00:00:00 1 小泉 今日子 – Kyon Kyonはフツー 00:07:06 2 Yazz – Fine Time 00:11:27 3 Liza Minnelli – So Sorry, I Said 00:14:23 4 A.R.Kane – Sugarwings 00:17:34 5 Dusty Springfield – Nothing Has Been Proved (Dance Mix) 00:23:01 6 Pet Shop Boys & Liza Minnelli – Twist In My Sobriety 00:27:36 7 The Wild Bunch – The Look Of Love 00:31:08 8 Neneh Cherry – Manchild (The Old School Mix) 00:36:16 9 Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians – What I Am (Soul II Soul Remix) 00:41:04 10 Style Council – Long Hot Summer ’89 00:46:11 11 Tears For Fears – Sowing The Seeds Of Love (Full Version) 00:52:31 12 Cocteau Twins – A Kissed Out Red Floatboat 00:56:12 13 Lorraine Chambers – Back To Bass-Ics 01:00:44 14 Lorraine Chambers – You’ve Gone (Alternate Mix) 01:05:32 15 Lorraine Chambers – You’ve Gone (Original Mix) 01:10:25 16 Malcolm McLaren – Call A Wave 01:13:45 17 Fresh 4 – Smoke Filled Thoughts 01:17:19 18 Fresh 4 – Wishing on a Star 01:20:17 19 Bomb The Bass – Say A Little Prayer (7″ Mix) 01:23:59 20 Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin’ (Feat. Caron Wheeler) 01:29:25 21 Adeva – Beautiful Love (Extended Mix) 01:34:00 22 Joyce Sims – Come Into My Life (UK Remix) 01:39:44 23 The Chimes – Stronger Together (Red Zone Mix) 01:46:12 24 Smith & Mighty – Anyone 01:51:55 25 Smith & Mighty – Walk On 01:55:35 26 Beats International – Dub Be Good to Me 02:00:41 27 Sybil – Don’t Make Me Over (Extended Remix) 02:05:31 28 Bardeux – When We Kiss (Sex Mix) 02:09:33 29 Coldcut – Not Paid Enough 02:16:27 30 Malcolm McLaren – Waltz Darling (extended version) 02:22:42 31 Thomas Esterine – Do You Still Really Love Me 02:27:27 32 Sade – Paradise (Extended Mix) 02:31:19 33 Soul II Soul – Get a Life (Club Mix) 02:35:25 34 Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler – Back To Life (Club Mix) 02:41:24 35 Miles Jaye – Heaven (Celestial Club Mix) 02:48:00 36 Happy Mondays – Wrote For Luck (12″ B-Side) 02:53:21 37 Coco, Steel & Lovebomb – T.S.O.E. – Part 1 (The Sound Of Europe) 02:57:48 38 J.T. And The Big Family – Moments In Soul 03:02:40 39 Innocence – Natural Thing (Elevation Mix) 03:11:45 40 Sade – Nothing Can Come Between Us 03:16:02 41 Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody (Hallucinogenic Version) 03:22:05 42 Swing Out Sister – Surrender (Disconet Edit) 03:29:17 43 Inner City – Whatcha Gonna do With my Lovin’ (Def Mix) 03:37:05 44 Tafuri – What Am I Gonna Do (About Your Love) (Original Silk on Steel 12″ mix) 03:43:31 45 The Pasadenas – Tribute (Right On) (The Q Street Mix) 03:48:36 46 Coco, Steel & Lovebomb – Miracles (Don’t Make Me Laugh Dub) 03:52:34 47 Coco, Steel & Lovebomb – Miracles (I Don’t Believe In) 03:56:17 48 Paul Johnson – You’re No Good (Deep House Mix) 04:04:07 49 Pet Shop Boys – Domino Dancing (Disco Mix) 04:11:02 50 Fine Young Cannibals – I’m Not The Man I Used To Be
