Original 12" vs Remix Service

[nrgbeat]

I was wondering how often dj's used remix service versions over the original 12"?

Did you hold off playing certain popular songs until a remix service version became available?

[QUINNY]

Personally I never went near them and was never that aware of them. I don't think they were that available (in the UK), but doubtless someone else will tell you different.

[Mixmachine]

I played a bunch of Disconets in my club gigs, although I didn’t care for many of them at the time others are very good remixes, I usually avoided the ‘Medley’ ones, they are fun to listen to now but at the time I didn’t spin any of them, most of my copies were purchased through my Record Pool but local ‘specialty’ shops had them for sale too, they were expensive and usually available in very small numbers, to get a copy you had to be fast or maybe have the store reserve a copy for you; sampling before hand allowed me to bypass many of the mediocre ones, of course on Ebay now most of them sell for big money and are apparently very sought after. Later on, Hot Traxx came along with some promising remixes but I don’t remember ever buying any of them. Here is a list of Disconets in my collection but after 20 years the differences from the original 12” mix are hard to remember now…

Remember me/Ain’t no mountain high enough—The Boys town Gang
All Night Long- B.B. Band
Claudja Barry /Disco Mixes
The Break- Kat Mandu
Feels Like I’m in love—Kelly Marie
Hold on to my love- Jimmy Ruffin
Set me free – The three Degrees
Stormy Weather /Jump & Shout -Violla Wills/Lisa
Lay all your love – Abba
If you could read my mind – Violla Wills
Love Attack- Ferrara
Pretty Woman – Scott Allen
Heat Stroke/Miami heat wave- Man Parrish/Love twins
Glad to know you/ Call me -Chas Jankel/Skyy
The best part of breaking up/One night affair- Roni Griffith/Spargo
Party Boys- Foxy
Just Cant get enough – Depeche mode
What does it take – Amy Bolton
Putting out the fire- David Bowie
Native Love- Divine
You are the one- Cerrone with Jocelyn Brown
Top Tune/ 1979 medley mix by John Matarazzo/Mike Arato

[NickNack]

Only twice that I remember have I held off playing a song until I had the remix service version. Abba's "Lay All Your Love On Me" and Human League's "Don't You Want Me", both by Disconet, made the songs worth playing, and playing with :) . Other than that, no, I wouldn't wait. Disconet in it's early conception wasn't really about remixing but about 'early releasing'. They had it first in many instances, which was nice. A lot of times I found I didn't like the remix service versions, especially when they started making them more 'commercial' sounding and editing for time. But then, Hot Tracks would come out with something like "Stoned Love '91" or Disconet's take on USA/European's "I'd Like to Get Closer/There's A Way Into My Heart" would immediately change my mind. Rhythm Stick had a nice version of "Anthem" by N-Joi. They also worked the hell out of Cathy Dennis' "All Night Long". (Didn't disco die in 1981? :D )

What I liked best about the services were the things they did or got their hands on that never got released or didn't get commercial notice for quite some time. Those pieces always got the club kiddies moving. How long did we have to wait for Ms. Ross's "Love Hangover" :roll: ? Disconet knew what they had. The "At Midnight Medleys" by Jacovaedis are classics. DJ's couldn't wait to get The Three Degrees' "Set Me Free" or Robbie Leslie's Disconet remix of Jimmy Ruffin's "Hold On To My Love". Stuff like this made the services shine and made us look and sound just that much better up there in the booth.