Roots Archives Forum

Could someone please be so kind as to give me a formal definition of a Discomix? It seems like these versions are usually fused together with the dub, or extended to include a longer instrumental section. Are they mixes for the clubs? Thank you I-Tinually.

-- Jah Chicken

12" records were originally for DJ use in discos & radio due to the improved Hi Fi sound.

When Studio 1 put out certain 7" that sounded like a discomix the musicians were credited as The Brentford Disco Set.

ites man

Disco Mixes

During the [late] seventies in Jamaica the 12" mix of popular songs became the vogue. The vocals and dubs were mated for a musical extravaganza. As a result of the popularity of these 12" singles Coxsone Dodd compiled and released some "Showcase" albums. - jo moenen for amazon.com

Always a hit factory, [Studio One] came close to completely dominating the Jamaican dance floor with the emergence of the long-playing 12-inch "discomix" in the [late] 1970s. Studio One capitalized on the extended discomix format, successfully recycling some of its best material from the 1960s. Older hits were updated simply by mixing in lengthy instrumental endings. The popularity of the discomix allowed the label to prolong its reign, even after its most creative period had passed. Because a discomix filled up an entire side of a [12"] record, a hit song had the power to keep competing records off the DJs turntable for a good long time.

[Studio One produced about 50 12" mixes, Wackies about 50 too.]


more time
Carlos
dreadrecords@yahoo.com

There were more than 100 Studio One 12"!

Check this link to Blood & Fire Forum for fuller details:

http://tinyurl.com/d2t4c

Any additions to that list would be welcome!

....and there were about 150plus Wackie 12"...

Best if you check out one of the latest studio 1 releases by Soul Jazz called "Studio 1 Disco Mix" (although many tracks on this release are not extended at all/just vocal cuts; Mr Soul Jazz I need an explanation for this!%@!!$##).

It appeared that in fact the disco mix grew out of a new technological development. The 12 inch single was invented in the US and very popular in disco music. As a result songs could be extended twice (or more) as long and still be played at 45 rpm (which always sounds better, more dynamics , less vulnerabale to scratches etc...).

Coxsone - a great business man - used this oppertunity to earn some extra money by recycling his catalogue. In many cases you can hear how tracks have been copied/pasted to a far extend. Additional overdubbing (syndrums,echo, stereo effects... but great saxophone extensions as well) was applied, and classics were resold as brand new again. ... This guy turned rubble into gold , again. And I love it.

The first 'Discomixes' were produced by the brothers Hookim at Channel One back around 1975/1976. They put extended versions to some of their releases on one side of 7"(!) singles and acetates for use in the dancehalls. Vinyl was (and still is) rare in Jamaica so in the first place it had to be something 'special' to be put out an a 12" single. That's the reason why almost 90 % of all 12"s were pressed and released outside Jamaica.