00:00:00 1 Moody Boys – Free 00:05:05 2 Everis – Topic – Summer Time (Street Mix) 00:09:47 3 Kyoko Koizumi – Good Bye My Love (MIX III) 00:12:34 4 Everis – Topic – Better Love (90’s Ragga Mix) 00:16:48 5 The Cure – Just Like Heaven (Dizzy Mix B-Side Of Close To Me Re-Release Closest Mix) 00:20:12 6 Associates – Where There’s Love 00:24:43 7 Pet Shop Boys – To Face The Truth 00:29:45 8 Kyoko Koizumi – Topic – La La La… (Back Tracks) 00:34:05 9 The Blow Monkeys – Springtime For The World 00:37:01 10 Pet Shop Boys – Only The Wind Parlophone 00:41:09 11 Innocence – Matter Of Fact (Matter Of Dub) 00:47:47 12 Lalah Hathaway – Baby Don’t Cry (Crybaby Club Version) 00:54:10 13 Joanna Law – Love Is Not Enough (Mix D’Ambience) 00:59:10 14 Alyson Williams – I Need Your Lovin’ (Extended Remix) 01:03:37 15 The Cure – Pictures Of You (Extended Remix) 01:11:14 16 Gucci Crew II – Never Seen You Cry (Talkin Mix) 01:16:08 17 George Michael – Waiting for That Day 01:20:40 18 Jesus Loves You – I Specialize In Loneliness 01:26:48 19 Jesus Loves You – One On One (Massive Attack Mix) 01:31:30 20 Cocteau Twins – Pitch The Baby 01:34:21 21 Double Trouble – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (Back To Bassics Mix) 01:38:37 22 Kyoko Koizumi – No No No (Dub Mix) 01:42:53 23 Oleta Adams – Rhythm Of Life (Full Length Version) 01:49:28 24 Loose Ends – Love Controversy, Part 1 01:52:21 25 Claudia Patrice – Forever 01:58:57 26 Carlton – We Vie 02:02:32 27 Cocteau Twins – Cherry-Coloured Funk 02:05:05 28 Cocteau Twins – Heaven Or Las Vegas 02:09:32 29 Sharon Dee Clarke – Guilty 02:14:30 30 The Times – Confiance 02:18:29 31 Carlton – Come On Back (Mad Professor Remix) 02:20:41 32 Candy Flip – Strawberry Fields Forever 02:24:39 33 Primal Scream – Loaded 02:31:27 34 Ruthless Rap Assassins – Just Mellow 02:34:21 35 Backbeat Convention – Love And Happiness (Quartz Dub All Over Mix) 02:42:00 36 Talk Talk – Life’s What You Make It (The Fluke Remix) 02:47:33 37 The Cure – Close To Me (Closer Mix) 02:52:54 38 Young Disciples – Step Right On (Dub Mix)
00:00:00 1 Movement 98 feat. Carroll Thompson – Joy And Heartbreak (The Raid Mix by Oakenfold & Osborne) 00:06:34 2 Harlem Gem – Missing You (Missing Me) (Wild West Mix) 00:10:40 3 The Project – Don’t Be So Cruel 00:16:25 4 Primal Scream – Come Together (Andy Weatherall Extended Mix) 00:26:05 5 Leta Davis – You’ll Never Get To Heaven (Joey’s Groove) 00:29:26 6 Leta Davis – You’ll Never Get To Heaven (Club Mix) 00:34:10 7 Working Week – Topic – Testify (Blade Mix) 00:39:30 8 Beats International – Dub Be Good To Me (Smith & Mighty Remix) 00:46:19 9 Primal Scream – Come Together (Terry Farley Extended 12″ Mix) 00:54:00 10 Sheila Pate – Feel Like The First Time 00:59:22 11 The Pasadenas – Reeling (Extended Version) 01:06:22 12 Maureen Walsh – Thinking Of You (Rock Steady Mix) 01:12:51 13 Brotherly Love – A Whole Lotta You In Me 01:19:45 14 Carlton – True Colours 01:23:52 15 Massive Attack – Daydreaming (Brixton Bass Mix) 01:28:51 16 Propaganda – Heaven Give Me Words (The Beat) 01:35:43 17 Flowered Up – Phobia (Extended Play) 01:40:06 18 Chellé – Don’t Let It Go To Your Head 01:44:24 19 IJ & The Sound Wave – Adopt A Beat 01:48:30 20 Yunie – I Can See For Miles 01:52:17 21 Loose Ends – Don’t Be A Fool (Twilight Mix) 01:58:22 22 The Clash – Return To Brixton (Extended Mix) 02:04:28 23 Carlton – Cool With Nature (Massive Sounds Remix) 02:08:52 24 Army Of Lovers – My Army Of Lovers 02:11:51 25 Robert Palmer – Mercy Me Me / I Want You (12″ Remix) 02:18:15 26 After 7 – Can’t Stop (One World 12″) 02:24:16 27 C S Lewis – Are You Leaving 02:29:06 28 Kordak – Why Can’t We Live Together (Straight To The Bone Mix) 02:35:03 29 Pleasure – Please (Future Dub) 02:40:59 30 Massivo feat Tracy – Loving You (Summer Breeze Mix) 02:47:46 31 Alisha Warren – Discover me (12 Inch Mix) 02:51:29 32 Carlton – I Will Be 02:54:17 33 Soul Family Sensation – I Don’t Even Know If I Should Call You Baby (Marshall Jefferson Symphony Mix) 03:00:05 34 Flowered Up – It’s On (Feel Pain Mix) 03:04:35 35 Eve Gallagher – Love Come Down (Psychedelic Sanyasin’s Dub)
