“Is It All Over My Face” Impact on EDM
The song by Loose Joints, “Is It All Over My Face” impact on EDM is much like many “Proto-House” Disco tunes. It has been sampled and emulated on the regular! The early 1980s is a wonderful time in dance music history. So much fun and fancy music! It is the time Disco began to sound incredibly close to House. This “Proto-House” sound became the sound of New York in the early 1980s, which was the sound of Disco!
We have done several episodes on the amazing label, Westend Records. Loose Joints has multiple great classics and even several versions of the song, “Is It All Over My Face”! I know the samples from the female vocal one from the songs that sample it. I have heard songs with male vocals I really enjoy, but generally I enjoy female vocals more. There’s a sultry, soulful quality to a beautiful female voice that is unmatched!
The story of the making of “Is It All Over My Face” is quite an adventure! It is immortalized in a book and a documentary about the DJ turned Producer and the musician who conceived the song. The story is a raver/clubber’s dream come true. The story bops around New York City’s night life scene from discotheque to loft party to studio! It is a hedonistic life! It is a tail of incredible talent and a deep love of the music and culture that meant dance in that day.
Loose Joints Bio and Story
Arthur Russell and Steve D’Acquisto are the minds behind the music of Loose Joints. D’Acquisto is a DJ of substantial popularity whose popularity became more substantial after he begins to make the music! Together they create the song, “Is It All Over My Face.” Arthur Russell has some minor fame at the time due to a song he has called, “Kiss Me Again”. That song was being played by Richie Kaczor, the principal DJ at Studio 54, where it “got everybody on the dance floor,” according to Kaczor.
Russell frequented gay bars and a place called The Loft, which was owned and run by famous music partier, DJ, and party host, David Mancuso. He showed his music off and made important contacts that would help him bust onto the music scene. People like David Mancuso. Mancuso became very fond of Arthur Russell, even though it took awhile as they are both shy people. “Arthur was a human musical instrument,” says Mancuso. “He was a very old spirit. He had been around the cosmic circle many times.”
Loose Joints Approach To Making Music
Working as co-producers, Arthur and D’Acquisto set about creating music. They approached and were signed by Westend Records. They both decide that they want to have a spectacular rhythm section to keep a pristine Disco dancefloor sound. Arthur and D’Acquisto approach the Ingram brothers, a family of Philadelphia musicians who had performed on other Disco records. They then hit the studio!
Arthur is a Buddhist that believes in flow of thought and believes music comes from a well of universal inspiration whose existence causes music as a byproduct. He attempts to use that framework to produce the sound of Loose Joints. They entered the studio during a full moon in February of 1979. Their goal was to recreate the energy of the downtown dance floor in the recording studio! They even invited party-goes and local club singers to create atmosphere for their recording!
The Song “Is It All Over My Face”
All those elements come together in the song, “Is It All Over My Face”! The song is a direct mirror of Arthur’s view on music’s origin. “He felt that disco proceeded out of some matrix, that something was bubbling away there that resulted in this music, and it needed this background in order to stay vital. Without the milieu, the music wouldn’t exist, and it would also be strengthened by connecting with it.” “Is It All Over My Face” impact is largely to this freeform approach to music production.
During the recording of the song, party-goers in the studio played random percussion instruments while off kilter vocals were sung as back up vocalists to supplement the lead singers. A Female and a Male version of the song are available. By the end of the second session recording it there were 14 reels of 24-track tape. That is usually pretty overwhelming for anyone to edit, but they went at it to orchestrate a masterpiece of dance music!
In the beginning of 1980, West End released the 12-inch single of “Is It All Over My Face”. It clocked in at 9 and a half minutes which was nearly 2 minutes shorter then the song that D’Acquisto and Arthur gave Westend. It has a somewhat chaotic percussion intro that develops into a strong Disco beat. However, it definitely had the “post-Disco” sound that New York was beginning to embrace. There are off-key and gruff sections of singing and funky instrumentation. Take a listen!
