Evelyn Thomas "HIGH ENERGY "

[remicks]

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Evelyn Thomas ---- "HIGH ENERGY "

I finally came across this record , played it , and am now wondering ....... I haven't noticed this song being discussed here , maybe I missed it .... but am I supposed to be impressed by it for any particular reason ??


Hearing it today out of it's original context .... I find it very lackluster ( in fact I'll use the word "noisy" ) ... so was it a groundbreaker for its time ... or just another song to come along the turnpike ...

???


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[Nrgfan125]

Well this is the record that in the uk at least took high energy out from the gay clubs and into the british charts where it then became mainstream for a short period,artists like divine even managed to appear high in the british charts,trouble was it then became too comercial for many gay clubbers and they moved onto acid house etc,and house music in general,high energy was driven back underground where it remains today,still a bit of iconic tune though here in the uk,and always gets played in clubs that play 80s music...

Gaz... :) :) :)

[swerzer]

remicks - I know where you're coming from because when I hear it now, it's very hum-drum garden variety of that type song. HOWEVER, when it first came out it really had a unique sound that was quite different for it's time and was therefore a huge hit in the South Florida area (of course, Evelyn Thomas also lives here - if that had anything to do with it). Even so, after you heard it in the clubs over 100 times, my friends and I referred to it as "Low Energy."

FYI.........My favorite songs by her were "High Voltage" and "How Many Hearts" - neither of which were hits, but I still liked them.

swerzer

[speculator]

i never understood why is was so popular either..
i guess i just got it for historical significance or something.. i don;t think i have ever even listened to it at home or played it in a club.

[discokicks]

Great vocals, interesting instrumentation and fun lyrics...what's not to like? The song came out shortly after Miquel Brown's So Many Men, So Little Time on the same label, UK's Record Shack, so it really was a no-brainer that this was going to be a hit. The tap-tap-tap synth/piano rhythm bounces merrily along, building momentum to Evelyn's last 'lifting me highhhhhhhhhh' at the end of each chorus...it really was a fun song to play and watch the crowd's response. And it was a great track to mix out of! Any song that fit within that bpm range could easily blend into her final note...Body Rock by Maria Vidal comes to mind.

There have been quite a few remixes over the years as well...a 90's mix on the Passion label was very good but the recent Almighty mix is definitely the best. The song is just classic gay dance music from 1984...not as 'high' energy as a lot in this genre, but an anthem fitting for that time.

[remicks]

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The tap-tap-tap synth/piano rhythm bounces merrily along .... "

Yes .... that's it..... That's what I was trying to figure out .... what other song this pattern was reminding me of :
The repeated "tap tap tap " has a tinge of Village People ...... as in ......"They want you . They want you .They want you as a new recruit" .... tap tap tap ......


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[discokicks]

Originally Posted by remicks

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"

Yes .... that's it..... That's what I was trying to figure out .... what other song this pattern was reminding me of :
The repeated "tap tap tap " has a tinge of Village People ...... as in ......"They want you . They want you .They want you as a new recruit" .... tap tap tap ......


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That's funny! When I pulled out a copy of the song and listened to it because of this topic, I heard that same rhythm. Too bad that I didn't recognize that twenty years ago...it would have made a great mix!

[remicks]

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.....that's very funny/odd ......
I must have picked up your vibe about it ........

..........so where were you DJing then , Mr. Kicks ??

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[discokicks]

Originally Posted by remicks

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..........so where were you DJing then , Mr. Kicks ??

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I've been djing in the gay bars of my hometown on a part-time basis forever it seems...over 22 years :o (wait...let me get the calculator 'cause that just can't be). Many times, I was tempted to move to a bigger city to see how well I would do in the club scene but family, friends and a need to keep a good day job won out over my desires. I seem to have this natural desire to share the music I love with others and djing allows me to do this.

I still dj on Saturday nights in our one and only gay club (not an easy thing to do with such a variety of tastes). I have to say that since I discovered this website, I've been re-visiting the music of my past. There simply is no comparison to what was then and what young people are having to dance to now. Major pity!