00:00:00 1 Pet Shop Boys – Jealousy (Extended Mix) 00:07:51 2 Cool Down Zone – Cool Down Zone – Heaven Knows 00:12:03 3 Lil’ Louis – Nyce and Slo (Tony Humphries Wildlife Mix) 00:19:38 4 Paul Rutherford – That Moon (Club Mix) 00:23:48 5 Tara Kemp – Hold You Tight (All Night Instr. Mix) 00:27:26 6 Bass-O-Matic – Fascinating Rhythm 00:31:13 7 The Grid – Floatation (Subsonic Grid Mix) 00:37:58 8 Inner City – ‘Till We Meet Again 00:42:10 9 Caron Wheeler – Livin In the Light (The Original Story) 00:47:33 10 Mica Paris – Contribution (The Revolution Remix) 00:54:19 11 Saint Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Version) 00:58:24 12 Saint Etienne – Only Love Can Break Your Heart 01:02:40 13 Carlton – I Know 01:07:33 14 Massive Attack – Any Love (2) 01:11:10 15 Joanna Law – First Time Ever (12” Mellow Groove) 01:16:46 16 Innocence – Silent Voice 01:22:15 17 Neneh Cherry – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Extended) 01:27:06 18 The Family Stand – Ghetto Heaven (Original Soul II Soul Remix) 01:31:26 19 Cool Down Zone – Waiting For Love (Extended Remix) 01:37:06 20 Saint Etienne – Kiss And Make Up (12″) 01:42:32 21 Kicking Back with Taxman – Devotion (Dangerous Mix Part 2) 01:46:46 22 Loose Ends – Love’s Got Me (Remixed by David Morales) 01:53:13 23 Kiss The Sky – Living For You 02:00:01 24 Kyoko Koizumi – Yoru (Instrumental) 02:05:06 25 Sheer Taft – Cascades (Hypnotone Mix) Ace 02:09:59 26 Happy Mondays – Step On 02:14:43 27 Richard Rogers – Can’t Stop Loving You (Morales Sleaze Mix) 02:22:16 28 Pinky – I Wanna Be The One (Dub Mix) 02:26:49 29 Marisa – Love Is Just A Game 02:31:48 30 Arthur Miles – Helping Hand (Incisive Mix) 02:36:02 31 Paul Haig – I Believe In You 02:39:32 32 Tfm – Out Of Bounds (The Final Mix) 02:44:21 33 Salt N Pepa – Expression (Brixton Bass Mix) 02:49:40 34 Urban Tribe – Covert Action 02:54:45 35 Stereo Mc’s – Two Horse Town 02:59:07 36 Hypnotone – Dream Beam (Hypnotone Original Mix) 03:03:55 37 Lenny Williams – Gotta Lotta Luv (House Mix) 03:11:26 38 Jesus Loves You – Love’s Gonna Let U Down (Popcorn mix) 03:17:18 39 The Sound Of Shoom Feat. Eusebe – I Hate Hate (Dub Mix) 03:25:06 40 It’s Immaterial – Heaven Knows
The DJs of the disco era not only struggled with belt-driven turntables, they also had to cope with live drumming and music arrangements that distracted their crowds. So some of them took scissors and tape and did their own edits. And some were so good at it that they earned a reputation and a studio career with it, and their edits or remixes became as popular as the music they were using, or even more. The first remix service label to gather and publish these efforts was Disconet, as early as 1977. Early remix service releases often contained medleys or little sets mixed by club DJs (foreshadowing the megamixes of the years to come), but more and more the remixes and edits became the centre of attention. In just a few years very many different remix service labels came into being, with different in-house remixers and musical agendas. The appeal