KattattaK! S8E5 "STATE OF INDEPENDENCE"

 

Greetings! KattattaK! is back again this weekend with another of Katt's Retro-Rundowns featuring 80s inspired tunes. Yet again, DJ Katt has a stack of 12" remixes, extended-mixes and other less-often-heard tunes to fill your head with retro nostalgia but this weekend, being the week of July 4th, and given the title of this week's episode there's bound to be a few topical references thrown in (...yathink so?)

According to the internet, (so it must be true), the first independence day themed pop song was "America, the Beautiful" by Ray Charles. It was released in 1972, and it quickly became a popular patriotic anthem. The song is a beautiful rendition of the poem "America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates, and it captures the spirit of hope and optimism that is often associated with Independence Day. The song was a critical and commercial success, and it has been covered by many other artists since its release

KattattaK! S8E4 "MUSIK NONSTOP"

Greetings music lovers! This week at Kimkattia, DJ Katt brings you another in her "Retro Rundown" series of great 80s inspired tunes. She has some more great extended-12" mixes on the turntable ready to tickle your ears with! So, you younger folks might be asking "What is a 12" single?"

The 12" single extended mix is a format of vinyl record that was introduced in the mid-1970s. It featured a longer version of a single song, typically around 6-10 minutes in length, as opposed to the 3-4 minute versions that were common on 7" singles. The 12" format was originally developed for disco clubs, where DJs needed longer tracks to keep the dance floor moving.

The first commercially available 12-inch single with extended dance mixes was Ten Percent by the disco band Double Exposure, originally released in November 1976 by Salsoul Records. The single was a huge success, and helped to popularize the 12" format.

In the 1980s, the 12" single extended mix became a staple of the electronic music scene. Artists like Kraftwerk, New Order, and The Human League released some of their most iconic songs in 12" format, with extended mixes that featured extended instrumental sections, new sound effects, and remixes by leading DJs.

The 12" single extended mix also played an important role in the development of hip hop music. In the early days of hip hop, DJs would often use 12" singles to create their own mixes, by blending together different tracks and adding new samples. This helped to create the distinctive sound of hip hop, and many of the most famous hip hop tracks were originally released in 12" format.

The 12" single extended mix is a versatile format that has been used by a wide range of artists. It has helped to shape the sound of disco, electronic music, and hip hop, and it continues to be a popular format for dance music today.

Here are some of the key milestones in the history of the 12" single extended mix:

1975: Tom Moulton creates the first 12" single extended mix for Bobby Moore's "(Call Me Your) Anything Man".

1976: Ten Percent by Double Exposure is released, the first commercially available 12" single with extended dance mixes.

1980: Kraftwerk release their album The Model, which features several extended mixes.

1981: New Order release their single "Blue Monday", which becomes one of the best-selling 12" singles of all time.

1982: The Human League release their album Dare, which features several extended mixes, including "Don't You Want Me".

1983: Hip hop group Run-DMC release their single "Sucker MC's", which is one of the first hip hop tracks to be released in 12" format.

The 12" single extended mix is a fascinating format with a rich history. It has played an important role in the development of dance music, and it continues to be a popular format today.

[RESCHEDULED] S8E3 "British Synthesizers"

Unfortunately, we seem to have hit a scheduling conflict for a lot of folks last weekend, and so this weekend, Katt is running S8E3 as an encore event! Be sure to come along, you surely won't want to miss this one a second time! 

British synth-pop is a subgenre of new wave music that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It is characterized by its use of electronic drums, synthesizers, and catchy melodies. British synth-pop bands often had a visual style that was influenced by glam rock, science fiction, and romanticism.

Some of the most popular British synth-pop bands include:

The Human League

Soft Cell

Duran Duran

Spandau Ballet

Depeche Mode

Yazoo

OMD

Japan

Ultravox

British synth-pop reached its commercial peak in the winter of 1981–2, when many of these bands enjoyed top ten hits. The Human League's and Soft Cell's UK number one singles "Don't You Want Me" and "Tainted Love" became the best selling singles in the UK in 1981. In early 1982 synthesizers were so dominant that the Musicians' Union attempted to limit their use. By the end of 1982, these acts had been joined in the charts by synth-based singles from Thomas Dolby, Blancmange, and Tears for Fears.

The New Romantic scene had developed in the London nightclubs Billy's and the Blitz and was associated with bands such as Duran Duran, Visage, and Spandau Ballet. They adopted an elaborate visual style that combined elements of glam rock, science fiction and romanticism. Spandau Ballet were the first band of the movement to have a hit single as the synth-driven "To Cut a Long Story Short" reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart in December 1980. Visage's "Fade to Grey", characteristic of synth-pop and a major influence on the genre, reached the top ten a few weeks later.

British synth-pop continued to be popular throughout the 1980s, and many of the bands from this era remain popular today. The genre has also influenced a wide range of other music, including electronic dance music, indie pop, and alternative rock.

Here are some of the most influential British synth-pop albums:

The Human League - Dare (1981)

Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (1981)

Duran Duran - Rio (1982)

Spandau Ballet - True (1983)

Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell (1981)

Yazoo - Upstairs at Eric's (1982)

OMD - Organisation (1980)

Japan - Tin Drum (1981)

Ultravox - Vienna (1980)

British synth-pop is a vibrant and diverse genre that has had a lasting impact on popular music. It is a genre that is full of catchy melodies, innovative sounds, and stylish visuals. If you are a fan of electronic music, pop music, or new wave music, then you should definitely check out British synth-pop.

 

KattattaK! S8E2 "80s Groove and Soul"

 This week at Kimkattia, DJ Katt is spinning some classic groove and soul from the late 1980s

Saturday, June 3rd 2023, 6pm Second Life Time (9pm Eastern Daylight Time).

Come for the music, stay for the mayhem! Remember, if you're not here, you're missing out!