West End Records

The Larry Levan Disco Years Timeline

1970
One of the first DJs-as-artists, Francis Grosso, invents slip-cueing (holding one record on a slip-mat then cutting across [to it from the record on the other turntable] at the right point). "Underground" clubs with the DJ as focal point appear. David Mancuso opens The Loft, one of the most influential dancefloors. Nicky Siano's Gallery is another. Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan hang out together in both places.

1973
The resident DJ at the Continental Baths walks out and the owner tell light-man Larry Levan that he's got six hours to find a record collection. Levan becomes resident DJ. The nightclub soundtrack of Motown and Soul gives way to Gamble and Huff's Philly sound. MFSB release, "Love Is The Message" typifies gay clubbing in New York.

1974
Larry Levan outgrows the Continental Baths and Richard Long employs him at the SoHo Place. He soon packs it out.

1975
Dave Mancuso starts the first ever record pool (a means for record companies to distribute promos to DJs). Promo 12 inches appear with Calhoun's "Dance Dance Dance" rumored the first.

1976
Salsoul release the first commercially available 12 inch. Walter Gibbons takes Double Exposure's "Ten Percent" and works it into an 11-minute disco extravaganza. Repetitive beats and club music as we know it are born. François Kevorkian arrives in New York from France. He is hired at Gibbons' percussionist at Galaxy 21.

1977
In January, Levan, Michael Brody, and Mel Cheren the co-owner of West End Records, open the Paradise Garage. It's a disaster. The sound system gets stuck in a blizzard and people wait outside in the freezing cold.

1978
Everyone and their mother had made a disco record. Levan performs his first remix. It's a disco-novelty record by Sesame Street's Cookie Monster called "C is for Cookie."

1980-81
Disco continues to be a powerful underground force. Levan remixes Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat." It sells 100,000 copies in New York in one week. Dance music expands to include the new sound of rap as the Sugarhill Gang's "Rappers Delight" sells 200,000.

1982
The use of electronics rises. Levan and Kevorkian add it to their mix while Arthur Baker drops "Planet Rock." Electro arrives. Peech Boys release the definitive Garage classic record "Don't Make Me Wait."

1983
Levan makes the move from remixing to production when the NYC Peech Boys release the "Life Is Something Special" LP.

1984 Manuel Gottsching releases the proto-techno [ambient] masterpiece of "E2-E4." Another Garage classic.

1985
The 100 BPM original instrumental of "Mysteries of Love" by Mr. Fingers becomes an anthem at the Garage after Levan gets hold of it on acetate.

1986
The badass jacking sound of Chicago filters through to New York. Records like Mr. Finger's "Washing Machine" and "Can You Feel It" are massive at the Garage.

1987
The Paradise Garage closes on September 26th. Michael Brody, the co-owner, is very ill with AIDS.

1988
Levan fails to find another club to call home in Manhattan. He gets sacked from The World nightclub in the East Village after playing "ABC" by the Jackson 5 three times in a row to an entirely disinterested floor.

1990-1
Levan is contacted by the Ministry of Sound to help setup their sound system. After the club opens he plays both there and Harvey's Moist night.

1992
After his Harmony Tour of Japan on November 8, Levan dies of a heart condition.

Special Thanks
François Kevorkian, Mel Cheren, David Depino for their help. Thanks to the Idjut Boys and Simon Lee for their obsessive knowledge of the music at the time. Information sources: "Behind the Groove" by Steven Harvey (Collusion Magazine, 1983), "Paradise Lost" by Frank Owen (Vibe Magazine, 1993).