of the idea began to fade when labels included their own assigned official remixes on their releases, and an increase in copyright issues in the 90s meant that most remix services went out of business. But even if the legal situation in the preceding years was quite unclear, the creative potential was not. From local to widely acclaimed DJs and from established to emerging studio talents a lot of people had their go at popular or obscure music and came up with lasting results, and they paved the way for the more modern and still thriving edit scene.
Abba – Lay All Your Love On Me (Peter Slaghuis Remix) (Buy This Record, 1981)
This
is actually a remix of a Raul Rodriguez remix originally released on
Disconet. Peter Slaghuis extended the weird start-stop-breaks to
highly irritating three minutes before the song kicks in at last,
like a hymn from the heavens descending onto a crash derby. The
breaks continue to disrupt the song throughout the whole record, the
loops are edited quite heavy-handedly, and the sound quality is
really atrocious. Still this is a remarkable example of how radical
an edit can be, and it was even more radical when it came out. And it
still works a treat on the floor.
Steve
Algozino added synth and edited a four minute album track into a
seven minute disco plea for a better tomorrow. For those who like to
compare a good night out to a religious experience, including telling
it from all mountain tops.
Eleven
minutes of drama and a whole lot of thunderous sound effects, of
which the original version inexplicably had none. It is totally
overdone, but it is also quite impressive too. And you might actually
be soaking wet if you dance the whole thing through.
B.B. & Band – All Night Long (Will Crocker & Jack Cardinal Remix) (Disconet, 1982)
An
excellent version of this heavily funked up italo disco sequencer
boogie classic. The changes are mainly in length and structure, but
they sure sound as if they were needed.
Stephanie Mills – Pilot Error (Hot Tracks, 1983)
The
original version on the Casablanca label has a really superior
pressing quality, but the wild flanger action on this more than makes
up for that. It shoots a slightly eerie, but still earthbound boogie
gem into outer space. Flight time also extended.
Lipps Inc. – Funkytown (Bob Viteritti Edit) (Hot Tracks, 1984)
An
anthem at San Francisco‘s Trocadero Transfer club, edited by its
very own resident DJ Bob Viteritti. The spacetastic additional synths
are played by none other than the legendary Patrick Cowley, a regular
at the club, and they open up a whole other universe.
Jimmy Ruffin – Hold On To My Love (Robbie Leslie Remix) (Disconet, 1984)
A
sweet little Robin Gibb co-written soul mover, until New York City‘s
Saint resident DJ Robbie Leslie decided to turn it into an anthem of
epic proportions, particularly by riding the enormous refrain for
five extra minutes. This was actually the last record the crowd ever
danced to at the Saint‘s closing weekend, which really says a lot.
Mari Wilson – Let‘s Make This Last (Razormaid, 1984)
This
track was an unusual release for the Compact Organization label‘s
60‘s beehive pop revivalist diva. But that the Razormaid remix team
completely restructured and improved the original version was very
usual for their standards, resulting in an even smarter take on
Hi-NRG.
