SOCK HOP PARTY @ T.R.A.C.S.

T.R.A.C.S at Timothy Plaza on River Island

Land Mark: http://slurl.com/secondlife/River%20Island/221/249/22

SOCK HOP chapter II

The sock hop was an informal sponsored dance at American high schools, typically held in the high school's own gym or cafeteria. The term sock hop came about because dancers were required to remove their hard-soled shoes to protect the varnished floor of the gymnasium. These hops were a cultural feature of the 1950s and early rock and roll. The music was usually records, sometimes presented by a disc jockey. Occasionally there were also live bands. Danny and the Juniors sang "At the Hop" in 1957 which named many popular dances and otherwise documented what happened at a hop. The term record hop is generally synonymous with sock hop.

So a sock hop is a dance, often held for teens, that first became popular in the 1950s, when the term was coined. Since dances were often held in school gymnasiums, dancers would often kick of their shoes and dance in their socks or stockings to avoid marking up gym floors and to get better slide in dances like the Twist, the Mashed Potato, and others. Dances held might simply be referred to as sock hops, since the practice was so common.

Several 1950s songs mention this type of dance. Little Richard’s tune Ready Teddy talks about the “sock hop ball,” for example. The most specific reference is the very popular 1958 Danny and the Juniors song At the Hop, describing the regular sock hop scene. Many movies depict these dances as well, most particularly the 1973 George Lucas film American Graffiti.

Ready Teddy lyrics

Ready, set, go man go

I got a girl that I love so

Little Richard

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

Going to the corner, pick up my sweetie pie

She's my rock 'n' roll, baby, she's the apple of my eye

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

All the flat top cats and all the dungaree dolls

Are headed for the gym to the sock hop ball

The joint is really jumpin', the cats are going wild

The music really sends me, I dig that crazy style

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

Going to the corner, pick up my sweetie pie

She's my rock 'n' roll, baby, she's the apple of my eye

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

All the flat top cats and all the dungaree dolls

Are headed for the gym to the sock hop ball

The joint is really jumpin', the cats are going wild

The music really sends me, I dig that crazy style

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

Gonna kick off my shoes, roll up my faded jeans

Grab my rock 'n' roll, baby, pour on the steam

I shuffle to the left, I shuffle to the right

Gonna rock 'n' roll to the early, early night

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready Teddy

I'm ready, ready, ready to rock 'n' roll

  

In subsequent decades, with the widespread popularity of sneakers and other types of indoors-only shoes, the practice of removing shoes was dropped and the term began to be applied more generally to any informal high school dance. The term caught on in England in the late 1970s during a British rockabilly revival, led by groups like The Stray Cats. Life Begins at the Hop, a song celebrating 'sock hops' became the first charting single for XTC.

What differentiates a sock hop from other dances for teens is that they are informal. They are different from homecoming dances or proms because they’re less dressy and more common events. Dancers didn’t necessarily attend with a partner, unless they were dating someone, and instead they showed up to dance to either live or recorded music. The dance didn’t even have to be held in evening hours, but could instead be held as an afternoon, early evening, or after school event.

SOCK HOP chapter I

At the Hop

"At the Hop" is a hit rock 'n' roll song written by Artie Singer, John Medora, and David White and originally released by Danny & the Juniors. The song was released in the fall of 1957, and reached number one on the US charts on January 6, 1958, thus becoming one of the top-selling singles of 1958. "At the Hop" also hit number one on the R&B Best Sellers list.

The song became more prominent after it was performed by rock and roll revival act Sha Na Na at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and featured in the 1973 coming-of-age teen drama American Graffiti. Musically, it's notable for combining two of the most popular formulas in 1950s rock'n'roll, the twelve-bar blues and the 50s progression.

Background

The song was written by White, Medora and Singer in 1957, when Danny & the Juniors were still called The Juvenairs. Initially called "Do the Bop", the song was heard by Dick Clark, who suggested they change its name. After performing the song on Clark's show American Bandstand, it gained popularity and went to the top of the US charts, remaining at number one for five weeks.

The song describes the scene at a record hop, particularly the dances being performed and the interaction with the disc jockey host.

A sample of the song's lyrics (contemporary popular dances in italics):

 You can rock it you can roll it

 Do the stomp and even stroll it

 At the hop.

 When the record starts spinnin'

 You chalypso and you chicken at the hop

 Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation

 At the hop.

Danny & The Juniors, individually Frank Maffei, Danny Rapp, Joe Terranova and Dave White, began singing together in the early 1950's at ages 13 and 14 in Philadelphia where they were fans of the local rhythm and blues radio stations. It was there they heard the first stirrings of a new music soon to become known as Rock 'n Roll. The Juvenaires, as they were called then, quickly decided to become part of the new movement and began to perform the new songs as well as their own original material at school dances, local clubs and restaurants.

