The Bump

Remember "The Bump"?

Kind of like a hip-check in hockey by way of Don Cornelius and Soul Train! If anything says "1970's on the south side of Chicago" to me, it is this photograph of hip meeting hip on the dance floor, especially with those white bell bottoms in mid-swirl.

These wonderful pictures that capture a long gone era can be found in an unusual book/vinyl record combination called "Light On The South Side", published by The Numero Group. The photographer is Michael Abramson, and the shots were taken in the few short years between 1975-1977, just when I was graduating high school. His genius was to turn the camera away from the legendary blues and R&B musicians whose music was filling up the dance floor and on to the customers who packed clubs like Pepper's and Teresa's and Perv's House.

My 33 rpm stereo turntable is long gone and my vinyl records have been packed in heavy boxes in the garage for the last few decades. So I haven't been able to play what looks like 2 amazing records full of obscure 70's soul inside. But talk about a motivation to get back to the pre-digital, pre-CD sounds! 

I never had a big apple hat like this dancer, but I'm sure there are a few photos of me from that era that would look equally funky!

Enjoy!

william

 
 

 

Comments

[Maiz]

Funny, but I never thought of this before... if one of the dancers turns around, the Bump becomes the Grind.

Great photos.

[maternity nursing clothing]

Japanese newspapers, the world’s biggest by circulation, are slowly losing readers.

[davek]

The Bump, I grew up in the 70's and this does bring back memories. Thank you.

[Anneke (Mudhooks)]

The first photo 40 years later....

http://public.fotki.com/Mudhooks/my_stuff/artistic_stuff/polaroids/dance.html