Roxy Music – Angel Eyes (Joseph Watt Remix) (Razormaid, 1984)
Needs
more suspense in the first bit and inbetween, thought Razormaid, but
they also added sophistication to the whole song. And bringing one of
the best dressed style icons to the club surely was no mistake
either.
Machine – There But For The Grace Of God (Glenn Cattanach Edit) (Hot Tracks, 1987)
This
just neglects the piano intro, you may think, and instead uses a
looped groove to ease into the song. It also extends the break, and
adds an outro loop at the end. Well, this is not the only blueprint
for the more recent editing of disco tracks for DJ convenience
purposes, but it shows how you achieve better mixability while
leaving all the greatness of the source material untouched. Even
consider it a reminder.
Hard Corps – Lucky Charm (Razormaid, 1987)
A
lot of Razormaid releases are easier to mix than the original
versions, wrecking a lot of intros in the process. Then again
Razormaid were always quite ambitious in terms of restructuring, and
also quite subtle in adding their own trademark sound design without
taking away anything that should not be taken away. And Razormaid
have a cult following for a reason.
Big Ben Tribe – Heroes (Steve Bourasa Edit) (Rhythm Stick, 1990)
I
always felt the dreamy italo disco take on the David Bowie classic
was near perfect, but it should last longer, without risking this
perfection. Thankfully I found this edit by Steve Bourasa, who
apparently thought exactly the same, and he had the skills.
Dead Or Alive – Your Sweetness Is Your Weakness („Silver Bullet“ Mix by Peter Fenton) (Art Of Mix, 1991)
Dead
Or Alive were actually really big in Japan. So big even that they
released some of their music only in Japan, and some of their finest
music too. Buying the original 12“ of this wonderful piano house
romp will not come cheap, but do not worry, as there is this (still)
affordable and fantastic version hidden on a 12“ on the Art Of Mix
remix service, because they are not called remix services for
nothing. The mix merges Dead Or Alive‘s „Son Of A Gun“ from
1986 with their Japanese market stormer, as if they were twins
separated at birth.
P.M. Dawn – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (Bradley Hinkle & Tim Robertson) (Ultimix, 1991)
P.M.
Dawn did not win many hearts in the hip hop scene when they sampled a
very popular blue-eyed soul ballad, and used the same seriously dope
beat Eric B & Rakim on their seminal „Paid In Full“. Rakim
and Prince Be are really hard to compare, I admit. This remix even
only slightly alters the original. Well until there is a break and
then the second half is Spandau Ballet‘s song in its entirety
riding the very same seriously dope beat. Which is one of the
greatest things ever.
Culture Club – Time (Clock Of The Heart) (Chris Cox Remix) (Hot Tracks, 1994)
I
realized I am now old enough to accept that I will probably never
find the vinyl with this remix for a price I can live with. So I
might as well show it to anybody else. Culture Club‘s arguably
finest moment, and in my humble opion one of the 80s finest pop
moments as well, in a superlative remix that manages to double both
length and listening pleasure. I would not change a second of it.