[Energyguy]

Never been a huge fan of this particular track (some of the later remixes are far better than the original mix). Evelyn is one of my favourite divas and it is probably the "weakest" track from her back catalogue. I do remember it was top 5 pop hit here in the UK and got plenty of club/radio airplay.

[Westwood]

I always read in magazines how this is the quintessential erm, High NRG song and has its place in history, at least gay music history. I finally heard what the fuss was all about when I got this 3cd box set with extended mixes and this, along with Miquel Brown (mother of Sinitta, queen of my heart!!!)'s hit.
I was disappointed because as you said people, it's not very busy or special. But after a while you get addicted to it. The last straw was when I saw this movie "Edge of Seventeen" and they played it in a club and I said, ok, I LOVE THIS!! Also I love it more because I grew up with that 80s music, especially Italo Disco and I love these sounds, even though they sound extremely dated now.

[remicks]

Originally Posted by discokicks

][

I've been djing in the gay bars of my hometown on a part-time basis forever it seems...over 22 years:o (wait...let me get the calculator 'cause that just can't be). Many times, I was tempted to move to a bigger city to see how well I would do in the club scene but family, friends and a need to keep a good day job won out over my desires.

I still dj on Saturday nights in our one and only gay club (not an easy thing to do with such a variety of tastes). !

Sorry I never responded to this DK. :oops:

I've been djing in the gay bars of my hometown on a part-time basis forever it seems...over 22 years

This is really amazingly cool . For you and also for your listeners who get to benefit from your years of experience . I'm impressed that they are receptive to the concept of a .... shall I say .... more mature DJ at the helm. 8) How great that you are keeping the music alive .

I seem to have this natural desire to share the music I love with others and djing allows me to do this.

8) 8) 8)

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[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by swerzer

remicks - I know where you're coming from because when I hear it now, it's very hum-drum garden variety of that type song. HOWEVER, when it first came out it really had a unique sound that was quite different for it's time and was therefore a huge hit in the South Florida area (of course, Evelyn Thomas also lives here - if that had anything to do with it). Even so, after you heard it in the clubs over 100 times, my friends and I referred to it as "Low Energy."

FYI.........My favorite songs by her were "High Voltage" and "How Many Hearts" - neither of which were hits, but I still liked them.

swerzer

I Have never heard the track "High Voltage".. Did this get a release in the UK or was it one of these "limited edition/Promo only" releases ?? Can you tell me who produced it ??

[disquotay]

Originally Posted by Energyguy

I Have never heard the track "High Voltage".. Did this get a release in the UK or was it one of these "limited edition/Promo only" releases ?? Can you tell me who produced it ??

Another production by Ray Martinez on Paris International Records (US only). The song had some potential, but lacked a proper arrangement and/or mix-down. Not too bad, though, and well worth having. A Disconet edit was out, too, but didn't add much excitment.

[discokicks]

Originally Posted by remicks

I'm impressed that they are receptive to the concept of a .... shall I say .... more mature DJ at the helm. 8) How great that you are keeping the music alive.

Thanks for the compiment Remicks...and believe me, there are many many times when the frustrations of dealing with arrogant, know-it-all youth (and bloody stupid management) gets the better of me and I struggle with quitting. None of my friends would be upset that's for sure! :lol:

I think the best djs out there are the mature ones who have their ears open to the newest releases but also hold the reigns on their dance music staying to what they hold true to their hearts.

In regards to the song 'High Energy', for example, Evelyn's vocals soar and, at that glorious time, dance music in gay clubs still relied on clear, talented vocalists. There was So Many Men, Earthquake, Menage's Memory, Norma Lewis' Maybe This Time, Earlene Bentley's The Boys Come To Town, Marsha Raven's False Alarm. 'High Energy' also came on the heels of Lime's huge hit Guilty which used a similar piano-synth arrangement.

I still have a love for talented vocals and lively arrangements in the dance music that I program today. It's somewhat different than the minimalist, dark, tribal sound prevalent in North American dance clubs. :roll: