The First Modern Remixes: Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley MegaMix) & Yazoo - Situation (François Kervorkian US Mix)

And while we're on the subject ... a quick mention of the Patrick Cowley Mega Mix (nothing to do with the later 80s concept of a medley!) of Donna's I Feel Love. Alongside François Kervorkian's remix of Yazoo's Situation it defined the modern idea of the remix as a radical reworking of a tune primarily for dancefloor rotation.

San Francisco producer Patrick (famed for his work with Sylvester) produced this 15 minute reworking in 1980 for the DJ only subscription service Disconet where it was an underground sensation. The multiple breakdowns, proto-acid house synth and toughened up rhythm track made the original Disconet 12" a must-have for progressive DJs and an instant collectors item. The great man and creator of the track Giorgio Moroder was also said to have loved Cowley's new treatment.

In 1982, Donna's label Casablanca gave this ground-breaking remix a richly-deserved full release making IFL a hit all over again, an edited version making no. 21 in the UK charts.

Sadly Patrick died of AIDS soon after the release of this incredible game-changing mix.




In 1982, another remix was released which was to have a similar effect on electronic dance music: Francois Kervorkian's legendary US Remix of Yazoo's Situation.

Starting off life as the B side to Yazoo's debut hit Only You, Situation, the track was earmarked for remix by music industry icon Seymour Stein head of Mute US licencee label Sire Records. He was aware of NYC-based French DJ François Kervorkian exemplary remix work for New York dance label Prelude and suggested to Mute boss Daniel Miller that FK gave Situation a more club-orientated mix.

The result was the sensational US remix and its accompanying Dub Mix (which appears on Elektro Diskow)  which their distinctive breakdowns, synth strings and use of cut up vocal stabs (Alison Moyet's laugh motif along with almost every other part of the track, would end up being some of the biggest samples of all-time). The track would take Yazoo and Mute firmly in to the clubs both in Europe and North America. The mix was a one of the top 50 records at Larry Levan's Paradise Garage New York, the band even playing a rare club gig there while it was also a key record in both Chicago and Detroit. Illuminaries such as Larry Heard and Derrick May (Derrick's Nude Photo includes a sample of the famous laugh) have declared it a huge influence.

For more on the remix and Yazoo's appearance at the Paradise Garage please have a read of our recent (and exclusive!) interview with Daniel Miller.

Exclusive Interview With Larry Heard AKA Mr Fingers for Elektro Diskow!

We recently spoke to none other than Chicago House legend Larry Heard (AKA Mr Fingers) about his early musical experiences and memories of the elektro diskow period. Have a look at the exclusive Q & A hosted on our partners Mixmag's site, and while you're having a read listen to some highlights from  Larry's list of  electro faves mentioned in the piece (see below). Best known for his classic single Can You Feel It (one of the cornerstones of House),  Larry has been producing amazing tunes for over a quarter of a century.

Larry's playlist is a thrilling mix of elektro, Italo disco and early 80s Boogie/post-disco that sets the scene for the House movement that followed.

Stay tuned for more exclusive Elektro Diskow interviews!

Click here for Exclusive Larry Heard Interview on Mixmag.net for Elektro Diskow!

Savage Progress - Heart Begin To Beat (An Extended Mad Mix)

An intriguing track this, from one of the more obscure corners of the ElektroDiskow universe. Savage Progress were a British group formed in London in late 1982 with a sound that took in Caribbean and African rhythms meshed  with a dark electronic aesthetic.Whilst they never hit big in their homeland they did have a sizeable hit in continental Europe with their single My Soul Unwraps Tonight. Heart Begin To Beat (their third single for Virgin/10) released in 1984 wasn't a pop hit but had a massive impact in underground clubs throughout the world.

In Belgium it was embraced by New Beat clubs in Ghent and beyond while over the Atlantic in Chicago the track is acknowledged as a Ron Hardy/Muzic Box club classic with House innovator Larry Heard (AKA Mr Fingers) acknowledging its influence on his sound. The Extended Mad Mix of HBTB is getting its first release on CD (and digitally!) on Elektro Diskow.  Here's the band performing the 7" version on German TV show Musik Laden.