Legendary US record producer Tom Moulton was probably one of the prime movers in developing 12-inch releases, he had discovered that the 12-inch had vastly superior sound quality, producing grooves perfect for the discotheque. It was music for hedonistic dancers – for metronomic beats, fewer vocals, stripped back instrumentation, slow-fading echo effects, sustains, slow builds in pace and intensity to maximum peaks.
I personally first became fascinated with them back in my late pre-teens, having been an avid record collector from the age of 4 (Thanks Bay City Rollers…) I believe one of my first was probably the 12″ of Tainted Love/Where did Your Love Go, also being a budding DJ during the early 80s and the 90s my appreciation grew for these time extended, more danceable spinners.
Originally intended to give the DJ a chance to go for a pee during long hours at night clubs like the (in)famous Studio 54 during the Disco phase of the 70s, their stature grew and grew. The mid-late 80s saw possibly the apogee of the Art of the 12″ with multiple releases of Trevor Horn et al’s record label ZTT with tracks from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propoganda etc being released on several formats, with some 12″ records extending out to 16 minute mixes (Relax anybody?) and even 20 minute mixes on cassette (Propoganda’s Duel). It got to the stage that in the late 80s the Record Charts had to change their entry criteria to cope.
Anyway, enough of the history. What Have I Done to Deserve This drivel I hear you ask? Well, partly inspired by all these Facebook posts about “Show your top 10 albums, but don’t bother saying anything about them” (and partly by being bored because of all the Covid stuff) I thought I would expand a bit, and actually show my top (insert figure) records, together with (if available) a video of the track, and actually give some background and cohesion to them. If the idea bores you, please go elsewhere and amuse yourself, but if it’s exciting enough for you, please stick around for my list. I won’t promise to update it daily, but will do my best to get at least 5 videos a week.
Rules of Engagement
The Top 50 in Full
#50 1984
Alison Moyet – All Cried Out (Extended)
Alison Moyet – All Cried Out (Extended Version)
David Bowie – Let’s Dance (Extended)
The song marked a departure from Bowie’s previous work, which had been heavily influenced by avant-garde and electronic music. Instead, “Let’s Dance” showcased a more pop-friendly sound, incorporating elements of funk and dance music.
#49 1983
#48 1987
Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion (Extended Mix)
Sisters of Mercy – This Corrosion
Yello – Lost Again (Extended Version)
Seen by some as the band’s breakthrough record, although chart success would be another couple of years away.
#47 1983
#46 1980
Visage – Fade to Grey (Original 12″ Version)
1980 – The early days of the Blitz club, the birthplace of the New Romantics. Steve Strange’s seminal looks, totally out of kilter with the accepted look of the time, a direct reaction to the death of the punk movement.
Paul Hardcastle – 19 (Destruction Mix)
Let’s face it, if you’re here looking at this list with any passing interest this track needs no introducton really. Recorded by Paul Hardcastle having been influenced by watching a late night documentary about the Vietnam war, and what we know as “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”. Ironically the “19” figure for the age of the soliders is now heavily disputed, but we won’t go there…
#45 1985
#44 1984
Alphaville – Big In Japan (Extended Version)
Coming off the back of the emergent European electronic age, Germany’s Alphaville’s first single struck a chord with people around the world. Apparently influenced by Men Without Hats’ Safety Dance (you can certainly hear the influences)
Kim Wilde – Cambodia + Reprise
Number 43 in an occasional series of reviews of my favourite 80s […]
#43 1981
#42 1982
Soft Cell – Torch (Extended version)
The fourth single from the Soft Cell boys, and a love letter from Marc Almond to all those songstresses in seedy bars from the 50s and 60s.
Swing Out Sister – Twilight World (Superb Superb Mix)
Number 41 in an occasional series of reviews of my favourite 80s […]
#41 1987
#40 1985
Level 42 – Something About You (Shep Pettibone Remix)
Level 42 were starting to be well known (The Sun Goes Down was a particular favourite), Shep Pettibone was making his mark as a remixer of talent, and the production work of Wally Badarou made this an unmissable 12″ for me.
Mantronix – Got to Have Your Love (Club with Bonus Beats)
One of the first House Classics in my opinion. Mantronix just crept onto the list, as it was released in December 1989.
#39 1989
#38 1982
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force – Planet Rock
For anyone who loves electronic dance music, “Planet Rock” is a must-listen. It’s a classic track that continues to be relevant and influential today, and it’s sure to get you on the dance floor. Whether you’re a fan of hip hop, electro, techno, or trance, “Planet Rock” is a timeless piece of music that deserves a place in your playlist.
Freestyle – Don’t Stop the Rock
#37 Freestyle – Don’t Stop the Rock This is number 37 in […]
#37 1985
#36 1986
Wham! – Wham Rap ’86
Wham Rap! was a unique blend of pop, funk, and hip-hop, and it showcased George Michael’s skills as a songwriter and performer. The song’s lyrics dealt with themes of youth culture, social commentary, and the challenges of growing up in the inner city. The song was well received by audiences and critics, and it established Wham! as a fresh and innovative force in the pop music world.
Yello – The Race (Full 13 minute version)
a classic electronic dance track that was first released in 1988. The song is instantly recognizable for its driving bassline, catchy synth hook, and the distinctively husky, whispered vocals of Yello’s frontman, Dieter Meier. From the first bars, “The Race” grabs the listener’s attention and doesn’t let go until the song’s thrilling conclusion.
