Disco: The last dying gasp of the Golden Era?

FedoraFan112390 · May 2, 2016

Hear me out.

Many of you think of Disco and think The Bees, decadence, cocaine, etc...But hear me out a second. I was watching a video of The Hustle, and what I saw were gents and ladies, for the last time culturally, dressing up in suits and dresses to party. I saw the men wearing hats in the video, actually; and their hair was cut short and proper - a countercultural repudiation of the 60s, rock and long hair - the women wearing dresses. I saw them dancing dances not dissimilar from those of Swing and Jazz. Disco was the last time when a man and woman dressed nicely to dance, where wearing a suit was part of the subculture; It was the last fad which in any way incorporated swing and Jazz-like rhythms into the dances. Just tell me you can't watch the following, removing your own preconceptions, and see almost a reboot of the Big Band Swing or Jazz of the Golden Era:

LizzieMaine · May 2, 2016

The Disco era, with its emphasis on hedonism, free sex, and intoxication had a lot in common with the mid-1920s. Some of the clothes of the mid-20s were pretty ridiculous, too.

FedoraFan112390 · May 2, 2016

LizzieMaine said:
The Disco era, with its emphasis on hedonism, free sex, and intoxication had a lot in common with the mid-1920s. Some of the clothes of the mid-20s were pretty ridiculous, too.

It's probably no coincidence that nostalgia for the Roaring 20's was at play around the mid 70s (the Great Gatsby remake in '74 for example). I just look at the Disco age and see it as the last time a lady and gent bothered to look good when going out. The last time a suit was part of a popular culture rather than being merely reserved for formal occasions; a cultural backlash against the Hippies. I see in Disco, even in its hedonism, a desire for normalcy of sorts - fun-filled, escapist normalcy - after a decade of heroin, long hair and protests.

LizzieMaine · May 2, 2016

Except for the cocaine, the Quaaludes, and the amyl nitrite.

FedoraFan112390 · May 2, 2016

LizzieMaine said:
Except for the cocaine, the Quaaludes, and the amyl nitrite.

Even then, in the 20s, it was speak-easys, bathtub gin and cocaine was used even then as was morphine. It was just as decadent a decade.

LizzieMaine · May 2, 2016

As I said before. And the clothes in the twenties among the party set were just as ridiculous as disco outfits.

I'm not sure what your thesis is -- but I don't agree that the Disco Era was anything to do with "normalcy." It was basically a continuation of the hedonism of the sixties, and blended smoothly into the even more decadent hedonism of the eighties. You could argue that the punk rock crowd that competed with the disco habitues was even more meticulous about "dressing up" for an evening out -- nothing is so detailed as the attire of a subculture.

Stearmen · May 3, 2016

For the majority in the 70s, it was not all the decadent. Some used cocaine, the vast majority of us were repelled by the thought of sniffing some powder up our nose, and listing to Disco! As for sex, just look at the number of forced marriages in the Puritan era. Some things never change. But yes, it was the last time the masses did dress up for non formal occasions, even if it was made from polyester. Then sweat suits came in during the 80s, and it was all down hill!

GHT · May 3, 2016

Perhaps I was too busy climbing the greasy pole in the 70's. All that I can remember after the end of the 60's was Glam Rock, although there was a number of bands that were probably referred to as the disco period. Namely Ottawan with Disco's anthem. The rise of Glam Rock was here today gone tomorrow. This didn't last too long before giving was to the so called Punk Scene.
Truth is, by 1968 I'd had enough of the 60's scene and stopped pretending. Self induced peer pressure and all that. I went back to the music that I really enjoyed, however, I do have a 70's photo somewhere of me in stacked soles and heels shoes. (Embarrassing or what?)

Edward · May 3, 2016

The seventies was a very, very different beastg in the UK than the US.... I don't think we ever had anything approaching the US notion of the disco scene. Interesting how the pop culture varies so much, too - even in retrospect, the vision of the 70s presented in latter day US pop culture is utterly, utterly alien to that of the UK (even allowing for the reality being different somewhat).

