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100 Greatest Disco Hits Of All Time

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The Very Best Disco And Soul

Premier Disco and Soul Classic Tunes

The Best Disco Song

Ever since the UK Top 40 started way back in 1952 there have been literally thousands of songs vying to be the Greatest Disco Song Of All Time. As musical styles change through the decades, this list changes but not as much as you would think.

Hits from the earlier decades that stand the test of time will always outrank newer songs and this can be seen by the list below. Some cracking tunes to be heard and I encourage you to have a listen via your choice of music streaming service and see what you think.

This list might be of use when building the soundtrack to your event. It is very heavily influenced by 70’s disco song hits and soul classics but that was the era of classic disco tunes.

I remember hunting high and low for a copy of the no. 1 song on the list. I heard it on the radio and just had to get a copy eventually finding the 12″ version in a small record shop near the top of Easter Road in Edinburgh. Oh, the memories invoked when listening to some of these soul classics.

If there is anything you would like to add to this list then just let me know.

ENJOY!

1“Shame” by Evelyn “Champagne” King
2“Last Dance” by Donna Summer
3“Le Freak” by Chic
4“We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
5“Love Hangover” by Diana Ross
6“Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson
7“Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” by McFadden and Whitehead
8“Don’t Leave Me this Way” by Thelma Houston
9“Good Times” by Chic
10“Bad Girls” by Donna Summer
11“Disco Inferno”  by Trammps
12“You Make Me Feel Mighty Real” by Sylvester
13“Got to be Real” by Cheryl Lynn
14“Upside Down” by Diana Ross
15“Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer
16“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind and Fire
17“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor
18“The Hustle” by Van McCoy
19“Stayin Alive” by the Bee Gees
20“Ring My Bell” by Anita Ward
21“Rock With You” by Michael Jackson
22“You Should Be Dancing” by Bee Gees
23“Turn The Beat Around” by Vicki Sue Robinson
24“Ladies Night” by Kool and the Gang
25“I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross
26“Boogie Ooogie Oogie”  by A Taste of Honey
27“Night Fever” by BeeGees
28“Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton
29“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer
30“I Love Music” by O’Jays
31“The Love I lost” by Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
32“Ain’t Nobody” Rufus feat. Chaka Khan
33“And the Beat Goes On” by Whispers
34“Can’t Get Enough of Your Love” by Barry White
35“Car Wash” by Rose Royce
36“Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” by Tavares
37“Let’s Groove” by Earth, Wind and Fire
38“The Boss” by Diana Ross
39“Funkytown” by Lipps Inc.
40“Native New Yorker” by Odyssey
41“Boogie Nights” by Heatwave
42“Got to Give It Up” by Marvin Gaye
43“Love Train” by O’Jays
44“Play that Funky Music” by Wild Cherry
45“Pick up the Pieces” by Average White Band
46“Second Time Around” by Shalamar
47“That’s the way (I Like it)” by KC And The SunShine Band
48“On the Radio” by Donna Summer
49“Best of My Love” by The Emotions
50“Stomp” by Brothers Johnson
51“You Know How to Love Me” by Phylis Hyman
52“More Than a Woman” by Tavares
53“Rock the Boat” by Hues Corporation
54“Shake Your Body” (Down to the Ground) by The Jacksons
55“You and I” by Rick James
56“Everybody Dance” by Chic
57“Disco Nights” by GQ
58“Shake Your Groove thing” by Peaches and Herb
59“Love Come Down” by Evelyn “Champagne” King
60“For the Love of Money” by The O’Jays
61“I Need Your Lovin'” by Teena Marie
62“Never Can Say Goodbye” by Gloria Gaynor
63“Get Down Tonight” by KC And The SunShine Band
64“Knock on Wood” by Amii Stewart
65“Let It Whip” by The Dazz Band
66“Don’t Stop the Music” by Yarbrough and Peoples
67“If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman
68“She’s A Bad Mama Jama” by Carl Carlton
69“You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls
70“Pull Up to the Bumper” by Grace Jones
71“Love’s Theme” by Love Unlimited Orchestra
72“Somebody Else’s Guy” by Jocelyn Brown
73“YMCA”  by Village People
74“MacArthur Park Suite” by Donna Summer
75“Fire” by Ohio Players
76“Celebration” by Kool and the Gang
77“Found A Cure” by Ashford and Simpson
78“The Glow of Love” by Change
79“It’s Raining Men” by Weather Girls
80“The Groove Line” by Heatwave
81“Working My Way Back to You” by The Detroit Spinners
82“Do It (Til Your Satisfied)” by BT Express
83“It’s A Love Thing” by The Whispers
84“Working Day and Night” by Michael Jackson
85“Fantasy” by Earth, Wind and Fire
86“Fly Robin Fly” by Silver Convention
87“I Can’t Go For That” by Hall and Oates
88“I’ll Be Good to You” by Brothers Johnson
89“Make that Move” by Shalamar
90“Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae
91“Walk Away From Love” by David Ruffin
92“Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
93“I Love the Nightlife” by Alicia Bridges
94“Get off” by Foxy
95“Heaven Knows” by Donna Summer
96“Love is the Message” by MFSB
97“Take that to the Bank” by Shalamar
98“It Only Takes a Minute” by Tavares
99“Lost in Music” by Sister Sledge
100“Jump To It” by Aretha Franklin

