Play 70s beach party music at your next pool or seaside bash to get the party started.
Choosing the Right Music
Picking out the right party music is essential to having a successful event. Not only will your guests be hearing it the entire evening, but you want them to feel comfortable enough to dance or sing along as they socialize. Great music is a must-have on your list of party supplies.
The 1970s provided plenty of hit songs that are still played on oldies and classic stations today. A great playlist for a beach party will have a mix of rock n' roll, dance hits, movie songs and of course, tunes meant for playing in the sand and surf.
Create your own playlist on an mp3 player or make a CD compilation. 1970s musical anthologies are also available for purchase at online stores such as Amazon.
Sand and Surf Hits
Since your party theme revolves around the beach scene of the 1970s, you will want to include plenty of songs from that era. You want to have songs that reference the beach, summertime or heat. Songs to consider include:
- "Beach Baby" by First Class
- "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry
- "American Pie" by Don McLean
- "Island Girl" by Elton John
- "Heat Wave" by Linda Ronstadt
- "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffet
- "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer
- "Carolina Girls" by General Johnson & The Chairmen of the Board
- "Summertime's Calling Me" by The Catalinas
- "I Love Beach Music" by The Embers
The movie musical Grease in 1978 provided several great beach songs by stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. "Summer Nights" and "You're the One That I Want" should find a place on any 70s beach party music playlist.
Dance and Disco Tunes
Just because you are having a beach party does not mean every song has to relate back to the beach. Pick out dance songs from the 70s that make it easy for your guests to get up and boogie. The following songs will help get their toes tapping:
- "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner
- "Little Willy" by The Sweet
- "Disco Inferno" by The Trammps
- "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5
- "The Loco-Motion" by Grand Funk
- "Dancing Queen" by ABBA
- "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
- "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge
- "Shake Your Groove Thing" by Peaches & Herb
- "Play that Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
Mix It Up
Mix up your playlist or CD with some rock n' roll, chart-topping hits and other classic tunes of the 1970s. Think about adding your favorites along with these great melodies:
- "American Woman" by The Guess Who
- "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night
- "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by Robert John
- "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin
- "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple
- "The Joker" by The Steve Miller Band
- "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- "Low Rider" by War
- "Muskrat Love" by The Captain & Tennille
- "Radar Love" by Golden Earring
- "Barracuda" by Heart
- "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
- "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones
- "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- "Brick House" by The Commodores
Tips for Playing 70s Beach Party Music
Most likely, your guest list will consist of people young and old with varying tastes. That is why it is important to include songs from a variety of genres from the 1970s at your beach party. During the dinner hour, keep party music somewhat lighter and softer, even if it is an informal buffet or appetizer selection. After everyone has had time to socialize and get acquainted, you may want to crank the music up a bit. Be sure to break up the fast-paced songs with a few slow ones about every eight tracks. Also, if you notice people are not enjoying particular artists or genres of music, change your playlist or skip over similar songs. Let guests suggest songs to help keep a good variety of music playing.
Great 70s beach party music is in the eye of the beholder. Think we missed some awesome tunes? Tell us and other LoveToKnow readers by adding a comment at the end of this article. We want to know what you would play at your 1970s-themed beach party!
