Evelyn Thomas "HIGH ENERGY "

[Magnifique]

I must admit I never bought a 12-inch copy of "High Energy," but did buy most of Ms. Thomas' follow-on hits and tracks.

I have a request though: How about a thumping (extended) new mix of "Standing at the crossroads" (Producers are you listening??? :icon_mrgreen: )
I only know the short version in radio edit form and am not sure if there ever was a 12-inch release of this track.

[Energyguy]

I must admit I never bought a 12-inch copy of "High Energy," but did buy most of Ms. Thomas' follow-on hits and tracks.

I have a request though: How about a thumping (extended) new mix of "Standing at the crossroads" (Producers are you listening??? :icon_mrgreen: )
I only know the short version in radio edit form and am not sure if there ever was a 12-inch release of this track.

STANDING AT THE CROSSROADS is a superb track and one of her best recordings. I love the 1987 remix that Ian Levine did for his Nightmare records label.

[Simon White]

"High Energy" and "Relax" do have huge similarities (especially the rythm) but I think it's worth remembering that most records are rip off's of something......and with Hi -NRG and Disco it was pretty essential that things mixed well...so one record often sounded like another, especially if the first one had been a hit. Think about 'In The Navy' then think about 'Relax' then think about 'High Energy' .. there's a definate musical thread there.
Then there's New Orders 'Blue Monday' and "Divines 'Love Reaction' (and therefore every other Bobby O)
There must be loads of other examples.

'High Energy' was written for the gay clubs and named after the name of the style of that music. But it's worth remembering that at the time the typical gay disco sound wasn't always 'Hi NRG' ("Relax" was a HUGE gay record) and the fact that "High Energy" broke out of those boundries and into the pop charts says something.


On that note, a friend of mine had the most fantastic 12" white label bootleg mix of 'Relax' and 'Native Love'. Sadly he died. I don't know what happened to his records

[Simon White]

Just found a little quote from Ian Levine from an interview he did with 'The Face' magazine which might be of interest-

"What makes a good high - energy record is very hard to define. As long as it has a fairly fast rhythm - something between 120 and 140 beats per minute - it has the potential. But its also the consistancy of beat, and what I call the concept of light and shade...To be exciting the record has to build up to peaks where everything is playing at once, and then drop down to areas where it's not, as if the floor had suddenly dropped away from under you."

I think 'High Energy' falls into the right catagory then !

[Energyguy]

Just found a little quote from Ian Levine from an interview he did with 'The Face' magazine which might be of interest-

"What makes a good high - energy record is very hard to define. As long as it has a fairly fast rhythm - something between 120 and 140 beats per minute - it has the potential. But its also the consistancy of beat, and what I call the concept of light and shade...To be exciting the record has to build up to peaks where everything is playing at once, and then drop down to areas where it's not, as if the floor had suddenly dropped away from under you."

I think 'High Energy' falls into the right catagory then !

I remember reading that article in the magazine.. I think that is a "spot on" description !

[Thereza bizarre]

I too agree,

[Simon White]

remicks: thanks for taking a stand on this song. I think it's mis-titled. If it hadn't been named High Energy, I don't think it would have been as disappointing. But if you're going to title your song after an entire sub-genre, then it better represent it. I was expecting the energy of Do Ya Wanna Funk. Instead, we get a mid-tempo b-side. I think it should be re-titled Moderate Energy.

FranceJoliFan...no funk in 'Do You Wanna Funk' either !

[Energyguy]

Anyone ever heard the 1989 remix of NO WIN SITUATION ? I think it was released on the RAMS HORN LABEL. Curious about this mix....never seen it for sale anywher on e-bay etc..

[kdavid13]

Anyone ever heard the 1989 remix of NO WIN SITUATION ? I think it was released on the RAMS HORN LABEL. Curious about this mix....never seen it for sale anywher on e-bay etc..

It is playing as I'm typing.
The song has the same tempo but there is an annoying drum sound that sounds very disturbing.And also the traditional 89/90 techno synths that wouldn't sound out of place on a ROYAL T's "BABY DON'T CHA LEAVE ME THIS WAY" remix.

The synth hook [when she goes down down down] is followed by a typical techno synth line.

[Energyguy]

It is playing as I'm typing.
The song has the same tempo but there is an annoying drum sound that sounds very disturbing.And also the traditional 89/90 techno synths that wouldn't sound out of place on a ROYAL T's "BABY DON'T CHA LEAVE ME THIS WAY" remix.

The synth hook [when she goes down down down] is followed by a typical techno synth line.

Thanks for the info

[remicks]

oh my gosh!! this topics starter seems to be a novice1 and blasphemous yyyeeeekkkss.....lol.

from elsewhere on the board :

Thereza bizarre:
i was 12 in 85

.... and you're citing me the novice .... :icon_lol: :icon_lol: :icon_lol:

"HI ENERGY " noisy? all music's noisy honey..