Want a dance floor packed with classic hits at your wedding? book your wedding reception DJ.

Choosing a Wedding DJ

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How Do You Choose a Wedding DJ?

It is only to be expected that you will be looking for the best DJ available to fit your style and budget. This is a non-exhaustive list of questions you should be asking yourself, and any DJ, you are thinking of hiring.

Premier Disco - How To Choose A Wedding DJ
Does your DJ have the correct experience for your wedding?

There are many different kinds of DJ’s, some with preferences for specific music types.
Some will be a fantastic club or kids party DJ but you need to make sure they are right for your wedding.
A great wedding DJ will have extensive experience in the wedding sector.
Will be playing typical wedding party tunes and any others you may like to hear.
Will be able to include specific genres to your preferences.
Will be able to adapt to suit your requirements.
Will be very confident using a microphone for the formal part of your wedding day but also be able to use it to best effect when the dancing begins.
Will dress and behave in a way best suited for your wedding.
Will not be a distracting feature at any time.

What is your DJ going to provide?

It is easy to book a DJ but you have to understand what your DJ will provide and what you need to bring if anything. What sound and lighting equipment and is it suitable for the venue? Make sure there are no hidden costs and that he/she brings the right experience.

What kind of music does your DJ have?

Most DJ’s own a very large collection of music. You still need to make sure they have the music you would like and that they are comfortable playing it. If the DJ has no experience of the particular type of music you want, they should speak up early and recommend another DJ who does.
DJ’s streaming music has become much more common in the past few years. This will allow them full access to almost anything you want but is totally dependant on the internet. If the wifi fails then you have no music. Make sure your DJ owns their music and is not renting it from some streaming service. Streaming is handy in an environment where there is great wifi for sourcing the odd track they do not have but do not rely on wifi for any reason.

Can you submit playlists in advance?

Some DJ’s will not accept playlists. They say you hire them for their skills and their selection of music. Never accept this or you will be left with very unhappy guests.
A good DJ will acquire a list from you in advance to make sure they have everything you need. They will also take requests on the night from you or your guests.

Will they accept a list of tracks not to play?

It is important to select music to be played at your wedding reception. It is just important to advise on songs you do not want to be played. There are many reasons you may want specific tracks not to be played, make sure your DJ is fully aware.

Does the price include lighting?

The music and presentation are all important but don’t underestimate the impact of good lighting. Ask if this is included in the cost.

Does your DJ have the correct insurance?

Typically you will have a contract with your venue. Your DJ will have a contract with you. If, for any reason, something goes wrong and the venue need to recoup some money for damages or other reason, they will claim against you. If your DJ does not have insurance in place you would need to pay the venue.
DJ Public Liability Insurance (PLI) is an absolute must to protect your venue, you, and your guests.
Simply DO NOT HIRE A DJ WITHOUT PLI.

Does your DJ have their electrical equipment portable appliance tested (PAT)?

Properly tested and certified equipment helps to prevent any safety or electrical issues. This goes hand in hand with PLI. A reduced risk of issues reduces the risk of having a claim.

Does your DJ have a backup plan in case of equipment failure?

If something fails during your event, does your DJ have a suitable back up system so the reception can continue? The very last thing you want to hear is that your party is ending early because an amplifier or other piece of equipment has failed.
Good maintenance and PAT certification help to prevent these occurrences, but things break down. Even brand new equipment or cars can have faults so make sure there is a back up plan.

Does your DJ provide a written contract?

Always have a written contract. It is true that a verbal contract is just as binding but without a written contract you will have no evidence of your agreement.

