Set Me Free

[SandraDee]

I was recently looking at US dance charts from 1981 (hey it was my night to wash my hair, OK?! :-? ) & noticed that this great track by the 3 Degrees was still huge. Now this track came out in late '79 on their '3D' LP so was it just late getting popular in the US (the opposite happened here when tracks like Tantra, Harlow & Azoto from'80 hit later in the UK in '81) or was it a special remix like a Disconet type thing? (the chart didn't say whether it was a single or an LP track that was big in the clubs stateside). I love the girls' 2 LPs they did with Moroder/Belotte; I personally prefer them to their Philly stuff & Northern Soul stuff ( oh god I'm gonna upset people with that remark, sorry! ); the 2 LPs were probably amongst the best of Moroder/Bellotte's stuff too (ditto!); just my opinion! The more Euro-stylee production suited their voices IMO, particularly Sheila's.

[discokicks]

I'd like to know a little more about Set Me Free as well. In an earlier post, I noted that the 12" mix of it is the same version as on the album even though the timing written on the label says 7:20.

My Canadian copy of the 12" was released in 1981 so perhaps, because of the song's popularity off the 3D album, Ariola decided to release it as a single which may have caught other djs attention (those poor souls who originally had no interest in the 3D album ). With 12"ers in hand, the song would then regain popularity.

The 3D album is certainly tops in my disco collection. Jump The Gun segued into Redlight is just as fab as Donna's Hot Stuff into Bad Girls...which surely doesn't impress those on here who want Ms. Summer banished from all disco history. :lol:

[SandraDee]

A similar thing happened here when Donna's 'Sunset People' was released as a single in June 1980, over 12 months after the Bad Girls LP was released (& there was 'On The Radio' & 'No More Tears' released between them! :-? ) - record companies seem to feel that it's never too late to release singles off LPs! My personal favourite from '3D' is 'Body Check' - it's so 'disco' if you know what I mean. 8)

[keefelc]

Imported copies of the "3D" album made their way from Mexico to the San Francisco Bay Area as early as mid 1980. Word quickly spreaded to DJs & their friends here in SF where you could find the album. Bobby Viteritti had his copy and he started playing "Set Me Free" immediately at Trocadero.

The album had the short 4:30 version. However, that didn't stop him from doing his own edit. So, when the domestic album finally showed up in 1981, the song was already a big hit at Troc! "Jump The Gun" was also pretty popular.

[SandraDee]

Thanx for enlightening me keef. It seems strange that the 3D LP took until '81 to get released in the US when you consider that they are an American group (although with Euro producers/writers) & the US often seemed to pick up on Euro stuff earlier than the Brits e.g. Strange Affair only got club play (mainly gay) in the UK in '81 whereas you guyz were playing this in '80 I believe.

[keefelc]

If I recall correctly (Marky may remember), there were some rights issues which delayed Ariola's domestic release. I do remember we sold LOTS of the import albums at Aloha and we wondered why the U.S. record companies were missing the boat for so long (especially since Giorgio Moroder was involved). I also wonder if Ariola in the U.S. was having financial difficulties since they also took forever to release Viola Wills's "If You Could Read My Mind" album.

As for Strange Affair, Aloha Records brought that album into San Francisco as an import in August 1980. I purchased a copy the week it came in. About a week later, I walked into the store to find Bobby Viteritti previewing "Don't Stop The Music." He quickly started spinning the tune at Troc and it received a so - so reception.

[neonlights]

I have to agree with much of the above, Side A of the 3D album is awesome! It's amazing how these ladies seemed to cross over from being at the forefront of Philly soul to working with Giorgio Moroder.. Then again, it seems like they needed some new blood, their last album before working with Moroder (1977's "Standing Up For Love") was just dull and dire, IMO..

My personal favourite from '3D' is 'Body Check' - it's so 'disco' if you know what I mean. 8)

That would probably my favourite as well, just wish it were longer.. I recently got the Sylvers' "Disco Fever" LP also produced by Moroder/Faltermeyer and there's a track on there called "Dance Right Now" that to me sounds very similar to it..