I love a good 12-inch track. A lot of my greatest hits CDs have 12-inchers as bonus tracks, and that's how I found out about them. The adapted version of Parliament's "Flash Light" is brilliant.
There was a moment in the CD era where you could find all these previously unreleased (or hard-to-find, certainly) 12-inch remixes of classics pretty easily. I still have a few of those comps. Adding to my car playlist for the weekend.
Dammit, Matt this is a fiiiiine piece of work! I love several of these...."I feel Love" is like the heartbeat that never stops, 'Love Hangover" (which Lou Reed gave the thumbs up), and the hypnotic "Disco Inferno." I liked The Crusaders from when they were the Jazz Crusaders, and "Street Life" is a favorite track. Probably that gets my vote as favorite!
Thanks for the kind words Marshall! So many great tunes in the piece and several others that didn't make the cut this time. Excited to do a Pt. II before the year is out. Cheers!
“….owes a historical debt to disco, a genre that still needs to get the love it deserves in the broader music conversation.” That’s correct. Thanks for pointing that out and thanks for the great article.
How can I not like your piece Matt. It's the world I write about every week in my "Twelve Inch" newsletter. Well done ! I wouldn't agree necessary with all of your choices 😁 on your toplist, but hey that's called "personal taste"
I would have replaced two of your tracks. First I agree that the Crusaders tracks is great but I don't really consider it disco or, even, a prime example of a twelve inch. It's true that it is danceable but the set-up is more of a jazz-funk album track. I don't think any of the club dj's played it, but that I would have to check. The second one is the Martin Circus track. A great track again but not of the same level as the other ones you listed. Three possible replacements : 1. Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough". Michael's album Off The Wall is an interesting one. It was "conceived" when disco was riding the high of Saturday Night Fever. The sky was the limit. Nothing could stop its rise. And then June 79 and Disco Demolition struck. Off The Wall was released in august 79. "Don't Stop" is part continuation of "classic" disco and part of the disco-pop blending we would see much more in the following decade. 2. "Relight My Fire" by Dan Hartman. A massive club track and a classic twelve inch in the combination with the "Vertigo" instrumental.
I feel you on the Dan Hartman track, it was on my shortlist for inclusion before I cut the final selection down. The MJ track was a big hit but it's never been my favorite from that LP. Based on a couple of folks I talked to, the Martin Circus track was apparently a massive banger in Europe in its heyday and has been lovingly remixed over the years to great effect. Good picks!
I'm not sure about the 12" remix version but probably my all-time favorite (and it's hard for me to pick music faves) is Gap Band's, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me."
Great post! I had a roommate in the 1980s who loved to buy 12 inch singles. He had a ton which he ultimately gave me. One of my favorites was Vanity’s Pretty Mess. Of course Madonna’s Into the Groove was only available on 12 inch when it started getting airplay. Loved that one too.
I love a good 12-inch track. A lot of my greatest hits CDs have 12-inchers as bonus tracks, and that's how I found out about them. The adapted version of Parliament's "Flash Light" is brilliant.
(And I know about the Crusaders- I'm a big fan).
There was a moment in the CD era where you could find all these previously unreleased (or hard-to-find, certainly) 12-inch remixes of classics pretty easily. I still have a few of those comps. Adding to my car playlist for the weekend.
I recommend the Funk Essentials series that Universal Music produced in the 1990s- great groups and artists, and great grooves.
Will check it out.
Dammit, Matt this is a fiiiiine piece of work! I love several of these...."I feel Love" is like the heartbeat that never stops, 'Love Hangover" (which Lou Reed gave the thumbs up), and the hypnotic "Disco Inferno." I liked The Crusaders from when they were the Jazz Crusaders, and "Street Life" is a favorite track. Probably that gets my vote as favorite!
Again, I loved reading this.
Thanks for the kind words Marshall! So many great tunes in the piece and several others that didn't make the cut this time. Excited to do a Pt. II before the year is out. Cheers!
“….owes a historical debt to disco, a genre that still needs to get the love it deserves in the broader music conversation.” That’s correct. Thanks for pointing that out and thanks for the great article.
You bet -- thanks for reading! :)
How can I not like your piece Matt. It's the world I write about every week in my "Twelve Inch" newsletter. Well done ! I wouldn't agree necessary with all of your choices 😁 on your toplist, but hey that's called "personal taste"
Thanks for reading! Special for me coming from the writer behind an entire newsletter devoted to this topic. What would you have put on the list?
I would have replaced two of your tracks. First I agree that the Crusaders tracks is great but I don't really consider it disco or, even, a prime example of a twelve inch. It's true that it is danceable but the set-up is more of a jazz-funk album track. I don't think any of the club dj's played it, but that I would have to check. The second one is the Martin Circus track. A great track again but not of the same level as the other ones you listed. Three possible replacements : 1. Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough". Michael's album Off The Wall is an interesting one. It was "conceived" when disco was riding the high of Saturday Night Fever. The sky was the limit. Nothing could stop its rise. And then June 79 and Disco Demolition struck. Off The Wall was released in august 79. "Don't Stop" is part continuation of "classic" disco and part of the disco-pop blending we would see much more in the following decade. 2. "Relight My Fire" by Dan Hartman. A massive club track and a classic twelve inch in the combination with the "Vertigo" instrumental.
I forgot about “Relight My Fire”! I was going to mention “Instant Replay” and “Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet.”
Yep, two more essential tracks :-) We should have a top 100 :-)
I feel you on the Dan Hartman track, it was on my shortlist for inclusion before I cut the final selection down. The MJ track was a big hit but it's never been my favorite from that LP. Based on a couple of folks I talked to, the Martin Circus track was apparently a massive banger in Europe in its heyday and has been lovingly remixed over the years to great effect. Good picks!
Love this post!
I'm not sure about the 12" remix version but probably my all-time favorite (and it's hard for me to pick music faves) is Gap Band's, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me."
Another classic from a group I adore. Thanks for the comment Joe!
Great post! I had a roommate in the 1980s who loved to buy 12 inch singles. He had a ton which he ultimately gave me. One of my favorites was Vanity’s Pretty Mess. Of course Madonna’s Into the Groove was only available on 12 inch when it started getting airplay. Loved that one too.
Thanks Dan! :) "Into the Groove" almost made this list but I'm saving it for another post later this year.
Honestly, all those songs are classics! My favourite are Chic, though. 👍
Thanks Mark! That Chic song is my favorite of theirs. Depending on the day you ask me, also my favorite disco song, period.
“Disco inferno” is an absolute monster, the radio version doesn’t do it justice. That bass line 😎
Thanks for reading and commenting Brendan! You gotta go for the whole 10-minute journey with that track, no doubt.
I love disco and I love 12", although I discovered them as remixes of songs I loved in the 80s. Love this list!
Thanks so much for reading!