70s Sarah turns 70 at 54

Sarah Dash will turn 70 on August 18th. She will be feted at a brunch at 54 Below, which is where I last saw her when she was part of Tracy Stark's tribute to Lesley Gore.

According to her press release:

54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club will host Sarah Dash’s upcoming milestone birthday on Sunday, August 23, 2015 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. This 70s Disco themed brunch is a play on words – the singer turns 70 this month (August 18th) and is perhaps best known as a powerful one third of the groundbreaking 70s group Labelle which was also comprised of Nona Hendryx and Patti LaBelle. 
Guests should expect a number of surprise appearances from a virtual “who’s who” from the world of music as well as a touching tribute from Tony-award winner and Grammy-nominated singer, Melba Moore. In addition, Alfa Anderson, Luci Martin and Norma Jean Wright, the magnificent lead vocalists on era-defining CHIC records “I Want Your Love”, “Everybody Dance”, “Le Freak” and “Good Times” are set to perform these classic hits as well as debut music from their hot new group Next Step. 

"The Sarah Dash Birthday Celebration: 70s Disco Brunch is a gift to Dash from her longtime supporters who have followed her from her start with Patti LaBelle & The Blue Belles which morphed into the unprecedented rock-soul-funk trio Labelle to a solo career filled with remarkable individual achievements. 

“I was blown away”, says Dash, “when a group of fans approached me with the Disco Brunch concept. They organized themselves, pooled their funds to secure the venue, and are literally throwing me a 70th birthday party.” “I don’t think there is a higher honor than to have people show their appreciation in such a way”, she concluded. “I am truly grateful.” 

Tickets to the 70s Disco Brunch hosted by 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street/Manhattan) are available now at www.54Below.com. The cost of a ticket is $100 per person and includes a two-course brunch, a bottomless cocktail aptly named after Dash’s international solo hit “Sinner Man”, and once-in-a lifetime performances. With food, laughter, flowing cocktails and a dynamic show this event is not to be missed. 

For more information, call: (646) 476-3551.

I am so looking forward to celebrating Ms. Dash's birthday in high style as befits a diva of her stature. Could it be any more appropriate it's taking place under the old Studio 54? Special thanks to Marvin Johns.

Aretha: Rolling in the Divas

Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics begins with "At Last" and immediately we are struck by how the Queen's inimitable style makes the Etta James classic her own.

Produced by legendary producer Clive Davis, this is a contemporary classic from an absolute icon. Actuallly, make that two icons. I felt thrilled this came together because it's surely a future classic if not an instant one. Certainly, La Franklin's intent on this effort is to show us she's the ultimate diva through the one-upmanship of her interpretations.

And she goes disco! I love that! Obviously, she's aware of her current demographics among fans (or Clive is), defying remixers not to bring her cover of "I  Will Survive" to clubs. Her first single off the album, "Rolling in the Deep", was sneaked weeks ago and also seems to beckon dancefloor tweaking. Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" is pure, wonderful, unadulterated disco certainly meant to capitalize on that revival. "You Keep Me Hanging On," too, gets the full disco treatment.

On Alicia Keyes' "No One," Aretha tackles reggae lite. She even has the chutzpa to cover "People" and "Midnight Train to Georgia." Each song, however, sounds deeply felt and delivered in grand style.

The album closes with "Nothing Compares 2 U" (presumably the diva in mind was Sinead O'Connor, not Prince, but then again who knows). Nicely arranged as a jazz tune and Aretha makes it swing.

Ten tracks and not a bum one in the pack. The cd includes copious liner notes, credits and pics. Snap this one up!

In the Mix with Germany’s Dj Andreas Mixgeselle: My Exclusive Q&A

With the kind arrangement of Barbara Sobel, it is my pleasure to conduct this interview with German Dj / Producer Andreas ‘Mixi’ Mixgeselle.  He dj’s an internet mixshow that you can access at SoundCloud. He loves Disco, High Energy; eschews electro and tech. He talks to us about cooking, the winter Olympics, visiting the US, and so much more. I promise that you will enjoy getting to know my fellow Queens Our City Radio artist, Andreas Mixgeselle, as much as I did.

