dance pop Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

Duran Duran “Meet El Presidente”

sfilzen — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:52:21 +0000

Duran Duran “Meet El Presidente” 1987. Last week I fulfilled yet another big life wish, spinning a 3 hour set of Duran Duran (plus side projects) vinyl records at Wiggle Room. I had intended to spin this song but it didn’t make the cut as I started to run out of time. “Meet El Presidente” was the third, and final, single from the Nile Rodgers produced Notorious; it hit #24 in the UK but just went to #70 in the US. If I’m being honest, I don’t really even remember it from ’87 (though my daily listens had skewed heavily punk by that point). The single version is a different mix than the album’s with a more pronounced Latin groove (think Miami Sound Machine). And because I don’t remember hearing the single back in the day, the LP version is a bit more familiar. Both are smooth, funky and highly danceable. The b-side, “Vertigo (Do the Demolition),” has a more slow-burn funk with a big 80’s production sound that, apropos its title, has a bit of an industrial flare.

The post Duran Duran “Meet El Presidente” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Duran Duran “The Wedding Album”

sfilzen — Thu, 22 May 2025 18:19:50 +0000

Duran Duran “The Wedding Album” 1993. Today, May 22nd, is my and Joe’s anniversary – 26 years! And it’s World Goth Day..while Duran’s seventh studio LP (actually named Duran Duran but everyone knows it as The Wedding Album) is not at all gothy, the record is still perfect today. This is a reissue on gold vinyl – I think the vinyl release was pretty limited back in ’93. It went to #4 in the UK and to #7 in the US. I really wasn’t listening to much D2 in ’93 and certainly not any new material so I’m mostly familiar with this record in retrospect. But it does have what is now one of my favorite all-time Duran songs, “Ordinary World.” Live, it’s magic and I think they’ve performed it at every concert I’ve been to. It was the first single released from the LP and hit the top 10 virtually everywhere in the world. It’s a near perfect song: sad and sophisticated, glorious and anthemic. The second single released, “Come Undone,” is sexy as hell; it also was a hit going to #7 in the US and #13 in the UK. I’m actually not too familiar with a couple of the other singles they released from The Wedding Album: the rocker “Too Much Information” (#35 UK, #45 US), “Drowning Man” (only released as a single in the US) and “None of the Above” (Japan-only). However, the cover of Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale” I clearly am familiar with – it was only released as a single in France. That track, and its video, do happen to be quite gothy.

The post Duran Duran “The Wedding Album” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

George Michael “Monkey”

sfilzen — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 18:16:42 +0000

George Michael “Monkey” 1988. 12″ single. The sixth single released from Faith, “Monkey” went to no. 1 in the US (on both the singles and dance charts) and to no. 13 in the UK. It’s an infectiously funky song about addiction.

I’m not sure I appreciated how great it was in ’88 (or how amazing George Michael was, for that matter) while deep in my punk-only phase. This 12″ has the extended version on Side A which is much longer than the single, with lots of extra synth effects and George Michael asking for more bass and guitars, etc. Side B has an “a’cappella” version of the song (a bit misleading: there are lots of drum machine beats and synth chords accenting the processed vocals) plus an “extra beats” variant (not misleading: lots of extra and crazy-ass funk’d out beats). The radio/video single version is not on the 12″ but it was remixed from the album version by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Paula Abdul choreographed the video. SO 80’s.

The post George Michael “Monkey” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Madonna “Like a Virgin”