Are you hiring an individual DJ, agency or company?

There are many direct and indirect ways to hire a DJ. It is often said that using an agency is best. This is not the case.
An agency will have various DJ’s on their books and will say they guarantee a replacement if your DJ is ill before your wedding day. This is true but is also true for any reputable DJ. A good DJ always has back up processes in place just in case. An agency will charge you a large commission (about 25%) for this but will pass the responsibility onto the DJ they have hired. It is most often part of the DJ contract with an agency that the DJ is responsible to provide a replacement if they cannot perform.
Hire a DJ direct but have the contract reflect that they have provisions in place.

Hire A Professional Wedding DJ

Ready to choose your wedding DJ? view our wedding packages.

10 Things you should know to make your wedding a party

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10 Things you should know to make your wedding a party
By James Veal

Premier Disco 10 Things you need to know about your wedding

Premier Disco are wedding professionals. We perform at weddings throughout the country every single week of every year. We see what works and what doesn’t. We are there to make every party special by keeping the dance floor full. Your wedding day is special to you and it should be as you wish. We trust you wish it to be a day for everyone attending to remember fondly.

To help us out, you will find below a list of 10 things you really should know.

1. Give us your music request list.

Requests definitely make our job easier. We are well able to provide your soundtrack for your wedding day without any help but your list will let us know what you would like to hear. We limit the number of requests you make so we can use our experience, after all that is what you are paying for, to add variety.

By playing the right songs your party will be great but give us the flexibility to use your list to build the night and your night will be even better. Contrary to popular belief, we do actually structure your night to have a flow of music to best keep the dance floor full for the whole night.

We have many years experience judging how a night will flow so a scripted list of music to play at set times does not work in the flow. Let us know what you would like and let us best decide when to play it.

Hire an experienced Wedding DJ

2. Don’t ask your guests for suggestions on your invitations.

We try to discourage our brides and grooms from asking guests for a music track they would like to hear when they send out the invitations. Some will ask for songs as a joke or to be funny. Some will ask for music that just will not fit into your reception. Others will ask for inappropriate songs.

As part of our service, your guests can ask for up to 5 songs each. On your planner site there is a link and password details you can send to some of your guests. Their requests will be kept separate from yours so we know exactly what you would like. This will mean we have a big list of music but we will also be able to check it over properly to make sure anything we play is appropriate. Guest requests are secondary to yours but will be given the correct consideration. Any requests submitted are not guaranteed to be played.

3. Encourage your venue to have the bar and seating in the same room as the dance floor.

Our experience of venues where the bar and seating are in a separate room from the dance floor is that guests will go to the bar or for a seat and often not come back for a considerable time. It is more difficult for them to hear the music so they are less likely to dance. They are detached from the positive energy the DJ is generating and nothing he does can inspire them to return to the dance floor.

A certain way to kill the party is to separate your guests from the entertainment.

4. Don’t stop the flow

Your DJ will have a plan for the development and structure of your night. This is very fluid and he can change his mind many times a minute. Be positive, make sure your formalities are over before your DJ begins his part of the night.

Asking to stop the music in the middle of a set so someone can make a speech or take a photo will immediately kill any energy already built up. It is then far more difficult for the DJ to get the audience motivated or back to the same level of energy before the interruption.

Don’t stop the DJ to let a guest sing, if you want a singer then let the DJ know at the start. Give him all the information about music and times so he can plan.

5. Consider your guests when allocating seating

Don’t put very young or older people in front of the speakers. Reserve these areas for your younger, party going or clubbing guests.

Don’t sit older people directly opposite the DJ.

Young and old do not like the music too loud or lights shining in their eyes. Position them appropriately at the sides of the room or as far away as possible.

The loudest area is right in front of the speakers, plan ahead so everyone can enjoy the night.

6. Wedding games?

We all want a busy dance floor. Having games in other parts of the room will detract from the dancing. Dancers are like magnets, the more dancers you have, the more people will want to dance. If your guests are busy playing casino at the other side of the room, nobody will want to dance.

If you have games, make sure they are at the early part of your night and are put well out of the way when the party gets started,

7. The Bride and Groom MUST dance!

Every last guest is there because you invited them. They are there to party. As the bride and groom you are the centre of attention. If you are on the dance floor then your guest will join you. If you are outside or at the bar then that is where your guests will also be.

8. Time for Dancing.

This is your day. This is the best day of your life up to this point. There are certain formalities and technicalities that need to take place so do your best to have them done properly and in good time.