 

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: Such a pleasure to do this Q&A with you, Andreas. Let me begin by asking you what the dance music scene in Hamburg is like right now. If I were to visit, what clubs should I make the rounds to for the best dance music?

Andreas Mixgeselle: Tough question. There’s not much funky house in Hamburg anymore, so I’m not out in clubs very often. There are a couple of locations where I used to go, but I haven’t been to them for a long time. I’m not sure if they are busy and if people are still going. I live a little north of Hamburg now, a 45-minute drive. So I don’t go as much as I used to.

There is a special area in Hamburg which is well known for it’s nightlife. St. Pauli is the name of the borough and the most famous street is called ‘Reeperbahn’ - also sometimes described as die sündigste Meile (the most sinful mile). If you want to go out in Hamburg this is the place to go. There is something for everybody. Bars, clubs, musical stages, pole dancing… everything! One club I can recommend is called ‘Moondoo’ (they don’t spin Techno, that’s a big plus!) and in the basement, there is another club called ’136 degrees’, only open on Saturday, catering for the gay clientele. What is especially nice is that the straight people can go downstairs and check out what’s going on, and the gay people also have the freedom to dance upstairs too.

 

You have a weekly internet radio mixshow that can be listened to on SoundCloud. What can listeners expect when they tune in? How do you describe your style?

Well, you can definitely expect to have a good time. My style it funky, it’s uplifting, it’s fun, it’s emotional, and yeah, it’s commercial! It’s the Weekend Warm Up Show! I’m playing everything that’s catchy, got a good beat, nice vocals and gets you in the mood for a party. It’s probably not the most up-to-date or popular style I’m spinning. I don’t like electro, minimal house, tech house without a hook, techno… Not for mixgeselle. I grew up with Disco, I enjoyed the electro pop of the 80s, so I love my retros, remixes of classic tracks. You always get one or more of them.

Sounds good to me! Now, we’re both connected through our associations with Our City Radio, so we have that in common. You are one of the few Sobel Promotions DJ’s who does not remix.  Do you plan on starting?

Oh I would love to, but I wouldn’t throw something into the market that’s simply bad. I am not a remix expert and there are so many talented and creative people out there that are knowing so much better what to do. If somebody approaches me, and asks if we can do a track together, I would love to do that. I would not go for a ghost remixer and put my name on something; I want to be part of it, I want to be involved, I want the mixgeselle sound. I would have to participate, to sit next to the remixer and to tell him – no that’s not good, yeah I like that… This is our track!

When you were growing up in Germany, what music were you listening to? What inspired you?

Oh my goodness. I listened to so many different kinds of music. As I mentioned already, I grew up with Disco. I listened to so many other genres, like mainstream rock, some folk music or soul, I love the progressive rock of Alan Parsons for example. There are plenty of CD’s in my rack from Toto or Joe Jackson. German singer/songwriter stuff as well or the 80s music: Nik Kershaw, Howard Jones, Alison Moyet…. So many different styles. It’s not only dance music for me, there are so many other styles that I like and I still listen to apart from House.

The Winter Olympics in Sochi. Any thoughts you care to share on this topic and the political climate there, especially as it pertains to the rights of LGBT people?

For me, there is only one style of life: to live and let live. It’s terrible how they deal with civil rights in Russia. But before I judge a foreign country – there is still a lot to do in mine too. Intolerance, discrimination, racism is a global problem and is still alive in Germany as well, perhaps not so obvious, but I first have to take care of the things going on in my country. And the Olympics? Big business, lot’s of money involved and cameras from TV stations worldwide covering not only the games but also what’s going on in Russia – what is good. But it’s also sports, and I love watching sports. So I am following these games!

Andreas, can you describe your working relationship with Barbara Sobel ~ of Sobel Promotions and our Queens Our City station manager ~ for our readers? We’re all ears. 

I’ve known Barbara for so many years now. She promoted a band called Paleday and I got a promo from her which I spun on my show. And now she sticks like glue! [Grins.] She is special and unique and I love her. And I know that she loves me too! Maybe unable to show it…. I don’t know….. Let’s get serious! Her passion for music and her artists is amazing. I think you can’t ask for a better promoter. I respect that, that’s why she is allowed to yell at me all the time! [Smiles.]

