Strong Love: Songs of Gay Liberation 1972-1981
Lovingly compiled by Chapter Music label head and local musician Guy Blackman, Strong Love stands as equal parts compilation album and historical record.
With ample liner notes outlining the origins and effect of each song, it’s a fascinating insight into the pre-AIDS era of emerging gay liberation. It was a time when queer politics influenced songs from the fiery (Tom Robinson’s unlikely Top 20 hit Good To Be Gay) to the flippant (Buena Vista’s uber-camp ode to the joys of a good wank, Hot Magazine).
The earnest, direct lyrics of these songs will no doubt sound odd to many of today’s listeners — remember all the cynical gays declaring Gaga’s explicitly pro-gay anthem Born This Way passé? But most of these artists self-funded these initial releases in very limited numbers, so Blackman’s to be commended for tracking them down, polishing them up and presenting them to a new audience.
INFO: www.chaptermusic.com.au
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