Skatt – Walk The Night (Disconet) September – The Lover In Me (Razormaid) Sharon Brown – I Specialize In Love (Disconet) Nathalie – My Love Won’t Let You Down (Razormaid) Hazell Dean – They Say It’s Gonna Rain (Razormaid) Brenda Taylor – My Heart’s Not In It (Disconet) Janet Jackson – When I Think Of You (Disconet) Stephanie Mills – Pilot Error (Hot Tracks) Donna Garraffi – I’ve Got You Covered (Disconet) Regina – Baby Love (Disconet) Skyy – Show Me The Way (Disconet) B. B. Band – All Night Long (Disconet) Chas Jankel – Glad To Know You (Disconet) The Human League – Fascination (Hot Tracks) The B-52’s – Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland (Hot Tracks) Tanz Waffen – Subversion (Razormaid) David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Disconet) Kid Creole – Caroline Was A Drop-Out (Razormaid) Telex – Raised By Snakes (Razormaid) New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle (Hot Tracks) Depeche Mode – Strangelove (Razormaid) Vivien Vee – Blue Disease (Razormaid) Section 25 – Looking From A Hilltop (Razormaid) Tantra – A Place Called Tarot (Disconet) The Love Unlimited Orchestra – Welcome Aboard (Hot Tracks)
Lushus Daim & The Pretty Vein – The One You Love (Disconet) Elevation – Traitor (Razormaid) The Weather Girls – No One Can You Love More Than Me (Disconet) Risque – Starlight (Disconet) Natasha – AM-FM (Disconet) Colonel Abrams – Over And Over (Disconet) Swing Out Sister – Surrender (Disconet) Eighth Wonder – I’m Not Scared (Razormaid) Propaganda – P Machinery/Frozen Faces (Razormaid) Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse (Razormaid) Do Piano – Alone (Razormaid) Cabaret Voltaire – Sensoria (Razormaid) Skipworth & Turner – Thinking About Your Love (Disconet) Alphonse Mouzon – I’m Glad That You’re Here (Disconet) Miquel Brown – Close To Perfection (Lightspeed) Bucks Fizz – I Hear Talk (Disconet) Cabaret Voltaire – Don’t Argue (Razormaid) Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls (Razormaid) Miami Sound Machine – Falling In Love (Uh-Oh) (Disconet) Grace Jones – Pull Up to The Bumper (Disconet) Was (Not Was) – Robot Girl (Razormaid) Kid Creole – Endicott (Razormaid) Pet Shop Boys – Domino Dancing (Hot Tracks) Risco Connection – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now (C.S.) Sparks – With All My Might (Disconet)
I really don’t like all these convenience product edits of rare or popular Disco and Synthpop material. With a bit of experience and practice you can learn the skills necessary to handle the original irregularities of drummers or sloppy rhythm programming, and maintain the already well executed aspects of the original arrangement over the DJ service straightness of most edits. I like people who deconstruct the source material and turn it into something else, even if it is only a respectful variation. I just do not see much merit in keeping the original and just streamlining it for better mixing. I am perfectly aware that this criticism may seem pointless, as most of today’s club setups for mixing are designed to have the choice what to play next as the only task left for the DJ, if at all. I have Zager and Evans’ In The Year 2525 in my head, predicting “some machine is doing that for you”.
When DJs began to make their own edits of tracks they liked to play in the late 70s, better mixing purposes admittedly played a role. But mostly the editing process was determined by personal preferences concerning the arrangement of a track, not determined by the aim to reduce every track to the same groove and functionality, regardless of arrangement. So they took out tape and scissors, and made intros end up in a kick drum in time, extended or cut breaks and other parts, dropped instruments or vocals they did not like, and often improved the source with individual versions and interpretations.
Many daring edits of that era were officially released, but the most radical approaches were to be found in the catalogues of the remix services. Disconet led the way in 1977, and soon all over the US and Europe DJs and producers were splicing reel-to-reels to let a certain track shine in the best possible way, and the remix services like hot Tracks, Razormaid, Ultimix, Art Of Mix, C.S., Landspeed and countless others gathered the results and distributed them back to the clubs. The records compiling the edits often contained original tracks and medleys as well, and tracks were segued to make the work for the DJ easier, who often played for hours on end in those days, several nights a week. The selection of the tracks per release was often frustrating. With a few sublime reworks there were also tracks included that were well cheesy to begin with, and did not get better after being worked on. Eurodance cheese, weird rock songs trying to cross over to the dance market, and lots of one hit wonders, with questionable hits. There was no other reason for the tracklisting than songs being pushed regardless of quality, and of course the individual taste of the editor at work. The edits also varied in quality, a lot were even rather crude, or as forgettable as the original material. But there were also a lot of edits that reconstructed what they were given to work with to a whole new level. Take Razormaid’s edit of the Pet Shop Boys’ West End Girls for example. The intro is easier to mix in their version, but were the official Shep Pettibone remix arguably sacrifices the song’s special appeal for dancefloor credentials, Razormaid manage to keep the tension by rearranging the elements and still achieve a track that works a treat in a club context.
I’ve been collecting remix service records for quite some time now, and starting with Hot Wax 026, I would like to dedicate an irregular series of shows to my personal favourites in that field.
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