When you’re not remixing or dj’ing, how do you like to spend your free time? How do you relax?

It’s all about enjoying life and part of it is to eat and to cook while sipping on a good glass of white wine. Everybody on my friend list on Facebook knows as I’m always posting my cooking sessions. I love to socialize, quality times with friends… and I love to travel, enjoying the sun and the beach, meeting people from everywhere.

Who are your favorite dance-music divas? Who would you most like to work with given all things are possible?

There are so many amazing artists. I’ve met some at Ibiza, for example Barbara Tucker. She was gorgeous. Duane Harden is such a nice talented artist and songwriter! I would love to meet Peyton – a Sobel family member by the way – and work with him. Maybe I’ll get the opportunity this year in Ibiza, who knows! There are some amazing producers in Germany: Sosua & Mad as example. Hope to meet them this year finally. Not to forget Jolyon Petch from New Zealand! Oh my goodness, there are so many! There is another Sobel family member – Put em high, put em high… StoneBridge! Legend. I would like to turn back time and meet Donna Summer, but she is no longer with us. So sad. Did I forget someone? Of course! Oh well….

I understand that, in the US, you’ve visited Florida & southern California. Why not NYC?

I’ve been to NYC once. I met a few friends in Connecticut and we spent some time in New York City too. We went out there, off Broadway, clubbing, sight-seeing as well. I only had two days, but it was amazing. I would love to go back. Apart from the above, I’ve been to Las Vegas, saw the Grand Canyon, Death Valley. I’ve been to Southern California many times as my brother lives in the Bay Area of San Francisco. And Florida is very nice during winter for some extra weeks of sun and fun. The Winter Music Conference is always good to go to meet people there. So many other places I would love to see. Can anyone invite me over to New Orleans? Seattle? Boston? Niagra Falls? Myrtle Beach, House Of Blues for an Edwin McCain concert? 

Besides being posted at Queens Our City Radio, this interview will also appear on my blog with a large, international, diverse but strong LGBT readership. What would you like to say to your worldwide LGBT fans specifically, and to all your fans generally?

It’s sad that Mixgeselle is not on a LGBT radio station! It’s time for LGBT followers to request Mixgeselle be aired on LGBT channels, in the States, in the UK, whereever. That would be great!

I have lots of amazing fans, I love them all. Really, I have so many loyal followers from all over the world. This is especially the best thing, doing an international radio show! You can get in touch with so many people across the world:  gay, straight, no matter what color or gender, there are so many awesome people out there and I would love to meet them all! I’ve made some great friends, so I love that. Simply awesome.

 

There seems to be so much drama in the dance music business.  Why do you think that is?

I always try to stay away from drama. But yeah, I agree! As soon as artists are in the charts and commercially successful, it is not politically correct any more to spin their tracks. Don’t ask me why. There is no good or bad music, there are tracks that I like or don’t like. And I don’t look at names and think about that some ‘music experts’ might not be happy with my track selection.Otherwise I stay away from trouble. I know, the music business is a tough one, but we are talking about entertainment and I am trying not to take it too seriously. There are more important things in life to argue about!

Our readers may not know but Andreas is one fierce chef.  Did you ever take classes professionally?

I mentioned it already : I love to eat, and to enjoy cooking. I believe a good meal and a nice glass of wine is part of a great lifestyle. When I see a recipe and it’s mouth-watering, I go to my kitchen and try to prepare it. Everybody can try it, all you need is some patience and time. But it does not have to be fancy and high-end always, every now and then some soul food is nice too. Best of both worlds! Learned it in the U.S.. You guys know how to make an amazing burger! Or chicken tenders with ranch dip. Heaven!

 

Andreas, thanks so much for taking the time out to do this Q&A with me. We look forward to hearing your new work in the new year. Anything we didn’t cover that you might like to shout out to our readers?

You will definitely hear from me in the New Year! 52 times to be precise! And please do me a favor: GET UP AND DANCE while listening to the Weekend Warm Up! Oh, and get in touch!! Add me to Facebook. I want to hear from you. Please! Thanks a lot for having me, my first interview by the way! Appreciate it!

2013 Christmas Countdown Continues -- Disco Santa Claus

Sorry I dropped the Christmas ball yesterday on my Countdown, but we're back with this great diva-fronted disco number from 1978 by The Raindolls.

