You never know when a dancing and singing mood will strike. Best to be stocked up with a ready source of material to draw from. Our four selections here will have you breaking out in song and trying out moves you didn’t know you had.

The inspiration for today’s post title comes from Tom Henry’s fabulous new collection of songs, Songs to Sing and Dance To. Henry is one of those random ‘if you like’ suggestions I picked up listening to someone else on Bandcamp. I’m so glad I was lured in! As the record’s presser claims, the LP’s got a bit of power pop, garage rock, psych, and folk going on. But let’s be frank, there’s a lot of Big Star happening here. Opening cut “Close Your Eyes” is a big bold Big Star/Byrdsian delight with harmony vocals that are shivery good. The Alex Chilton influence continues on tracks like “Closer Than Before” and “Oh, I Missed the Sun,” the latter echoing the emotional cadence of “Thirteen.” Hit single? Surely “I’ll Miss You” with its Big Star-meets-Apples in Stereo sound. The instrumental choices here are a bit wacky but work. “Bella” takes things in a different direction with a bit more of a Latin feel. Folk rock gets a work out on the Dylanesque “Look to my Side” and “Going Steady.” “Art House” leans into the Farfisa organ in a way that reminds me of Squeeze or Nick Lowe. Or listen to how “But I Loved Her” is just so Beatle Paul. Another candidate for hit single-age would be “Do You Want To Be With Me?” which has a folk pop sweetness akin to the Cyrkle. Album closer “Be Mine, Forever” is pop so good it’ll make you swoon.

The Jeanines’ How Long Can It Last is an cathartic album experience, emotionally deep without even trying. I’m hearing so many possible influences, from Peggy Seeger to Vashti Bunyan, to the Springfields to the Smiths. Opening cut “To Fall” features Alicia Jeanine’s plaintive vocals in such a striking way. Indeed, her vocal talents are what adds a degree of genius to what is going on here. Should-be hit single “What’s Done Is Done” leaks a Smiths kind of emotional tonality and intensity. Another possible single is definitely “On and On,” a tune that shifts from pretty good to great in the chorus, where the medieval vocal effect is gob-stoppingly good. “You’ll Figure It Out” mines a sixties folk pop vein while “Satisfied” is just great guitar pop. “Wrong Direction” reminds me of the pleasant pop of The Happy Somethings. I love the aching quality informing so many cuts here, like “What’s Lost” and “How Long Can It Last.” This is a moving album that is both emotionally gorgeous and lingering in its impact.

I’ve been digging Autocamper releases all this past year, none of which appear on the band’s first long-player What Do You Do All Day? That speaks of a certain kind of confidence, for sure. The ten tunes here continue to develop the band’s unique sound, combining a twee pop sensibility with a keen appreciation for unique instrumental choices. Listen to how opening cut “Again” kicks off with clashy guitars only to cut the effect with a running-brook kind of electric keyboard riff.  Both “Dogsitting” and “Foxes” work a similar magic crossing-cutting guitars and keyboards in a dynamic tension. “Proper” leans on the organ to carry things along into the chorus where an army of guitars come in for support. “Street View” slows things down without losing sight to the band’s distinctive melodic charms.

Sure The Airport 77s are all about a kind of late 1970s new wave rock and roll sound. Their new album Don’t Let Go doesn’t mess with the formula but that doesn’t mean they’re just idling on the tarmac. They continue to develop their considerable songwriting talents on this release. If you were there in the 1980s these songs are like a new lease on that life. If you weren’t there then these tracks can let you pretend you were. “1999 (Take Me Back)” gives you a pretty clear indication of what is to come, with a strong a blast of retro guitar and prominent bass work. “Like Falling in Love” then dials up the melodic hooks. “Anyone But You” is the first of the monster should-be hit singles included here, in the style of poprock masters like Cheap Trick. “Make ’Em Pay (Don’t Make It Easy)” even vibes a bit of country energy. “Summer Can’t Wait” is another radio ready bit of single-age. But if I had to choose just one song to launch this album I’d choose “Don’t Let Go.” So smooth and hooky! There’s variety here for sure, with a Knack kind of energy on “She’s Everything” or a more Beatlesque turn to “The Hands of Time.” This is one return trip to the 1980s that definitely deserves a five star rating.

Plenty here to sing about or work out a bit of soft shoe. The secret is practice, of course. Click on the hyperlinks to get the lyrics and the dance moves down.

Photo courtesy Thomas Hawk Flikr collection.