Group Dance Epidemic

Brave Combo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 26, 2012)
• Original Release Date: January 5, 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder
• ASIN: B0000003LD
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,533 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #63 in Music > Miscellaneous > Polka

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"We saw new dances like `The Freeze' and `The Achy Breaky' spreading like an epidemic in country dance halls," the members of Brave Combo write in the liner notes to their new album, Group Dance Epidemic. "Then terpsichorean plague struck--`The Macarena.' No one was spared, not even the vice president of the United States." Does Brave Combo, the polka-rock band from Texas, object to these developments? No, they love it. They are fervent evangelists for the democratizing and uplifting values of group dances, no matter how corny (plus it gives them more work). Thus the album features a dozen songs that have been dance-floor-tested for group participation, and the CD booklet comes with dance instructions for each.

"The Freeze," "The Achy Breaky," and "The Macarena" are not included, but Van McCoy's disco classic, "The Hustle," is. Most of the others belong to an earlier age when dancers bent their knees and backs to do the "Limbo Rock," flapped their elbows to the "Chicken Dance," shuffled their soles to the "Mexican Hat Dance," and waved their hands over their heads for "The Hokey Pokey." This is not the sort of album you'll want to sit around and listen to, but if you're having friends over to the house and you're afraid they're going to talk about the federal budget, you might want to put this on.

Because Brave Combo is a bohemian band from Austin, these songs have two layers. At the forefront of the mix, the tune and beat are strong and clear, but in the background, secondary beats and jazzy embellishments are complicating things. The band's approach is reflected in their notes for "The Bunny Hop:" "Cute dance for children or modern fertility rite? That's the same thing, isn't it? This version features an Aboriginal dronepipe (the didgeridoo) and quotations from Peter Cottontail and Duke Ellington's `Cottontail.'" --Geoffrey Himes

Product Description

Group dancing is taking the nation by storm! All over the United States hundreds of thousands of people are flocking to huge dance halls and ballrooms, fulfilling an urge to synchronize movements with others. From the Mexican Hat Dance to the Limbo to the Bunny Hop, you’ll rediscover old favorites and discover new ones, too! So get with it.

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unadulterated Fun., November 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Group Dance Epidemic (Audio CD)

This CD is unadulterated FUN. The band is tight. The recording is good. I love what they do with the music, styles and lyrics. My all time favorite, though, is the Bunny Hop. It's great swing. I can't listen to this selection only once. I always repeat it. TWO versions of the Hokey Pokey - who could ask for more?! The Limbo Rock / Hand Jive is great. I always sing along with Mana Vu. (Jeffrey is nuts (in a good and creative way).) That's my humble and entertained opinion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coordinate your steps and clap! Avoid the individuality trap!, August 10, 2005

By 

Glenn Brown (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Group Dance Epidemic (Audio CD)

I was walking through a record store one fine day and when this album was just out and froze in my tracks. I turned to the store owner and said "excuse me, are they playing the Hokey Pokey?"

The store owner said "Yep. Thats Brave Combo!"

I immediately said "I'd be stupid not to buy this!"

What I got was an album full of classic group dance songs. From the Hokey Pokey to the Chicken Dance to the Hustle. All done in a wonderfully tounge-in-cheek fashion. Its alot of fun!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worlds Greatest Dance Band, September 17, 2000

By 

Donald Troxell (Ft. Worth, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Group Dance Epidemic (Audio CD)

There is no other way to put it. I don't know how someone can listen to any of their music and not want to dance. Don T. Ft.Worth TX