Hope you get your cha-cha heels this year! Let's bring out the egg nog and put the needle on the record.

Bob Esty, Michele Aller Are Calling You!

A lost disco classic in my opinion! But, thanks to the divine Bob Esty, we can hear it at Soundcloud. The Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy "Indian Love Call" was slyly reinvented as "When I'm Calling You," a wonderfully remade camp classic during the height of the disco era.

How fabulous is this?!

https://soundcloud.com/bobesty/when-im-calling-you-aller-esty

September

Happy September, everyone! Here comes autumn, so get ready. It's Back-to-Disco time! By the way, come September, Earth, Wind & Fire have a new album release!

Exclusive Q & A: Eight on the Disco Round

I asked each of the the following eight artists, all related in some way to the field of dance music, a similar question about the current disco revival.  Now that Disco is the theme for a series of display windows at Bloomingdale's NYC (http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/08/disco-bloomingdales.html), it's officially trendy, hip, chic, and what's happening all over again, in my humble opinion. Here are the replies I generously received. I think you'll find them very interesting.

James Arena, author of the recently published Amazon.com best-seller, The First Ladies of Disco:

Q: Why do you think the time is right for a disco revival?

A: Many of us who enjoyed disco music in our youth have reached an age where we look back on those days with a great deal of affection. Sometimes only with the passage of time can one begin to really appreciate how wonderful the music and vocalists of this great genre and era were. 

We have also entered an age where everyone is star by being on YouTube and entertainers enjoy fame without having paid their dues. I believe all the singers featured in FIRST LADIES OF DISCO were not only pioneers, but true talents who earned the accolades they are receiving. And I believe the music is now being appreciated more for the incredible orchestrations, passionate vocals and incomparable quality that is the essence of so many disco productions.

Lastly, many of these women are still outstanding vocalists who have honed their craft to perfection, are top notch entertainers and survivors. They are proving in disco revival shows they are still in the game and every bit as exciting as their contemporaries. It's only human when we lose a legend like Donna Summer that we are drawn to recall the other great vocalists of this era. I think its much better to tell them how much we love them when they are still providing us with life, energy and inspiration! 

Put all that together and the time absolutely IS right for the disco revival!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1/185-2133098-1486819?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=first%20ladies%20of%20disco&sprefix=first+ladies+%2Cstripbooks&rh=i%3Astripbooks%2Ck%3Afirst%20ladies%20of%20disco
 

Lady Bunny, disco diva, drag legend, Wigstock organizer, journalist and Dj whose new song, Take Me Up High, is currently climbing the Billboard dance chart:

Q: How do you account for disco going mainstream right now, and did you ever foresee this when spinning classic disco was still avant-garde?

A: I was unaware of the current disco revival--is it of mainstream disco? It never went away for me, not only because it was my coming of age in clubs soundtrack. Dance music attracted the best songwriters and producers when it was making $, especially in the 70s but also in the 90s which is the other era I gravitate towards. I remember when minimal 80s sounds came along with their synth stabs and I thought: I was just dancing to an entire symphony--where did this shit come from? 





Dj Jandry, amazing remixer of disco classics and dance-music graphic artist:

Q: Why do you think classic disco music is making a big comeback?

A:  I think Disco is coming back with bands like Daft Punk and with the collaboration with Giorgio Moroder and Nile Rogers playing everywhere; they're gonna rule the Disco world. I've loved disco since I was 12 years old when I discovered Donna on the movie TGIF. I just fell in love with her voice and music and her personality. 





Amber Dirks, dance-music diva extraordinaire (hear her great dance number, You're the One, below):


Q: Why do you think classic disco has become relevant again? And, if you could cover one classic '70s disco song, what would you choose?

A: I believe disco is becoming relevant again because people are missing the real musical element of the genre. All the instrumentation that's required to make the magic happen is a masterpiece within itself. It's quality which provides longevity.

In regards to remakes, anything Donna Summer, just loved her!! 




Dj Rusty Yardum, in NY, dj'ing great dance music from the '70s through the '90s. He recently returned to spinning dance classics for dance floors.

