I'm Going All The Way

ANN NESBY

The summer of 1994 was all right by me. I was a young and tender 30 years blessed. I was living alone in a sorta ritzy, high-rise condo building in Jersey City.

Doorman. Check!

Pool. Check!

And a White Castle directly across the street! Check!

I was working as a women's clothing Sales Specialist at MACY*S Herald Square.

Just livin' my happy life!

My gig at MACY*S had me workin' every other weekend. So, on my weekends off, I made sure to hit up my favorite dance spot, SOUND FACTORY! The joint was HOT! It didn't open until 1AM, but I liked arriving at 2AM or so. Yes, I took a disco nap before leaving my house, 'cause I knew I'd probably be at the club until 9AM!

Yep! It was like a full-time job!!!!!

There was no alcohol sold, so customers drank water and juice, and ate whatever snacks management provided. From what I've heard over the years, folks were doing all kinds of drugs in the place, but I never saw anybody taking them. Not one person.

The two DJs everybody loved most were Junior Vasquez and Frankie Knuckles (RIP). I liked 'em both, but Frankie Knuckles was my fave! His remix of The Pressure by Sounds Of Blackness was the BOMB! We'd dance like crazy people when that song came on.

My first introduction to Sounds Of Blackness was their song Optimistic. The song was played nonstop on urban radio. Although a few women had featured vocals on the track, it was Ann Nesby who provided the gospel flavor. And her voice is the one I fell in love with when I bought the group's album, Africa to America; the journey of the Drum.

Although I liked all the album's tracks, my favorite was I'm Going All The Way.

The song lifted me when I felt down.

It made me feel GOOOOOOD about being ALIVE!

It fortified my HOPE!

I listened to that song every, dang day!

And today...

VALENTINE'S DAY...

I'm STILL listening to the song.

And LOVIN' it!

"Whatever it takes to make it, 

I’m going all the way. (Yeah) 

I may be down sometimes, (Sometimes) 

But I won’t be down always. 

(Not every day, Some days, oh, but not always) 

Whatever it takes to make it, (Whatever it takes...) 

I’m going all the way. 

(All the way, Wherever all the way is, that’s where I’m going) 

I may be down sometimes (down down sometimes…) 

I won’t be down always (I won’t be down always, no way, no way)."