Rating: 
Summary: "Mel Keeps It Real"
Review: "Keep On Dancin'/My Life and The Paradise Garage" is a phenomenal book and a compelling read. Mel Cheren's story of his life in the music industry and his association with the historic Paradise Garage provides insight so strong you can virtually see the people he speaks of and envision the events as they transpire. Mel's life is filled with complexities, joy, ups and downs and his motto "Nothing by accident" is both true and a warning. Everything that happens to us in our lives happens for a reason. This book will stir the emotions and flip guts, yet you'll laugh, cry, and appreciate this man's wit and candor. As a avid Garage patron who fondly remembers those special days, I enjoyed this immensely. Thanks Mel!
Rating:
Summary: "Mel Keeps It Real"
Review: "Keep On Dancin'/My Life and The Paradise Garage" is a phenomenal book and a compelling read. Mel Cheren's story of his life in the music industry and his association with the historic Paradise Garage provides insight so strong you can virtually see the people he speaks of and envision the events as they transpire. Mel's life is filled with complexities, joy, ups and downs and his motto "Nothing by accident" is both true and a warning. Everything that happens to us in our lives happens for a reason. This book will stir the emotions and flip guts, yet you'll laugh, cry, and appreciate this man's wit and candor. As a avid Garage patron who fondly remembers those special days, I enjoyed this immensely. Thanks Mel!
Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!!!!!!!
Review: All I can say is, "ditto" to the other reviews. This book really gives you the untold story behind not only the Paradise Garage, but the entire dance music/remix genre. Do what I did: buy the book and read it while you have the West End Larry Levan mix CD playing in the background. Well done, Mel!!!
Rating:
Summary: Keeping it Real
Review: As a birthday gift to myself I invested in the book My Life and the Paradise Garage: Keep on Dancing-as a summer read, along with some club classics. What a gift! The book was informative, educational, and sure enough enlightening from the first, to the last page. All of the ole Loft/Paradise Garage heads should have a copy. This book simply explored the pure essence of the disco-happy people era. I could not have invested in the book and not any of the music. I also made an investment in some of David Mancuso- Loft classics Volume 1&2, and Larry Levan hits from the Garage. While reading this book and listening to those fabulous sounds I was totally blown away! These items were the best gifts I could have given to myself. The book helped me to realize I was apart of history, a free spirit dance era that will never exist again. This music will allow me to keep on dancing while most of the great underground clubs have closed their doors. High accolades are due to Mel Cheren for putting history on paper and for his never ending pursuit toward helping others. Mel is indeed the Godfather of Disco and a crusader for humanity. Thanks to David Mancuso for sharing his space at 99 Prince Street, and the rebirth of his great sounds. Much respect to the spirit of Larry Levan the master of the turntables. Larry must must be spinning the wheels of steel, for the angels in glory. This birthday was really great! I was not dancing at the Paradise Garage, theme beach party or dusting my dancing shoes in the baby powder on the floors at the Loft. I was dancing up a storm and a sweat at home to the fierce sounds and energy of the better days. Thanks to everyone, including Amazon.com, who thought it was worth putting these products on the market. I think all bona fide party heads should have a copy of this book, and the sounds of club music which has been tucked away too long. Thank you all for keeping it real!
Rating: 
Summary: The Day the Music Died
Review: As a regular at the Garage and its predecessors, I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a must for anyone who lived through that era, in particular New Yorkers who danced at the underground clubs. It brought back memories and was nostalgic. Mel tells the story well and weaves the Garage story into a history of gay New York. It is honest and sometimes sad and tragic. It put my experience of those days into perspective, and gave me inside information on a place and a people who were a big part of my life. Thank you to Mel Cheren.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed feelings. (Please read the *whole* review!)
Review: I must admit that I have very mixed feelings about this book. While reading it, I never thought it was that great a read, and still now I feel the writing style is a bit simple, and also that there are a few anecdotes too many where the author pats his own back. No doubt has Mel Cheren had quite a bit of an impact on the disco/dance scene, but he should have left the praising of his persona to other people... On the other hand, I feel there are some VERY IMPORTANT points and topics in this book, in some cases maybe requiring a bit of reading between the lines: The rise and fall of Disco - the music, the clubs, etc. - I'm a DJ myself, and I can clearly see parallels happening in todays' (2001) Dance Music scene. "It's all just a little bit of history repeating..." The other big thing that hit me like a hammer was all the tragedies described that happened because of AIDS. Apart from being about parties, clubbing, drugs and so on - this book to me was also an important contribution towards my awareness of AIDS. I don't think I've ever been as aware of the issue as after reading this book. I think that in a way this publication also is a good description of the Yin/Yang principle: in every bad thing there is something good, and in every good thing there is something bad. For all the fantastic drug- and sex-parties the people in this book have experienced, they did pay a very high price. The ones who died and also the ones who survived.
Rating:
Summary: I really liked this book ...
Review: I thought this book was great. I live in Boston and have spent a considerable time going back and forth to New York over the years. I think I spent most weekends there in the mid-80's. Anyway, I moved in a different crowd form Mel's Boston crew, but I knew some of them casually. His appendix held a few surprises for me as to what happened to some of them. The book is a great gay history of that period in New York. It brought back many memories of both happy and sad times. Earlier sections were before my "era", so I found them very interesting. I felt like I knew many of the people Mel talks about and remember watching and listening as the club music scene grew. There are many interesting stories about this phase of the music industry. My only reservation: Mel did do some great things, but Mel knows it. So we know it. A lot. Just a tad too much back-patting. Otherwise a great read about New York Gay life and the rise of club music.
Rating:
Summary: I really liked this book ...
Review: I thought this book was great. I live in Boston and have spent a considerable time going back and forth to New York over the years. I think I spent most weekends there in the mid-80's. Anyway, I moved in a different crowd form Mel's Boston crew, but I knew some of them casually. His appendix held a few surprises for me as to what happened to some of them. The book is a great gay history of that period in New York. It brought back many memories of both happy and sad times. Earlier sections were before my "era", so I found them very interesting. I felt like I knew many of the people Mel talks about and remember watching and listening as the club music scene grew. There are many interesting stories about this phase of the music industry. My only reservation: Mel did do some great things, but Mel knows it. So we know it. A lot. Just a tad too much back-patting. Otherwise a great read about New York Gay life and the rise of club music.
Rating:
Summary: Dancing Memories
Review: Long time ago, I was a regular vistor to the Paradise Garage on Friday nights. I have fond, fun memories of dancing until dawn and listening to Larry's music. Even though I was not one of the members of the 'inner circle' at the Garage, it has left a definite impression on my life forever. I have ordered several of Larry's CD's and know that there will NEVER be another club such as the Garage. All ex-Garagers will enjoy this book. This book truly captures the feeling and mood of the time and gives insight to what was happening behind the scenes and the people involved. As I stated before, I was a dancer and loved Larry's beats. This book brings all of my Garage experiences full circle. May the music never die.
Rating: 
Summary: Dancer of the dance
Review: Mel Cheren's autobiography, My Life and the Paradise Garage, is a compelling read. Not only does Mel give you an insight into the people that shaped one of the most influential clubs of all time but he also manages to take you through the ground-breaking changes that were happening to American society in the seventies and eighties. This book also stands as a testament to all the people that Mel partied with in this time that are no longer with us. However, the Paradise Garage is more of a footnote to this book. We hear how Mel helped finance it and so on, but it seems like Mel didn't actually party there that much; preferring the Saint with his Fire Island buddies. This book is great as an autobiography but if you're looking for any real insight into the Paradise Garage forget it.
| 
