Maybe more than any other song, this track reminds me of those very early days of Chicago House. The Hot Mix Five were in full effect on WBMX but local DJ’s and producers weren’t really making tracks of their own yet. The House sound was defined by some older Disco tracks and imported singles from Italy and the Benelux primarily.
A lot of these imports would fall in the category of Hi-NRG but Dirty Talk was different. More “laid back and sexy” than “I'm so excited!”, this song really presages the sound of early DJ International and Trax Records releases from Chicago producers. Listen especially to parts like the intro to the first version of More Dirty Talk and the break around 3:15 on the USA Connection Instrumental. The stripped-down 909 8th note handclaps and syncopated rimshots with a bouncing bassline combo is a classic Chicago sound. One of Klein & M.B.O.’s other hits, M.B.O. Theme was the inspiration for Chip E.’s MB Dance, which appeared on his 1984 EP Jack Trax. This classic record also featured Time to Jack and It’s House. The first official release to use the term "House" on record. Let me know if I’m mistaken.
Due to its popularity, this song was released in many different versions on several labels. I believe it originated on Zanza Records in 1982 before Rams Horn started pumping out version after version in 1983 and eventually Atlantic Records here in the States picked it up. The versions here are from the 1983 (almost album-length) EP on Rams Horn called The Most Dirty Talk that culled together almost all of the versions from Rams Horn’s other 12” releases. I’m not sure who the Klein in this band is but one of the writers/producers behind this group was Tony Carrasco who had a hand in many hit Italian imports from this time period.
A side note: I think it’s sweet that a song called “Dirty Talk” has such innocent our-love-is-so-special lyrics. I doubt that would happen today. I used to love hearing the singer mispronounce “ecstasy” as “ek-tasy” and then sing later in the song about how “You laugh the way I sound”. That said, the instrumental versions are really where it’s at.
Track List
Side 1
1. Dirty Talk (USA Connection)
2. Dirty Talk (European Connection)
3. Dirty Talk (USA Connection Instrumental)
4. Dirty Talk (European Connection Instrumental)
Side2
5. More Dirty Talk
6. More Dirty Talk
7. Dirty Talk (Canadian Connection)
8. Dirty Talk (Reprise)
Great post!
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