It’s Summer 1974; following a day on the beach we're back at the house to shower and enjoy a cocktail with neighbors. As I remember, there were 6 of us that weekend.
Heading down to the marina music of the pre-disco era fills the air and gets our feet moving. Rock Your Baby, by George McCrae. At 5 p.m. the place is already a sea of tan, cheery, undulating bodies dancing to this song. The song is perfect for the time of day and the relaxed mood of the crowd. (note: not frenetic as the choreography in this video.)
Tea was a relatively new phenomenon and visiting friends in the Pines that weekend was revelatory for me. Prior visits to Fire Island had been seven years earlier and ended a relationship. They were also before Stonewall.
1974 is a whole new expewrience; I am single and not even looking. Enjoying the luxury of being a house guest, happily cooking breakfast every morning for the house, reading and relaxing on the beach, and now about to experience TEA was a real WOW!
This is one of hot songs of that summer and you can tell that this was the beginning of Disco by the length of the “mixed” song and video.
Speaking of video, I have no idea where this extremely funny video was shot, but it was during the time this song was topping the charts. Note a few things. There is one token black male and female dancer. There is no wireless microphone and the director used just about every visual gimmick available at the time, just because he could.
Continuing the search for the absolute BIGGEST hit of that summer. I will post it, if I find it.
Ah, memories. Now tell me, where does George register on your gaydar?
And so it goes.
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Thanks to Mr. Mordden's writing, i am intrigued about Fire Island. i hope someday to see it myself.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen "When Ocean Meets Sky", it's a movie all about Fire Island. I didn't make it up there until 79, and it was an eye opening experience to say the least! Ahhhh, what memories!
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