Q: How do you account for the current classic disco revival? When you dj, who are the audiences for this music? And why is it making such a powerful comeback?

A: Disco is making a comeback because the music of today is not the greatest. I spin to an older audience, although young people enjoy this music also. The music of today is DARK and not happy music like Disco was.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disco-Nights-DJ-Rusty-Yardum/360099494074136 


Glenn Rivera, celebrated dj/Vj/remixer:

Q: What do you think has prompted the current revival of, or nostalgia for, classic disco, that is now part of mainstream media?

A: I believe it is the music itself. Songs like "Last Dance", "I Will Survive", 'Y.M.C.A." are the staple to disco music and continue to draw people into the fantasy and nightlife that was a time in our history which was about feeling good. Who doesn't want to feel good? 

That is why the disco feeling will always be around - it is the formula for success. No matter how the music may come and go and influence today's and future artists, the aura and meaning of disco is feeling free and good. That will never go away!  




Martha Wash, dance-music diva, ex-Weather Girl. (Martha's new single, It's My Time, posted below):

Q: Why do you think there's a classic disco revival right now that has gone mainstream?

A: Dj Buddy Beaverhausen, here you go darlin'.

1. You hear classic disco songs in commercials. 2. They are being sampled into new songs 3. People who were younger at that time want to dance and feel that sense of carefree fun, and they can do it with their kids now as well.




Johnny Morgan, author of what I consider my "Disco Bible," DISCO: The Music, The Times, The Era:

Q: It's been a year and a half since we did our Q&A regarding your book, DISCO, and since then, the phenomenon of a new embrace of classic disco music has taken place, working its way into the mainstream (Bloomigdale's trendy windows). You were ahead of this trend. How do you view this new disco nostalgia and what do you think prompted it?

A: What goes around comes around (albeit doing The Hustle this time), everything gets rediscovered after a convenient period of amnesia has passed—you'll doubtless find former macho jocks who wanted to burn disco records reminiscing on blogs about their days as the Tony Manero of Nowheresville in Suburbia when they were growing up. Lady Gaga started it, and the recent publication of Nile Rodgers' autobiography plus Daft Punk's hiring him for their new album has opened a lot of ears to the great work Chic did back in the day. Plus there is a new generation of kids for whom music snobbery of any kind is weird—they just like what they hear and don't care what genre it is, where it comes from or who's playing it as long as their friends dig it too. I think a lot of the new disco lovers believe that it was an 80s thing, too, and the 80s are so now, aren't they? The fashions in Bloomy's windows looks more 80s than 70s to me…

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/03/dj-buddy-bs-q-with-author-johnny-morgan.html 

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen wishes to thank all of the above artists for taking out the time to be part of this survey. It means so much to me to have their input on this topic. I admire them all, and their respective talents, very much. 

Disco lives!


 

Of Queens and Divas

Well, Dj Buddy Beaverhausen has his bad days, too. It's not all sunshine, lollipops and roses, believe you me. Yesterday, in fact, was a disaster that Irwin Allen would have envied. 

I had my ticket for the First Ladies of Disco show at Resorts World Casino in Queens. There was to be a book signing by First Ladies author, James Arena (who I still hope to interview). I would buy a copy of the book and cd (compiled by producer Rick Gianatos) and meet the writer and the performing divas, a favorite foursome: Martha Wash, Linda Clifford, Pamala Stanley, Claudja Barry! Plus, it was to be hosted by Deney Terrio (Dance Fever). I was stoked! This was going to be a great evening to remember.



I'd picked out a fresh, new shirt at Century 21 Bay Ridge for the occasion, packed my bag (notepad, cell phone, business cards) and I was off! I know Queens like I know Zanzibar. But I was aware that a subway ride from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to Jamaica (NY, that is; not the island of) would take me about two hours. (Actually, I could fly to the island of Jamaica in that time!) This was Dj Buddy Beaverhausen's Big Adventure!

First, I had to transfer from the R train at Union Square in Manhattan to the L, then connect to the A. I initially got on the L headed in the wrong direction. Somewhere along the way, I lost my reading glasses from my shirt pocket. I'd have to take notes half-blind.

The A train was skipping stops due to construction. I'm not certain that I even saw a stop for Aqueduct/JFK but decided, for some reason, that it had to be the end of the line.

