Product Description

Disco - people either love it or hate it. But one thing's for sure: rumours of its death are premature. This lighthearted yet in-depth look at one of the most outrageous eras in musical - and cultural - history discusses the fashion and the freaks, the music-makers and the celebrators, to uncover why disco was so revered and reviled. From disco's musical roots in black funk to its across-the-board appeal; from the history of dance halls to the rise of cruelly exclusive clubs; from the reigning queens (Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer) to the wannabes (Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra, and even Ethel Merman!), Hot Stuff will leave readers with the urge to dust off their platform shoes, dig out their mirrored balls, and shake their booties all night long.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1110331 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

About the Author
John-ManuelAndriote is a graduate of the Northwestern University journalism program. His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Advocate and other periodicals. The award-winning author of The Art of Fine Cigars and Victory Deferred, he lives in Washington, D.C.

Customer Reviews

Almost Complete
An experienced writer, who connects the liberation movements of women, blacks and gays with the growth of the disco movement from the worrysome 60s to the dissappointing 70s. He puts forward the theory that the development of disco's hedonism and cult of joy was a reply to the outside world's (outside the disco i.e.) depression. Things like the Vietnam war and Watergate made Americans, with some help from the developing drug industry, introverts and dance addicts. For America this is probably a functioning theory-but not for Europe? Anyway this book is a great read, and the writer takes you on a great journey from the dancehalls of the 19th century to the modern disco, from blues and jazz of the early 1920s to Cher's last year hit "Believe." This tour de force, he manages to keep together thanks to his theory's. This is an in depth history of the disco movement. And should be included in any disco-ites library! On the downside; there's no reference pages, no notes and no index. All of which would be helpful for people interested in the history of disco!