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tita_noir's review
5.0
As a young club kid going out at the Paradise Garage during the summer of 1986 I didn't care two hoots about the deep background of Disco or house or Garage music movement. All I cared about was the music. Anybody who was there will tell you that larry Levan was one of the best DJs in the business.
One of my most vivid memories was my first night there listening to a song entitled '7 Ways (to make you Jack)' by a guy named Hercules. The song wasn't sung, it was spoken in a deep, husky, almost sibilant hiss. There were 7 directions the dancers were to follow. I'm dancing with my then boyfriend, really freaking out over the music, the sheer numbers of people on the dance floor and the just the whole outrageous vibe of the place. When I notice that next two us was this lesbian couple. They were both tall, gorgeous, wearing black catsuits and following the directions of the song. When Hercules got to number 7 Lose complete mental control and begin to Jack, the two women did exactly that. It remains probably the stand-out moment in my young, club going life. And from there I was completely hooked into the Paradise Garage experience.
Now years later, I am older, married and with two children, I see that this book has been written that talks about the back history of not only the whole disco movement but includes its outgrowth into House Music and Garage music. Sadly, the garage closed its doors a year later and Larry Levan has passed away. But it is gratifying to read and learn about the history of the music I adore, the people who were responsible for it and to revisit, through the pages of the book a place and an experience of an entire summer more than 20 years ago when I had probably the best time of my young life.
One of my most vivid memories was my first night there listening to a song entitled '7 Ways (to make you Jack)' by a guy named Hercules. The song wasn't sung, it was spoken in a deep, husky, almost sibilant hiss. There were 7 directions the dancers were to follow. I'm dancing with my then boyfriend, really freaking out over the music, the sheer numbers of people on the dance floor and the just the whole outrageous vibe of the place. When I notice that next two us was this lesbian couple. They were both tall, gorgeous, wearing black catsuits and following the directions of the song. When Hercules got to number 7 Lose complete mental control and begin to Jack, the two women did exactly that. It remains probably the stand-out moment in my young, club going life. And from there I was completely hooked into the Paradise Garage experience.
Now years later, I am older, married and with two children, I see that this book has been written that talks about the back history of not only the whole disco movement but includes its outgrowth into House Music and Garage music. Sadly, the garage closed its doors a year later and Larry Levan has passed away. But it is gratifying to read and learn about the history of the music I adore, the people who were responsible for it and to revisit, through the pages of the book a place and an experience of an entire summer more than 20 years ago when I had probably the best time of my young life.
grldchz's review against another edition
5.0
I thought I hated disco...
This book does a great job of linking the hippie movement to go-go clubs to the disco. Deep dive into the rise of dj culture and how disco made queer (and cocaine) more mainstream.
The music sucks, but this book doesn't. If anyone out there wants my copy, I'd love to share and discuss.
This book does a great job of linking the hippie movement to go-go clubs to the disco. Deep dive into the rise of dj culture and how disco made queer (and cocaine) more mainstream.
The music sucks, but this book doesn't. If anyone out there wants my copy, I'd love to share and discuss.
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