At that time, record companies were engaged in a frenzied search for young people who could perform the new music. It wasn't very long before they discovered the youths, re-named them Danny & The Juniors and recorded them singing one of their own original songs called At The Hop.

What happened next?

Danny & The Juniors went on to have much success.  The group travelled around the U.S., and had additional chart records including PONY EXPRESS and TWISTIN' USA. Dave White eventually left the group to write and produce hit records with John Madara, including Leslie Gore's YOU DON'T OWN ME, Len Barry's 1-2-3 and Chubby Checker's THE FLY, to name a few.

In 1983, Danny Rapp committed suicide, but the Juniors continued working as "Danny & The Juniors, featuring Joe Terry."

In 1992, Danny & The Juniors was inducted into the Hall of Fame and the Walk of Fame in their hometown by the Philadelphia Music Alliance.

In March of 2001, AT THE HOP was voted by the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the top 100 songs of the century. The soundtrack album, “Grease,” was voted one of the top albums of the century.  ROCK AND ROLL IS HERE TO STAY is featured on that album.

In 2003, the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. 

Along with their numerous television appearances and live performances, Danny & The Juniors had the pleasure of performing at the New York Paramount with Alan Freed and The Apollo in Harlem with Jocko Henderson.

Joe Terry, Frank Maffei and Frank's brother Bobby, continue to perform around the country at conventions, theatres, clubs, casinos, fairs and festivals. Dave White continues to write and produce for various artists.

DANNY AND THE JUNIORS

 "At The Hop"

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop

When the record starts spinnin'

You chalypso when you chicken at the hop

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the hop

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop

Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Let's go!

[Instrumental Interlude]

Well, you can rock it you can roll it

You can slop and you can stroll it at the hop

When the record starts spinnin'

You chalypso* when you chicken at the hop

Do the dance sensation that is sweepin' the nation at the hop

Well, you can swing it you can groove it

You can really start to move it at the hop

Where the jockey is the smoothest

And the music is the coolest at the hop

All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop

Let's go!

Ah, let's go to the hop

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop (oh baby)

Let's go to the hop

Come on, let's go to the hop

Let's go!

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah

Bah-bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bah-bah, at the hop!

TRAINS & TRACKS PARTY

Saturday, T.R.A.C.S was back on tracks, 

although there is still allot of work to do at the club.

DJ Beef had made, as always, a great set of train and tracks songs.

I enjoyed it a lot and I think or guest also had a good time.

Here are the pictures I made during the party.

DJ Beef

Lexzia

 

▲▼ Gany

Caas and Duke

Selene

Racker and Beef

Fio, Ellbee, Christo and Tim

Simpli

TRAINS & TRACKS PARTY

      at T.R.A.C.S

T.R.A.C.S at Timothy Plaza on River Island

Land Mark: http://slurl.com/secondlife/River%20Island/221/249/22

TRAINS & TRACKS chapter II

TRAIN

A train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of vehicles propelled along a rail track to transport cargo or passengers. Motive power is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in self-propelled multiple units. Although historically steam propulsion dominated, the most common modern forms are diesel and electric locomotives, the latter supplied by overhead wires or additional rails. Other energy sources include horses, rope or wire, gravity, pneumatics, batteries, and gas turbines. Train tracks usually consists of two, three or four rails, with a limited number of monorails and maglev guideways in the mix. The word 'train' comes from the Old French trahiner, from the Latin trahere 'pull, draw'.

  

TRACK

The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, British English) and ballast (or slab track), plus the underlying subgrade. For clarity it is often referred to as railway track (British English and UIC terminology) or railroad track (predominantly in the United States).

The term permanent way also refers to the track in addition to lineside structures such as fences etc.

TRAINS & TRACKS chapter I

Theme for the party this Saturday is TRAINS & TRACKS

The first song, for this theme, that came on my mind is:

 "I'm a Train" by Albert Hammond.

On WikiPedia is a list of almost 1000 songs.

A train song is a song referencing passenger or freight railroads. Trains have been a theme in both traditional and popular music since the first half of the 19th century and over the years have appeared in all major musical genres, including folk, blues, country, rock 'n roll, jazz, world, classical and avant-garde. While the prominence of railroads has faded in recent decades, the train endures as a common image in popular song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_train_songs

I'm a Train

"I'm a Train" is a song written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood and performed by Hammond. The song reached #15 in Adult Contemporary chart and #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. The song appeared on his 1974 album, Albert Hammond. The song was produced by Hammond and Roy Halee.

