1979 was a landmark year in disco, with Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Anita Ward, and Sister Sledge all conquering the Billboard charts.  But the prominence of the dance genre led to a so-called backlash - and it happened in the blink of an eye.  On July 21, 1979 - nine days following the Disco Demolition Night held by controversial Chicago disk jockey Steve Dahl and others - the genre dominated the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with six records.  By September 22, there were no disco songs at all in the top 10.  But then, as now, people still wanted to dance.  Even as the musical merits of disco have been reevaluated and rightfully recognized with the passage of time, other dance music forms owing to disco continued to flourish from 1979 onward.  In this rapidly-changing climate, New Jersey-born vocalist Taana Gardner recorded her self-titled album for the West End Records label.  On May 17, that landmark record returns from SoulMusic Records, Cherry Red Records, and The Second Disc as part of a deluxe 2CD release, When You Touch Me: The West End Recordings.

Taana Gardner owed much of her early success to the Paradise Garage's influential DJ Larry Levan, who introduced writer-producer Kenton Nix to West End's owner Mel Cheren.  When the intended singer for Nix's "Work That Body" - originally mooted as an instrumental - fell ill, Gardner stepped in, and the rest is dance music history.  Gardner had a series of hit records with "Work That Body" and "When You Touch Me" (both No. 10 Dance in 1979) and "Heartbeat" (No. 6 Disco/No. 10 R&B) and "No Frills" a couple of years later in 1981.  Nix would create the records, Gardner would sing them with her pure, clear soprano, and Levan would mix them for the most danceable effect.  Taana Gardner was her only long-playing solo album, though she continued to team up with Nix for special projects through the 1990s and even scored a dance hit in the 2000s as "Work That Body" continued to enthrall club crowds and provide ripe fodder for remixing.  Gardner's youthful, breathy vocals invited favorable comparison to Deniece Williams', and Nix provided an ideal setting with his five lengthy disco-tailored productions issued on a special double-vinyl set: one song on Side One, two songs on Side Two, one each on Sides Three and Four.

When You Touch Me: The West End Recordings opens with Taana Gardner in its original form and mix for the very first time on CD including Larry Levan's 1979 mixes.  Producer Kenton Nix's extended mixes of "When You Touch Me," "Just Be a Friend," and "Work That Body" have been appended to Disc One.  The second disc features ten singles and remixes including two promotional versions of "When You Touch Me" which make their commercial CD debuts here; and club mixes by the illustrious likes of Larry Levan, Tom Moulton, Masters at Work, Nicky Siano, Angel Moraes, and Gomi.

A 24-page full-color booklet designed by Paul Bevoir features in-depth liner notes by reissue producer Tim Dillinger which draw on quotes from Taana Gardner, Larry Levan, and West End's Mel Cheren.  Nick Robbins has remastered the audio for this release.  Look for When You Touch Me: The West End Recordings on May 17 from SoulMusic, Cherry Red, and TSD!  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  U.S. Customers: Pre-orders placed directly via SoulMusic Records will ship domestically for arrival by the release date.  Pre-orders are due May 5.

Taana Gardner, When You Touch Me: The West End Recordings (SoulMusic/Cherry Red/The Second Disc SMCR5200D, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada / SoulMusic)

CD 1: Taana Gardner (West End LP WES-107, 1979)

1. When You Touch Me
2. We Got To Work It Out
3. Just Be A Friend
4. Paradise Express
5. Work That Body

Bonus Tracks (from Taana Gardner: Expanded Edition, Big Break Records CDBBR0213, 2013)

6. When You Touch Me (Kenton Nix Mix)
7. Just Be A Friend (Kenton Nix Mix)
8. Work That Body (Kenton Nix Mix)

CD 2: Singles and Remixes

1. That's The Word (12" Club Version) (from Taana Gardner: Expanded Edition, Big Break Records CDBBR0213, 2013)
2. Heartbeat (12" Club Version) (from West End 12" single WES-22132, 1981)
3. No Frills (Larry Levan Club Mix) (from West End 12" single WES-22137, 1981)
4. I'm Comin' (Radio Mix) (West End CD single WES1001-2, 1998)
5. When You Touch Me (Special Disco Radio Version) (West End 12" single DR22122-DJ, 1979)
6. When You Touch Me (Special Radio Version) (West End 12" single DR22122-DJ, 1979)
7. When You Touch Me (MAW Re-edit) (13:43) (from Masters at Work Presents West End Records: The 25th Anniversary Edition, Mastermix WES2002-2, 2001)
8. Work That Body (MAW Re-edit) (from Masters at Work Presents West End Records: The 25th Anniversary Edition, Mastermix WES2002-2, 2001)
9. Work That Body (Wing It For the A-Man Tom Moulton Edit) (West End 12" single WES-1002DJ, 2000)
10. Paradise Express (Gomi's Tribute Vocal Mix) (West End 12" single WES1053, 2006)