Here’s where I really lost my gay membership card. When my friends and I used to go out regularly (roughly a million years ago), the clubs all played hip-hop and funk. Loved it. After a couple of years, they all switched to house. Hated it. Which is a bit ironic, given my teen love of disco and how closely the two styles are related. On the other hand, I never said I was consistent.
R&B/Soul
Go-Go
There was a brief time in the late 80s where critics predicted go-go would be the next national craze, rivaling hip-hop in popularity. This turned out to be a bit optimistic: Even given the huge success of E. U.’s “Da Butt,” I’m pretty sure that, all by themselves, the Go-Gos (the group) outsold all the go-go (the genre) acts combined.
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight seems like the happiest person ever—kind of the female equivalent of Al Green. Then again, she’s apparently a devout Mormon, so maybe happiness is a job requirement. (And Al is a reverend … I am spotting a trend here …)
George Clinton/ Parliament/Funkadelic
George Clinton is part of that the lineage (Sun Ra, Yma Sumac, etc.) that makes a pretty good argument that at some point space aliens invaded earth and took the form of musicians in a variety of genres. Space aliens or no, if the British Empire had been run by Parliament (the group) instead of Parliament (the government body), the world would be a much cooler place.
Four Tops
There’s a gay joke to be made about how unlikely it is that a group made up of four tops has managed to stay together for 50 years. But I’ll just listen to “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch” again, start tapping my toes, and shut up.
Fats Domino
Proof that 50s music was more subversive than you might think, part 3: When Fats Domino found his thrill on Blueberry Hill, I’ll bet it had nothing to do with pie. Not to mention all that bad grammar. Just saying.
Etta James
Proof that 50s music was more subversive than you might think, part 1: When Etta James was telling Henry to roll with her, I don’t think she meant playing Jack & Jill (unless that’s a metaphor). “Wallflower,” my butt.
Earth, Wind & Fire
How awesome were Earth, Wind, & Fire? Even their obligatory dumb disco song, “Boogie Wonderland,” is awesome. Plus, when they performed it live with the Emotions, there were about 150 people onstage. The 70s rocked.
Doo Wop
If you ever want to make yourself really sad, listen to Joni Mitchell’s cover of “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (awful), then Diana Ross’s (worse), then James Taylor’s version of “Up on a Roof” (deadly dull), then Bruce Willis’s take on “Under the Boardwalk” (at which point, you might want to shoot yourself). Then play the originals, get happy again, and wonder why anyone ever tries to mess with perfection.
Donna Summer
There are some things I have an intense and possibly unhealthy passion for. In the food category, peanut butter and plums. In music, Donna Summer. I know, I know—”Adam and Steve” blah blah blah. I said it was possibly unhealthy.
Playlist of the Day 