Extentions

dsco's Podcast

Extended versions and remixes dominate this episode. You’ll find everything from versions that don’t fade as soon (Bee Gees) to songs that have been completely reimagined (Donna Summer). Three are from bootlegs, including the Diana Ross that is a completely different vocal take and arrangement, slipped out to jocks back in the day. The found-in-the-wild source for this must have been popular, because it was beat harder than a drag queen’s powder puff. I had to do more than my usual amount of clean up and reconstruction to bring it to you, and it still sounds rough in patches.

Before Donna Summer teamed with producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte to alter the course of history as we know it, she did musical theater and session work in Germany. She provided vocals for pop songs produced and originally credited to band leader Veit Marvos, including a cover of Steam’s “Na Na, Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye).” Marvos, in turn, would later produce some early disco sides with Blue Light Orchestra. The Marvos/Summer tracks have been reissued in several configurations; what we have here is from a Dutch release (likely bootlegged) where the tracks have been extended and tricked out for the late-’80s dancefloor. Many work far better than they ought to.

After Donna Summer’s incredible run of four top-selling double albums in a row, she jumped from the sinking Casablanca ship to Geffen and tried for a fifth with 1981’s I’m A Rainbow. It was shelved because execs thought it strayed too far from her winning formula (read: it was tired and boring), despite the presence of Moroder, Bellotte and others who had helped deliver past home runs. Geffen wasn’t wrong for scotching it. It finally was released in 1996, and I found it pretty hard to get through. There were moments, but no cohesion and nothing that sounded even close to a hit. Word came out in 2020 that the album was being configured and re-sequenced into the tight single album it should have been. I was skeptical, but damn if the new, reimagined Rainbow doesn’t sparkle!

Kylie Minogue didn’t wait nearly as long to correct her initial errors on 2021’s Disco. Despite some great tunes and moments, it was a weirdly tame affair that semi-tanked. Kylie jumped behind the console herself, and to date has released a new version of white-hot remixes, a special guest–list edition and an internet-streamed live version. This mix of “Say Something”—the original album’s standout track—features the House Gospel Choir and transforms pretty swell into truly celestial.

In 2020, Tom Moulton (in his 80s!!) took on master tapes from the Spring and Event labels, turning a handful of solid soul/r&b underperformers into epic Philly Soul workouts that are as solid as any PIRC classic from back in the day. He should be named GOAT and given a parade already. His extension of Millie Jackson’s read on the Ashford and Simpson–penned “Don’t Send Nobody Else” is a standout for me, but everything Moulton retouched became blessed.

Lastly, the Jams. You probably know the story already, so I’ll spare you. Thanks to ABBA (and others) whose songs were sampled w/o clearance, this isn’t supposed to exist. All copies were to be burnt. And yet, like a bad penny…. The source here is a fairly widely available Dutch re-release. After all, once something is justified and ancient, there’s really no keeping it down.

You Stepped Into My Life – the Bee Gees ’76 ⁂ Say Something – Kylie Minogue ’21 ⁂ Brooklyn – Donna Summer ’81 ⁂ Love Hangover – Diana Ross ’76 ⁂ Don’t Send Nobody Else – Millie Jackson ’73 ⁂ I Want Your Love – Chic ’78 ⁂ Na Na, Hey Hey – Veit Marvos (Donna Summer) ’72 ⁂ Raspberry Beret – Prince and the Revolution ’85 ⁂ My Friend Jack – Boney M ’80 ⁂ Move Away – Culture Club ’86 ⁂ American Pie – Madonna ’00 ⁂ The Queen & I – the Jams ’87 ⁂ My New Boyfriend – Carly Simon ’85