Carolyn Johnson, Freelance Writer
Some of the patrons who turned out enjoyed the music at the Retro Party, held at Balmoral Avenue on Saturday. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THOUGH THE oldies were goodies, the '70s, '80s, '90s Retro Party had a relatively uneventful journey down memory lane.
Held at 19 Balmoral Avenue, Kingston 10 on Saturday night, the oldies party promoted by Racer's Edge and Top Klass Promotions, featured ZIP FM's Chris Capone and FAME FM's Kurt Riley at the turntable. While the music was good, the turnout was poor with most patrons rocking to the popular tunes. The few patrons who bothered to dance, however, seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves.
When The Gleaner team arrived at minutes to 1:00 a.m. the venue was scanty, and so it remained till the end. The mango tree in the centre of the yard was even more conspicuous as persons lined the periphery of the venue, leaving the tree to stand out like the main attraction. Many stood against walls, oblivious that Lady Saw was heisting it up or Bounty Killer complaining of the Wutless Bwoy on wax.
As the selectors dropped 70's hits, however, starting with Hot Chocolates' You Sexy Thing, the mature audience started singing the good oldies. The turntables then 'rocked the boat', had a 'celebration', and went to 'Ladies Night'. When the call came for a Night Nurse, a dreadlocked man who was standing near the mango tree went wild. He continued his Retro moves into Wild World, and Marcia Griffith's No No No.
The '90s reggae and soca music was not lost on the few women present. A dance for every era, the females wined as they moved to Wickedest Slam, Stamina Daddy, Tiny Winey, and Dollar Wine. When the DJs reverted to "a time when man did dance wid ooman", couples rented tiles for Bee Gees' Love Me.
At minutes to three, though the journey continued, some patrons had reached their stop. The Gleaner team was among them.
