Category: History

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Blogging History Music People Travel

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

For the 14 of you who wish to know all about my Carnival Imagination cruise be sure to hit up the big green blog tomorrow (Saturday) morning. I’ll have it all for you ‘Grab Bag O’ Thoughts’ style. You won’t regret it pal !

OK it’s been over 100 hours since our last blogging session together, so let’s get back on schedule here:

Disco Ball

I’m a big fan of Elton John‘s music through the decades. I’ve got favourites of his from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Fast songs. Slow songs. Rockers. Ballads. Some of the greatest songs of my entire lifetime came from Sir Elton.

During the Disco era of the late-1970s Elton kinda sorta took a breather from the action. After all his style of music was not exactly dance floor ready – or was it ? 

He actually gave it one shot at the very end of the era during the late Summer of 1979 (although it was actually recorded two Summers earlier). That one shot turned out to be one of the last remaining Top 10 Disco hits during its dying days. For a Disco song from Elton John this one was surprisingly a bit on the mellow side.

Here’s one of my favourite Elton John songs of all-time. Here’s “Mama Can’t Buy You Love” – a Top 10 Disco Smash !

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History Music Travel

Saturday Night Retro

I’ve been on about 15 cruises over the past 18 years – more than half of them on Carnival. All but two of the cruises have been in the Caribbean. (One was in the Pacific and the other was a Mediterranean / Transatlantic excursion.)

Aside from Key West Florida, Mexico, and Belize some of the great Caribbean territories and nations that I’ve visited on these cruises include The Bahamas (many times), The U.S. Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten / Saint-Martin, Jamaica (Ocho Rios), and Grand Cayman Island (twice). There are so many other Island nations that I would love to visit on future cruises; although, it’s come to a point where I don’t particularly pick a cruise based on its specific ports-of-call. I pick a cruise based on brand loyalty and satisfaction (Carnival) and the time and season of the year.

I’ll be embarking on my next big Carnival cruise this Monday afternoon, and the ports-of-call are standard fare for Miami – Key West and Cozumel. I’ve been to Key West more often via cruise ship than I have via U.S. 1. I’ve been to Cozumel more often than any other port-of-call. It’s my favourite of them all too.

I’ve often joked that if ‘this U.S. Government career thing’ doesn’t work out for me (25 years thus far) then I will simply sell everything and live and work on a Carnival cruise ship for the rest of my Life. For now I’m satisfied with an occasional twice per year visit.

Tonight on the ‘Retro’ I’ve got a tropical-flavoured jam for you from Kingston Jamaica. It’s Terror Fabulous and Nadine Sutherland with their multi-Caribbean nation # 1 smash that’s all about that “Action” satisfaction. Hear them sing:

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History Holidays Music Radio Travel

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

I used to hang out at a quaint little place called ‘8-Trax’ at the former incarnation of Downtown Disney Pleasure Island (1989-2008) at Walt Disney World near Orlando Florida. Other than there and on various cruise ships there haven’t been too many other opportunities to dance like it’s 1979. Another place that I can recall enjoying the Disco experience is the Illusions Disco aboard the Carnival Imagination. I’ve got some good memories in that jumpin’ joint from Labor Day Weekend in 1999 and Memorial Day Weekend in 2003. I’m lookin’ forward to returning to an old home, for I’ve been resting up so that I can maximize some of my classic dance moves – as well as a few new ones. I’ll be ready to tear up the dance floor and get my groove on. Sho You Right !

Illusions Disco

Let us now flashback 34 years to the hot Summer of 1975. That’s when 35-year-old Van McCoy took “The Hustle” straight to # 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a gold pop, soul, and disco Grammy award winning smash. Many from the time would argue that it’s one of the first great Disco songs of the era. I agree.

LET’S DO IT !

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History Travel

The Major’s Picture Gallery – Carnival Imagination

Chris Inaugural Carnival Cruise

That’s me exactly 10 years ago on this precise date in 1999 as I embarked on my very first Carnival cruise ever. (I had previously been on a handful of NCL cruises.)

In less than 5 days I return to the Carnival Imagination for the 3RD time. I’ll be in Key West on Tuesday, Cozumel on Wednesday, and at sea on Thursday.