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!

Elektro Diskow - The Samples!

Testament to the enduring influence of these tracks is their use as samples in contemporary recordings. There are a couple of recent (ish)examples (both on Elektro Diskow!)that show the 'reach' of these original tracks in terms of the musical styles that have plundered their beats.

Yazoo: Situation - Snoop Dogg Ft T Pain: Boom & The Saturdays - If This Is Love

This seminal electro proto House classic (a favourite in the clubs of both Chicago and New York)  has been heavily sampled and remixed down the years but in the past couple it has been re-worked into two very different records from two completely different musical schools. First up is Snoop's T Pain-produced Boom a very 21st century hip hop track that uses that addictive synth line to full effect. The second is UK girl group the Saturdays' debut hit If This Is Love, an 80s-influenced piece of pop that grafts the synth hook on to the verse with some panache.


YAZOO - SITUATION (U.S REMIX) by maxmixx









Arto Lindsay & Ambitious Lovers: Let's Be Adult - Groove Armada: Song For Mutya

Arto Lindsay's arty (and slightly obscure) slice of electropop from 1984 is turned into a breezy summer dancefloor confection by London beatmasters Groove Armada (with a little help from ex-Sugababe Mutya Buena).