Almighty & Insane Books: Beyond Heaven – Chicago House Party Flyers from 1983-89 Book Almighty & Insane Books

“JACK ME IF YOU CAN”

“RON HARDY STRIKES AGAIN”

“JACKIN THIS CRAZY ASS WILD NIGHT WILL BE SOME OF CHICAGO’S TOP HOT MIXERS WAITING FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE A NIGHT WHEN THE POWERFUL AND MOST FIERCE COME OUT, FOR YOUR JACKIN DESIRES WITH NON-STOP DANCE MUSIC THAT WILL MAKE YOU JACK THAT SHIT UP”

…Just a few of the superlative-laden posters reproduced for this new collection of Chicago House party flyers, Beyond Heaven. Chicago publisher Almighty & Insane compiled the book with the help of Chicago DJ Mario ‘Liv It Up’ Luna, who had been sitting on a treasure trove of Chicago House history in his home, having collected party flyers, posters and other related ephemera while living in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood from 1983 to 1989. This book goes beyond the Warehouse and the Muzic Box, connecting the dots between the record shops, radio studios, discos, community centers and high school gymnasiums where the burgeoning House music scene was taking shape on Chicago’s north, south and west sides. Although we were most certainly not there, we can’t help but get misty-eyed flipping through this book and seeing the names of certified house music royalty like Lil Louis, Larry Heard and Steve ’Silk’ Hurley given modest billings alongside hundreds and hundreds of others we don’t recognize but wish we did. Plus we’re suckers for this era of graphic design: gradients, illustrations, letraset type and hand-drawn city skylines. Never a dull moment in this book, house fanatics needn’t think twice. Recommended!

• paperback second edition
• embossed cover
• 96 full color pages

reviewed by military 2step 10/2018

ALSO AVAILABLE

• Beyond Heaven Vol. II
• Beyond Heaven Vol. III