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Author
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Topic: The Loft...Chicago!
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AK
Platinum Member +
Member # 354
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posted
I posted this on the Chicago vs. NY Classics thread, but decided it deserved its own:
This thread is making me sentimental and being down here in Texas at the moment with my DJ partners of more than 25 years (that's pretty incredible!), my thoughts turn to "our" Loft. I know very few on DHP experienced the Loft in Chicago, and I am so pleased that the world will learn more about the Loft in Chip's film, the "Unusual Suspects." As best as my old memory can recall, here is a partial discography of the Loft in Chicago in and around 1980:
TSOB--Master Jay and Michael Dee
We Got the Funk--Positive Force
Your Love is a Life Saver--Gayle Adams
Groovin' You--Harvey Mason
You Gave Me Love--Crown Heights Affair
Disco Circus--Martin Circus
Vertigo/Relight My Fire--Dan Hartman
Mainline--Black Ivory
I Can't Dance Without You--Theo Vaness
Beyond the Clouds--Quartz
Got to Be Real--Cheryl Lynn
Lover's Holiday--Change
Glow of Love--Change
Girl, You Need a Change of Mind--Paul Lewis
One, Two, Three (Counting on Love)--Peter Jacques Band
Clouds--Chaka Khan
Pipeline--Bruce Johnston
I'll Make Your Day Tonight--Hydro feat. Lorna
K.I.C.--Hydro feat. Lorna
Dyin' to be Dancin'--Empress
Thousand Finger Man--Candido
Give Me the Night--George Benson
Plain Out of Luck--Gayle Adams
Stretchin' Out--Gayle Adams
Sing, Sing, Sing--Charlie Calello Orchestra
Sing Sing--Gaz
Star Love--Cheryl Lynn
Can't Fake the Feeling--Geraldine Hunt
Could We--Geraldine Hunt
Get On Up and Boogie--Freddie James
Instant Replay--Dan Hartman
Nice and Soft--Wish
Funkytown--Lipps, Inc.
Rock It--Lipps, Inc.
Disco Nights--G.Q.
Dancer--Gino Soccio
Harmony--Suzi Lane
I Wanna Rock You--Giorgio Moroder
E=MC2--Giorgio Moroder
Party Lights--Gap Band
Take Your Time, Do It Right--S.O.S. Band
Hot Stuff--Donna Summer
Bad Girls--Donna Summer
Sunset People--Donna Summer
Love Injection--Trussel
Knock on Wood--Amii Stewart
Love Thang--First Choice
Come On and Do It--Poussez
Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll--Vaughn Mason and Crew
The Breaks--Kurtis Blow
Keep On Dancin'--Gary's Gang
Su-Ku-Leu/Mother Africa--Tantra
All Night Thing--Invisible Man's Band
Green Light--Cory Daye
Weekend--Phreek
I'm A Big Freak (RU12)--Phreek
There But For the Grace of God Go I--Machine
I'll Tell You--Sergio Mendes
Is it All Over My Face?--Loose Joints
Keep Your Body Workin'--Kleer
I'm Ready--Kano
It's a War--Kano
Over and Over--Disco Circus
Put Your Body In It--Stephanie Mills
I Don't Want to Be a Freak--Dynasty
Hooked on Your Love--The Fantastic Aleems feat. Calebur
Don't You Want My Love--Debbie Jacobs
The Magnificent Dance--The Clash
Right in the Socket--Shalamar
Feel Good, Party Time--J.R. Funk
P.S. I know that David M. can get his feathers ruffled--and understandably so--when there is talk of "Lofts" other than his legendary parties. As hard to believe as it might be to David, and as naive as it may have been of us, as mere teenagers in Chicago at the time none of us had ever heard of David's parties in NY--which we would later learn of and have the utmost respect for. In 1980, we began a party in a loft space at 1416 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago, which began to be called "The Loft" because it was just that. While the Loft name will forever be primarily associated with David's legendary parties, we are also proud of the foundation we helped to build and the influential seeds we planted here in Chicago. The Loft is where Andre Hatchett was born, where Chip E, Steve "Silk" Hurley and many others first had their lives changed by this thing we now call house. The Loft was before the Muzic Box, the Power Plant, the Playground, and other more remembered clubs. Much respect to David Mancuso, and to the DJs, promoters and party-goers in Chicago who also made our Loft a special place.
