I just ‘inherited’ a collection of a few hundred Hi-Nrg 12” singles. My partner’s best friend moved to Thailand and her husband was trying to find a good home for his collection and asked me if I’d be interested. Was I ever!
They are all in immaculate condition, so much so that it’s hard to believe they were ever played, yet he says he listened to them relentlessly in the mid to late 80s. It is the only music he ever bought and he was obsessed with Hi-Nrg for a few years. There is a handful of late period Italo 12”s in there too and oddly also two 12” singles by The Cult, but all the rest is pure Hi-Nrg. I’ve not had a chance to listen to much yet but from looking through probably know a third of it already and can tell that a fair chunk of the rest is going to be on the extreme cheesy end of the Nrg spectrum, but I am fairly sure I’ll find some gold in there. The “Male Stripper” picture disc I never knew existed looks awesome!
The guy who gave me the collection is autistic which I guess could be reflected by how well kept the records are but also in that he had this obsessive interest for a few years that very suddenly stops. He never bought music before he discovered Hi-Nrg and said when House music came along and more or less replaced it at the dance music record shop he frequented he lost interest and never bought another record again, ever. It’s also interesting to me that he is straight and seemed to have a particular penchant for the most suggestive of Hi-Nrg tracks. He had a lot of Recca 12” singles which rather than A-side and B-side designations, have a Top side and a Bottom side.
Hi-Nrg was of course huge in straight mainstream working class clubs in Scotland and a lot of England at the time. It was the dominant soundtrack for many years as demonstrated by the Saturday late night ”live from a nightclub” hit ITV programme “The Hitman & Her” hosted by Pete Waterman who made most of his millions with PWL’s diluted (but sometimes brilliant, and always brilliantly mixed and produced - shout out to Phil Harding) Hi-Nrg sound. I’ve long bored people to death going on about how the vast majority of Man 2 Man’s “Male Stripper” sales were in Scotland and if a Scottish chart had existed then it would have been number one for here months. It is firmly lodged in the psyche of almost all Scots of a certain age - an eternal favourite for so many people, the vast majority of whom, at the time at least, were somehow unaware of its gayness. Such a curious thing! The guy whose collection it was told this story about how he used to play his 12”s at home so much that they would get stuck in his dad’s head. His dad, a very working class Glaswegian worked in a factory and his work mates started giving him curious looks as he was constantly (unconsciously) singing the chorus of “I Need A Man” by Man 2 Man at work. So, I guess some people did notice.
I asked him what he liked so much about Hi-Nrg and he just said ‘“the energy”. Fair enough.
― stirmonster, Saturday, 3 June 2023 21:41 (one year ago) link
irl lol
― serving bundt (sic), Sunday, 4 June 2023 01:47 (one year ago) link
The “Male Stripper” picture disc I never knew existed looks awesome!
oh my god
― Tracer Hand, Sunday, 4 June 2023 16:03 (one year ago) link
irl lol but also feeling a little called out w/r/t neurodivergency / owning the most suggestive of tracks
― Xii, Sunday, 4 June 2023 16:12 (one year ago) link
Aren’t we all neurodivergent here? That’s the only reason I hang out here.
― stirmonster, Sunday, 4 June 2023 16:18 (one year ago) link
Well jel of your haul there stirmonster (and also dying to know what cult records were in there)
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Sunday, 4 June 2023 16:50 (one year ago) link
“Resurrection Joe” and “She Sells Sanctuary”.
― stirmonster, Sunday, 4 June 2023 17:51 (one year ago) link
haha great choices! Resurrection Joe still bangs, was secretly hoping that would be one of them <3
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Sunday, 4 June 2023 18:15 (one year ago) link
i mean its no Floorshow but then what is?
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Sunday, 4 June 2023 18:17 (one year ago) link
Yup, it’s my favourite Cult 12” too.
I said hep cats…
― stirmonster, Sunday, 4 June 2023 18:23 (one year ago) link
I watched video for it for the first time today, amazing
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Sunday, 4 June 2023 18:25 (one year ago) link
It's probably the reason I've always felt safe to post here, yeah, and why I'm still here so many years later. I take long lurker breaks, but yeah.
― Xii, Monday, 5 June 2023 00:22 (one year ago) link
Good!
proto-Peaky Blinders!
― stirmonster, Monday, 5 June 2023 02:47 (one year ago) link
Any plans for a Hi-NRG mix from that collection Stirmonster?
Living in Brighton has meant I’ve built up quite a good selection of second-hand Hi-NRG from the charity shops… the condition of them is usually less than pristine to say the least though!
I bought a portable Tascam to record gigs out and about quite recently, mainly these days our monthly italo/Hi-NRG/general 80s vocal dance music night Flex. Anyone interested in hearing any of them?
― Chewshabadoo, Monday, 5 June 2023 09:10 (one year ago) link
We even managed to get ILX board royalty NickB make his first public DJing appearance a few months back… he might be too shy for me to share that one though.
