The Music

The heart and soul of dancing comes from the music. The thrill, fun and joy of Lindy Hop comes from the diverse music styles that you are able do Lindy Hop movements to, in my opinion! Purists argue that executing Lindy Hop movements to music that is not from the swing era isn't Lindy Hop. I've "Lindyed" to AC/DC's Back in Black, Tom Jones' Sexbomb and OutKast's The Way You Move, so to me it's not an argument worth having, afterall it's all about having a good time.

Whether it's dancing to heart-pumping songs like Benny Goodman's Sing, Sing, Sing and Louis Jordan's Beans and Cornbread or the gentle crooning in Ella Fitzgerald's Smooth Sailing to Bobby Darrin's Beyond The Sea, music tempos play a huge factor in enjoyment, too. The more you dance, the more familiar you become with the subtle nuances of each song. You develop your musicality and the ability to "play" with the melodies and instruments and do movements to enhance what you and your partner create.

I strongly recommend that new dancers "cut their teeth" to moderate tempos, for the first couple of months, definitely before tackling the slower or faster songs.

Below you'll find a selection of songs that I enjoy dancing to. The songs in blue have faster tempos, while those in green are slower, some leaning towards bluesy tunes. In the sidebar, I have a music player so you can listen to, in its entirety, every song listed.

I also created nine iMixes of some of these songs (an iMix is compilation of songs available for sale through Apple's iTunes Store). Packaged six songs per iMix, the cost is affordably priced at $5.94 each.

Clicking an image details the songs in that iMix, and gives the option to purchase the iMix, or to pick-and-choose the specific songs you want, the songs can be individually bought by clicking iTunes button below the song title. In both cases, if you have iTunes on your computer, iTunes will open and take you to the iMix or specific song in the iTunes Store. If you don't have iTunes, you'll be re-directed to a web site where you can download the application.

Click an artist's name to see more songs

Ella Fitzgerald

Count Basie

Lionel Hampton

Nina Simone

Lou Rawls

Louis Armstrong

Duke Ellington

Indigo Swing

Joe Williams

Gene Harris

Ray Charles

• Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin

ella2

• When The Lights Go Out by Jimmy Witherspoon

• My Baby Just Cares for Me by Nina Simone

• Easy Does It by Count Basie

• They Can't Take That Away From Me by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

• Regular Joe by Indigo Swing

Count Basie Album Cover

• Good Queen Bess (Live) by Johnny Hodges

• Every Day I Have The Blues by Joe Williams

• Shiny Stockings by Count Basie

• Smooth Sailing by Ella Fitzgerald

• Four or Five Times by Joe Williams

• Blues For Stephanie by George Gee

• Corner Pocket (aka Until I Met You) by Duke Ellington

• Stompin' At The Savoy by Maxine Sullivan

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• Moondance by Van Morrison

• 9:20 Special by Count Basie

• Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen by Ella Fitzgerald

• One Mint Julep by Count Basie Orch.

• Our Love Is Here To Stay by Blossom Dearie

• Ruby Mae by Indigo Swing

• Nobody But Me by Lou Rawls

• For Dancers Only by Duke Ellington

jazz ladies

• Teardrops From My Eyes by Ruth Brown

• Frankie and Johnny by Sam Cooke

• At Last! by Etta James

• Sympathique by Pink Martini

• Lavender Coffin by Lionel Hampton

• 13 Step Boogie by Martin Sexton

• Hello Dolly by Louis Armstrong

• Mack the Knife by Ella Fitzgerald

• I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water by Lou Rawls

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• Knock Me a Kiss by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five

• Today's the Day I'm Glad I'm Not Dead by Indigo Swing

• Splanky by Count Basie

• A Natural Man by Lou Rawls

• Shake, Rattle And Roll by Sam Cooke

• Blue Skies by Ella Fitzgerald

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• Beans and Cornbread by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five

• Doop-Doo-De-Doop-A Doodlin' Song by Blossom Dearie

• Fever by Peggy Lee

• Fire by Des'ree / Babyface
• Sexbomb by Tom Jones

• G.I. Jive by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five

• Wake Up Neesie by Kermit Ruffins

• A Smooth One by Junior Mance

• Duke's Place by Ella Fitzgerald

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• Exactly Like You by Carmen Mcrae

• Summertime by Chris Connor

• Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough by Jimmy Witherspoon

• Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home? by Ella Fitzgerald

• Kansas City Riffs by Buster Smith

• Rockhouse (Parts 1 And 2) by Ray Charles

• The Way You Move by Outkast

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• Lucas With The Lid Off by Lucas

• Green Onions by Booker T & the MGs

• Jacquet In The Box by Jonathan Stout & his Campus Five

• Dance With Me by Debelah Morgan

• Is You Is or Is You Ain't (My Baby) by Louis Jordan

• Moten Swing by Count Basie

• Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

• Why Don't You Do Right by Benny Goodman & His Orchestra

• Cheek to Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

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• Surrey With The Fringe On Top by Mary Stallings

• Streamliner by Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra

• Blue Suit Boogie by Indigo Swing

• Money's Gettin' Cheaper by Jimmy Witherspoon

• Choo Choo Ch'boogie by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five

• You Are My Sunshine by Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet

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• Sugar In My Bowl by Nina Simone

• Can't Stop Thinking Bout You by Martin Sexton

• Summertime by Gene Harris Quartet

• Lonely Avenue by Ray Charles

• Peel Me A Grape by Diana Krall

• Just My Imagination by The Temptations

• Temptation by Diana Krall

• Bits and Pieces by Clarence Gatemouth Brown

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• Mary by Take 6

• Down By The River Side by the Benny Green Trio

• Groove Me by King Floyd

• Hit The Road Jack by Ray Charles

• Whadaya Want by Casey Macgill

• Pride and Joy by Marvin Gaye

• Sixty Minute Man by Billy Ward & The Dominoes

• Teach Me Tonight by Blossom Dearie

• M!ssundaztood by Pink

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