sfilzen — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:21:51 +0000

Madonna “Like a Virgin” released 40 years ago today, October 31st 1984. 12″ maxi single, extended dance remix. So many vivid memories of when this song came out – the scandalous title (the song may have helped contribute to the creation of the PMRC), the iconic Venetian gondola video and Madonna’s infamous MTV Video Music Awards (its first year!) stage-writhing-in-a-wedding-dress performance (which I watched and loved though at age 13 not sure I totally understood). Written by songwriting partners Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly and produced by Nile Rodgers, “Like a Virgin” was a monster smash hit, going to #1 in the US (on multiple charts) and to #1 or at least the Top 10 virtually everywhere else in the world. As the lead single from Like a Virgin (released November 12, 1984), it set up the record to also be a massive success with teens lining up at record stores to buy it on its day of release (I didn’t go that far); the LP is still considered to be one of the best releases of the 80’s. In 2023 the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry added Like a Virgin to its collection due to its “cultural, historically and aesthetic significance. The 12″ extended dance remix of the single, courtesy of Jellybean Benitez, is considerably longer than the album version and radio single, with extra synth effects and dance grooves. The b-side of the 12″ is a mid-tempo dance track that also appears on Like a Virgin: “Stay.” I find it to be one of the less interesting songs on the album but it’s a good flipside choice for the single.

The post Madonna “Like a Virgin” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Madonna “Madonna”

sfilzen — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:41:25 +0000

Madonna “Madonna” released 40 years ago today (!!), July 27th, 1983. Madonna’s debut LP was sometimes panned and often reviled (i.e. this review from Blender: “quacking synths, overperky bass and state-of-the-art mechanical disco, with Madonna strapped to the wing rather than holding the controls. It’s a breathless, subtlety-free debut.” or “almost entirely helium, a gas-filled, lighter-than-air creation of MTV and other sinister media packagers”), but Madonna was instrumental in moving dance music out of club-exclusivity and into the popular mainstream with this top-selling LP which peaked at #8 in the US and #6 in the UK. Madonna is over- processed and over-polished (which basically sums up most of the 80′s) but it’s also infectiously glorious. Rolling Stone called it “an irresistible invitation to the dance” and it’s now recognized as an 80’s icon – one of the best album’s from the era – as is Madonna herself.

Madonna certainly blew my 12-year old mind in ’83. I distinctly remember hearing “Holiday” (the third single from Madonna; it went to #16 on the Hot 100, #1 on the Dance charts) that Fall and immediately dancing around my bedroom, infected by the post-disco grooves. And then I saw the video for “Lucky Star” (#4 US, #14 UK) and a thousand black rubber bangles and beauty marks were launched. I think I spent the next year scrutinizing her dance moves and practicing them with friends at sleepovers. Also iconic and still excellent are the singles “Holiday” (#16 US, #2 UK), two singles released prior to the LP’s launch which both charted only on the dance charts: “Everybody” and “Burning Up.” The remaining 40% of the record is somewhat unremarkable post-disco dance pop but with the strength of the singles, the record was, and remains, an 80’s gem.

The post Madonna “Madonna” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Bananarama “Venus”

sfilzen — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 21:42:31 +0000

Bananarama “Venus” 1986. 12″ single, London Records. A smash dance pop/new wave hit, going to #1 in the US and a bunch of other countries, “Venus” is a cover of Shocking Blue’s 1969 groovy psychedelic #1 hit. Bananarama reworked the song into a dance track and included it on their LP True Confessions. I adored “Venus” in ’86 and imitated the wavy/flamey-arm thing the Bananarama women do on the dance floor (I still do!).

The 12″ single version we have (there are several out there) has four remixes of the single, which weirdly does not appear on the record. “Venus (The Hellfire Mix)” is pretty similar to the single, maybe just a bit more sparse in instrumentation and amplified percussion. “Venus (Fire & Brimstone Mix)” simply bleeds 80’s over-the-top production with big echoey and twanging basslines and synth work, stamping 1986 permanently into the record’s grooves. The only thing missing is a saxophone solo. “Venus (Extended Version)” is longer, obviously, with extra vocal samples and extended hooks giving it a hi-NRG vibe, perfect for the dance club. Finally, “Venus (Dub Version)” is the longest of the bunch, clocking in at over eight hypnotic, repetitive minutes.