... :icon_rolleyes: .....respectfully disagree ....

[Thereza bizarre]

Yes dear but i am a very aware person and 12 means nothing if you remember and have the mind to take in the information, i always listened to the hinrg and soul train on sunday night on uk radio one from 1984 on to 1988 and i remember very well. novice? i don't think so i know stuff to make your pubes curl dear. i started collecting records in 1978, i come form a highly motivated mucical family, i got interested in all forms of electroniv=c music from the age of 6 and i care not what you think!! not a jot, i am not an average scrubber i know my stuff dear i know it alright!! you are a novice as you know not too much by the staement you mADE YOUNG PEOPLE GET THEYRE TASTES VERY YOUNG I DID READ YOU KNOW AND BUY THRE NME AND RECORD MIRROR AS A KID back in 84 and istill have old issues i kept unlike most folk i always kept my things and never trashed.. bieng 12 is the advantage i had at the time of starting out i started clubbing at 14 years old and i saw stuff that would make even you feel like you have saw nothing.and hav'nt stopped so don't be ageist patronizer age has bothing to do with it, would you say the jackson 5 wer

[Energyguy]

As a matter of interest.. Anyone happen to know how many remixes there are of HIGH ENERGY... ?? :icon_mrgreen:

[remicks]

Yes dear but i am a very aware person and 12 means nothing if you remember and have the mind to take in the information, i always listened to the hinrg and soul train on sunday night on uk radio one from 1984 on to 1988 and i remember very well. novice? i don't think so i know stuff to make your pubes curl dear. i started collecting records in 1978, i come form a highly motivated mucical family, i got interested in all forms of electroniv=c music from the age of 6 and i care not what you think!! not a jot, i am not an average scrubber i know my stuff dear i know it alright!! you are a novice as you know not too much by the staement you mADE YOUNG PEOPLE GET THEYRE TASTES VERY YOUNG I DID READ YOU KNOW AND BUY THRE NME AND RECORD MIRROR AS A KID back in 84 and istill have old issues i kept unlike most folk i always kept my things and never trashed.. bieng 12 is the advantage i had at the time of starting out i started clubbing at 14 years old and i saw stuff that would make even you feel like you have saw nothing.and hav'nt stopped so don't be ageist patronizer age has bothing to do with it, would you say the jackson 5 wer

Very nice history Thereza we have much in common in the way we listened to the radio in our youth .... me waiting until after midnight when other stations would drop off and I could finally pick up the signal to soul station XPRES ... broadcast to Southern California out of Baja California ...... it was there that I could learn of the soul songs not crossing over to TOP 40.

I love your vested interest in music even at the earliest of age (dear ) ....
nevertheless the part of all that that is pertinent to this thread ... which is about High Energy's impact on the ongoing club scene when it was released in '84 ... is that at the time you were but a young schoolgirl of age eleven ....... :icon_eek: :icon_rolleyes:









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[kdavid13]

<<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.>>

I completely agree with you there...Long live the long standing DJs out there...[I might be a bit biased but it is totally heartfelt !! ]

Hugs from Montreal

[Energyguy]

<<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.>>

I completely agree with you there...Long live the long standing DJs out there...[I might be a bit biased but it is totally heartfelt !! ]

Hugs from Montreal

Agree totally

[remicks]

*****

It should be noted that HIGH ENERGY was well received at the time ... going all the way to #1 on the Billboard Dance chart and winding up as the #13 song for the year 1984 ...

1984 BILLBOARD TOP 50 DANCE SINGLES/ALBUMS


1) I NEED YOU/ AUTOMATIC/ JUMP - The Pointer Sisters (Planet)
2) THE GLAMOROUS LIFE - Sheila E. (Warner Bros.)
3) WHEN DOVES CRY - Prince (WB)
4) WHITE HORSE - Laid Back (Sire)
5) TROMMELTANZ (DIN DAA DAA) - George Kranz (Personal)
6) GIVE ME TONIGHT - Shannon (Emergency)
7) LET'S GO CRAZY/ EROTIC CITY - Prince (WB)
8. BEAT BOX - Art Of Noise (Island)
9) BLACK STATIONS/WHITE STATIONS - M&M (RCA)
10) COLOUR BY NUMBERS (LP) - Culture Club (Virgin/Epic)

11) BREAKIN...THERE'S NO STOPPING US - Ollie & Jerry (Polydor)
12) ROCKET TO YOUR HEART/ MANDATORY LOVE - Lisa (Moby Dick)
13) HIGH ENERGY - Evelyn Thomas (TSR)
14) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) - Billy Ocean (Jive)
15) LET THE MUSIC PLAY - Shannon (Emergency)

16) TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP - The Romantics (Epic)
17) LAND OF HUNGER - The Earons (Island)
18. NO FAVORS - Temper (MCA)
19) HEARTBEAT - Psychedelic Furs (Columbia)
20) THE DOMINATRIX SLEEPS TONIGHT - Dominatrix (Streetwise)



c /o markydefad :icon_cool:



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[Energyguy]

*****

It should be noted that HIGH ENERGY was well received at the time ... going all the way to #1 on the Billboard Dance chart and winding up as the #13 song for the year 1984 ...

