Category: Music

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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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God Life Music People

My Fantastic Journey: It’s In The Lyrics

My fantastic journey is now at the start of its 4TH year – or 37TH month. It is not a straight line. It is a winding road. There are many sharp curves, and if I’m not paying attention and keeping my eyes on the road ahead I could drift off the road and meander into evil and darkness. Sometimes I don’t see what’s coming at me. It’s my job to react appropriately and do what is right to honour my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I seem to be in a time of recession with my journey. It will be temporary, and then there will be a correction. Robust growth shall follow, and that will be sooner rather than later. I’m getting excited as I refocus on the daylight.

This week on the inspirational hit music circuit I’ve got my main man Lyrycyst. Dude he’s not your ordinary rapper. He don’t need to curse. He’s just praising his Father God while sitting on Mother Earth.

‘So Peter Piper picked a pepper. I’m a pick myself a pack of people. Pull them out this pack of pressure. Pull ’em back, and pack the steeples. So give me the track and I’ll spray. I do it to show you a way to better yourself and the people around you that sit down and ball everyday.’

It’s in the Lyrycyst:

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History Life Music People Radio

Saturday Night Retro

I’ve got a lot of great memories when it comes to my Grandmom. While much of my early childhood was forgettable and not so happy virtually all of my time with my Grandmom is memorable to this day and very happy.

When I think of music from the 1970s (not particularly Disco – but all other forms of music) I think of listening to it on my Grandmom’s record player and FM stereo system in her living room. That system got a lot of usage out of me and my cousin John John. We played our favourite TOP 40 songs at the time, and my Grandmom played her occasional Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, and Lou Rawls records. Me and my cousin knew what to do if Grandmom wasn’t feeling too good. Throw on the Engelbert and be done with it.

My Grandmom also had this nice little music box that sat on her bedroom bureau. Lift it up, and it played soothing music. She loved it, and it was one of her favourite show-and-tell items whenever her grandchildren came over for a visit.

Back in 1979 during the absolute pinnacle of the Disco music era a Canadian guy by the name of Frank Mills who was a pianist, composer, producer, and arranger released an all-instrumental song that shocked the entire nation, stormed onto the hit music charts, became a TOP 3 smash at pop radio, and went gold at retail. It was so huge that over 30 years later he is still known as ‘Mr. Music Box Dancer’.

There have been many different remakes of the original “Music Box Dancer” from 1979, but this is probably my favourite of them all. It’s a 2007 techno version of the classic that remakes it but maintains its original integrity. It’s also got a cool modern music video to boot. Check it out – “Music Box Dancer” – 2007 style !

I dedicate this edition of the ‘Saturday Night Retro’ to my Grandmom:

EDITH AGNES DAY: 1915-2004

Categories
History Music People

The Major’s Friday Night Disco Party

Disco Ball

A soundtrack of the 100 greatest Disco songs ever made would simply not be complete or even accurate if it did not include this rousing smash from the late Dan Hartman. He was a successful singer, songwriter, and producer, and he played many musical instruments during his shortened career and life.

Here he is as a 27-year-old with lots of energy. It’s his gold pop and disco smash from 1978 as it became 1979. Play it again Dan – It’s “Instant Replay” !

DAN HARTMAN: 1950-1994