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MusicFilter
Diamond Member
Member # 1175
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posted
Great post AK. If you weren't reading these titles from a piece of paper, you memory is better than mine. You were right, those parties changed our lives. I remember Chip_E taking me to the Music Box on 14th and Michigan and it's still fresh in my mind.
Thanks for the memories and a great list!
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Talent ensconced in obscure seclusion by copious mediocrity.
All I got is my word and my balls and I don't break them for anybody.
- Tony Montana
http://www.myspace.com/chgodj3
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AK
Platinum Member +
Member # 354
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by MusicFilter:
Great post AK. If you weren't reading these titles from a piece of paper, you memory is better than mine. You were right, those parties changed our lives. I remember Chip_E taking me to the Music Box on 14th and Michigan and it's still fresh in my mind.
Thanks for the memories and a great list!
Sherm, all from memory...but in two different sittings. Went from what did I like to play, what did Tony Hatchett like to play, etc. The songs just kept flowing out. It's amazing how the meaningful things can get etched in our minds. Thanks.
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MusicFilter
Diamond Member
Member # 1175
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posted
You're welcome Alan!
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Talent ensconced in obscure seclusion by copious mediocrity.
All I got is my word and my balls and I don't break them for anybody.
- Tony Montana
http://www.myspace.com/chgodj3
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Cordell
Gold Member +
Member # 17
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posted
Ahhh, memories! I wanted to go the Loft but my parents weren't fimilar with the place (unlike Sauer's) and when i finally was able to go, the loft closed up...
Seeing flyers every week and hearing about the parties from other people that did go created a mystique about the parties & that space that alot of us missed out on.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Juggernaut_Bitch%21%21
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SPG
Super Star Member
Member # 6
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posted
Sounds like you're having a great and nostalgic time in Texas.
I remember the loft and all the songs you mentioned (& many others).
Those were my teenage years too! Ahhh...the memories! 
SPG
[ May 02, 2004, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: SPG ]
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Tony Cano
Diamond Member
Member # 1707
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posted
wow - nice selection of music. this is the music i grew up listening too. i wish i would have been old enough to visityour spot.
tc
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http://www.myspace.com/djtonycano
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DJJM3.COM
Diamond Member
Member # 50
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posted
Didnt Slave make Party Lites(1983?)? Gap Band made Party train in 1987.............
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2 shows for your pleasure:
"The Fridays @ 5 Express" &
"The Saturday Night Dance Party"
100.3 Love-FM
7pm-Midnight CST
with DJ JM3....
http://lovefm.fm/
http://djjm3.com
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was
Administrator
Member # 1065
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posted
i was in 5th or 6th grade at that time. y'all were rocking the joints!
thanks ak.
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DJJM3.COM
Diamond Member
Member # 50
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by däp:
i was in 5th or 6th grade at that time. y'all were rocking the joints!
thanks ak.
Dang you that young? I feel like a old man now......I was a Freshie in high school about that time.....
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2 shows for your pleasure:
"The Fridays @ 5 Express" &
"The Saturday Night Dance Party"
100.3 Love-FM
7pm-Midnight CST
with DJ JM3....
http://lovefm.fm/
http://djjm3.com
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mhd
Diamond Member
Member # 18
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posted
take a bow alan, what you guys did back then was amazing and the fact that you are still doing it is even more amazing
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Austin/Dallas
Gold Member
Member # 1168
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posted
![[mecry]](graemlins/mecry.gif) The Loft Chicago is the only Loft I knew of for years. The list is premo. Good job
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Been houzin since houzin been houzin!!
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JMJ
Diamond Member
Member # 1654
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by DJ JM3.COM:
Didnt Slave make Party Lites(1983?)? Gap Band made Party train in 1987.............
The Gap Band did Party Lights in 1980.
Slave did Party Lites in 1981.
Two completely different tracks.
