After the ordeal that was the setup, and repeated setup, of yesterday’s wedding, today’s two sound system wedding was a breeze. I gave myself a little over two hours to get things ready, and was done with more than an hour to spare. The first set of speakers, along with a mixing board and a clip-on wireless microphone for the officiant, went outdoors. The venue was the Log Cabin at the Presidio, a simply gorgeous building in which I’d never before performed. I’ve DJ’ed a number of company parties, birthdays, and weddings at the Presidio over the years, buts somehow managed to miss the Log Cabin until yesterday. It’s a beautiful structure, and I hope to DJ there again soon. Also great is the view from the lawn. The ceremony was set up with a view of the entire San Francisco skyline behind it all, and the effect was breathtaking.
I put my main system indoors, and along with some par can uplighting, the room looked and sounded great. As usual, here are the various songs I played throughout the wedding:
Pre-Ceremony
Live at Monterey Pop – Ravi Shankar
Hey Govinda Hey Gopal – MS Subbulakshmi
Jhalla – Raga Jog
Alap – Raga Hemant
Ceremony
Air on the G [String Quartet] – Johann Sebastian Bach
Canon in D major [String Quartet] – Johann Pachelbel
Rondeau [String Quartet] – Jean-Joseph Mouret
Cocktail Hour
I Can Understand It – Bobby Womack
Harlem – Bill Withers
Humpty Dump – The Vibrettes
Zombie – Fela Kuti and the Afrika ’70
Giving Up – Zulema
Hector – The Village Callers
Take Yo’ Praise – Camille Yarborough
You Gotta Case – Barry White
Big John Is My Name – The Undisputed Truth
Vitamin C – Can
Expo ’83 – Backyard Heavies
Juicy – Willie Bobo
Shuffering and Shmiling – Fela Kuti and the Afrika ’70
I’m a Man – Chicago Transit Authority
Disco Dancer – Kiki Gyan
Crazy ‘Bout My Baby – Bonnie Bramlett
Dancing In Outer Space – Atmosfear
After the cocktail hour (okay, cocktail 90 minutes) ended, the guests moved inside the cabin, and I introduced the bride and groom. They went immediately into their first dance, after which we had about 10 minutes of dancing before dinner began.
First Dance: Catch the Wind – Donovan
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Signed, Sealed & Delivered – Stevie Wonder
I Want You Back – The Jackson Five
Dinner
Penthouse Serenade – Erroll Garner
Charlie Brown Theme – Vince Guaraldi Trio
When You Wish Upon a Star – Dave Brubeck Quartet
Concierto de Aranjuez – Jim Hall
Just Duo – Chet Baker
Yuma – Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
Some Day My Prince Will Come – Dave Brubeck Quartet
Gravy Train – Lou Donaldson
I Love Music – Ahmad Jamal Trio
My Favorite Things – John Coltrane
Born to be Blue – Jack Bruce
Dancing
My Girl – The Temptations
Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Long Hora Medley – The Ku Ensemble
ABC – The Jackson Five
I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles
Kiss – Prince and the Revolution
Candy – Cameo
Better Change Your Mind – William Onyeabor
Fun – Sly & The Family Stone0
07 (Shanty Town) – Desmond Dekker
Iko Iko – The Dixie Cups
Jump in the Line – Harry Belafonte
Midnight Train to Georgia – Gladys Knight & The Pips
Sunday Morning – The Velvet Underground
All Night Long (All Night) – Lionel Richie
September – Earth Wind & Fire
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – The Jackson Five
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Boys Town Gang
Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
Crocodile Rock – Elton John
It’s the Same Old Song – The Four Tops
Let It Go – James Bay
Freedom – George Michael
Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge
Grease – Frankie Valli
How You Like Me Now? – The Heavy
The Grunt – The J.B.’s
Give It Up, Or TurnIt a Loose – James Brown
It Takes Two – Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock
Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
Poison – Bell Biv DeVoe
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
Dancing Queen – ABBA
December 1963 (Oh What a Night) – The 4 Seasons
Night Fever – Bee Gees
Wherever, Whenever – Shakira
Rock With You – Michael Jackson
Oh L’Amour – Erasure
Love’s a Real Thing – Super Eagles
Agboju Logun – Shina Williams & His African Percussionists
The Magnificent Seven – The Clash
Last Raindrop – Fitz & the Tantrums
Spacing Out – The Invaders
Young Blood – Birdy
Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys
Superstition – Stevie Wonder
Hang On Sloopy – The McCoys
Come and Get Your Love – Redbone