friday frequencies...Thelma!!

OK, where to begin with this one? How 'bout here:

We recently returned from an all too short visit to Chicago, one of our favourite cities in the world. Naturally, we were sad to leave... but hopefully someone was lamenting our abrupt departure as our cab made its way along the Kennedy Expressway to O'Hare with a stirring rendition of "Don't Leave Me This Way". 

Why this particular song?

Our first visit to the Windy City was in spring of 1977, about the same time this song was peaking (if the internet is to be trusted- what the heck, it's probably more accurate than our memory!) Five white university students from Canada found themselves in a small but very funky second floor disco on Division St just off the Rush Street strip, dancing our asses off to Thelma Houston. It was a revelation!

YouTube offers up a multitude of live clips of Ms. Houston belting out her biggest (one and only?) hit, but we couldn't bring ourselves to share any of them. Without fail each one featured Thelma workin' it for an audience of well-dressed, rhythmically-challenged young white folk, bums securely in seats, sitting there just clapping along. Pathetic!

So here is a static image version with decent sound quality so you can dance your own asses off in the privacy of your home or cubicle, followed by a clip from American Bandstand. The AB video has poorer sound quality, but it's a great time capsule peek into the look of the day.

After this weekend comes the kick-off of Pride Week in Toronto. What more fitting way to get into the spirit than an ancient disco mega-hit?? 

Have yourselves a fabulous weekend, and try not to leave any lovers high and dry!