Jimmy Ross First True Love Affair Long Version

**jam master jay** · February 6th, 2006, 11:58 AM

I am trying to find this long version anywhere - and having no luck. Mostly what you find is the 7:15 Larry Levan mix, but I know there is a version that is approx 8:30 or so, but I am not sure if that is a 12" only, or if it was ever released on a CD. Thanks for any help!

**Nano** · February 6th, 2006, 05:16 PM

I remember a 12' version that started with no drums, just the bass hook, then drums (starting with a roll), then rhythm guitar, then keyboards, then female 2nd voices, and about 1 minute into the song the lead male voice. I don't remember how long it was, but it was way long (have it in mp3 somewhere).

I don't know if you guys did this... In all my city clubs at the time (the track was very popular) the DJ used to scratch the record just when the first chorus is about to begin. The music stops and there's a lonely drum beat that local DJs used to play briefly backwards, then let the record go on. It was a nice touch. Some guys even stopped the record with one hand and inserted drumless bits of other songs (a scream, for example) in the second turntable, then back to Jimmy Ross again because people just loved that song.

I wonder if this happened in another places.

**jam master jay** · February 6th, 2006, 09:00 PM

That sounds like it, Nano - I believe the running time is approx one minute longer than the Levan mix, and there is no additional vocals, just additional music.

**Mixmachine** · February 6th, 2006, 09:20 PM

Originally Written by Nano

I remember a 12' version that started with no drums, just the bass hook, then drums (starting with a roll), then rhythm guitar, then keyboards, then female 2nd voices, and about 1 minute into the song the lead male voice. I don't remember how long it was, but it was way long (have it in mp3 somewhere).

it is the original Italian 12" pressing, 8:23 long with instrumental on the B side, I never played Levan's mix, don't know exactly what he did as my copy still sealed next to me, :-? should I open it? :o

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6821_0_2_0_C/

**jam master jay** · February 8th, 2006, 06:59 PM

Yes! That's exactly it - I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for this, so far, no luck in finding a copy.

**TheLordOfFlatbush** · February 10th, 2006, 04:27 PM

I never knew about the Italian version!

I need to check that out!

I'm sure that it's interesting!!!!!

**jam master jay** · February 11th, 2006, 12:37 AM

Okay - found a copy! Thanks for the help!

Main difference is a longer intro, and a slightly different mix where the chorus sounds just a tiny bit different to me. Also, the sequence of chorus and lyrics mixes up differently towards the end. This version may in fact be the "original", but I grew up loving and listening to the Levan mix of this song, which is the only way I ever knew it.

Oh, and I found a slightly longer version of another personal favorite too - Vin Zee "Funky Bebop". Not that much different, or that much longer, just a bit more music.

**Nano** · February 11th, 2006, 08:18 AM

I assume you mention "Funky bebop" because you know both this one and "First true love affair" were made by the same writer-producer team (Pulga-Ninzatti). Even BITD it was obvious the two songs did sound very alike.
And yes, the Italian version is the original! This is Italian disco, make no mistake.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6821_0_2_0_C/
(Thanx Mixmachine for the data)

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/804_0_2_0_C/

**jam master jay** · February 11th, 2006, 10:44 AM

Yes, that's exactly why I mentioned the Vin Zee track. I love that Italian Disco sound of that era!

I believe Vin Zee only recorded this one track, am I correct?

**TheLordOfFlatbush** · February 11th, 2006, 11:53 AM

Originally Written by Nano

I assume you mention "Funky bebop" because you know both this one and "First true love affair" were made by the same writer-producer team (Pulga-Ninzatti). Even BITD it was obvious the two songs did sound very alike.
And yes, the Italian version is the original! This is Italian disco, make no mistake.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/6821_0_2_0_C/
(Thanx Mixmachine for the data)

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/804_0_2_0_C/

Great insight!

Funky Beebop - Vin Zee on Emergency was an excellent song!!!!

What about Boogie To The Bop - Mantus?

**Nano** · February 11th, 2006, 03:30 PM

"Boogie to the bop" is cool, reminds me a bit of Michael Jackson's "Don't stop til you get enough". Kinda an early rap version of that song.
Don't know who was the producer, though.

About Vin Zee, I only remember that 12'. Same with Jimmy Ross. I suppose these were different names for the same house band, but I could be wrong.

**efunk_adelic** · February 11th, 2006, 11:12 PM

did mixmachine open the copy? don't do it on my account! :lol:

I still haven't opened up my E.U. LP.... :lol:

**jam master jay** · February 12th, 2006, 01:39 AM

Nano, you remember that Jimmy Ross had a full album though, right? He even scored another "hit" with Fall Into A Trance from that LP. The album did not have the Italian version of First True Love Affair - only the Larry Levan mix and I believe a short single version.

**Nano** · February 12th, 2006, 08:45 AM

Yup! You're right. That's why there was two versions of "FTLA", the other was shorter and I think it started with drums straight on (I don't have it so I quote my memory here). But everyone used the 12' because it was much easier to mix, and the mix could stand longer because the intro was so long.
One great mix was to put it right in the middle of BBQ Band's "On the beat", you could leave the two songs together and hear the BBQ female chorus behind the instrumental part just before Jimmy Ross started to sing, so the mix lasted like one minute or so.
I remember one local DJ which always started the night with Chas Jankel's "Glad to know you", then mixed into "On the beat" (another long mix), then into "FTLA" and by then the floor was on fire, man! :) This was around early '82.

About "Fall into a trance": that's true, I didn't remember that track earlier. Very similar to "FTLA" also, but I think that one came later on, maybe as a 12' follow-up. I never saw the Jimmy Ross LP (didn't know that thing existed). These tracks appear in a few CD compilations of Italian disco material.

There's an Italian forum member, Giovanni, who knows lots more of this stuff, but his post nowadays are rare. I wish he reads this, he surely has all these records...

**jam master jay** · February 12th, 2006, 01:50 PM

Thanks for the insight Nano - much appreciated! I hope Giovanni sees this thread also, and can maybe add some additional history or background on these artists. They were two of my favorite records of the "later" disco era (1981-82).

This is what the CD cover of the album looks like, I bought mine in the early 90's so I wonder if it is just a compilation, and was not an actual LP from the 80's. But, there are several album cuts on it, which make me think it was released as an album after FTLA became a hit.

**Ysl** · February 17th, 2006, 04:31 PM

I remember at the time that people said that Vin Zee was a Belgian (maybe semi-belgian) production,
What I am sure of is that Vin Zee used to do Roller Skating at the Arlequin discotheque in Brussels where I was every saturday night at that time...

**Videoskooter** · February 17th, 2006, 04:54 PM

Originally Written by Ysl

I remember at the time that people said that Vin Zee was a Belgian (maybe semi-belgian) production,
What I am sure of is that Vin Zee used to do Roller Skating at the Arlequin discotheque in Brussels where I was every saturday night at that time...

Maybe because he worked with Laurent Van Meerhaeghe, who was also one of the producers of Jimmy Ross. Wasn't that a Belgian?

YSL, where was the Arlequin located? Never been there.

**Ysl** · February 19th, 2006, 02:40 AM

Arlequin was in the Galerie Louise, in the beginning of the Louise Avenue, in Brussels.

The Club still exist but have had many name and is somewhat reduced in surface now.

At hat time they were some gigs there like Sister Sledge or Shalamar...

Now it's called "Louise Gallery"

http://www.louisegallery.com/index3.html

Click on "the Wall" for a 360° view