The post Bananarama “Venus” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

INXS “New Sensation”

sfilzen — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:18:38 +0000

INXS “New Sensation” 1988. UK 12″ single release, limited edition Poster Pack – the record sleeve unfolds to reveal this:

“New Sensation” was the third single from the 1987 LP Kick and it reached #3 in the US, #25 in the UK and #9 in Australia. Also on the 12″ is the great track “Do Wot You Do” which also appeared on the amazing soundtrack to the 1986 film Pretty in Pink, a track from INXS’ 1984 album The Swing (which I’ve been listening to ALOT lately) “Love Is (What I Say)” and “Same Direction” from 1985′s Listen Like Thieves. This is a great 80′s 12″ that captures the giant pop sound of that decade and I’m really shocked that the poster survived to 2018.

The post INXS “New Sensation” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

Wham! “Fantastic”

sfilzen — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 20:03:42 +0000

Wham! “Fantastic” 1983, Innervision Records, US edition, released during the brief time they were known as Wham!UK in the US because of a naming conflict. I needed a serious mood booster today so this debut album of ridiculously upbeat new wave/post-disco pop will hopefully do the trick. Fantastic made it to #1 on the UK charts, buoyed by the the inclusion of the ‘82 single “Young Guns (Go For It!),” which eventually hit #3 on the UK charts after Wham!’s appearance on Top of the Pops. Also released as singles: “Bad Boys” (#2 on the UK charts and the first Wham! single to chart in the US at #60), the funk-inspired disco track “Club Tropicana” (#4 in the UK) and my favorite track from Fantastic “Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do).” “Wham Rap” is so unbelievably silly and amazing. George Michael, in a delightfully white British way, “raps” about the joy of living life, regardless of money and politics. I’m already starting to smile.

You got soul on the dole
You’re gonna have a good time
Down on the line
You got soul on the dole
You’re gonna have a good time
Down on the line

I said get
Get
Get on down
I said get
Get
Get on down
I said get
Get get on down
I said get
Get
Get on down

Hey everybody take a look at me,
I’ve got street credibility,
I may not have a job,
But I have a good time,
With the boys that I meet “down on the line”

I said D. H. S. S.
Man the rhythm that they’re givin’
Is the very best

I said b one b two
Make the claims
On your name
All you have to do

Well…
Folks can be a drag
If work ain’t your bag
And when you let them know
You’re more dead then alive
In a nine to five
Then they say you’d got to go

And…
Get yourselves a job
Or get out of this house
Get yourself a job
Are you a man or a mouse
A finger in each ear
You pretend not to hear
Gotta get some space
Get out of this place
[Chorus:] Wham!
Bam!
I am!
A man!
Job or no job
You can’t tell me that I’m not
Do!
You!
Enjoy what you do?
If not
Just stop!
Don’t stay there and rot!

In the streets
In the cars
On the underground
If you listen real hard
You can hear the sound
Of a million people
Switching off for work
Well listen Mr. Average
You’re a jerk

Not me
You can’t hold me down
Not me
I’m gonna fool around
Gonna have some fun
Look out for number one
You can dig your grave
I’m staying young!
[Chorus]
If you’re a pub man
Or a club man
Maybe a jet black guy
With a hip hi-fi
A white cool cat
With a trilby hat
Maybe leather and studs
Is where you’re at
Make the most of everyday
Don’t let hard times
Stand in your way
Give a wham
Give a bam
But don’t give a damn
‘Cos the benefit gang
Are gonna pay

Now reach up high and touch your soul
The boys from Wham! will help you reach that goal
It’s gonna break your mama’s heart (so sad)
It’s gonna break your daddy’s heart (too bad)
Just throw the dice and take my advice
‘Cos I know that you’re smart
Can you dig this thing? (Yeah!)
Are you gonna get down? (Yeah!)
Say Wham! WHAM!
Say Bam! BAM!

Do you want to work? – no
Are you gonna have fun? – yeah
Said one, two, three, rap, c’mon everybody,
Don’t need this crap!
Enjoy what you do?
Everybody say wham! – wham!
Everybody say wham! bam! – wham! bam!
Enjoy what you do?

The post Wham! “Fantastic” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.