Spitball Army

[audio:Lipps_Inc___Funkytown.mp3]
At the time it was popular, at least when it was initially popular, there didn’t really seem to be much wrong with disco music.  It served a purpose – dancing and partying and socializing – that wasn’t particularly well-served by soft rock or punk rock.  When its cousin, new wave music, came on the scene, there was a reasonable alternative available.  But, there is nothing more soothing at the end of a day of processing mathematical equations and psychological theory than a steady, relentless rhythmic beat churned out by a machine and accompanied by one-dimensional repetitive lyrics – yes, I was in college during this time.

I owned Donna Summer’s Live And More, the Thank God It’s Friday soundtrack, records by Chic and Evelyn “Champagne” King, and several others that have proven forgettable 30 years later.  I also owned a recording of “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc.

This was not the album version, but the 12″ extended version.  Imagine listening to 10 to 12 minutes of that song, over and over and over.  And imagine me dancing to it, and when you recover from passing out, imagine yourself dancing to it.  It’s just not pretty.  Without a doubt, though, the song connects to indelible memories.

So, imagine the neon flashback I encountered when I stumbled onto a website devoted to all things Funkytown.  Here is the link.  Within this imaginatively-constructed site, you can lose yourself in Funkytown trivia, videos, photos, and other cultural artifacts that – along with the visceral and sweaty thrill of wearing polyester – bring the disco era to vivid rebirth.

Be sure not to miss the “Sounds” section of the website, where you can hear cover versions of the iconic song by the likes of U2, Henry Rollins, Robyn Hitchcock and, um, Veggie Tales.