On Loving Trends Well Past Their Peak

Disco Stu doesn't advertise.

In 1975 — what many consider the peak year for Disco — I was 7 years old. More importantly, I had a sister who was 11 and another that was 15. With Sister #1, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson and Sugarhill Gang records were bought; Solid Gold, Dance Fever and Soul Train were watched; and clothing with satin and sequin embellishment were favored. With Sister #2, Led Zeppelin, Heart, and Frampton records were bought; Don Kirshner's show was watched; and clothing with band logos and feathery roach clips were favored. Of course, I was 7, so I liked the Carpenters and Donnie and Marie a whole bunch.

In 1992, disco again was in favor. Me and all my friends in the service industry rocked out some serious disco parties and rocked some seriously horrible retro-disco fashions, i.e. bell bottoms, platforms and belly-shirts. Every disco song recorded in the '70s was unearthed, repackaged, and sold to greedy disco lovers like me. Awesome.

15 years later, I still listen to disco as often as possible. Now it's on my IPod, my digital music channel on TV, my little CD player in the kitchen. I'm not sure if I can clean the house without disco accompaniment; I don't believe I'll find out, either. Often, at karaoke night, I will do a whole night of disco tunes. And you know what? Everyone — even the crusty rockers and cheesy country types — loves it. They woot and whistle, tap their feet, dance a little in their chair, and thank me.

Hating on Disco is sooooo 1980. Get over it!

Herewith, my Disco Playlist. Enjoy!

In no particular order:
Tavares - Heaven Must be Missing an Angel
Trammps - Disco Inferno
Bee Gees - You Should be Dancing
Kool and the Gang - Celebration
Chic - Good Times
Peaches and Herb - Shake Your Groove Thing
K.C. & the Sunshine Band - That's the Way (I Like It)
Foxy - Get Off
Parliament - Flashlight
ABBA - Dancing Queen
France Joli - Come to Me
A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
Earth, Wind and Fire - Boogie Wonderland
Musique - In the Bush
Brick - Dazz
The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again
Boney M - Rasputin *(see video)




Sure, most of the usual Disco nugget songs aren't on my list. That's because I'm over them. Seriously, like I never need to hear them again in my life. Especially at karaoke. I'm talking about you, Gloria Gaynor!

Might I be the most embarrassing granny in town someday? Let me go ahead and guarantee that. To paraphrase McFadden and Whitehouse, there ain't no stopping me now. I vow to get all my nursing home buddies to Bus Stop and Hustle as best their replacement limbs and joints will let them.

And I don't care what anyone thinks about it. Hmph.