Beach Blanket Bingo – the set list
By Ralph Graves
WTJU, is co-sponsoring a summer film series with the Virginia Film Festival. Our role is to provide a DJ before the movie. This Friday, the VFF is screening “Beach Blanket Bingo,” one of my favorite films (and favorite movie sub-genre) — so of course, I volunteered to DJ.
Last post (Beach Blanket DJ) I detailed the various elements I considered in assembling the set list. Below is the finished set list, with some additional commentary. The time scheduled is 90 minutes. I actually have 110 minutes programmed, in case I need to start early, and/or I need to drop a track in reaction to the crowd.
The Set List
1 Beach Blanket Bingo (opening credits) – Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello – this is the movie they’ve come to see, seems like a good way to start
2 Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys – the audience will expect some Beach Boys, so here they are
3 Miserlou – Dick Dale & His Del-Tones – another familiar track, and Dick Dale was in several of the beach party movies (just not the one we’re showing)
4 The Lonely Surfer – Jack Nitzsche – an instrumental classic of the era, plus it’s slower, to calm things down a bit
5 Cycle Set – Donna Loren – this track is featured in the movie, sung by the Hondells. Donna Loren is also featured in the movie. I went with this one because female vocals add variety
6 Surf Party – The Astronauts – a surf guitar instrumental, and the Astronauts were featured in many of the beach party movies
7 Sandy – Ronny & The Daytonas – a slow number (and top 40 hit) with a Beach Boy-like sound
8 Andele – PJ & The Galaxies – an uptempo surf guitar instrumental
9 Hawaii – Bruce & Terry – Bruce Johnson and Terry Melchor helped developed the beach music sound. Bruce Johnson would later join the Beach Boys. I chose this track because it had the Beach Boys vibe. I wanted to use the actual Beach Boys tracks sparingly.
10 Muscle Bustle – Donna Loren – from the soundtrack of “Muscle Bustle,” another American International beach party movie. An uptempo track contrasting with the chill medium tempo “Hawaii.” I have a recording of this without the dialogue and sound effects.
11 Little Honda The Hondells – The Hondells are featured in “Beach Blanket Bingo.” This was their biggest top-40 hit, and should be familiar to the audience.
12 One Mint Julep PJ & The Galaxies – a mid-tempo surf guitar instrumental for contrast
13 Girls On The Beach – The Beach Boys – this slow number was a top-40 hit, so it should be familiar
14 Pajama Party – Annette Funicello – from the soundtrack to “Pajama Party,” another American International beach party movie. It’s uptempo and female vocals contrast with the previous track. Plus, Annette Funicello’s in “Beach Blanket Bingo,” so I’m setting the stage with this track.
15 Summer Means Fun – Bruce & Terry – an uptempo Beach Boys-like track. This may be cut for time considerations.
16 Heartbeats – Dick and Dee Dee – from the beach party movie “Wild, Wild, Winter” from Universal. Great contrast to the previous track.
17 Surf Jam – The Beach Boys – an uptempo instrumental from the Beach Boys. This may be cut due to time considerations.
18 California Sun – The Rivieras – a top 40 classic
19 The One You Can’t Have – The Honeys – a fun, uptempo number. This female group was produced by Brian Wilson (who also wrote their songs), so it’s the distaff version of the Beach Boys
20 Surfin’ And A-Swingin’ – Dick Dale – this is from “Beach Party” — and it’s Dick Dale, so two good reasons to play it.
21 Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand) – The Shangri-Las – a top-40 favorite, complete with beach sound effects. This is a slow song with female vocals. Nice contrast, but may be cut for time considerations
22 Walk, Don’t Run – The Ventures – a great almost-surf-guitar top 40 instrumental
23 409 – The Beach Boys – another top 40 hit that audiences should enjoy
24 Our Love’s Gonna Snowball – Jackie and Gayle – a great track from “Wild, Wild, Winter,” I chose this for the contrast of female vocals in the mix
25 Hot Rod Roadster – The Rip Chords – an uptempo track
26 School’s Out – The Sandals – a soundtrack selection from the Sandals. It’s a surf guitar mid-tempo track. I may cut it for time considerations
27 I Get Around – The Beach Boys – a top 40 favorite
28 Beach Blanket Bingo – Donna Loren – we should be about halfway through set at this point. So for those who came in late, here’s the theme song for tonight’s feature
29 Bikini Drag – The Pyramids – a surf guitar instrumental from the soundtrack to “Bikini Beach”
30 Little Miss Go-Go – Gary Lewis & The Playboys – a Beach Boy-like uptempo track
31 Secret Surfin’ Spot -Dick Dale – from the soundtrack to “Beach Party”
32 He’s A Doll – The Honeys – female vocals for contrast, Beach Boys sound for familiarity
33 Two of a Kind – Jay & The Americans – from a Universal beach party soundtrack – uptempo track with contrasting non-beach sound.
34 The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) – Jan & Dean – a top 40 favorite, and way to continue the Beach Boy vibe without the Beach Boys.
35 Beach Party – Frankie Avalon – from the soundtrack to “Beach Party”
36 New Love- Donna Loren – a mid tempo ballad from “Beach Blanket Bingo.” Contrasting female vocals and tempo to “Beach Party’s” up tempo track
37 G.T.O. Ronny & The Daytonas – a top 40 favorite, and an uptempo track
38 Pipeline – The Chantays – a surf guitar and top 40 classic
39 I’ll Never Change Him – Donna Loren – featured in “Pajama Party,” it’s a mid tempo track that I might cut due to time considerations
– the rest of this line up is to get the audience primed for the main event –
40 Theme From The Endless Summer – Sandals – a slow instrumental surf guitar classic.
41 Don’t Stop Now – Frankie Avalon – uptempo track from “Beach Party”
42 Record Run – The Pyramids – uptempo track from “Bikini Beach”
43 It Only Hurts When I Cry – Donna Loren – mid tempo ballad featured in “Beach Blanket Bingo”
44 I Live For The Sun – Sunrays – uptempo surf and top 40 classic
45 Gotcha Where I Want You – The Exciters – uptempo track from a beach party film
46 Wipe Out – The Surfaris – uptempo surf and top 40 classic
47 Bikini Beach (opening credits) – Cast – uptempo track from “Bikini Beach”
