Legacy Recordings

By 1963, the all-pervasive twist craze was waning, but in its wake came the frug, the watusi, the jerk, the pony, the swim—and the simian-inspired step chronicled in this Curtis Mayfield classic. “The Monkey Time” had everything a dance record needed: a scene (“A place way across town”), an invitation (“Whenever you’re ready”), and a promise of fulfillment (“You automatically are on your way”). It gave a new punch to Chicago soul, and helped establish Mayfield as its primary architect. For a while, it seemed like the U.S. really was the land of 1,000 dances.

Listen to: Major Lance - Monkey Time

or Buy the CDat LegacyRecordings.com