Debbie was really up for a great party to mark her 50th birthday and so for added fun she asked for guests to come in Motown era fancy dress. The take up was excellent and the mood upbeat.
The music, particularly for the first half of the night was Motown all the way, and broadened out during the second half to encompass other eras - see the playlist below. Debbie had used mainly pink and purple for her colour scheme and so I matched the ambience using as seen below.
At the Bexleyheath Marriott, Applegarth Suite, the bar and very large lounge are outside the function room and this obviously impacts the numbers in the dance area. So please keep this in mind for when you plan your own functions - try to keep all your guests in one room/area.
The full playlist for the evening was as follows:
Aretha Franklin - The Weight
The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - I Second That Emotion
Doris Troy - What Cha Gonna Do Bout It
The jacksons - Show You The Way To Go
Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
Solomon Burke - Cry to Me
The Elgins - Put Yourself In My Place (Singl
The Marketts - Bella Dalena
Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam
The Tymes - Ms. Grace
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Sherry
Four Tops - Standing In The Shadows Of Love
MFSB, The Three Degrees - T.S.O.P. (The Sound OF Philadelphia)
Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle
The Marvelettes - When Youre Young And In Love
Percy Sledge - Stand By Me
The Chiffons - He's So Fine
The Supremes - Stoned Love
Sam & Dave - Hold On I'm Coming
Lionel Richie - My Destiny
Four Tops - Walk Away Renee
Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Shotgun
The Jarmels - Gee Oh Gosh
Eddie Floyd - Things Get Better
The Temptations - The Way You Do The Things You Do
Marvin Gaye - Lucky Lucky Me
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Third Finger, Left Hand
Len Barry - 1, 2 3
Ben E King & The Drifters - Kissin' In The Back Row Of The Movies
The Marcels - Blue Moon
Mary Wells - My Guy
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up (Part I)
Shirley & Company - Shame, Shame, Shame
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life
Otis Redding - Respect
Erma Franklin - (I Get The) Sweetest Feeling
Jr. Walker & The All Stars - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
Barbara Randolph - I Got a Feeling (Single Version)
Brenda Holloway - When I'm Gone
The Velvelettes - He Was Really Saying Something
The Supremes - He's All I Got
Bill Deal & The Rhondels - I've Been Hurt
The Marvellettes - I'll Keep Holding On
The Detroit Emeralds - Feel the Need In Me
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Going To A Go Go
Marlena Shaw - Let's Wade in the Water
Diana Ross & The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go
Isley Brothers - This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Nowhere To Run
Jackson - I Want You Back
Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There
Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
The Supremes - Baby Love
Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Deee Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
Wham! - Freedom
Idnia Menzel - Let It Go
Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (feat. T.I. & Pharrell)
Maroon Featuring Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger
Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Beyonce - Single Ladies
Rihanna - We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)
Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc - Wake Me Up
JackieWilson - Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher
Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
Joe Tex - Ain't Gonna Bump No More
Bee Gees - Night Fever
John Travolta & Olivia Newton John - Grease Megamix
Village People - Y.M.C.A.
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
Tony Christie - Is This the Way to Amarillo
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Chic - Le Freak
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne - Rather Be
Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday
Pharrell Williams - Happy
The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
Mark Ronson Feat. Amy Winehouse - Valerie
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had the Times of My Life
Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
Lionel Richie - Endless Love (Duet with Diana Ross)