Demon/Edsel's Dance Masters series only just released its second volume this summer - but a third one is on the way this fall, spotlighting the work of acclaimed remixer John Luongo.
The Arthur Baker-presented series follows generous box sets on Shep Pettibone and Baker himself with a new overview of John "T.C." Luongo, who parlayed working in and around the Boston club scene into more than a decade of 12" remix work, first for some of the greatest R&B artists crossing over into disco, and then fusing cutting edge dance sounds to a new generation of MTV-savvy rock acts. The list of cuts given the extended treatment here is formidable, from Dan Hartman's influential "Vertigo/Relight My Fire" and soulful sides by Johnny Mathis, Melba Moore and Patti LaBelle to takes on Huey Lewis and The News' "I Want a New Drug," Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face," ABC's "The Look of Love," Tina Turner's "The Best" and so much more. Though Luongo stepped away from the boards some time ago, he's still active as the owner/operator of a full-service music management company.
As with the other volumes in the Dance Masters series, they've been coordinated and compiled by catalog producer Wayne A. Dickson and Baker (who also writes a foreword to the set's liner notes essay by Alexis Petridis). Luongo offers track-by-track commentary along with rare photos from his personal collection. The 4CD set will feature 43 tracks in total, with a 6LP box set showcasing 36 tracks (some of which are different mixes or songs entirely) and a double vinyl featuring 16. (Amazon U.K. will have limited quantities of the box set editions with a signed print.)
The sets will be available November 17, with pre-order links below. Keep an eye on The Second Disc before then for an interview with Dickson, conducted shortly after the release of the last Dance Masters title and just before this set was finalized!
Arthur Baker Presents Dance Masters: John Luongo - The Classic Dance Remixes (Edsel EDSL-0162 (U.K.), 2023)
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon U.K. (signed print) / Amazon Canada
CD 1
- The Best (Extended Mighty Mix) - Tina Turner
- Missing You (12" Extended Mix) - John Waite
- Eyes Without a Face (Full-Length Version) - Billy Idol
- Human Touch (12" Extended Mix) - Rick Springfield
- I Want a New Drug (Dance Mix) - Huey Lewis and The News
- Jeopardy (Dance Mix) - Greg Kihn Band
- Downtown Life (Downtown Remix) - Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Viva Las Vegas (Remix) - ZZ Top
- Wild, Wild West (Dance Mix) - Escape Club
- Suspicious Minds (Suspicious Mix) - Fine Young Cannibals
- Skin Deep (Extended Dance Mix) - Cher
CD 2
- Fade to Grey (U.S. 12" Mix) - Visage
- The Look of Love (Part 3: Dance Mix) - ABC
- Crackdown (12" Version) - Cabaret Voltaire
- Blind Vision (Extended Version) - Blancmange
- Don't Let Go (Extended Remix) - Wang Chung
- Rain (U.S. Dance Mix) - Dragon
- Major Tom (Coming Home) (Special Extended Version) - Peter Schilling
- The Great Commandment (U.S. 12″ Mix) - Camouflage
- Insecure... Me? (U.S. Version) - Soft Cell
- Acceleration (Long Version) - Bill Nelson
- Cry Just a Little Bit (Luongo's Mix) - Shakin' Stevens
CD 3
- Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good) (Long Version) - Bananarama
- Give It Up (12" Extended Mix) - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
- Junge Roemer (Young Romans) (Specially Remixed Version) - Falco
- Tarzan Boy (Extended Version) - Baltimora
- I'm the One (Remix) - Material
- Save the Overtime (for Me) (Extended Mix) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- The Chinese Way (U.S. Mix) - Level 42
- Give Me (Absolutely Ultimate American I-Level I-Remix) - I Level
- Out in the Night (12" Extended Mix) - Serge Ponsar
- You're Too Late (12" Extended Mix) - Fantasy
- Zulu (12" Extended Mix) - The Quick
CD 4
- Changin' (Full-Length Version) - Ms. Sharon Ridley
- You Stepped into My Life (12" Disco Version) - Melba Moore
- Music Is My Way of Life (12" Disco Version) - Patti LaBelle
- This Time Baby (12" Disco Version) - Jackie Moore
- Gone, Gone, Gone (12" Disco Version) - Johnny Mathis
- Vertigo/Relight My Fire (Progressive Instrumental Remix) - Dan Hartman feat. Loleatta Holloway
- Kind of Life (Kind of Love) (12" Vocal) - North End
- Shine On Silver Moon (12" Extended Mix) - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.