There are many events on the day which can easily run over time. The photos, the speeches, the meal, the venue change over. Try to make sure everything happens when it is meant to.

Your DJ will have to set up equipment before your reception. This takes time, usually up to one hour, and no amount of pushing this to be done quicker because ‘the breakfast was late’ can make this happen any faster. It is what it is and it will take the time it will take.

Maybe this can be done before your wedding breakfast or maybe your DJ will provide a full day service. In these cases this is not a problem. If your wedding is due to start at 730pm but doesn’t start until 9pm, your evening party will be a lot shorter.

You will be glad you made sure everything runs as planned, maybe get your Best Man to take the responsibility of keeping to time, or as close as.

9. Plan in advance.

Your online planning page is a fantastic resource for providing information about timings, music and much more. Please make sure you use it to your advantage.

So we can get everything planned, or even rehearsed, your access to the planner closes 7 days before your wedding. Please do not ask for changes after this time.

Your DJ will be co-coordinating with venue staff, caterers, photographers and any other suppliers you have on your day. Any single, seemingly simple change can create confusion and miscommunication, a recipe for disaster.

Keep it simple, keep it planned, keep it right.

10. ENJOY YOURSELF

Simple as that, enjoy!

Ready to make your wedding a proper party? explore our full range of wedding entertainment.

The £100 DJ

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The £100 DJ, and what to expect!

Back in the day, a DJ needed a good strong back. Not just for equipment but to lift and shift their music collection. The modern-day DJ can now carry a massive music collection on a small hard drive. This is the era of DJ technology making the life of a DJ easier, but it also brings the wannabe DJ out of the bedroom and into the wedding market. Welcome to the £100 DJ.

DJ technology has made the ‘playing’ of music easier.

DJ software search engines mean a tune can be sourced and played within seconds. Unfortunately, this results in a hoard of people thinking they can DJ at a wedding. All they need is a laptop and suitable software and a music collection then they assume that they are ready to play to an audience.

Standards Are Slipping

Just at the time when people expect to have an experienced and knowledgeable DJ who knows exactly what to do, and when to do it, the market is bursting with newbies lacking the skills to do the job. We all need to start somewhere but these DJ’s are not suited to such an important event as a wedding.

Hire an experienced Wedding DJ

Because they know that most people are looking to save money they are willing to play for as cheaply as possible. Worse still, they shop around to see what other DJ’s are charging, then they undercut their fees. Nothing wrong with a bit of competition but you have a situation where newbies are charging just below the rates of fully experienced DJ’s. This is not good. You will have heard the saying, ‘You get what you pay for’, this simply does not apply.

A typical budget DJ will illegally download their music, often poor quality from Youtube, circumventing the rights of the musicians and cheating them out of their deserved income. Some will stream the music from legal or illegal online sources until the internet in the venue fails or gets slow.

Cheap DJ’s will use budget equipment where the audio sounds cheap and nasty. Even if it doesn’t, it will most certainly give you a sore head. Cheap speakers perform loudly in certain frequency ranges and do not provide a balanced or pleasant listening experience. Their playout systems will typically be low cost and low quality or they haven’t made the time or financial investment in an attempt to provide a decent sound.

Dotty lights? Dots darting all over the room are produced again by cheap lighting produced to a price. Quality and good visual impact are seriously lacking with these.

Worse still, a cheap DJ will have no insurance or safety test certificates putting your event and possibly your safety at risk. They will not provide you with a contract or have any backup system regarding equipment or personnel.

Their communications skills are likely to be lacking, some are even scared to use a microphone and will simply blurt out general announcements.

For Your Important day, make sure you do yourself proud

A wedding can cost anything from say £5000 to £50,000. Of course, the ceremony is the most important part of the day for the bride, groom and family members but don’t fall short at your reception. Your wedding reception will be attended by all the important people in your lives, so make sure you make the correct decision.

Make sure you hire a DJ with principles, one who invests time and money into a great service. One who can use a microphone to enhance your event and who takes pride in appearance, performance, safety and making sure you get what you expect.

For an investment of about 2.5% of your wedding budget, you can get great disco entertainment. Most importantly, you can get a DJ who is professional and will do anything to make sure your event is remembered for the right reasons.

For a cost equivalent of 1% to 4%, depending on your total budget, you CAN make yourselves and your guests proud.

As always, please let me know what you think on this subject below.

See what Premier Disco offers for your wedding day. find out what a professional wedding DJ actually includes.