#35 1988
#34 1986
Spandau Ballet – Through the Barricades (Extended Version)
“Through the Barricades” is known for its sweeping melody, powerful vocals, and atmospheric instrumentation, featuring guitars, drums, and a string section. The song was a commercial success, reaching the top ten in the UK and several other countries.
Pigbag – Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag (12″ Version)
Frequently referenced in pop culture, it has been covered by several bands, including a Paul Oakenfold version, renamed to “Reach Up (Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag)”.
#33 1982
#32 1984
Maria Vidal – Body Rock (Megatrax Dutch Mix)
Okay, this one is a bit of rule breaker again. The exact remix I have chosen, although released on 12″ single, it wasn’t a commercial one. Allegedly remixed by Pete Slaghuis, I first came across as an extra track on a DJ Only MegaTrax label release, ostensibly bought for the Pet Shop Boys megamix, I was blown away by the Maria Vidal remix. I ended up playing this track more than the PSB track at the time.
It’s Immaterial – Driving Away from Home (Wicked Weather for Walking)
The song has been described by the band as a “British on-the-road song”
#31 1986
#30 1982
Indeep – Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (12″ Version)
Music has the power to move us, to make us feel alive, and to transport us to a different place and time. This is especially true when it comes to dance music, which is designed to get our bodies moving and our hearts pumping. And no song captures the transformative power of music quite like “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life” by Indeep.
Eddy and the Soul Band – Theme from Shaft (Boss Extended Version)
One of the reasons that the “Theme from Shaft” has endured as a classic piece of music is its ability to capture the essence of the era in which it was created. The 1970s was a time of great social and cultural change in the United States, marked by the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the rise of funk and soul music.
#29 1985
#28 1984
Giorgio Moroder with Philip Oakey – Together In Electric Dreams (Extended)
As I sit down to write this blog post, I am transported back in time to the mid-80s when the synthpop hit “Together in Electric Dreams” was released. I remember the excitement I felt when I first heard the song on the radio, at the time I was in Germany on an exchange visit, and managed to get the 12″ version of the record from a local mall.
Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy (Extended)
In 1984, the British synth-pop band Bronski Beat released their debut single “Smalltown Boy,” a song that would become an iconic anthem for the LGBTQ+ community. The lyrics of the song describe the experiences of a young gay man growing up in a small town, facing discrimination and prejudice from his community. The chorus of the song, featuring the memorable line “Run away, turn away, run away, turn away, run away,” has become a rallying cry for those who have felt the need to escape their small town and find acceptance elsewhere.
#27 1984
#26 1985
A-Ha – The Sun Always Shines on TV (Extended Version)
The 12″ Extended Version was remixed by Steve Thompson and features a great extended intro which was a really useful tool when DJing at the time, enabling it to be faded in with the previous track without loss of beat. Remember, this was in the days before digital samplers were freely available.
Ram Jam – Black Betty (Ben Liebrand 1989 Remix)
A bit of an outlier for me, I’m not usually a fan of Ben Liebrand’s work, but I will make an exception for this particular mix. Took a pretty good 70’s rock track and smashed the UK clubs with it in 1990! You could easily put this in a sequence with UK indie rock dance tunes of the time too. And indeed I did, this was a real floor-filler at the time.
#25 1989
A
I
P
S
- Sisters of Mercy - This Corrosion (Extended Mix)
- Sly Fox - Let's Go All The Way (Multimix), featuring Queen and Boogie Boys
- Soft Cell - Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing
- Soft Cell - Torch (Extended version)
- Spandau Ballet - Through the Barricades (Extended Version)
- Swing Out Sister - Twilight World (Superb Superb Mix)
Honourable Mentions The ones that didn't quite make the cut
#00 1984
Amii Stewart – Knock on Wood/Ash 48 (1985 “New Remix”)
The particular mix I have chosen might be a bit controversial, but it was a definite floor filler in the 80s/90s when I was rocking the decks.
Fine Young Cannibals – Ever Fallen In Love (Arthur Baker’s Club Senseless Remix)
Emerging UK Pop Rock band, cover a classic song from the pen of Pete Shelley, originally written as a gay love torch song, but transformed here into a danceable piece of solid pop, touched off with another great example of remixing genius by the hands of Arthur Baker.
#00 1986
#00 1984
The Smiths – How Soon is Now
I should point out here, that I harbour no love for Morrisey, and if you’d have asked my contemporary self whether I liked any of their music I would have unfriended you pretty quickly … but time is a healer, and I can now in my tender years appreciate the sublime production and Johnny Marr’s amazing guitar work, not just hate it because it features Morrisey.
A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran
Not quite making it onto my top 50, but still one that stands up to multiple listens…
Taken from TFOS self-titled debut album, a concept piece about an alien invasion of Earth, I RAN was a futurist sonic rippler, opening with mutant synths and rising to its highly infectious chorus.
#00 1982
#00 1985
Sly Fox – Let’s Go All The Way (Multimix), featuring Queen and Boogie Boys
A true Mastermix Masterclass by Les “Mastermix” Adams.
Madonna – Into the Groove (Maxis Maximus Remix)
Madonna’s Into the Groove, remixed in the 2020s, but using original Stems.