- Love Dancin' (12" Disco Version) - Marlena Shaw
- Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet (12" Disco Version) - Gonzalez
6LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (signed print) / Amazon Canada
LP 1
- The Best (Extended Mighty Mix) - Tina Turner
- Missing You (12" Extended Mix) - John Waite
- Eyes Without a Face (Full-Length Version) - Billy Idol
- Jeopardy (Dance Mix) - Greg Kihn Band
- I Want a New Drug (Dance Mix) - Huey Lewis and The News
- Human Touch (12" Extended Mix) - Rick Springfield
LP 2
- Suspicious Minds (Suspicious Mix) - Fine Young Cannibals
- Viva Las Vegas (Remix) - ZZ Top
- Skin Deep (Extended Dance Mix) - Cher
- Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good) (U.S. Extended Version) - Bananarama
- Tarzan Boy (Extended Version) - Baltimora
- Junge Roemer (Young Romans) (Specially Remixed Version) - Falco
LP 3
- Major Tom (Coming Home) (Special Extended Version) - Peter Schilling
- The Great Commandment (U.S. 12″ Mix) - Camouflage
- Don't Let Go (Extended Remix) - Wang Chung
- Fade to Grey (U.S. 12" Mix) - Visage
- Insecure... Me? (U.S. Version) - Soft Cell
- Acceleration (Long Version) - Bill Nelson
LP 4
- The Look of Love (Part 3: Dance Mix) - ABC
- Crackdown (12" Version) - Cabaret Voltaire
- Blind Vision (Extended Version) - Blancmange
- The Chinese Way (New York Remix) - Level 42
- Give Me (U.S. Remix) - I Level
- Zulu (12" Extended Mix) - The Quick
LP 5
- Save the Overtime (for Me) (Extended Mix) - Gladys Knight & The Pips
- Give It Up (12" Extended Mix) - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
- Boogie Oogie Oogie (New Boogie Mix) - A Taste of Honey
- Out in the Night (12" Extended Mix) - Serge Ponsar
- You're Too Late (12" Extended Mix) - Fantasy
- Kind of Life (Kind of Love) (12" Vocal) - North End
LP 6
- Changin' (Full-Length Version) - Ms. Sharon Ridley
- You Stepped into My Life (12" Disco Version) - Melba Moore
- Music Is My Way of Life (12" Disco Version) - Patti LaBelle
- This Time Baby (12" Disco Version) - Jackie Moore
- Shine On Silver Moon (12" Extended Mix) - Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.
- Relight My Fire (The Historical 1979 Remix) - Dan Hartman feat. Loleatta Holloway
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP 1
- The Best (Extended Mighty Mix) - Tina Turner
- Missing You (12" Extended Mix) - John Waite
- Eyes Without a Face (Full-Length Version) - Billy Idol
- Human Touch (12" Extended Mix) - Rick Springfield
- The Look of Love (Part 3: Dance Mix) - ABC
- Fade to Grey (U.S. 12" Mix) - Visage
- Blind Vision (Extended Version) - Blancmange
- Suspicious Minds (Suspicious Mix) - Fine Young Cannibals
LP 2
- Shy Boy (Don't It Make You Feel Good) (U.S. Extended Version) - Bananarama
- Tarzan Boy (Extended Version) - Baltimora
- The Chinese Way (New York Remix) - Level 42
- Out in the Night (12" Extended Mix) - Serge Ponsar
- Give It Up (12" Extended Mix) - K.C. & The Sunshine Band
- Relight My Fire (The Historical 1979 Remix) - Dan Hartman feat. Loleatta Holloway
- You Stepped into My Life (12" Disco Version) - Melba Moore
- Music Is My Way of Life (12" Disco Version) - Patti LaBelle
Ken A.! says
Aw, man, I wanted to read your ‘originally released on’ footnotes for this one 😉
Zubb says
SOLD! As soon as the 4 CD set is active on the Amazon US site I will be ordering it.
Rob M says
So most of Disc 4 is repeated from the 2 CD “Can You Feel The Force” Cherry Red comp from a few years ago. “Boogie Oogie Oogie” appears to be vinyl only ( not a great loss).
Will “You’re Too Late” by Fantasy suffer the same tape dropouts present on all previous CD releases? I’ll wait to hear before hitting the buy button.
ISH says
Boo Bryan Adams for keeping "Let Me Take You Dancing" out of this box!