I remember hearing about the Loft but unfortunately never went. I was just starting out as a DJ back in 1980, and teen night at the Nimbus on Monday's was my big night out at that time.......JMJ ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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THE DHP KING OF EDITS
Off The Deep End 7/6: http://cyberjamz.com/stream.php?fid=Archive_20070706.asf
www.myspace.com/editking
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Austin/Dallas
Gold Member
Member # 1168
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by JMJ:
quote:
Originally posted by DJ JM3.COM:
Didnt Slave make Party Lites(1983?)? Gap Band made Party train in 1987.............
The Gap Band did Party Lights in 1980.
Slave did Party Lites in 1981.
Two completely different tracks.
I remember hearing about the Loft but unfortunately never went. I was just starting out as a DJ back in 1980, and teen night at the Nimbus on Monday's was my big night out at that time.......JMJ
When was the last year for the Nimbus as far as teen night.
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Been houzin since houzin been houzin!!
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JMJ
Diamond Member
Member # 1654
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Austin/Dallas:
quote:
Originally posted by JMJ:
quote:
Originally posted by DJ JM3.COM:
Didnt Slave make Party Lites(1983?)? Gap Band made Party train in 1987.............
The Gap Band did Party Lights in 1980.
Slave did Party Lites in 1981.
Two completely different tracks.
I remember hearing about the Loft but unfortunately never went. I was just starting out as a DJ back in 1980, and teen night at the Nimbus on Monday's was my big night out at that time.......JMJ
When was the last year for the Nimbus as far as teen night.
1983. That's also when the Nimbus finally closed down . I was lucky enough to have played there, including the last night. It was really sad because the club was doing really well, but with the hotel (the Nimbus was adjacent to and originally owned by a Ramada) being sold to make way for senior housing, there was no way an adjacent disco was going to be able to co-exist, so they bought the Nimbus and turned it into the Dorchester Business Center, used primarily for banquets and bingo nights.......JMJ
[ May 08, 2004, 05:47 PM: Message edited by: JMJ ]
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THE DHP KING OF EDITS
Off The Deep End 7/6: http://cyberjamz.com/stream.php?fid=Archive_20070706.asf
www.myspace.com/editking
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DJJM3.COM
Diamond Member
Member # 50
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Cordell:
Man, the Loft was 1980
Thats why I asked...I didnt say that was it for sure...
From JMJs post it was very close 1981....i cant remember every thing............
So why are you laughing..man??
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2 shows for your pleasure:
"The Fridays @ 5 Express" &
"The Saturday Night Dance Party"
100.3 Love-FM
7pm-Midnight CST
with DJ JM3....
http://lovefm.fm/
http://djjm3.com
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david mancuso
unregistered
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posted
"P.S. I know that David M. can get his feathers ruffled--and understandably so--when there is talk of "Lofts" other than his legendary parties."
-AK
Greetings AK ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
All is well.
More or less what concerns me is when a name is used that is "exactly" the same name as someone else is using (and has been registered) ...without at least clarifying that it is not associated with another place with the same name ...and is also in the same type of business.
Ex. There is a web site using the name the Loft in the UK and at least they stated on their site
"that this was not part of or associated with the Loft/David Mancuso/NYC. I can respect that.
Also it can confuse some people as they can be totally done differently, as far as the environment and how business is done....not to say there aren't valid differences.
It took years and still I have to "put out fires" when I have to explain to folks that the "bootleg Loft classics" are not to do with me. It hurts the good name of the Loft and it's philosophy ...in the long run.
Have a great week! ![[thumbsup]](graemlins/thumbsup.gif)
d.
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AK
Platinum Member +
Member # 354
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by david mancuso:
"P.S. I know that David M. can get his feathers ruffled--and understandably so--when there is talk of "Lofts" other than his legendary parties."
-AK
Greetings AK
All is well.
More or less what concerns me is when a name is used that is "exactly" the same name as someone else is using (and has been registered) ...without at least clarifying that it is not associated with another place with the same name ...and is also in the same type of business.
Ex. There is a web site using the name the Loft in the UK and at least they stated on their site
"that this was not part of or associated with the Loft/David Mancuso/NYC. I can respect that.
Also it can confuse some people as they can be totally done differently, as far as the environment and how business is done....not to say there aren't valid differences.
It took years and still I have to "put out fires" when I have to explain to folks that the "bootleg Loft classics" are not to do with me. It hurts the good name of the Loft and it's philosophy ...in the long run.
