Chisel

‘Highway 61 Revisited’ written by Bob Dylan and performed by Johnny Winter.

‘Luckenback Texas’ written  by Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons and performed by Waylon Jennings

‘Where The Hell is Robert E Lee’ written and performed by Chelsea Crowell (click the image for a sample)

Visit Chelsea Crowells web site.

‘Miss the Mississippi’   written by Bill Halley and performed by Emmylou Harris.

‘Leaving Louisiana In the Broad Daylight’ written by Rodney Crowell and Donivan Cowart and performed by Emmylou Harris

Many thanks to you Rosanne for taking the time to do this Top 10 list and for doing me the honour of being a guest on the blog!

Check out Rosanne’s Music at Amazon

I am delighted to bring you this music Top 10 from singer/songwriter Josh Charles.  You can check out Josh’s great music on My Space and follow him on Twitter @JoshCharles

Josh Charles- Love, Work & Money at Amazon

10. The Meters

Nobody got more funk and soul -  REJUVENATION ( desert island disc)

9. Radiohead

My favorite “newish” band – The Bends ( desert island disc)

8. The Who

Great songwriting – Love Quadrophenia and Who’s Next

7. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

The mighty E street band LIVE- incredible musicianship and fire.. Love the Box Set 75-85 live – Desert Island disc ( Born to Run and Darkness On The Edge Of Town)

6. The Rolling Stones

So unique and soulful.. “Exile” and “Sticky Fingers” desert island discs

5. The Beatles

Best songwriters ever and completely influenced every musician alive – White Album, Revolver, Sgt Pepper

4. The Clash

Pure passion and raw energy. London Calling – desert island disc

3. The Band

Listen to ” It Makes No Difference” and “Night They Drove Dixie Down” off Last Waltz and also the Brown Album.. Incredible

2. The Police

Brilliant musicianship and songs influenced me becoming a musician -  Message In A Box (must have )

1. U2

All Time Favorite band and best live band ever Fav albums Joshua Tree (desert island discs) and Achtung Baby..

Many thanks to Josh for taking the time out to put his list together.  Let us know who else you think should have been included!
Josh Charles- Love, Work & Money at Amazon