The Shape of Things to Come.

Early house classic “This Brutal House” by Nitro Deluxe worked perfectly on Belgium’s New Beat dancefloors.

This day in 1987 it reached No.1 on the UK Dance chart, staying there two weeks.

Did you dance to this one?

#House #NewBeat #music #DanceMusic #TheTwelveInch

34 years ago today, the Billboard Club Play chart had a new No.1:

“Comin’ On Strong” by Dessiya.

One of those early ’90s club tracks that ruled the dancefloor back then.

Do you remember it?

#DanceMusic #HouseMusic #90sDance #Billboard #TheTwelveInch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLKr...

Who says writing disco songs required no talent?

ASCAP clearly disagreed.

In 1979, they organized their first Disco Writers Workshop — whatever that looked like 😁

I’ve never seen it mentioned again afterwards… so perhaps it wasn’t a huge success.

#Disco #MusicHistory #ASCAP #TheTwelveInch

From today on Ryan Paris’ age matches his birth year.

Happy 63rd birthday! 🎉

Perfect moment to celebrate with “Dolce Vita” — one of the biggest Italo disco hits ever.

#RyanParis #DolceVita #ItaloDisco #80sMusic #DanceMusic #TheTwelveInch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXmA...

Most people know John Miles for the classic “Music.”

But in 1977 he also scored a big dance hit: “Slow Down.”

The track reached No.2 on the dance charts, just missing the top spot.

Today it’s almost forgotten.

Had you ever heard it before?

#Disco #DanceMusic #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch

This day in 1989, Ten City scored their only No.1 on the US Dance chart with “That’s The Way Love Is.”

Helped by their brilliant lead singer with that unmistakable falsetto.

Do you remember his name?

#TenCity #HouseMusic #DanceMusic #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_ed...

Let’s also give some love to the records that just missed the top spot on the dance charts.

Like this 1984 electro gem:
“The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight” by Dominatrix.

It reached No.2 on the Billboard Dance chart, close, but not quite the crown.

#Electro #DanceMusic #Music #TheTwelveInch

This Friday I’ll be discussing a Tina Turner track.

Which one? You’ll have to wait until Friday.
I can already tell you which one it won’t be:
“Let’s Stay Together.” 😁

This day in 1984, the track hit No.1 on the US Dance chart.

#TinaTurner #80sMusic #DanceMusic #Billboard #TheTwelveInch #music

At the same time Patti LaBelle & Harold Faltermeyer hit No.1 on the US Dance chart, the UK Dance chart also had a new top spot:

“Hanging On A String” by Loose Ends.

Still a favorite of mine.

#LooseEnds #80sSoul #DanceMusic #UKCharts #TheTwelveInch #music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-WW...

In the early ’80s, Billboard stopped charting multiple album tracks together on the Dance chart.

There were exceptions. From the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, MCA paired “Axel F” with Patti LaBelle’s “New Attitude” on one 12”.

41 years ago today it hit No.1.
#music #TheTwelveInch

In 1979, Deniece Williams scored a disco hit with “I’ve Got The Next Dance.”

Her label supported the album with full-page trade ads.

She was signed to ARC Records, a Columbia/CBS imprint revived 40 years after closing in 1938

#Disco #TheTwelveInch #music

40 years ago today, a true love-it-or-hate-it ’80s track hit No.1 on the UK Dance Chart:

“(Nothin’ Serious) Just Buggin’” by Whistle.

One of those records people feel very strongly about.

So… love it or hate it?

And can you guess which side I’m on? 😁

#80sMusic #Electro #Music #TheTwelveInch

Gary Numan turns 68 today. Happy birthday Gary!

Let’s celebrate with my favorite track of his — and the first Numan record I ever bought.

And no… it’s not Cars
And no… it’s not Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

what’s your favorite Gary Numan track?

#SynthPop #NewWave #Music #TheTwelveInch

46 years ago today, the Billboard Dance chart had a new No.1:

“Funkytown” by Lipps Inc.

One of the first titles anyone mentions when you ask: “Name a big disco hit.”

It stayed 4 weeks at No.1, and became Lipps Inc.’s only chart-topper.

#Disco #Funkytown #Music #Billboard #TheTwelveInch

Which record held the longest No.1 run on the US dance charts?

Two did it for 11 weeks: Thriller by Michael Jackson… and “Bad Luck” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, which started its run 51 years ago today.

#Disco #DanceMusic #Billboard #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch

Happy birthday to Taylor Dayne — celebrating 64 today 🎉

Let’s celebrate with one of her massive hits from 1987… still a guaranteed dancefloor moment.

