When this tune was released in 1984 I was a caregiver and up to my eyeballs with AIDS, but something about Somerville’s voice and the tune got into my being. Down deep. Perfect song for the perfect time. The story of gay-bashing, rejections by family, fear and ultimately - survival.
It became a huge hit world-wide, an anthem, and a sort of watch-cry for gay youth. I was in my 30s and still could easily identify with the pain, anguish, and determination of the song. I've posted the original video a while back, so I'll just go with the new one.
So, here we are 30 years on. Jimmy Somerville decided to record it again. This time a more plaintive, low-key version. Nice to note, he’s still got that fabulous voice.
Pet Shop Boys To Call For Pardons For Thousands Of Men Convicted Of
Homosexual Acts
From the Independent:
BRITAIN: Pet Shop Boys are to use a new orchestral work about the computer pioneer Alan Turing to call for the “tens of thousands of men” imprisoned or fined for committing homosexual acts to be pardoned.
A Man From the Future, created by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, will premiere at the Proms on July 23 .
The Pardon, the last song, references the posthumous pardon granted to Turing, who was prosecuted for gross indecency and chemically castrated in 1952. Tennant and Lowe will urge the government to pardon others convicted before homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967.
“So very many lives were ruined over such a long period,” said Tennant. “Frankly it rather disappoints me that Stonewall [the gay rights group] has not done more. So we’re making the statement ourselves.”
The rest is behind a pay wall.
(Alan Turing, code-breaker and father of the computer, was finally pardoned posthumously last December, 2013.)
Most readers of this site were not alive when this album was released and didn't witness the joy it passed along all these many years.
For us in 1976 this was a treasure, a musical place to go where family issues weren't addressed or important. Where we could dance with friends for hours enjoying the music without the family baggage. Salsoul knew this. Bless them. They knew their audience. It made the holiday more welcoming and cheerful.
Being present when this was first played at 12-West in 1976 was a gift. When I post the "Christmas Medley next week, you'll know why. For now, use your imagination to visualize the campy images and costumes that evolved from the lyrics of this great piece of 1970s tantalizing tinsel music.
It's not just me. It must be good stuff, because it's been revitalized, re-edited, and re-recorded for today. Is that cool, or what. Enjoy.
Not to interfere with Anne Marie's Saturday Night Dance Party - I am posting this as my Sunday "Tea Dance" special. Here's a song from one of my favorite artists, Jimmy Somerville and Bronski Beat. It's from a live broadcast of Britain's TOTP (Top of the Pops) TV show in 1984. They had just burst upon the music scene. Jimmy would move on to form The Communards a few years later (I'll post a few clips from those recordings at a later date.) Jimmy became an outspoken, unapologetic icon, especially on his later solo albums. I saw him perform at NYC Pride on the pier back in the 90s. For you film and/or Virginia Woolf fans Jimmy performs in full Elizabethan dress in a cameo scene in the film "Orlando" on the Queen's barge as it floats up river in the early part of the film. Here is Jimmy performing "Smalltown Boy" which was a huge hit in Europe and the US. It became a sort of Gay anthem that year as AIDS raged on both sides of the pond.
I'm posting this because Jimmy is still singing his sweet little Falsetto head off in this song on tour this summer all over Europe. Which brings me to the next short video. In Berlin this year, a street musician on guitar leaning against a building is singing - - - Smalltown Boy. When Jimmy (of all people) out walking his dog, stops to listen and sing along. He even gives the musician a surprise hug when the guy asks "are you him?" It's cute and powerful at the same time. I mean the song is 30 years old! Think about that.
Jimmy Somerville has covered songs by Donna Summer, Thelma Houston, Sylvester, The Bee Gees, and Gloria Gaynor to name a few biggies. His is a voice like no other.
A little not-so-ancient history for your November Sunday. You're Welcome.
The latest from the legend himself, having made Disco and Donna Summer stars beyond all imagining, scoring the restored classic silent film, Metropolis . Racer proves his staying power as an artist and composer - always on the edge. Love it. Hope you do, too.
"Don't Take Away the Music" was just one of their big hits that year. And it couldn't sum up the era any better. It was all about music and dancing. And we danced ourselves crazy, the music was that good. I loved it.
This one was an earworm that I had to post, but others may be on the way in the future. Stay tuned.
This is my Saturday night and this very live version of the Village People's hit, turned on its head is exactly fitting the mood of the moment.
The Pet Shop Boys are the best. This is the last number from their incredible 1.5 hour performance at Live 8 in Moscow. By this time Neil's voice is getting a bit iffy, but they pull it off well. Enjoy.
And if you want to see their whole set, it is also available on YouTube
Dance like nobody's looking, indeed. This made my day. All I can say is "Go, Girl!" From Huff-Po:
She attempts -- and fails -- to sneak in a dance-session unnoticed while she waits for a bus in the English town of Eastleigh. Youtube user Jane Rowland caught her on tape and then edited in ABBA's 70s hit 'Dancing Queen.' Wait for the air punch around the 1:40 mark.
