Playing songs at the wrong speed

**nrgbeat** · December 19th, 2001, 07:02 PM

This question is going out to current or former club dj's.

Was it common to play songs at the wrong speed to create a different vibe?

I once heard a tape from The Saint where they played "Got To Get To You" by Charade at the wrong speed. It was different to say the least.

**markydefad** · December 19th, 2001, 07:26 PM

Are you talking literally about playing a 45 RPM record at 331/3 RPM or vice versa?

Or just adjusting the pitch control +5 or -5 on the Technics 1200's?

I don't think I ever heard the former at a club, but the latter did happen. It is sometimes interesting to hear songs sped up or slowed down on old tapes because in the clubs they didn't sound so off--but if I do the same thing at home on my system, it sounds either like chipmunks or the living dead.

**BrunoRepublic** · December 19th, 2001, 09:20 PM

I can only think of two examples of this, both long after disco. Some instrumental electronic "bleep" track from the early 90s, and a fairly recent one: Babylon Zoo's "Spaceman", which became a hit after DJs started playing it on 45. Interestingly enough, this was a vocal track, so it sounded like a chipmunks production when heard in this manner. I seem to recall the CD single had a version of it recorded this way so that the vinyl-less masses could experience it this way as well. I can already see the one-line summary in some pop music encyclopedia 20 years from now: "One-hit-wonder from late 1990s; known for having their biggest song played at the wrong speed."

There are a few electronica records that are designed to be played at either 33 or 45...

and personally, although I don't care for drum 'n bass, I love hearing Wax Doctor's "Heat" at 33... the irony is that all the drum sounds were pitch-shifted up, so they sound almost normal at 33... mind you, the bass line tends to drop right out of the audio range.

**Henri** · December 20th, 2001, 01:38 AM

One song we used to pitch up at least 7% is Albert One - Secrets.

That song really lives up at a slightly higher speed.

Henri

**Giovanni** · December 20th, 2001, 02:13 PM

In the early 80s, in Italy everybody used to play Pigbag's "Momma's got a brand new Pigbag" 33 instead of 45.

**e,r** · December 26th, 2001, 01:09 AM

dj Assault from Detroit does a lot of 33on45

stuff(if you like "booty" check some

of his mixes) from the 2 i've got i could pick:

ring my bell - A Ward

funkanova - Wood,Brass&Steel

this time baby - J Moore

clear - Cybotron

going back to Cali - L L K J

all sound realy strange on 45, he does this

with house too(No Way Back,This is Muthafu**r,

Plastic Dreams etc)

e,r

**Masdefi** · December 27th, 2001, 04:14 PM

Of course in the clubs disco is played mostly with changed speed. I normally mix with Technics Sl1200 with pitch adjusting. And I think also that some tracks are more intriguing if played slower (more power at the bass...): one for all: Musique's "Summer love theme", the slower is, more beautiful is. But I never played something 33 at 45 speed

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Masdefi on 2001-12-27 17:20 ]</font>

**sempaug** · January 7th, 2002, 06:16 PM

Here is the expert in Cerrone's music. The Cerrone's release titled "la nuit pour nuit" (included in the maxi singol "Crystal, Phonic") printed in 1978 can be played at different speed. Cerrone wouldn't write the rpm on the label. In fact you can play the the maxi singole at 33 or 45 rpm having a special effect. Morover Cerrone was used to work on the pich control to find the right speed after the recording of the songs. This one, can be played slower or faster.

**PhyllisHyman** · January 9th, 2002, 07:08 AM

[quote]

On 2001-12-19 20:02, nrgbeat wrote:

This question is going out to current or former club dj's.

Was it common to play songs at the wrong speed to create a different vibe?

I once heard a tape from The Saint where they played "Got To Get To You" by Charade at the wrong speed. It was different to say the least.

[ I'm sure I've heard Hills of Katmandu at 33 but pitched up +8 at the Saint. Other ones were Voyage and quite a few Yello tracks (not necessarily at the Saint). There is a sleaze tape from the Saint which uses the drum intro from At Midnight at 33 and it repeats over all the tracks which are about 94bpm]. Speaking of the Saint does anyone have any Roy Thode mix tapes? I had 2 round about 1980 but have long since lost them.