Nobody I spoke with on the street ever heard of a shuttle bus to the casino. I hailed a car service, asking to go to "the casino." The driver said $20 and I said it was a deal. At this point, I would be roughly 1/2 hour late for the 8 pm show. Not what I hoped for but at least I'd catch most of the show and meet the author and divas afterwards, even getting their autographs. I ended up at Empire Casino in Yonkers! This was so wrong.

Explaining I meant the Resorts casino, I learned it would be a 40-minute ride if traffic permitted and the ride would cost me a total of up over $80 from Yonkers. I cried uncle. The driver returned me to the A train. Down and defeated, I took the subway to Manhattan, then a $40 cab ride to Bay Ridge.

Talk about going nowhere fast!

But, chin up! Although gravely disappointed by my fruitless misadventure, I am ordering First Ladies of Disco (book and cd) on-line where it is an Amazon best-seller. And I'll catch these perennial, ageless divas another place, another time, hopefully.

Somehow, the whole debacle reminded me of the following song (sung by Cyndi, written by Ellie Greenwich):

Links to Parts 1 through 4 of My Exclusive Q & A with Bob Esty

For easier and more convenient access to my interview with Bob Esty, I collected the links to all four parts herewith:

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/05/exclusive-q-with-bob-esty-part-1-once.html

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/05/exclusive-q-with-bob-esty-part-2-from.html

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/06/bob-esty-part-3-martha-wash-and-raquel.html

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/06/bob-esty-interview-part-4-dusty-lesley.html

Enjoy!

No, Carol! You can check out Bob's Facebook group for more:

https://www.facebook.com/bob.esty1?fref=ts

NEW BEAVERHAUSEN POLL: Best Diana Ross Dance Number Ever

O.k., readers, I know it's been a long time since I presented you with an interactive Poll. But now there's a new one on this blog, in which you can vote for your favorite dancefloor number by Miss Diana Ross. You may choose multiple answers. The poll closes August 30 at noon. Isn't this Supreme? (Poll is to the right of this post on blog.)

Ready, Disco & Diana fans!...Steady!...Vote!

Disco Bloomingdale's

Disco is back big-time, to the point that it seems you can't avoid seeing a mirror ball at least once sometime during your day. Dj Buddy B feels he and this blog were in the vanguard of this revival. In March 2012, I interviewed Johnny Morgan about his disco bible, Disco: The Music, The Times, The Era, which made me realize there was something in the air because of its commercial success. (http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/03/dj-buddy-bs-q-with-author-johnny-morgan.html). The coffee-table book, sumptuously illustrated, is still selling at Manhattan's gay general store, Rainbows & Triangles.

The back-to-disco diversion has positively glitter-balled into a movement. Manhattan clubs, like B. B. King's, have showcased disco artitsts; Michael Musto has a recurring Disco Night at 54 Below (the club beneath the old Studio 54); the new Resorts International casino in Flushing frequently books disco entertainers (The Village People; the upcoming First Ladies of Disco night) and, across the nation, clubs, bars and lounges are multiplying with classic disco night offerings. This phenomenon deserves closer inspection, but for now, let's focus on Bloomigdale's disco-themed windows on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Coming out of the subway this morning, this first-class window design caught my eye. I feverishly snapped photos with my cell.

The window series highlights designer fashions sold at Bloomy's, with retro-progresso surroundings of undeniable dancefloor fabulousness.

Have a look at the photos below. And put on your favorite dance tunes for background music as you do. With disco, baby, style and ambience are everything!

The Secret Disco Revolution

Dj Buddy B must say that this very blog was in on the "Secret Disco Revolution" since its inception. I've loved it, I've promoted it, and I've enouraged it. And, now, there's a movie by that name to soon be released theatrically. The documentary was originally put out on dvd because it didn't have a theatrical distributor, but now it's gone big-time like the re-interest in classic disco itself. You can see it on the big screen or your smaller one. Your choice.

A new disco revolution continues in 2013 with a rejection of dance music dross and a desire to return to a much classier, melodic, better produced and orchestrated dancefloor sound. Club-goers and disco dinosaurs unite! Our time has come!