― Chewshabadoo, Monday, 5 June 2023 09:12 (one year ago) link
perhaps!
and yes, interested!
also, i've lomg toyed with the idea of putting together a Hi-NRG comp, though these things are an enormous amount of work and i reckon it would be a big licensing headache, but maybe...and maybe some ILX hive mind input would be good?
― stirmonster, Monday, 5 June 2023 13:52 (one year ago) link
i for one am VERY interested in hearing live hi NRG mixes/a hi NRG compilation - i have long been hoping some boutique reissue label would release a high-quality comp of this stuff with liner notes and the whole shebang (and i have a few ideas for stuff i’d like to see on said comp :))
― donna rouge, Monday, 5 June 2023 15:31 (one year ago) link
i was a little burned out on disco comps when this series started so i never looked that closely into it, but i think that was sort of the idea here?
https://www.discogs.com/label/391234-Disco-Discharge
― the late great, Monday, 5 June 2023 15:41 (one year ago) link
"pink pounder" should be someone's new dj name
― ꙮ (map), Monday, 5 June 2023 15:44 (one year ago) link
I've got some hi nrg suggestions, but this is the main thing that springs to mind, just great sounds and sassy vibes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxjjPhcdads
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Monday, 5 June 2023 15:48 (one year ago) link
I love those Disco Discharge compilations so much
― boxedjoy, Monday, 5 June 2023 16:41 (one year ago) link
Great series.
I can't find it but I coulda sworn there was an old ILX post stirmonster where you made fun of me for saying the hi-nrg revival was coming. Or at least disagreed. Regardless I'd love it, although my hi-nrg interest is, like my interest in most genres, limited to a small sliver that strikes a particular chord with me and as noted before my hi-nrg mix was like 75% "italo". Although I'd like to share this one again which even though it's a Tony Carrasco production and released by Klein and MBO is from 1987 and is more hi-nrg than italo, if there really is a difference at times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ush-Yl2rTxs
― dan selzer, Monday, 5 June 2023 16:53 (one year ago) link
Last time I followed EDM, about a decade ago, I was particularly interested in DJs like John Digweed and Joris Voorn who, though deft computer mixing, were often keeping 3-4 tracks going in their sets at any one time. Anyone have recommendations from among younger generations of house and techno DJs who have so much going on in their sets?
― Melomane, Monday, 5 June 2023 17:00 (one year ago) link
yeah those DD comps are terrific
that klein & mbo track is new to me - ace!
i posted some recent faves on the hi-nrg thread but here's another one, think this one got a lot of play at LA parties back then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teVG7I3fSg4
― donna rouge, Monday, 5 June 2023 17:44 (one year ago) link
I've posted this before on the Hi-NRG and DJ mixes for download threads, but this is an Eighties Hi-NRG/Boystown/Eurobeat/queer pop mix that I recently put together as a "proof of concept" experiment for the night that I've managed to bag in Nottingham. Putting it together was an absolute revelation for me, and I'm forever replaying it and thinking Big Thoughts about the genre as a whole. https://www.mixcloud.com/miketd/the-boys-come-to-town/
― mike t-diva, Monday, 5 June 2023 19:42 (one year ago) link
Hi Mike, I don't know if you caught this or not, but James Hamilton was mentioned a few times on the latest episode of Bill Brewster's DJ History podcast - a long chat with Simon Dunmore of Defected records:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/54Et1YCnvzFTczV14kyNOo?si=yUIHi3zLStCdE84vMCdUGw
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Monday, 5 June 2023 20:18 (one year ago) link
Dan, I think that thread you are thinking of was me pontificating that the mix you mentioned was more Italo than Hi-NRG, but I could be wrong. Apologies If I was indeed making fun of you.
Anyway, I don’t think a revival is coming particularly but I do think it’s a misunderstood and underrated genre that more people might love if they heard the good stuff.
― stirmonster, Monday, 5 June 2023 20:57 (one year ago) link
Thanks Nick - I’ve been in contact with Bill Brewster several times and he interviewed me about James Hamilton a while ago, with a view to doing something substantial about him; I also pointed him towards a few other people that I thought he should talk to, and he took the leads. I’ll give that podcast episode a listen soon.
― mike t-diva, Monday, 5 June 2023 21:51 (one year ago) link
Oh cool, look forward to hearing the fruits of that!
