THREE FROM 1969

THE YOUTH CLUB DISCO

Listen, even if dark energy declined to zero
the universe would continue expanding, but
the ending might be quieter. Galaxies would
remain in view until the stars ran out of fuel
and simply flickered out of existence. If the
next record the DJ plays is Marvin Gaye or
Al Green, will you dance with me?

I don’t want us to dance to rubbish

TIRED OF WAITING

We eventually danced to Dusty Springfield
a white lesbian with an Irish background
who favoured floor-length dresses in the age
of microminis with a fabulous voice
and many insecurities, then the DJ put on
Albatross, a dreamy instrumental by
Fleetwood Mac and we moved closer together

If we had stayed together (Al Green)
Albatross could have been our song. Peter
Green, the guitar player, was extraordinary
but we were just experimenting and nothing
came of us (excepting this ephemera) It
would have been one of the songs Dusty
made in Memphis. It doesn’t matter which

Tired Of Waiting

was a Kinks’ song
but they wouldn’t have played that

DURING VIETNAM

I preferred dancing on my own
working to the music (also)
I could show off my moves

backdrop, front-drop, splits
and spins. I tried not to be
too manic, make it look
effortless, smooth. I came
third once in a competition (to)

Arthur Conley’s Funky Street
His biggest hit
was Sweet Soul Music

Arthur was Gay
and (pretty much) disappeared
from public view (just in case)

.

Steven Taylor

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