**Funky Dude** · January 9th, 2002, 07:43 AM

Playing songs at the wrong speed, I personally think the best songs to play at different speeds are the instrumentals because you don't have to put up with the awful chipmunk voices like you do with songs involving vocals. I remember a few months back I played Herbie Hancock's 12" Side B "Doin' It" at 45 RPM instead of 33 1/3 and because it was instrumental it sounded great at both speeds.

Also I've upped the speed on Johnny Pate's 1973 classic "You Can't Even Walk In The Park" so I could make it sound similar to the movie version. When I made the speed too fast it sounded a bit like a mid 70's disco song. I personally like the movie version of this song better because it is a bit faster and has more guitar wah wah in it.

Hmm. I wonder what it be like to alter the speed of the Commodores intrumental hit "Machine Gun"?

**Jimmy-Michaels** · March 2nd, 2002, 10:16 PM

Well, I like slowing down tracks more than pitching up. Some classic disco I like to slow down:The Break - Kat Mandu(which I did in a mix I sent Bernie that might be on the future here)

Tender Is The Night - THP (don't pitch this beyond -6 on my Numark because it sounds like they got the flu if you do. But at a -6 it's much more beautiful and almost romantic if you have that right one with you. However it ruins it when I mix into Five Special's "Why Leave Us Alone"(lol)

Jimmy M

**NickNack** · March 3rd, 2002, 03:23 PM

Playing songs (mostly instrumentals) at the wrong speed(33 at 45 and vice-versa) was a staple gimmick back in the day at NY clubs. As was said, it gives them a different vibe. "At Midnight" was the most over-worked, culminating with Disconet's two "Midnight" mixes. I've heard everything from "Shakey Ground" by The Temptations at 45rpm to "Maniac" by Mike Sembello at 33. Fun stuff if you're in the right head.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · March 4th, 2002, 02:09 AM

I've never heard of playing things at the wrong speed cut and dry. Pitching down or up quite a ways is one thing, but the other I dont get. I'm only 26, maybe thats why. However I have played the 45rpm 12 inch for "At Midnight" by T Connection on 33 for the 3 min beat break intro to turn a few sappy love songs into something with a disco beat and it worked for that. But when the vocals and even music comes in, it don't sound right. As I said, the slowest I ever pitched any disco down was Kat Mandu's "The Break" at a -10 and it sounds cool and groovin' as hell.

**NickNack** · March 4th, 2002, 07:44 PM

However I have played the 45rpm 12 inch for "At Midnight" by T Connection on 33 for the 3 min beat break intro to turn a few sappy love songs into something with a disco beat and it worked for that. But when the vocals and even music comes in, it don't sound right.

Jimmy M.

You're on the money. The intro is the only bit that could be fooled around with in this way. I don't know of anyone who let it go into the vocals at 33. As for a reason why you might "not get it"... Take this title hit from Chad --- "Fast Music, Love and Promises", add a little sex, a lot of drugs and hundreds of a people in a space and place having the time of their lives. DJ's could do wild things to blow your head away.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · March 5th, 2002, 01:35 AM

Well Nicky,

I know DJ's can do wild things. I am always trying things that are new to me and things I concider bizzare. Like taking Cerrone's "Supernature" and during the instrumental breaks in this 10+min. track, having another copy of the record on the other turntable and playing the same instrumental part backwards over the other while keeping the beats perfectly in link. It has a very different,strange but cool sound that adds an extra vibe to the track.

**NickNack** · March 5th, 2002, 03:13 PM

Like taking Cerrone's "Supernature" and during the instrumental breaks in this 10+min. track, having another copy of the record on the other turntable and playing the same instrumental part backwards over the other while keeping the beats perfectly in link.

Now this I would like to hear. Better yet, I wish I could see you work it while I listen to the result. When you say backwards, I'm assuming you're doing this manually --- tuning it backwards with your hand.

I can understand how you get the beat-synch but the music can't match if one is rotating up the groove and the other down. Right?

Also, can you tell me if this screws up the vinyl? I would think if it's done too often or just sloppily the groove walls get damaged. How about an effects processor with a 'psycho reverse'? Save time and wear.

Don't misunderstand, I think it's a wild idea and the fact that you can pull it off is something else. But for us vinyl freaks, playing a classic piece in this way might be a little scary. Hell, I wouldn't even allow my partner dj's to use my vinyl for scratching. I came in the club one night and one guy was doing it and I lost it! Not on my wax, dude.