1984 BILLBOARD TOP 50 DANCE SINGLES/ALBUMS


1) I NEED YOU/ AUTOMATIC/ JUMP - The Pointer Sisters (Planet)
2) THE GLAMOROUS LIFE - Sheila E. (Warner Bros.)
3) WHEN DOVES CRY - Prince (WB)
4) WHITE HORSE - Laid Back (Sire)
5) TROMMELTANZ (DIN DAA DAA) - George Kranz (Personal)
6) GIVE ME TONIGHT - Shannon (Emergency)
7) LET'S GO CRAZY/ EROTIC CITY - Prince (WB)
8. BEAT BOX - Art Of Noise (Island)
9) BLACK STATIONS/WHITE STATIONS - M&M (RCA)
10) COLOUR BY NUMBERS (LP) - Culture Club (Virgin/Epic)

11) BREAKIN...THERE'S NO STOPPING US - Ollie & Jerry (Polydor)
12) ROCKET TO YOUR HEART/ MANDATORY LOVE - Lisa (Moby Dick)
13) HIGH ENERGY - Evelyn Thomas (TSR)
14) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) - Billy Ocean (Jive)
15) LET THE MUSIC PLAY - Shannon (Emergency)

16) TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP - The Romantics (Epic)
17) LAND OF HUNGER - The Earons (Island)
18. NO FAVORS - Temper (MCA)
19) HEARTBEAT - Psychedelic Furs (Columbia)
20) THE DOMINATRIX SLEEPS TONIGHT - Dominatrix (Streetwise)



c /o markydefad :icon_cool:



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I had no idea it was so popular Stateside.. Is that based on DJ chart returns or actual record sales ?

[remicks]

I had no idea it was so popular Stateside.. Is that based on DJ chart returns or actual record sales ?

Sorry Energyguy ... didn't see this question .....
Can't recall how the chart worked at that point ....most likely a combination and I believe Billboard only charted songs then that had a commercially available release to coincide .... ... Marky ?? :icon_rolleyes:




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[remicks]

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And now:

HIGH ENERGY :
~ THE VIDEO ~


YouTube - Evelyn Thomas - High Energy

:icon_mrgreen::icon_cool::icon_mrgreen:



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[Chap2Power]

[quote=remicks;118775]Sorry Energyguy ... didn't see this question .....
Can't recall how the chart worked at that point ....most likely a combination and I believe Billboard only charted songs then that had a commercially available release to coincide .... ... Marky ?? :icon_rolleyes:




***
To my knowledge,

The Billboard Dance Chart was essentially 125 reporters from major cities across the United States, at one time using Montreal's DJ Pool for the Montreal chart, or possibly that of Downstairs Records, which is the birthplace of Unidisc. Reporters would receive promotional material from the labels as well as independent disco promotion companies and were asked to report a top 15 or 20 list to Billboard itself. They would tabulate the reporters for each city, and the city's chart would then appear in Billboard thereafter. A complete tabulation of all of the songs and their accumulated points would comprise the final chart.

There is no truth that a song had to be commercially released in the form in which it was played. Promotional only remixes were rampant ("Save and Spend" by Cheryl Barnes is amongst them and one of my favourites), favours were worse, and hyping was relentless to get a song to # 1 in order to cross a record over. One disco promotion company was well known to hype imports they were working mercilessly in order to get a chart number and thereafter get a release for the record (and possibly a bonus).

Records could turn around when remixes were serviced as well. And suddenly their numbers would turn upward after teetering in the same place.

At times, imports were serviced to DJ's prior to a domestic released to get a chart number and/or a buzz going to have it charted as an import. Others may have a difference of opinion here, but my feeling was that it was a tight, cliquey political infrastructure of DJ's and record people that kept the chart to remain in a progressive light and everyone truly knew what was 'real' just by looking at it.

During my time doing A&R in the US, the one thing I can tell you is, as a blantant example, "Another Night" by Real McCoy or "Rhythm Is A Dancer" were not # 1 dance records based on the versions that made them famous, but based on dub mixes or instrumental based 'nowhere' interpretations that had nothing to do with the same song that the everyman/woman DJ was playing.

Using the previous promotional remix vehicle, it in essence became the dub that propped up the title and drove it to #1.