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Monday, 5 June 2023 22:26 (one year ago) link
Stir, no that mix was def very Italo friendly. The discussion I’m thinking about was like a decade ago. I think I was talking about funkapolitan and modern romance and you mentioned blue rondo and then I said something about forget the faux latin post punk funk what about following the Italo revival with a hinrg one and I think I you were opposed! I can’t find it though.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 02:15 (one year ago) link
sure you know a lot of these already but some hi-nrg suggestions:
La Palace De Beauté - The Pleasure SeekersTiger Moon - Somethings Tells MeThe Only – Love Dies With The NightMalibu - Lust Or LoveSabby – Friday NightPaul Parker - Pushin Too HardChapter One – Playing With LoveLisa Smith - Sweet FantasyAmante - Be My DelightPromise Ring - Be Mine TonightJackie Touché – Watch OutMotion - Don't StopStephanie Wells – Planet Of LoveTheo Vaness - Bad Bad BoyTanya – Darladi-LadadaKrukutz – Love InsuranceX Ray Connection - Get ReadyRoni Griffith - SpysMike Hammer – DivineBardeux – Three-Time Lover
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Tuesday, 6 June 2023 07:00 (one year ago) link
really like the first one on that list, something about it really reminds me of coil:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSBHSj4iDBY
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Tuesday, 6 June 2023 07:05 (one year ago) link
oh shit i missed this monster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8pcxrv2mqMDesire – Affection
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Tuesday, 6 June 2023 07:18 (one year ago) link
LOVE that X Ray Connection track, used to have it on 12-inch myself. Eric - Who’s Your Boyfriend is the most underrated Bobby O track IMO; one of my absolute favourites of his.Hi-NRG occasionally seems to pop its head above the surface, but my sightings have few and far between: the Krystal Klear remix of Fun Fun - Baila Bolero, the Studio 2054 remix of Kylie & Dua Lipa - Real Groove, and Greg Wilson has been playing Patrick Crowley - Menergy.
― mike t-diva, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 07:28 (one year ago) link
Lots I don’t know on that list Nick. Looking forward to investigating. Cheers.
And Dan, I think the discussion you mention might be even further back than you remember it being. And, you could be right. I am nothing if not capricious!
― stirmonster, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 09:08 (one year ago) link
I love the Promise Ring, picked it up after hearing Morgan Geist playing it a bunch, but always considered that more a freestyle track then hi-nrg
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 11:17 (one year ago) link
ah I found the reference, in the "eurodisco" thread:
"i love hi-nrg but i pray it never becomes 'cool'. that pretty much goes against the entire point of the music."
I was mistaken, it wasn't that you didn't like hi-nrg, just that you didn't predict the revival...16 years ago.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 12:07 (one year ago) link
xp: Oops I think I wrote Promise Ring by mistake, obviously we mean Promise Circle. Promise Ring still emo the last time i checked! :D
But yeah, that was maybe an iffy call but the kick feels like it's headed in a hi-nrg direction. The guy who produced it (Ish) made stuff in both styles - the Tiger Moon track is very hi-nrg, but he also produced Noel and Company B who are both obviously freestyle superstars
― rincton monkspoon (NickB), Tuesday, 6 June 2023 12:16 (one year ago) link
and also of course hi-nrg does not equal eurodisco. Forget I said anything.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 12:35 (one year ago) link
and youtube calles Be Mine Tonight "Hi-NRG Freestyle" so it's ok.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 12:36 (one year ago) link
another recent fave, love the unexpected cut-up bits:Lois & Lane - Turn on the Nighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJn00XELgYI
― donna rouge, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 14:05 (one year ago) link
Tanya – Darladi-Ladada is a favorite. I think I bought it thinking it was the italo Tanya.
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 14:21 (one year ago) link
some longtime favorites that were on my italo/hi-nrg mix posted not too long ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBhz07DUTM4
Bobby O:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOvEWc0C4bk
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 14:22 (one year ago) link
more bobby o:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WhSjFpXjGg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH8JkoRYO88
― dan selzer, Tuesday, 6 June 2023 14:24 (one year ago) link
Just catching up here after my last thread. The Lauren Grey track is a huge huge favourite – it also still sounds great pitched all the way down as well.
Sounds like I need to get some records up.
A few other favourite Hi-NRG tracks I like to play off the top of my head
Dave Storrs – Dancing On The PlanetPamala Stanley – I Don't Want To Talk About ItTwo Sisters – DestinyTapps - Don't Pretend To Know
― Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 8 June 2023 13:13 (one year ago) link
*Sounds like I need to get some recordings up
― Chewshabadoo, Thursday, 8 June 2023 13:14 (one year ago) link
It's not that I don't like hi-nrg vocals, obv that's part of the charm. But I think some of these would do good with an edit. A lot of the vocal melodies are too triumphant and happy or something for me. I'm generally anti-edit, and more italo vocals than a lot of the types of DJs who won't, and I have a long history of railing against disco edits for removing vocals....but some of these tracks and some others I was listening to last night, just killer aggressive arpeggiated synth stuff that gives way to cheesier chorus. Again, not that there's anything WRONG with that! Just that I'd like to play some of these without it.
― dan selzer, Thursday, 8 June 2023 13:49 (one year ago) link
i predict a year or so from now ppl are going to be looking for a hi-nrg thread that doesn’t have hi-nrg in the title!
― the late great, Thursday, 8 June 2023 13:50 (one year ago) link