#TaylorDayne #80sMusic #DanceMusic #BillboardDance #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud6s...

I wasn’t immediately sold when I first heard Divine (Native Love felt a bit too over the top for me back then).

But Shoot Your Shot and Love Reaction changed everything

Today in 1988 we lost Divine at just 42.
Let’s remember this unique talent ❤️

#Divine #HiNRG #music #TheTwelveInch

The Twelve Inch 185 : Fascinated : Latin Freestyle/Synth-Funk - 1987

Company B reached #1 on the US dance charts in 1987 — and what a song it is.

Still sounds fantastic today.
You can hear it in the mixset I made for the piece I wrote about it a few months ago 😉

#CompanyB #DanceMusic #80sMusic #BillboardDance #Freestyle #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch

Whitney Houston’s I’m Every Woman reached #1 on the Billboard Dance chart in 1993.

The original by Chaka Khan only got to #30 back in 1978 — but it’s still pure magic.

Two versions, two eras.
Which one do you prefer?
I’m choosing the original 😉

#ChakaKhan #music #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch

David Gilmour turns 80 today.

Pink Floyd? Not exactly dance music, I know 😁
But my love for Pink Floyd and the dancefloor do intersect once in a while — and this track is the perfect example.

Happy birthday David!

#music #PinkFloyd #MusicHistory #DanceMusic #ClassicRock #TheTwelveInch

1977 was Heatwave’s year — Boogie Nights reached #1 on the UK dance charts and became an instant classic.

But they had another big dance hit after that…
Remember the title? 😉

#Heatwave #BoogieNights #Disco #70sMusic #DanceMusic #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTR2...

Tomorrow: one of the most important disco tracks of the late 70s.

It began as a protest after being refused entry to a legendary nightclub… and ended up becoming Atlantic Records’ best-selling single ever.

#Disco #AtlanticRecords #Disco #Music #TheTwelveInch

Patsy Kensit turns 58 today.

Often remembered as an 80s sex symbol (and for a very eventful love life 😁), but she was also the voice of Eight Wonder, and scored a huge dance hit with a Pet Shop Boys-produced gem.

Still sounds great.

#PatsyKensit #PetShopBoys #Music #TheTwelveInch

Today one of my musical heroes celebrates his 81st birthday: Dieter Meier of Yello.

Time to celebrate with one of my favourite Yello tracks — though choosing just one is nearly impossible 😁

What’s YOUR favourite Yello track?

#Yello #DieterMeier #SynthPop #ElectronicMusic #music #TheTwelveInch

Not every dancefloor classic reached #1.

Alyson Williams’ Sleeptalk climbed to #3 on the Billboard dance chart in 1989 — and still sounds like pure late-80s club magic.

Remember this one? 😉

#DanceMusic #80sMusic #BillboardDance #AlysonWilliams #Sleeptalk #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch

This Friday I wrote about Michel Polnareff… but on this day in 1991 we lost another French legend.

A future episode will dive into one of the most explicit records ever made, the kind that improves your French bedroom vocabulary in very practical ways 😁

#SergeGainsbourg #music #TheTwelveInch

On this day in 1984, Breakin’ Down (Sugar Samba) by Julia & Company hit #1 on the UK Dance Chart.

If you can sit still while this plays, check your pulse. You might already be gone 😁

#1984 #DanceMusic #Disco #80sMusic #ClubCulture #thetwelveinch #music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BZN...

💫 From Goddess to Disco Queen: How Cher Took Us Home The Twelve Inch 186 : Take Me Home (Cher)

Cher’s Take Me Home reached #2 on the US dance charts in 1979 and stayed there for 4 weeks, blocked by Rod Stewart, Instant Funk and Sister Sledge.

Not a bad crowd to lose to 😁
I’ve temporarily unlocked my deep-dive on the song if you want the full story 😉

#Cher #Disco #TheTwelveInch #music

Almost #1s deserve more love.

Seidah Garrett’s “Do You Want It Right Now” hit #3 on the US Dance chart in 1985.

Quincy Jones saw star potential. She later duetted with Michael Jackson on the first single from Bad.

Remember the title? 😉

#DanceMusic #80sMusic #MusicHistory #TheTwelveInch #music

1985 was a brilliant year for Chaka Khan, Warner’s own hooter 😁

After I Feel For You exploded, she hit #1 on the dance charts again with This Is My Night.
And the album wasn’t done yet… a third single became a hit too.
Remember the title? 😉

#ChakaKhan #80sMusic #DanceMusic #music #TheTwelveInch