Original + Remixes
Indeep was the brainchild of New Jersey native Mike Cleveland, who with vocalists Rose Marie Ramsey and Réjane (Reggi) Magloire recorded the original "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" for the struggling Sound of New York Records in 1982. For the song Cleveland reunited with producer Reggie Thompson (with whom he had worked with on Glass's "Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat" that same year for West End Records, a track co-produced by legendary DJ Larry Levan.) Becket Records first distributed "Last Night" but within a year was releasing all Indeep's music under their own imprint, where the group fit in perfectly with that label's roster of funky New York electro and early hip hop artists. This Unidisc release sees two new remixes by British house DJ George Smeddles, who departs from his trademark '90s sound, and the original track's 808 slow groove, for an intense, faster house beat that puts the Chic-influenced guitar/bass riffs front and center. Also here, from the 1982 12" single, are the original "Acapella" mix with vocals including Cleveland's rap and the "Sure Shot" vocal mix by house DJ Tony Humphries, who had built a reputation in New York for his KISS FM radio show but broke into the mainstream with this mix, the first of many club hits for this iconic DJ.