Sorry, this really is a load of propagandising old bollocks

Was what I danced to most nights part of a fight for gay rights? I really doubt it

Don’t read this unless you like disco and you’ve nothing else to do. If so, you’ve got some great stuff coming your way.

But first, a rant.

This morning I started to watch this BBC programme called the Joy of Disco.

Some BBC poser who wasn’t there at the time says disco was invented by “gay and black New Yorkers” as part of their fight against oppression.

Now it so happens that in those days I was with and later married an African American as it is called now. It was just black and proud then. We spent an inordinate amount of time on the dance floor for a good 25 years.

But this BBC man’s theory just got up my nose. Most of the musicians were black. Some were gay, surely. But black and gay New Yorkers? Really? .

Well, to make sure I really was there and my memory hasn’t been shot to pieces, I watched another BBC show featuring what they – the BBC – played at the time.

If you’re in the U.K. you can watch it – and it’s great. Far better than the one I stumbled across. All music. No pretentious cultural horseshit. Here it is. 53 minutes of happiness. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cqt74/Disco_at_the_BBC

But I’ve also put links below  in case you’re not in this country and can’t watch the BBC.

So what about this theory about victimised gay and black people from New York?

I’ve made some comments about the tracks

First there’s the Hues Corporation from Santa Monica, a little known suburb of New York. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBwsG8ubFw

Then Patti Labelle (whom I adore) from Philadelphia, which must have slipped into Queens on the sly. Produced by the utterly brilliant Allen Toussaint from New Orleans – I guess that must have moved to the Bronx. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4LWIP7SAjY

Then Heatwave with Boogie Nights. Members were from Dayton, Ohio – near Brooklyn – and England, Switzwrland, Czechoslovakia and Jamaica. They perfected their act in clubs in England – maybe they were gay clubs – check out the lead singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU1LCfqTmzI

Next, Donna Summer from Boston – and you really can’t pretend that’s New York http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0h8Pjf4vNM.

Then Native New Yorker, a song that – well, just thrills me to tears every time I hear it. The group, though, had nothing to with New York The Lopez sisters from Connecticut. And Tony Reynolds from the Philippines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshxGgzHQtk

Then Rokotto. From Dundee, Scotland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8APtOJjtBo.

And Yvonne Elliman – from Hawaii http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4VTz7gSHds

Followed by a North London band called Hi-Tension http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cqt74/Disco_at_the_BBC/

And then, Taste of Honey from LA with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvIydHPhb98

And the Herb Reed version of Disco Inferno http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HRYKc58jTQ. I have no idea where he came from. I only know he was a lead singer with The Platters. They lived down the road from me for a while.

Then the Bee Gees, from the Isle of Man, which is England – and brought up in Australia. Maybe they were more persecuted than I imagined.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3b9gOtQoq4- –

And the Jacksons from Indiana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP_DKJQgo2s.

Sure enough, just as I was losing hope, up pops YMCA – and they really were from New York. Their heart-rending cry of protest is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDF71LjRB34

Chic next –  masterminded by Nile and Rogers, two great producers from New York: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KUL9-eNXzQ&playnext=1&list=PL250671306711C89E&feature=results_main

Then the greatest show – Earth Wind and Fire originally a Chicago band – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jLGa4X5H2c

Then Sister Sledge – also produced by Nile and Rogers – get lost in music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhKbOLqAswQ

Rose Royce from LA (One of the best live acts I ever saw) get drowned in the car wash: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_F2Kf17d6U.

And everyone relates to New Jersey’s Gloria Gaynor. In Newark, which I visit regularly, you have to survive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I

As I say, if you love disco as much as I do – watch the whole thing if you’re in the U.K. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01cqt74/Disco_at_the_BBC/

If not, follow the links I put up.

Those were the days.

But for God’s sake, stop this crap about disco being the music of the oppressed.

That was called the blues.

Disco is fun.