I put together the following song selections as a practice playlist for those learning swing and Lindy Hop for the first time. I know it tends to be a rather eclectic mix, but the goal was to pick some songs (available on iTunes) that have solid rhythms that are good for beginners and those in the learning process. I sorted them on increasing beats per minute (BMP) so you can start slow and build up in tempos. Given that as you get better, you can go much faster… but if you are looking for a “pushin’-the-tempos” playlist… well, I’ll build that later.

Artist & Name (iTunes Link)	BPM
Fats Domino - Blue Monday	102
Robbie Williams - Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me	103
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Blue Angel	107
Indigo Swing - My Baby Just Cares for Me	111
Dion - The Wanderer	114
Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Williams - Smack Dab in the Middle	114
Amos Milburn - One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer	117
Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City	118
Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - G.I. Jive	120
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Comes Love	123
The Andrews Sisters - The Lady from 29 Palms	124
Cab Calloway - Hey Now, Hey Now	124
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - Big Fine Daddy	125
Indigo Swing - How Lucky Can One Guy Be?	129
Peggy Lee - The Boy from Ipanema	131
Kermit Ruffins - Can’t Take My Baby Nowhere	132
Roy Eldrige & Gene Krupa & His Orchestra featuring Anita O’Day - “Murder”, He Says	135
Indigo Swing - Red Light!	135
Peggy Lee - Fever	137
Count Basie - Shiny Stockings	141
Tommy Dorsey - Easy Does It	151
Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - Honey Pie	155
Lionel Hampton - Beulah’s Boogie	157

Here is a selection of songs available on iTunes that I put together for a practice Balboa playlist. While there are tons of great songs for Balboa out there, I selected these for their solid rhythm (good for learning and practice) and sorted them on increasing beats per minute (BPM) so you can start slow and up your tempos from there.

Artist & Name (iTunes Link)	BPM
Artie Shaw - Begin the Beguine	141
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Gotta Do Some War Work	150
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Stuffy	152
The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra - Streamliner	155
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Squatty Roo	167
George Gee Big Band - Basie Boogie	167
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Grand Slam	173
The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra - Twelve Cylinder	189
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Hop Skip and Jump	191
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Bloodhound	213
Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five - Cottontail	225