How Important Were Gay Clubs To Disco Music?

[zeca azevedo]

8)

[QUINNY]

DD: You obviously have something in your own mind that twists and contorts every word I write to mean what YOU want it to mean. I don't know why I bother, if you're going to be so down on everything I write. As for getting personal over the past few months, please point those out to me, 'cos I'm totally unaware of getting personally insulting with anybody. Nobody's had to tell me off for at least 6 months or more.
Did I ever say that the path I took was better than Levine's. No, never did. I merely said that NS went its way, we went ours. I think that's pretty accurate.
Have I ever said that Disco only existed for 6 months after SNF. No I don't think so. What I did say was that for about 6 months after SNF disco was at its height and we had loadsa (part time clubbers)dancing fools. So you've misquoted me again.

We shall never see eye to eye, and I thought we'd previously agreed to disagree and let the dust settle, after you were very insulting to me last time.

Nicky: Who cast the first stone in this contretemps? DD was the bad boy here, not me, so don't give me the bums rush. You gotta be fair as a moderator, even if the one you'd like to shit on is actually the innocent party in this instance.

[totoman]

My what a topic.

I thought I would ad my personal experience in all this. I started noticing that I preferrred discl records around 1977 when I was 12. Radio 1 was the only channel that played chart music in my area and the chart was quite disco inteh latter part of the year.

I started buying Record Mirror in 1978 and used to watch the UK and US disco charts, finding more and more I liked the US sound. There was a big distinction, the US chart was more euro disco (a lot of white producers- long suites) whilst the UK was more what I called soul orientated. I loved them all (remember Hi Tension - so far as I know, they did nothing in the States). DJs did not mix where I was, they talked between each song.

In early 1981 (at 16) I got taken to a gay disco near Manchester. I was blown away by the music, it was almost like producing the Billboard chart right there. Everything else was secondary to me. The music was mixed, no annoying talking (and I heard I Feel Love - the Patrick Cowley mix for the first time).

The sound between gay and straight remained different and I enjoyed them both because for me, it was dance music. I loved Shalamar as much as Boris Midney - one appealled to the straight scene and one didn't. The only near fusion was when Hi-nrg broke through with Ian Levine productions or the usual Summer record from the continent that the tourists came home demanding.

that's all


toto

[NickNack]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Nicky: Who cast the first stone in this contretemps?

I'm well aware who started this little love fest. I felt it wasn't necessary to point that out.

DD was the bad boy here, not me, so don't give me the bums rush.

Yes, you're right, and I should have called him on it. I was hoping it wouldn't turn into this protracted bitch session. For that, I fault both of you.

You gotta be fair as a moderator, even if the one you'd like to shit on is actually the innocent party in this instance.

And now you're attacking me, suggesting I want to be in your face for no reason. Your persecution complex is on high alert. :roll: I'm not DD's babysitter, nor yours. I let you both keep posting cause I thought you'd both get tired and shut the hell up. My bad --- didn't work.

Let's try it this way: GET A GRIP, BOTH OF YOU. KINDLY KEEP YOUR PERSONAL ISSUES OUT OF THE TOPIC FOR THE SAKE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS.

And yes, Quinny, I will repeat these or similar words to each and every member each and every time I feel things have strayed too far. See --- I like to shit on everybody!

Private Message me if either of you have to respond and leave this topic open for those who want to discuss clubs, music and all the fun stuff we're here for.

[PaulC]

...

[Greg Wilson]

Nice one Zeca.

[QUINNY]

Paul C: What, no appros for me? :lol:
As a hetero white male who lived and worked through it, please accept that Gay pride never really touched me, especially as far back as '73.
Please quantify "large number of Gay Clubs" as an overall percentage on the UK club scene.
200 could be a large number, but not if the overall figure is 20,000. Get my drift?
I'd still say that Gay clubs accounted for a very small percentage in the UK during the Disco years (or are we going from there to the present day?) and had very little influence on the masses.

[jazz_pilgrim]

PaulC:

Thanks for the info. Very interesting comments you make. Especially where you say: " Many disco artists have commented to me that their main support comes from the gay community " ... I can well believe that!

And I bet a lot of artists feel the same about the Northern Soul scene as well!!! The late Edwin Starr for example!

I take no offence from your "so-called" sexist comment: how it is - is how it is!

In fact, I also agree with Greg, Zeca, Discodisk and you about the views on prejudice! The sad thing is how society does tend to label people. As I said to Zeca over the weekend, as soon as I was born, they put a label on me!! But if we all come on to the Board and get to listen to, understand, learn from and respect all our various experiences in life - then that, surely, is a good way forward!!

:D

[BitchBag]

Listening to so much of the disco music of the time, I can't imagine how anyone could assume the music would appeal equally to a straight audience as it would a gay audience. Also, the music was designed for ultimate dancing, something that most straight boys hate. Dancing was considered feminine, that's why so many straight girls would dance with each other. Dancing was like displaying your emotions.

[paul]

Originally Posted by BitchBag

Also, the music was designed for ultimate dancing, something that most straight boys hate. Dancing was considered feminine, that's why so many straight girls would dance with each other. Dancing was like displaying your emotions.

Hey Bitchbag, I want to modify your statement by saying a higher proportion of straight white American males felt as you described.

[QUINNY]

Sorry to see this topic has been ressurected, but you can't keep a goodun down, eh?

Straight, white males think dancing is feminine....What a load of cak. Maybe in the US, but in the UK? No, no no.

Are all you guys in denial or something?

BTW: What is ultimate dancing?

[nrgbeat]

Most straight guys that I knew in the 70's hated disco.

They listened to Boston, Styx, Bruce Springsteen,etc.
Not Grace Jones and Donna Summer.

The other day I was on a site about music sampling and there were several rap songs that sampled Claudja's
"Love For The Sake of Love". How many homeboys are aware of this song's gay roots?

[DiscoMan]

Most straight guys that I knew in the 70's hated disco.

I don't know about most but certainly many. We always had disagreement in my crew over where to go - rock 'n roll clubs where the dolts could stand against the wall and drink or the Disco clubs where the truly Kool could dance the night away and get laid at the end of it. By the summer of '76 we had pretty much split the crew up over this.

[QUINNY]

And doubtless there were many (possibly most) Gays who didn't like Disco!!! Would that mean that Disco was a straight thing?

[efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

And doubtless there were many (possibly most) Gays who didn't like Disco!!! Would that mean that Disco was a straight thing?

Quinny, the clubs I spun at were definately straight.... and the all 98% black w/ 2 % white/hispanic was definately straight... I do agree with you that a lot of gays hate disco... even to this day.