You can pick up a copy of the 12-inch single on vinyl at Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/235302-Loose-Joints-Is-It-All-Over-My-Face
You can get a compilation of Westend Records on Amazon Music using the link below:
“Is It All Over My Face” Impact Through Samples
The quirkiness of “Is It All Over My Face” makes the song irresistible for discerning music producers. The song has samples in 18 songs. It seems especially popular with House music producers from Chicago and New York and in classic sounding Chicago and New York House. Regularly, the vocals as well as the Disco sentiments are in samples in other songs. 18 songs sample “Is It All Over My Face”.
The song we are using as an example here is by veteran Disco House producer, Travis Nelson and is called, “Egg On My Face”. Like other songs by DJ Sneak or Underground Solution, it samples the words, “Is it all over my face?” The song has a nice House beat that is bouncing and quite catchy. There is a nice, bubbly Disco vibe with acoustic instruments and cool keys. The original song is quite popular to sample by American House producers. This one is a good example of the “Is It All Over My Face” impact. Take a listen!
You can pick up a copy of this song (and several other good Disco House songs) on the Tunnel of Love EP on Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/112003-Travis-Nelson-Tunnel-Of-Love
You can get a digital copy of Travis Nelson’s music using the link below to Amazon Music:
“Is It All Over My Face” Impact Through Covers
Honestly, I was guessing that the original would be covered more than it is. It has only 3 covers. One of the covers is a Rock version, so we’re gonna skip that one. The other one is a smooth, slow paced House jam by Arthur’s Landing. Their version is called “Is It All Over My Face Pt 1”. The 12-inch single has an alternate version with the same title, but “Pt 2”. It has a crooning female vocal and is a fun, soulful groove. It has plinky piano twinkles and some jazzy instrumentation. Take a listen.
You can get a copy of the vinyl with both versions on it at Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/2590748-Arthurs-Landing-Is-It-All-Over-My-Face
You can get a digital copy of the Arthur’s Landing album using the search link for Amazon Music listed below:
“Is It All Over My Face” Impact Through Remixes
There is actually two official remixes on Westend Records. It is a 2001 remix 12-inch single that has both mixes on it. They are done by one of the best House production groups in all of EDM, Kenny Dope and Louie Vega, also known as Masters at Work. We are using the full remix instead of the “Joint Dub”. Obviously, since it is an actual remix, it uses the original vocals in their entirety. It uses a strong, pulsing House beat that is dancefloor gold. It is surprising that so far after its heyday, Westend releases remixes of the song. It’s 20 years after the original hit popularity.
As I stated earlier, American House producers really love the Loose Joints song. New York is where Westend Records is from, so it makes sense to use a New York House duo. I really love the modernization of the song. It trims down the stranger vocals and adds some nice piano lines. It’s a great rendition! Take a listen!
You can get a copy of the official release on Westend from 2001 that has both remixes on it at Discogs:
Tying It Up
Loose Joint’s “Is It All Over My Face” impact is felt on dancefloors throughout the world. It seems that the US in House music is where the greatest influence is felt. It is common with “Proto-House” Disco from labels like Westend Records. We have done several other episodes highlighting songs from the Westend catalogue. There is Raw Silk, “Do It To The Music” and Time, “Girl I Like The Way You Move”, our first episode!
We hope you have enjoyed the continuing exploration of “Proto-House” Disco’s influence on EDM. There really are some fascinating stories! I love sharing the stories and many of them I learn myself for the first time while researching the episodes. Now it’s your chance to go forth and share your newfound knowledge!
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Chris…
So sorry that it took me this long to catch your blog/podcast. In respect to this latest post on Loose Joints and the history of their music making was really great Chris. I felt your deep dive was super informative and your music acumen and enthusiasm made for a very informational experience. Your protean display and approach made for again, a great experience. I cant wait for your next cast.
I’m thrilled you liked the article! Hope you continue to follow!