Go ahead and try not to dance....

If the Casablanca record label was the Monarchy of the Disco Nation, The Village People were their finest ambassadors. More than any of the prefabricated disco machines that the decade produced, it is the VP's cavity provoking bubble-gum dance records that made strobe lights and disco balls accessible and acceptable to party people of all stripes. Add in the undeniable fact that the innuendo laden singles and their stereotyped get-ups made gay subculture visible and you can actually add the term "culturally significant" to the Village People's list of accomplishments.

But all that pales when placed next to the vibrancy of this brief but solid collection of 10 singles. Like all of the best radio confectionary creampuffs, the songs here convey a kooky innocence (the Navy had to let in on the joke before they backed off their decision to use "In The Navy" as a recruitment jingle) that remains timeless. And in the post-AIDS decades, the more obvious 70's call to the disenfranchised like "Go West," "San Francisco" and "In Hollywood" are even poignant.

Deny it if you dare, but secretly you know this stuff is great. Just see if your limbs don't start contorting into the alphabet next time "YMCA" gets played on some football arena P.A. or at your next company party. I double dog dare ya.

I wanna get sleazy ?

In the Navy is great, I totally agree with Sean Kelly from Tamworth. I would join the Navy because of this song but I get sea sick all the time. The CD is missing a few classics like Sleazy and the excellent songs from the much derided "new wave" album
Renaissance. I have the LP version of that album and side two sounds like Devo or Eyes or Nasal Boys (Dieter Maier from Yello's punk band). People who dismiss the Village People are morons who have never gotten drunk at an office christmas party, humped the boss's leg and got sacked. Too bad for you, Joe and Josephine Square.

In the Navy

I think it is an excellent song by the Village People, and I listen to it all the time. It tells you the good points of being in the navy, so you will join to help America win World War 2