Electric Choc – Shock The Beat

I`m not sure about this, i`m lookin at my copy of this trying to think when i bought it. Now i know the italian stuff is not good when comes down to dates but i`m lookin at the hi-tech discography most of the cat no starting 33 are 1990 and this is 3447, there`s a similar thing going on with the beat club stuff tracks ending in 90 or 91 ... i just don`t think its 1990 especially listening to the "techno" side, very early 1991 i think.

Wow I'm 50 next year and Raved my ass off to this track and only today, do I find out what it's called by sheer luck... What a classic 👌🏼 ❤

The piano mix is the main one on the record. I love it so much.

Straight from the horses mouth.. if you’ve ever wondered why the uk presses are different to the original Italian ones

ELECTRIC CHOC "SHOCK THE BEAT"

A bit of history...

A couple of weeks ago Robin Smith posted a question about the way the UK releases on Disco Magic UK had different tracking lists than the Italian releases.

I promised to write about it the next day but then got side-tracked.

Now you can read the full story!

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"Shock the Beat" was the first release in the second phase of Disco Magic UK, in 1993, when I decided to concentrate on the Northern market and Piano House.

Many stores were now calling me with suggestions as to what to release and one of the top requests was Shock the Beat.

As you know, although our releases were UK products (not imports), they were manufactured in Italy at Astro Record.

There were many important reasons for this:

1. the prices for vinyl, sleeves and labels were much cheaper than over here, even with the cost of shipping to the UK.

2. The factory gave us 90-day credit.

3. We could make full use of Discomagic Italy's graphic department to prepare the artwork for sleeves and labels (free!)

4. We could use the original metal PLATES that were all stored at Astro Record. Having access to the plates meant that we could create stampers identical to the original import releases without the cost of re-cutting lacquers (a saving of nearly £400 per release!)

So that's why, when it came to releasing Shock the Beat, I had the choice of four plates: the A & B sides of the original (OUT 3447) and the A & B sides of the remix (OUT 3463)

I could mix and match between plates, but not between mixes on different plates, otherwise I would have had to pay for a new cut.

After listening to both Italian releases, I decided to use the two sides that had piano mixes on them.

So our Disco Magic UK Release DMX 015 ended up like this:

DMX 015 SIDE A = SIDE B OF OUT 3447 (from the original)

DMX 015 SIDE B = SIDE B OF OUT 3463 (from "The Remixes)

The first couple of hundred copies of DMX 015 had labels with black text on white background, the later copies had black text on yellow labels.

Effectively, DMX 015 had the most sought after mixes together on one vinyl at a retail price of £4.99. That's why I chose the title "Ultimate Shock EP".

Before our UK release, to get those mixes on import you would have had to buy both OUT 3447 and OUT 3463 at import prices, which would have cost over £25 in all...in 1993!

DMX 015 sold really well and was a regular seller and people started asking about the other mixes (which were more popular in clubs down South.

So in 1994 we released DMX 515 (confusingly sub-titled "Electric Choc EP - Remixed") which actually contained the other side of the original Italian release and the other side of the Italian remix release.

IN CONCLUSION

To clarify (hopefully) the confusion, here is a chart to help you :)

DISCO MAGIC UK - DMX 015 "Ultimate Shock EP"

SIDE A = SIDE B OF Discomagic Italy OUT 3447 (the original)

SIDE B = SIDE B OF Discomagic Italy OUT 3463 (the remixes)

DISCO MAGIC UK - DMX 515 "Electric Choc EP - Remixed"

SIDE A = SIDE A OF Discomagic Italy OUT 3463 (the remixes)

SIDE AA / B = SIDE A OF Discomagic Italy OUT 3447 (the original)

I must admit that I had to double and triple check several times before I got that!!! :D

Roland Radaelli

Phenomenal record. In the ‘beat remix’ which ups the piano and Aretha samples to provide a classic hands in the air Italo piano house monster.

I have exactly this version but in a bright Orange sleeve, it is from that time and defo original as I worked in a record shop at the time

Just an additional note to say that the 'Chart Remix' includes an additional vocal sample from Linx - You're Lying.

One of my all time favourites. It has elements of Latin, House, amazingly catchy piano riff, Breakbeat and Aretha Franklin - 'Who's Zoomin' Who' vocal sample. What more could you ask for to really get you moving on the dancefloor? :)

What a classic, house meets hardcore, great crossover. Great breakbeat. Drop this one and everyone is up at the booth. You need this in your bag. Belter.

first heard this track back in 1993 on a mixtape of dj Ellis Dee + Ratpack MCing loud over top the set still got the tape in a shoebox