Albert Louis Hammond 
(born 18 May 1944) is an English singer, 
songwriter, and record producer based in the 
British Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar.

Hammond was born in London, England, where his family had been evacuated to from Gibraltar during World War II. His family returned to Gibraltar shortly after his birth, and it is there he grew up. In 1960, he started in music with Gibraltarian band 'The Diamond Boys', which had no real commercial success, but played a part in Spain's introduction to pop and rock music. The Diamond Boys performed at the first nightclubs in Madrid to stage modern bands alongside Spanish rock and roll pioneers such as Miguel Ríos. In 1966 Hammond co-founded the British vocal group The Family Dogg, scoring a UK Top 10 hit with "A Way of Life" in 1969.

He also wrote songs for others with frequent collaborator Mike Hazlewood. These include "Little Arrows" for Leapy Lee, "Make Me An Island" (1969) (which Hammond himself re-recorded in 1979, in a Spanish disco-style version), and "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" (1970) for Joe Dolan, "Gimme Dat Ding" for The Pipkins in 1970 (itself a cover from the Freddie and the Dreamers album, Oliver in the Overworld), "Good Morning Freedom" for Blue Mink, "Freedom Come, Freedom Go" for The Fortunes in 1971 and "The Air That I Breathe" which was a hit for The Hollies in 1974. In 1971. Hammond also sang on Michael Chapman's fourth album, Wrecked Again, and worked briefly with The Magic Lanterns on recordings of his and Hazlewood's songs and other material.

He then moved to the United States, where he continued his professional career as a musician. He is known for his hits of the 1970s, released on Columbia subsidiary Mums Records:

  1. "Down by the River" — US 91 (1972)

  2. "It Never Rains in Southern California" — US 5 (1972)

  3. "The Free Electric Band" (his only single to chart in the UK)— UK 19, US 48 (1973)

  4. "Half a Million Miles from Home" — US 87 (1973)

  5. "If You Gotta Break Another Heart" — US 63 (1973)

  6. "The Peacemaker" — US 80, South Africa 1 (1973)

  7. "Down by the River" — US 91 (1973)

  8. "I Don't Wanna Die in an Air Disaster" — US 0 (1974)

  9. "I'm a Train" — US 31 (1974)

 10. "99 Miles from L.A." — US 91 (1975)

I'm A Train lyrics

Look at me, I'm a train on a track

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

 Look at me, got a load on my back

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

Look at me, I'm going somewhere

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

 Look at me, I'm going somewhere

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

Been a hard day, yes, it has been a hard day

 Yes, it has been a hard day, yes, it has

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, I'm a chucka train

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, chucka train, yeah

Look at me, I'm a train on a line

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

 Look at me for the very last time

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

It's been a life that's long and hard

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

 I'm going down to the breaker's yard

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

Been a hard day, yes, it has been a hard day

 Yes, it has been a hard day, yes, it has

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, I'm a chucka train

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, chucka train, yeah

 Albert Hammond 2013

It's been a life that's long and hard

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

 Going down to the breaker's yard

 I'm a train, I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, yeah

Been a hard day, yes, it has been a hard day

 Yes, it has been a hard day, yes, it has

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, I'm a chucka train

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, I'm a chucka train

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train, I'm a chucka train

 I'm a train, I'm a chucka train

I'm a train

 I'm a train

 I'm a, I'm a, I'm a train

 I'm a train

 I'm a train...

Sexy in Red Party in Sweetgrass

Sunday

On the flyer, great work of Ellbee, was written:

High couture or low, street skinnies or ultra baggies, twink, punk, grunge, beach or student style, wrapped in silk or covered in leather, Sk8ter boy or surfer twink . . . it all counts if it's RED!!! 

Join us on Sunday, Sept. 8 for the Sweetgrass SEXY IN RED Party!!!

We'll party is from 21.00 - 23.00 CET or Noon - 2:00 PM SLT.  We'll have $L 1000 in the pot for best Sexy in Red outfit.  We'll all have a great time, especially if YOU are there!!

Ellbee and the SG Team

picture of the winners made by Gany

Construction Party @ T.R.A.C.S

After our River Island tour this summer, we were back in the club, where DJ Jay tightens the last screws. Okay, I did not finish the rebuilding of the club so it was a good theme and I needed to do less decoration in theme. ☺

Jay had made a set with a lot of songs in theme

It was great to see Tim back, after his vacation in Canada and the USA.

Also Levi and Dillon came to the party after some time of absent.

Here are the pictures I made.

Ellbee and Tim

Fio

Rod

Levi

DJ Jay

Rod and Ganymede

Simpli and CallMe

Dillon