Larry Levan: Live from The Paradise Garage, 1979
Fuck Calvin Harris, Larry Levan invented disco. Yeah, you can credit at least a dozen people with the creation of the relatively ephemeral fad that swept New York and Comiskey Park in the late 70s and early 80s: Giorgio Moroder, Frankie Knuckles, Sal Abatiello, Tony Manero, Disco Stu. But for the purposes of this blog post, we'll give it to Larry Levan, the DJ mastermind behind New York's Paradise Garage, the spot that served as the prime incubator for disco, house, and the dance party as we currently conceive it.
I'm not sure how I didn't catch the recording of the Paradise Garage's second anniversary (1979) when it leaked about six weeks ago, but I finally wrangled it this weekend. Credit goes to Isodisco for dropping gems on us that Mobb Deep would probably loathe. Originally a radio broadcast recorded by Lenny Fontana on his father's reel, the tape was transferred to DAT in the early 90s and eventually to the slightly muddy MP3 you hear today. Pay no mind, the funk bleeds through all levels of distortion. And don't get caught in the usual "disco sucks sentiment." This was pop music at its finest: fun, danceable, soulful, and as organic as Whole Foods in contrast to the normal swill that we currently consume.
Check the tracklisting on the nearly four hours of music. Isaac Hayes, James Brown, Sylvester, Patrice Rushen, Roy Ayers, Vaughan Mason. When you think disco, you think white suits and Brooklyn bojos, or gay men sipping on Champagne (King). But like most interesting things, disco went deeper than stereotypical definition. The second anniversary mix at the Paradise Garage proves it. Those with a passing interest in American music or at least a passive interest in partying, ought to download it. After all, MP3's can't serve as fuel for demolition nights.
Download: MP3: Legends of the Dancefloor: Paradise Garage 2nd Birthday (intro) MP3: Legends of the Dancefloor: Paradise Garage 2nd Birthday Pt.1 MP3: Legends of the Dancefloor: Paradise Garage 2nd Birthday Pt.2
1. Four Tops Four Tops – Main Street People 2. General Johnson – Can’t Nobody Love Me Like You Do 3. Isaac Hayes Isaac Hayes – Theme From Men 4. James Brown James Brown – Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose 5. Phreek – Weekend 6. Lou Rawls Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine 7. Keith Barrow – Turn me Up 8. Don Ray – Got To Have Your Lovin 9. Lisa Gerard/Pieter Barker – Sacrifice
Part II
10. Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) 11. Dan Hartman – Instant Replay 12. Loleatta Holloway – I May Not Be There When You Want Me 13. Loleatta Holloway – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long 14. Dan Hartman and Loleatta Holloway – Relight My Fire 15. Billy Nichols – Give Your Body Up To The Music 16. Billy Nichols – Diamond Ring 17. Deniece Williams – I’ve Got the Next Dance 18. Diana Ross – The Boss 19. Machine – There For the Grace Of God 20. Brainstorm – Love Is My Game 21. First Choice – Double Cross 22. Skyy – First Time Round 23. Paul Lewis – Girl You Need A Change Of Mind 24. Instant Funk – Bodyshine 25. Tribe – Koke 26. Candido – Jingo 27. Gibson Brothers – Cuba 28. Frisky – You Got Me dancing In My Sleep 29. Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard 30. Don Armando – Deputies Of Love 31. Voyage – Lady America 32. South Shore Commission – Freeman
Part III
33. MFSB – Love Is The Message 34. Roy Ayers – Don’t Stop The Feeling 35. Evelyn “Champagne” King – I Don’t Know If It’s Right 36. McFadden & Whitehead – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now 37. Leon Haywood – Don’t Push It Don’t Force It 38. The Supremes – I’m Gonna Let My Heart Do the Walking 39. Positive Force – We Got The Funk 40. Jackson 5 – I Am Love 41. Vaugh Mason Crew – Bounce Rock Skate Roll 42. Vaugh Mason Crew – Bounce Rock Skate Roll 43. Skyy – High 44. Skyy – Sky Zoo 45. Bill Summers – Straight To The Bank 46. Funk Fusion Band – Can You Feel It 47. Theo Vaness – I Can’t Dance Without You 48. Roy Ayers – Don’t Stop The Feeling 49. Shalamar – Right In The Socket 50. Grey and Hanks – Dancin 51. Black Ivory – Mainline 52. G.Q. – Disco Nights 53. Ecstasy, Passion & Pain – Touch & Go 54. Michael Jackson – Rock With You 55. Diana Ross – Remember Me