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Sights and Sounds of Tap

A Word About Copyrights

Listed in the section below is an abridgement of the Internet Underground Music Association (IUMA) policy for downloading and using copyrighted material. Having said that, here are links to some other Internet resources:

Song Titles and Lyrics
Many folks on the tap-jazz list often need the titles for lyrics to songs for performances. Since lyrics are copyrighted, one great site was shut down and other searches don't return the greatest results. Here are a few resources you might try.

Lyrics Connection - includes a search form. Mostly good for folks looking for band lyrics. Does have links to other lyric search forms. See the "How to find lyrics" link.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) Search Page - Really slow to load, search failed for me. Titles and artists only, no lyrics. Too bad.

ASCAP Search Page - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Again, search works on artists, song titles, writers, not lyrics.

ABOUT COPYRIGHTS AND DISCLAIMERS

Unless otherwise noted, all sound recordings and other artistic works available here are copyrighted by their respective authors and performers. These recordings and other works are transmitted to you for your non-commercial home use only, and by using this service you agree to these terms.

All public performance, copying, or other use of these recordings or works, including the music and lyrics thereof, and expressly including sampling and the creation of compilations or derivations of the recordings or works, is prohibited.

U.S. and other copyright laws can be enforced, subjecting violators to substantial civil penalties and/or criminal prosecution.

Audio and video excerpts are for the personal use of users only. Please do not use them for any commercial purpose, or pass them around. They are for you to listen to or view on your computer.

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Audio Clips of Tap Dance

The sounds listed on this page will be downloaded by your Web browser which will then either open the sound playing helper utility and play the sound or keep the file for later play. PJC

Here's a description of the CD/cassette from Amazon Web site (previously CDNow). Since it's listed as a Sony product you can also visit the Sony Music Web Site.

Stanley Clarke -- If This Bass Could Only Talk  1988

RATING: Good
The All-Music Guide

Tracks:
..
   1) IF THIS BASS COULD ONLY TALK (with Gregory Hines)
   2) GOODBYE PORK PIE HAT
   3) I WANT TO PLAY FOR YA
   4) STORIES TO TELL
   5) FUNNY HOW TIME FLIES (WHEN YOU'RE HAVING
   6) WORKING MAN
   7) TRADITION
   8) COME TAKE MY HAND
   9) BASSICALLY TAPS (with Gregory Hines)

Music Style: Jazz

One of a few of his contemporary releases with some good music
and an indication of his prodigious talent.

 -- Ron Wynn,    All-Music Guide

SONY  7464 40923

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Tap Video Clips

I don't have a good video capture board. There are other sites with samples.

Tap on Disk/Tape/CD

One of the Appendices of Rusty Frank's book "Tap! The Greatest Tap Stars and Their Stories" lists several pages of LPs that feature recordings of tap dance. (Buy the book! It's quite a resource.) The sampled clips above are short illustrations of recent tap recordings. There are several available for purchase. I'll list a few here placed into two categories 1) Tap recorded for listening and 2) recordings for accompaniment. Sources include American Tap Dance Orchestra's catalog (ATDO), ITA newsletter and Will Reed, reedjapan@aol.com, for his personal list.

Here's a summary of favorite music from the TAP-JAZZ mailing list:

MUSIC TO ACCOMPANY TAP DANCE (DISCUSSION)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I use David Sanborn's "Upfront" CD to do center work all the time. 
It has a good beat. He's in the Jazz section.
---------------------
Fred Astaire--Top Hat: Hits from Hollywood, Columbia Legacy "Art
Deco" Series, CK-64172 (Fred also taps during some of these
numbers, not that we can keep up......)

Gershwin plays Gershwin--The Piano Rolls, Elektra Nonesuch,
9-79287-2
---------------------
Being a rhythm tapper, I usually tap to jazz music of various
types. I also really like tapping to soul music: Aretha Franklin
classics, the soundtrack of 'The Commitments'. Avi Miller (in
Israel) teaches a routine to Cab Calloway's ... Minnie the
Moocher.
---------------------
I use Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable" album a lot.  Also Harry
Connick Jr. (best album for tap would be Lofty's Roach Souffle).
 For recent performances, I've used the Swing Kids soundtrack
(1st cut is Sing Sing Sing), the Lion King soundtrack (I just
can't wait to be king), a broadway hits album that had a good
recording of "In the Mood", and a Fats Waller album with a good
cut of "Ain't Misbehavin'".
---------------------
One I found very nice was _Don't Shoot the Piano Player!_.
It is a new digital recording of old piano rolls played through
a vintage Steinway.  You may have trouble finding this, I
found it while looking through a "miscellaneous" section in
a large record store.
---------------------
Have you ever tried tapping to acoustic, Delta blues?

A good modern CD is Buddy Guy & Junior Wells- Alone & Acoustic.
It is a great way to get into the roots of tap and you get to do
the percussion line with your feet. I like to do tight floor
work and listen to the music.

If you can find it PBS did a series called "American Patchwork"
with Alan Lomax. The Blues section runs about 60 minutes and
shows the tap technique.
---------------------
"Well You Needn't" look any further, TRY MONK!

FOR LISTENING:

ACCOMPANIMENT

If you are looking for a particular song, there are databases online at the BMI site and ASCAP site.

Affordable Cost

Modest Cost

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Last Modified: 5-Jan-06