What's the most basic MP3 DJ software for an hour-long laptop set? I'm going to be "DJ-ing" for an hour on Friday. I'll have a laptop running Windows 7, and a bunch of MP3s. How best to do this? Simplicity is key!

I have thought about running two MP3 players simultaneously. Then having two folders open, one containing "played" items, one containing "to-play" items. This would be perfect -- other than I wouldn't be able to cross-fade from one track to the other.

Cross-fade is important, since everyone will be drunk and will want to keep dancing. Silence between tunes isn't really an option. Certainly not silence that I can't control to some degree.

Other requirements:

Free software please! :)

A pre-mixed set is out, since I'd like to potentially improvise and alter the track order on the night.

I'd need to easily keep track of which tunes I've played, and which I haven't. Dragging files from one folder to another is absolutely fine.

I won't need any fancy effects. No scratching, no beat-matching, absolutely nothing.

Even cueing isn't really totally necessary -- although it would be preferable. I'll know all the tunes, and I'll simply want to fade from one to the other. This really will be DJ-ing in the loosest possible sense :)

I'd need to be able to skip to the next track as required. Some of my selections have long fade-outs, or lengthy codas. I had thought of a playlist plus fade-out/-in plugin for Winamp, or something like that. But I don't think that would work, since they all seem to play tracks sequentially. Unless anyone knows different?

Audio quality really isn't an issue. Everyone will be drunk, the speakers/desk aren't going to be amazing, the room acoustics are unremarkable. MP3 straight off my laptop will be just fine.

I've checked a few threads on MF, but haven't found anything that appeals. The free DJ software that's out there is a little too fancy for me. I really am looking for the most basic option. If it's got fancy graphics, lots of knobs, and emulates turntables, it's probably not for me :)

I don't have an iPod, or any other stand-alone music-playing device. One single laptop. I may bring a back-up laptop just in case.

Hmm. The more I think about this, the more I suspect a Winamp plugin would do the job. But the only plugins I can find are years old. I'd very much appreciate anybody's suggestions :)

Many thanks MF! :)