**Bernie** · March 5th, 2002, 04:19 PM

Nicky,

The Stone Roses have used this technique with great results, but of course it's easy to do with a Mac and Peak... Or as my friend Omar Santana who has custom tables that spin backwards with a double click of the switch.

Just for kicks I tried playing two copies of "Supernature" with one going backwards by hand. After the initial "train wreck" I was able to get them briefly to synch, but it's very hard and eventually it becomes mish-mosh since keys... are off. I won't be trying that again with my vinyl

**BrunoRepublic** · March 5th, 2002, 06:37 PM

On 2002-03-05 17:19, Bernie wrote:

Or as my friend Omar Santana who has custom tables that spin backwards with a double click of the switch.

There is now a commercially-available turntable that has two tonearms -- one on each side of the platter, just so you can play records backwards without damaging the stylus or the groove. For real. I saw this myself a few months ago at a local shop that specialises in DJ equipment... can't recall the make or model though.

**woodysco** · May 27th, 2003, 11:40 AM

there 's a Fatback Band's song "feed me with your love" that i've always heard played in 45 by many DJs !!although its from a 33 lp....
I also play this track in 45 and the result is real good! you just got to put the pitch to the minimum... :P

**Art Figueroa** · May 27th, 2003, 01:56 PM

There is a sleaze tape from the Saint which uses the drum intro from At Midnight at 33 and it repeats over all the tracks which are about 94bpm]. Speaking of the Saint does anyone have any Roy Thode mix tapes? I had 2 round about 1980 but have long since lost them.

The set you are referring to is a Disconet medley. There are two of them. The second one was released on the 10th Anniversary issue. They are both called At Midnight Medley whatever.

On the orginal question, I have hard DJ's play 45's at 33 on different occassions for effect. The most memorable being Alan Dodd changing the pitch of Fly Me on The Wings of Love at the break, which at 45 was pretty sleazy, you can imagine at 33. All the while people were on the roof covering the skylights, through which the early morning light was starting to come in. Quite a memorable moment.

At the Saint, Robbie once mixed the instrumental of Evergreen with Love Unlimited Orchestra's Love's Theme, at one of the pauses in the instrumental he hit the 45 button and there we were dancing fast again! Another moment.

**midas** · May 30th, 2003, 04:50 PM

i have 3 examples that i think work fine
when played 45 (instead of 33rpm)
jermain steward-the word is out(instrm)
visual-somhow somway
and many tracks on mtume´s album(LP)
juicy fruit. including the titel track.
its after 6,
would you like to.

but there are softwares that let you play
on high pitch (mp3´s) without changing
singers into smurfs, cant remeber witch now...

but try mtume on 45.

**darrens** · June 4th, 2003, 07:15 AM

I'm amazed that no-one has mentioned in here about Herb Alpert - Rise? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard somewhere that this song became popular after DJs mistakenly played a 33rpm white label at 45rpm in some clubs?

Darren

**Art Figueroa** · June 4th, 2003, 02:42 PM

Don't know about that, but when I purchased the single, right away, I might add, it was a slow number.

Art

**sirius** · June 4th, 2003, 06:22 PM

Dear Friends!
I am not really into too much pitching up, especially if
vocals are inside. I mean you cannot pitch Tina Charles,
Kelly Marie and other high-voiced-ladies, because
they sound like Minnie Mouse...
But there some tracks I pitched or played on a wrong
speed, like GRAUZONE"Film 2" on 33+8 instead 45.

Very interesting if you play this terrible TechnoGabber-
Stuff on 33 ... or try Breakbeat and Jungle on 33...
but that´s for me some strange experiments from
the last decade.
Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES...

**peppertree5706** · July 28th, 2003, 03:40 PM

Originally Written by darrens

I'm amazed that no-one has mentioned in here about Herb Alpert - Rise? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard somewhere that this song became popular after DJs mistakenly played a 33rpm white label at 45rpm in some clubs?

Darren

You beat me to this one. I had an oldies show in 1980 and I played about two new records per hour (future gold). When "Rise" came out, I thought that it was too slow, so I tried (in production studio off the air) playing the album at 45RPM and it sounded good to me. It had a good disco beat. From that point on, every time I played "Rise," it was at the wrong speed. I had many positive comments about that.