It was mid-May, 1975 when out of our basement classroom window during the 7-8th period science class with Mr. Ocasio I could hear the songs Betcha’ By Golly Wow and You Make Me Feel Brand New by The Stylistic coming through the windows. From such soft songs, including Midnight Train To Georgia by Gladys Knight & The Pips, music has always shaped our lives. Hear a song and it’ll place you back to a given time and place. You’ll recall what you were doing, saying, maybe even wearing on a particular situation, etc. As the 70’s rolled on, a new style of music was knocking on the scene.
One particular day in 1978, I knocked on my friend Ray’s door and my cousin June opened and signaled to come in. The sound was deafening! We were inches apart but couldn’t hear each other. We walked to a small, back room where Ray was trying out his latest stereo system. Blasting was ABBA’s Dancing Queen on a pair of small, 18-22” Dynamo speakers. “Crank it up, Ray” June said. There was no distortion! It was amazingly clear and loud!
Those years brought us hundreds, if not thousands of hits like: Dance, Dance, Dance by Chic; He’s The Greatest Dancer-Sister Sledge; Fly, Robin Fly; Mighty, Mighty; Get Off, Staying Alive; Feel So Good; Nice and Slow (Jesse Green); I haven’t stopped Dancing (Gonzales); Mondo Disco (El Coco); and thousands more. One favorite radio station featured in a deep, slow voice: W-B-L-S followed by a high-pitched woman’s voice saying, “It’s him, my idol: Frankie Crocker.” Yep, Disco was on the scene as were guys’ French-Cut (Seamless pants), and Matadors. We had already gone through Marshmallow shoes and all guys loved Playboy shoes! They were made of leather and came in so many colors from velvet burgundy to the Wet-look with beiges, browns, soft greens, blues, and the 1” rubber heel! They were hip, comfortable, and the coolest shoes around.
During these years, we used to say, “We’re going to paint the town red, tonight.” A phrase meaning, we were going out for a good time. People dressed up, put on spiffy outfits, and made sure their hair was “cool.” But for some of us, it was just a phrase signifying we would be hanging out.
Angel was one to don his rabbit-skin coat with his small hat, suspenders, baggy pants, and nice shoes. He was always ready to dance to Jungle Boogie (Kool & The Gang). Heck, we guys had a club in Danny’s basement which we spiffed up and anytime that song came up, we’d drop whatever we were doing and form our ‘Soul-Train’ line and dance-jump away! This one time we nearly died laughing as Angel went to one end of the line and Edgar to the opposite side and they both did their moves and then did a forward roll and as they came up, they were so close they bumped into each other and rolled back down backwards!! Oh, the good old days!!
Angel, loved deejaying and had some 30,000 vinyl records! His joy was working at a record shop in the neighborhood. He had a collection at home with his high-tech turntables and mixers, etc. He always knew what would be coming out in the months ahead, like when he told me about the Canadian release of Don’t Stop the Music by the Bay City Rollers. We knew what to look forward to.
I remember going one day to either J&R Music World in Downtown Fulton, or to Disco Mat on 36th St. & 7th Ave. (remember them?) and asking for the 45rpm of Love Is in The Air by Jay Black. The store owner looked at me and said, “Jay Black, from Jay Black and The Americans??” “That guy hasn’t sung in like twenty years!” I told him he had a hit. He shook his head like ‘You’re crazy.’ He asked how I knew. I told him Angel knew before they hit the airways. He didn’t believe me then. I’m sure he did after the hit came out!
My brother Nels was another one who loved deejaying at home. He could tell you every hit by every artist. He knew how long each song was on 45s, 12,”and in the albums! *A 12”was a Disco-released hit as large as an album but with only one song recorded at 45 rpms. He even knew what label they were on-and if they switched, he knew that too! He could tell you how many members were in any group, how many left and who replaced whom. Just a few months ago I was partly singing a song to my wife. All I remembered was Hey Jean, Billy Dean & Rock On. As I scratched my head as to the artist, I thought Elton John? Could it be David Bowie? Nah. What about…nothing matched up. I couldn’t find anything similar online. So of course, all I had to do was text Nels asking if he knew such a song, and within minutes he wrote: “Yes, the name of the song was Rock On by David Essex; it was his only hit.” I asked him if he looked it up and he said (no), “I remember it.”
During these Disco years, there was an ‘All is well’ attitude and impression around us. After all, the music was hip and had deep bass and was danceable and enjoyable to those of us who grew up with it. It was an escape from other unrelenting issues at hand. It was definitely upbeat music. It was unlike songs that focused on feeling down and out or like those discussing being left alone-dumped by a significant other. These songs gave us a great feeling of hope for the moment. And as more hits appeared, more hope was on its way. The scene was on fire! Who could resist Barry White with his deep baritone voice,- Or Tina Charles’, You Set My Heart on Fire & I Like to Love?
As wonderful as the songs might have been, the entire Disco scene screeched to a halt. Little by little, the world fell back to its old ways. The pants, the shirts, the disco ball, as well as the groove, crashed down on the ballroom floors and even in living rooms. It was time to move on.
Did you know that God has records too???!!! His may not be vinyl. They may not be 45s, 12” Disco Format, or even albums. They might be in leather, CDs, MP3’s, etc. but one thing for sure, though, is His collection is like no other! His records are in the tens of billions! They’re of every genre, every artist, known and unknown. Artists born, having died, or even unborn! Really??! Are you surprised? Can’t picture God strumming a guitar singing Country? Sounding like Kenny Rogers? Or dancing Polka? Relax!
God has records of every human ever born and to be born. All our acts are recorded in Heaven. His angels track our every move (Hebrews 1:14). The records are separated into two piles: The Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelations 20:11-15; 21:27), and The Books (Revelation 20:12. Those in the first Book have all their sinful acts erased. They comprise a special group. Those whose names are not found in that first list will surely find their names in the second list of books. Those people will not have a chance to change their status once they die.
The first group consists of people who have turned over their lives to Christ. They comprise a special group because they will dance around God’s throne in praise, exaltation, and worship for having had their sins removed and for making it to God’s throne-room, known as His dwelling place. Members of the second group need to transfer over before the “deadline.” God sent His Son Jesus, to “Paint the town Red” with His shed blood. Not Spilt blood because that would signify an accident. Instead, He voluntarily and intentionally shed it for our sins. Jesus’ blood was not only for a town, but for the entire world. And yes, Heaven will be like no other place in this known world. We will rejoice. We will forever be young. We will never die. We will always have access to God. We’ll sing, jump, draw, paint, build, and do whatever God will allow without fear of rejection or condemnation. For the first time in your life you will be able to completely express your creativity to God as He intended.
I say you should transfer your name NOW! Set up some new records! Cast away all idols! Make a splash on the scene! Get your shoes ready, get a new song in your heart, practice some saintly moves, and start rejoicing, for He has made you glad! Heaven will be better than any (musical) period on earth, be it Big Band, Rock & Roll, Metal, The Two Step, The Swing, The Fox Trot, Blues, Line Dancing, Disco, it doesn’t MATTER!! There will be an attitude and atmosphere like no other! “Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah!!”