Meanwhile, I look forward to this documentary (trailer below). Bring back the fun, the excitement, the good times. Your disco needs you, as Kylie sang to us! Support the dance revolution!

Wear Your Disco, Darlings!

Attention mirror-ball queens! San Francisco-based Betabrand offers the chic stylings of mylar disco pants so you can sweat it out on the dance floor in high fashion. I assume these are dry-clean only. And imagine your dry cleaner's face when you bring these in! Priceless. Here's the link if you're interested. Cost: $100 (a mere bag of shells for something this seriously trendy). Are they gay enough?

http://www.betabrand.com/discopants.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=discopants_discopeople2&utm_campaign=Discopants

I rather like this disco tuxedo that's part of their line, too. My birthday is on Monday. What do you think?

Catch you at the disco, dahlings! By the way, I noticed a big jump in blog views from Austria (possibly because of my Rauhofer tribute?) and Turkey this week. Thank you so very much! Peace, love, dance floors and happiness!

Let's Face the Disco and Dance

"All major labels, all that 'formula dance' stuff I've been hearing on KTU for years, all by female singers that sound exactly alike and THEY ALL SUCK!!!" So exclaims dance-music legend, producer D.C. LaRue. I happen to concur. "[M]y humble opinion, of course. Or...it it just me and I'm getting 'too old' to boogie?" LaRue asks. Sadly, I have to beg the same question when I look at the latest Billboard dance/club charts. 

If today's dance clubs, at least in America, have a hard time bringing in the crowds, is it because of the state of dance music today? And does the current renewed interest in classic '70s disco reflect a disenchantment with music created for today's dance floors? Too many hip-hop artists' and American Idols' remixed radio hits? Too few genuine disco divas in the mix?

Artists like Kristine W, Inaya Day, Crystal Waters, Deborah Cox, Debby Holiday, Kylie, Carol Hahn,  Amber Dirks, Taylor Dayne continue to chart on Billboard. Yet, just when there's hope of a revival, the club chart seems to sink again under what D.C. LaRue labeled "'formula dance' stuff." 

The highly promoted, homophobic, racist Disco Demolition Night in Comiskey Park was able to cut down disco music in its prime in 1977. Yet, the music survived under different names: HiNrg, House, Techno, Trance. It carried on through the '80s, '90s and beyond. But now it seems stifled by over-commercialism and payola (as one dance diva knowingly confided in me, off the record; Lord, I have my own Deep Throat).

Cher has a new album coming out (eventually!) that promises "hard core dance music." Janice Robinson just recorded a new album. Hope may be on the horizon. Stay Calm and Carry On, dance-music fans! And support your discos! Disco has style, disco has class, disco has elegance and it's on its way back. And, D.C., get ready to put on your boogie-woogie oogie-woogie dancing shoes.

Thelma Houston, a Disco Diva's Happy Birthday from Dj Buddy B

Another Terrific Taurus, one of the first ladies of classic disco, Ms Thelma Houston (pronounced like Houston, TX; not Houston St. NYC, and whose name was originally Thelma Jackson, by the by) celebrates her birthday today. Dj Buddy Beaverhausen adds his best wishes for the 67-year-old diva, best known for her 1977 disco smash, "Don't Leave Me This Way." It remains a classic and was oft covered for the dance floor, most successfully in the '80s by The Communards. Ms Houston won a Best Female R&B Vocal Performance Grammy award for the original rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way." Deservedly.

She also charted with "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning," a disco cover of "Suspicious Minds," "You Used to Hold Me So Tight," "Working Girl" and "Throw You Down."

Below, Almighty Records (UK)'s hiNRG remix of "Don't Leave Me This Way." Happy Birthday, Thelma Houston! Aaaaaaaaah, baby!

Thank God It's Good Friday with Candi Staton

Get your Good Friday on this year with this new number by classic disco diva Candi ("Young Hearts Run Free") Staton. Throwing a Thank God It's Good Friday party are you? You'll definitely want to play this very '90s-club-sounding song by Ms Staton. And it's always good to have a little Candi on hand for Easter anyway. Check it out:

Cher/Bob Esty Take Me Home Official 1979 Video

Bob Esty Month on this blog continues with the original music video for Cher's phenomenal 1979 disco smash-hit, "Take Me Home," on Casablanca Records. Currently no better quality image than this, but I still think fans will thoroughly enjoy what's on view.