The year is 1978, the dance palaces in NYC are 12-West, Flamingo, Truck Stop, and Chameleon and this was on the playlist of almost every DJ. This is the entire recording, so sit back and relax, or get up and dance. Romeo & Juliet by Alec R. Costandinos. From the You Tube Description:
I wanted to hear this on Youtube and couldn't find the complete version on one track, so here it is! From beginning to end. All 15 minutes and 24 seconds of it! Have NO doubt people...this is the single greatest #1 Disco song of the 1970s!!! VERY IMPORTANT! YOU MUST LISTEN TO IT COMPLETELY TO SEE THAT I AM RIGHT (because the song gets better and better as it plays on). Only a few came close to this one: "Love in C Minor" by Cerrone, "Disco Nights" by GQ, "Souvenirs" by Voyage, "Come to Me" by France Joli, or "Love is the Message" by MFSB. Yeah, close...but not close enough. ROMEO AND JULIET WAS THE BEST! -
Anne Marie in Philly is dancing herself into a frenzy if she remembers this one. Love you, girl friend. And so it goes. *
No, I'm not making this up. Rita & the Bee Gees doing "Stayin' Alive". This is a very well done, well synced video. A compilation of Rita's dance routines from a number of films. It's cute, fun and brought back lots of memories. Enjoy
Love to Love You Baby broke new ground, sent the Catholic League into a tizzy and had evangelicals writhing in pseudo-horror, but it was Donna's Love Trilogy released in the US 2 years later, (played mostly in gay clubs - well that was the target audience, after all) that really made her a star.
I'm thinking 1977 - 12West - last mix of the night. Crank up your speakers, grab a glass of something and offer up a toast to Donna and this incredibly well-mixed first side of the album.
It just didn't get any better than this - an astonishing 35 years ago. Amazing.
And so it goes.
*
Yes, today this is beyond CAMP, but what a wonderful dance-fest this was in the 70s. If you don't know the Salsoul Orchestra, well, shame on you. Please return your GAY card immediately. This should get you started. SALSOUL Orchestra. Enjoy:
There's more where this came from.
Dragged my butt all morning, trying to kick start my boogie didn't have the desired effect. The already struggling tempo dropped significantly when I learned that one of our best servers was in crisis. There are no details, at least none that I am willing to share at present.
Doors opened on time and thanks to the weather (glorious beyond belief!) the town was again filled with smiling faces behind dark sunglasses making a continuous stream through the doors. That always gives me a boost.
The day went without any problems and when I felt I was headed in a downward spiral by the end of my shift, I held on, not willing to crash and burn from exhaustion. And I didn't.
I did however, have one of the above. It's a Margarita with blue curacao (I call it my blue lagoon) and enjoyed it with two regulars who happened to bounce in, as if on cue. Not kidding here. They are always fun to be around. And they bought me another one of these monsters...Oh, my!
One thing led to another and when "I will survive" played on the XM there was nothing to do but, well, do.
It takes a real man to wear a boa like this!
Wow! Another boost and not pretty as you can see. Hey! It is what it is and it's been fun. The chin fuzz comes off this week, until next fall or whenever I get the urge.
Made it home under my own steam and just finished supper. Good thing, too. Hadn't eaten since around noon. Now it's time to shower and hit the sheets. I need a good, long rest tonight, and hope I get it.
Oh, and here's the scene that inspired the photo above.
As I said, it is what it is, and it was damned good fun.
She was a SalSoul Diva back in the 70s when I was dancing a 12West, Flamingo, Truck Stop, and others. What a voice and the sound is SalSoul Orchestra all the way.
Thank you Loleatta, for all the joy and love...Oh, the memories.
I'm in a Pet Shop Boys frame of mind and this is one of my all-time favourites - the lead track from their Behavior recording. This isn't the original music video but a live telecast around the time of the release of their album titled, oddly enough, "Release" at least from the notes on YouTube. Enjoy.
This song brings back memories of friends lost to AIDS and how life for us all changed in the 1980s and 90s.
Recorded live at the O2 Arena in London last December, the DVD is to be released next month and I hope to scrape up enough money to purchase it later in the spring. Here is the extended trailer of the concert.
I love the Pet Shop Boys for their intelligent, insightful lyrics and I especially like Chris' Mirror Jacket.
It doesn't take much to get me distracted anymore, does it? The Taxman? What Taxman?
Always loved the PSB and their new CD doesn't disappoint. Titled "YES" the songs are mostly about love, moving on, acceptance, and getting over it. I posted the video of the first cut on the CD "Love Etc." earlier, but have gotten hooked on the song "Did You See Me Coming?" The tune is lovely, the driving beat is contagious and the lyrics are sweet and endearing. Ah, new love...ain't it grand?
I have it playing in the car all the time. It makes my day much brighter. After you hear the song and read the lyrics I hope you understand why I love this song. An incurable romantic. Sue me! All the live recordings were busy, stoopid, or distracting. This video contains the lyrics so you can pull down the "more info" link and read them while you listen. Enjoy!
The Pet Shop Boys at their best, IMHO.
After a long day babysitting festive jewels, it's time for a cocktail and supper.
Long and tiring day. Very busy at work; though most people were in good spirits.
OK, a customer's cell phone rang (?) to the ring tone of the Hallelujah Chorus and in my twisted mind I remembered a wonderful disco version of this piece that - though it wasn't credited as such - was likely performed by the Sal Soul Orchestra. As soon as I got back to the apartment I did a youtube search and, here it is. This recording is much faster than I remember, but that' probably because there used to be variable speed turntables back in the day. I had this 12" single, but it was lost in the settlement. NOTE: It's recorded flat, so you may want to crank up the treble and bass to enjoy.
Oh, the memories; 12 West, Flamingo, TruckStop, and Chameleon. (Sigh)A great time.
With all the happy and amazing things happening this weekend I neglected to post a tribute to Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops. Sadly, Mr. Stubbs passed away this weekend at the age of 72. With a voice that could slow down time, rhythm and point of place in the music that took one's breath away, and a passion that made for an outstanding career...He will be missed.
I am especially fond of this song because it was one of the first Four Tops hits to be revived during the mid-seventies disco era by Gloria Gaynor, among others. Mr. Stubbs, your talent lives on and for that I thank you.