Have a great week!
d.
Thanks, David. And understood. You have a very musical week as well!
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www.myspace.com/djalanking
www.chosenfewdjs.com
Live at TCF Picnic (2006) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_VUcyzo3do
Live at TCF Picnic (2005): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOzTp6-6x3I
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Gman
Administrator
Member # 1
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posted
Alan, dig out some old pictures from inside the club
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(\_/)
(O.o)
(> <) "Swim at your own risk"
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AK
Platinum Member +
Member # 354
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posted
quote:
Originally posted by Gman:
Alan, dig out some old pictures from inside the club
G, I was thinking about that very thing on my way home tonight. It's a damn shame that it never dawned on us to try to capture any audio or video from the Loft, let alone any pictures. Who knew the significance of what was happening? If there are any pictures out there anywhere, I've never seen any. I know Chip has been following some good leads for pictures, pluggers, etc. from the old days. I hope he comes up with some Loft stuff. I'm really going to start asking around if anyone has any pictures from inside the Loft.
Here's a few notable stories from the Loft:
The Floor--Anyone who went to the Loft remembers the floor. It literally heaved up and down under the weight of the dancers. Looking back, we were probably thisclose to a tragedy of E2-like proportions, but we were too young, too stupid or just too into the music to even notice. It's a miracle we didn't all plunge through that floor, which was on the 2nd floor of the building!
The Ladder--At a certain point during the summer of 1980, the place had gotten so popular, so wall-to-wall that we had to start cutting off admission due to over capacity. Well, the Loft was located right across the street from a fire house, and one night someone managed to "borrow" a ladder from the fire house. Next thing we knew, kids were coming up the ladder and in the second floor windows!
Andre Hatchett--While many of you know him as a legend, and deservedly so, let me tell you about Andre's beginnings. When we first started doing parties at the Loft, Andre was not a DJ by any stretch, just Tony's little brother who liked to hang around with us. We had mobile equipment that we would take to the Loft every weekend, which I usually kept at my house. At a certain point, I gave in to Andre's pestering and let him keep the equipment at his house during the week, and that's how he started practicing and learning to spin. Again giving in to Andre's pestering, we started to let him play the early hours at the Loft (10:00-midnight or so) before anyone was there. When the place started filling up, it was "get off Andre." lol! Well, needless to say Andre got a lot better, and Wayne decided to put him on during peak time one night. I think Craig Loftis' promotion group, Vertigo, was having the party that night and Craig nearly passed out when he saw Andre up there at prime time. Of course, the kid did his thing, and the rest is history...
6'3"--The Loft was also the birthplace of a dance that spread around Chicago a bit called "the 6-3". The dance got its name from one of the Loft regulars, Kevin Herron, who was known as 6'3" due to his height. Well, "Six" as we called him just danced so damn cool, that folks started to try to dance like him. Not sure I can describe the 6' 3", but it was before "jacking" entered the vernacular.
Wonderful memories. This music and culture is a powerful thing.
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JoeB
Super Star Member
Member # 1322
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posted
![[Hail]](hail.gif) to you AK.
thanks for sharing that bit of history.
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me vale madre.
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DJCA
Member
Member # 2275
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posted
Damn AK You hit some memories that I bearly got a chance to grasp! I made the LAST party at the Loft at the LAST hour of the party. Kirk Townsend took me. ( he was my boyfriend at the time, we meet at The Dungeon, but thats another Thugged out story) Thus my love for "Disco" started. Back when I was going to Kenwood and Jessie Saunders use to do all of the dances, believe it or not I was that THUG that use to insist that he play something for the "steppers". OHHHHH MY GOD!!! I relize my love for music wasn't just for Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns! Before that "Disco Sucked" Thank God for Music being universal and over ridding my opnions for just one Genre. I'm for ever grateful for Kirk, Wayne, Steve, Andre,Tony,and You and Jessie for seeing past my ignorance and allowing me to be a part of the Chicago Music Scene.Be it house,Stepper,R&b, Rap,Jazz and even my love of Rock. Chicago has to be the most versitile venue for music no matter what your ear may be tunned to.
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IF ITS NOT HOUSE,ITS NOT HOME!
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