Village People - 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection The Best of Village People 320cbr (Big Papi) 2001

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 "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 PA or at your next company party. I double dog dare ya.

PS: You may want to get the version of this from the Casablaca/Mercury release dated 1998. That CD contains "Go West" and drops the 12 mix of "YMCA."