Ready for Reddy

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen is happy that he now has tickets to see the fabulous Helen Reddy, live and onstage at NYC's B. B. King's! According to the star's official bio: "Helen retired from live performance in 2002 and practiced as a clinical hypnotherapist and motivational speaker in her native Australia for ten years. But after singing a duet with her sister at her sister's 80th birthday party, Helen decided to come out of retirement in July, 2012 and return to the stage where, in addition to some of her hits, she now treats audiences to songs from her vast catalog she had never before performed live."

Can't wait! To celebrate, here's the extended disco remix of "I Can't Hear You No More"

Blog Poll Results: Best Disco Song Ever!

Gloria Gaynor

My poll is closed, the results are in. You were asked to "VOTE for your favorite all-time disco song from the... modest list of classic disco songs." You could vote for more than one song.

The winner from that list is: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, with 13 votes! She has certainly survived with that international hit that almost everyone in the world knows by heart. And she is still going strong; a diva to be reckoned with.
http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2011/11/presenting-ms-gloria-gaynor.html

But The Weather Girls came in with a close #2, belting out "It's Raining Men" and collecting 12 votes. That song recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, notably on the David Letterman show. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/10/martha-wash-on-david-letterman.html

Yvonne Elliman's "If I Can't Have You (I Don't Want Nobody, Baby)" from the movie, Saturday Night Fever, was #3, with 9 votes. Sylvester's "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real" garnered 8 votes, while Donna Summer's "I Fee Love" received seven. And Cher came in with 6 votes cast for "Take Me Home." It should be noted, however, that the Bob Esty/Michele Aller song was the winner of my Cher poll last month, and you'll note a comment on the link from the esteemed Mr Esty himself. Dj Buddy B was thrilled and humbled by it! http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/11/sharing-cher-results-on-dj-buddy.html

"I Love the Nightlife," by the divine Alicia Bridges, is a perennial disco fave that has been featured in major motion pictures and remixed over the ensuing decades, oddly enough receiving only 6 votes by participants in this poll.

Five songs came in with four votes each: Vicki Sue Robinson's classic "Turn the Beat Around," "Born to Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez, "Cherchez la Femme" by Dr Buzzard's Savannah Band, Love Unlimited's "Under the Influence of Love" and Pamala Stanley's floor-filler, "Coming Out of Hiding."

Kelly Marie's "Feels Like I'm in Love" gathered 3 votes and "I Need a Man," by Grace Jones,  received two. All the nominees were winners to my mind as they remain iconic tunes from the classic disco era that moved us to the dancefloor and, sometimes, emotionally as well. They are a part of our history, popular culture and musical legacy.

Thirty-six people participated in voting. Thanks to all! A new poll will be posted on New Year's Eve and we begin anew!  Love to all ~~ Dj Buddy Beaverhausen

Dj Buddy B's Holiday Tobogan Ride

With Thanksgiving but a week away, it's time for me to make like disco Santa and distribute my perennially popular "Merry Happy," in time for the holidays, to the coolest bars, lounges and shops in NYC. I put the cd-r on my boom box tonight to have a listen and, damn, if I didn't impress myself! This strictly dj-promo-only 2010 cd-r continuous mix isn't for sale. It includes dance remixes of Charo, Julie Andrews, The Supremes, Dolly Parton, The Carpenters and many more. I know it will rock the season for those exposed to it.

Friends who may be without it may request a free copy by messaging me:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dj-Buddy-Beaverhausen/121433544617989


I hope to pull a brand-new 2012 promo together over this weekend that will include Donna Summer, Andy Williams, Darlene Love, Bananarama, Al Green, Mae West and Joan Crawford! Give people something fresh for the holidays. Hope it souffles. Wish me the best with this endeavor. And, of course, I'll be working my blog's Christmas Countdown once more, after Thanksgiving.

I always say that, once you hit Halloween, you're on a wild tobogan ride down till you hit New Year's Day. Ok, here Dj Buddy Beaverhausen goes down that slippery slope, headed towards the holidays! In the meantime, happy shopping and partying, y'all!