Fading Fast · May 3, 2016

Edward said:
The seventies was a very, very different beastg in the UK than the US.... I don't think we ever had anything approaching the US notion of the disco scene. Interesting how the pop culture varies so much, too - even in retrospect, the vision of the 70s presented in latter day US pop culture is utterly, utterly alien to that of the UK (even allowing for the reality being different somewhat).

That's interesting and a bit surprising (to silly me) as the US and UK seemed to participate in the sixties hippie, flower power, etc. movement in a similar fashion. I never thought about if the UK also had a disco phase, but probably would have guessed yes since both countries seemed to go through the '60s cultural shift in similar fashion.

Edward · May 3, 2016

Fading Fast said:
That's interesting and a bit surprising (to silly me) as the US and UK seemed to participate in the sixties hippie, flower power, etc. movement in a similar fashion. I never thought about if the UK also had a disco phase, but probably would have guessed yes since both countries seemed to go through the '60s cultural shift in similar fashion.

I think the hippie thing was even more fringe in the UK than the US, though. Probably different economic confitions - wasn't the 70s pretty good for much of the US? It was a serious economic downturn here in the UK....

Course, both sides of the Atlantic contributed richly to the artistry of punk rock, but in both it came from the less well off streets....

MisterCairo · May 3, 2016

Edward said:
The seventies was a very, very different beastg in the UK than the US.... I don't think we ever had anything approaching the US notion of the disco scene. Interesting how the pop culture varies so much, too - even in retrospect, the vision of the 70s presented in latter day US pop culture is utterly, utterly alien to that of the UK (even allowing for the reality being different somewhat).

The question I have is - Where do Status Quo fit in the equation?

LizzieMaine · May 3, 2016

The '70s weren't especially good times here -- between the Energy Crisis, "Whip Inflation Now," and the beginning of the collapse of small manufacturing, the economy left a lot to be desired.

I think a big part of the reason the UK experienced the 1960s and 1970s differently from what the US had was that its 1950s were also very different. The seeds for everything that happened in the 1960s and 1970s in the US were planted in the 1950s -- and the results were inevitable.

Inkstainedwretch · May 3, 2016

I believe that in the U.S. the disco scene, like many other pop-culture fads, grew out of the gay subculture, along with things like camp and drag, but it flourished in the mainstream more than the others, because it presented yet another venue for guys and girls to get together and get it on.

MisterCairo · May 4, 2016

FedoraFan112390 said:
gents and ladies, for the last time culturally, dressing up in suits and dresses to party

I very much get your point, but I think I agree with the other sentiments expressed that the excesses of the 70s disco "culture" more than offset any positive views I have for the formality of dress or effort into looking good.

drcube01 · May 6, 2016

Last gasp of the three piece suit as normal pop culture attire was in the 70s. Suspenders, too, though they were mostly clip on by then. Both of those trends crept into the early 80s, but then again, so did disco.

Fading Fast · May 6, 2016

^^^ And while I don't think it's really catching on, in the last few years, I've noticed that some Millenials have started wearing three piece suits here and there and companies like J.Crew have started including them in their line up. Doesn't seem to be going mainstream, but as a guy who started on Wall Street in the '80s (when the older guys still wore them - and some younger ones), it's funny to see them coming back at all. Of course, today, some of the younger wearers, wear them with sneakers (seems the new thing to wear suits and sneakers) which, to my eye, undermines the elegance of the look.

scottyrocks · May 6, 2016

I might still have one 3-piece . . . gray with pinstripes. I should try it on again since I lost weight after my surgery.

emigran · May 6, 2016

I was playing in bands during the 70's 6 nights a week. At first we didn't even know what a 'hustle' was. and then as a "cultural era trend" everyone participating in the trend held it sacrosanct to their very existence, i.e., being seen in the scene... not such a new idea, eh...

PLUS there weren't any Fedoras...

GHT · May 6, 2016

scottyrocks said:
I might still have one 3-piece.

Only one Scotty? What with an avatar like your's?

Disco: The last dying gasp of the Golden Era?

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