Gat Decor
Encyclopedia
Gat Decor is a house music
act best known for its 1992 song "Passion", which is considered to be one of the best-known works of the early progressive house
genre. The main contributor of the act is the British
DJ
and producer
, Simon Slater. The name 'Gat Decor' was derived from an anagram
of 'Tag Records', a record store based in Soho
, London
.
Although Gat Decor does not have an extensive catalog (two proper singles and a handful of remix
es), the act and "Passion" are widely considered influential to dance music in the early 1990s; and Slater still operates a Gat Decor website
and continues to license "Passion".
"Passion" is Gat Decor's best-known work. Originally released in 1992 on Effective Records, the 12-inch single
contained the original, instrumental
version ('The Naked Mix') along with Darren Emerson
's remix
on the B-side
(this was Emerson's first remix). The 1992 release was an immediate success in underground dance clubs
, and eventually became a hit
on the UK Singles Chart
, peaking at number 29. "Passion" is notably one of the first songs to be referred to as "progressive house", utilizing a heavy bassline and a distinctive "piano
-house" progression in its second half.
Since its original release, "Passion" has been officially and unofficially re-issued several times. A 1996 version subtitled the "Do You Want It Right Now Mix", featuring a vocal
recorded
by Beverley Skeete peaked at number six in the UK. The remix was a 4 minute version of the 1992 seven minute instrumental with a re-recording of the vocal of "Do You Want It Right Now?" by Degrees of Motion featuring Biti. A bootleg with the original vocal from Degrees of Motion sang by Biti Strauchn mixed over Passion had been in circulation for some time before.
As of 2008, countless bootlegs
have been released, consisting of remixes and other mash-ups. The track has appeared on an abundance of compilation album
s and DJ-mix sets (both official and unofficial). Other producers who have mixed the song throughout the years include Junior Vasquez
and DJ Chus
.
In 1996, Mixmag
magazine ranked the 1992 single number 33 on their list of the "50 Most Influential Records of All Time". In addition, Mixmag (and their readers) ranked "Passion" number 22 on Mixmag's list of "100 Best Dance Singles of All Time".
The track, in both its original and various bootleg forms, is still widely played in nightclub
s to this day.
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
act best known for its 1992 song "Passion", which is considered to be one of the best-known works of the early progressive house
Progressive electronic music
In electronic dance music the term progressive is often used to denote a novel stylistic development within a specific genre of dance music. According to the DJ and producer Carl Craig, the term "progressive" was used in Detroit in the early 80s in reference to Italo Disco...
genre. The main contributor of the act is the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Simon Slater. The name 'Gat Decor' was derived from an anagram
Anagram
An anagram is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once; e.g., orchestra = carthorse, A decimal point = I'm a dot in place, Tom Marvolo Riddle = I am Lord Voldemort. Someone who...
of 'Tag Records', a record store based in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Although Gat Decor does not have an extensive catalog (two proper singles and a handful of remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es), the act and "Passion" are widely considered influential to dance music in the early 1990s; and Slater still operates a Gat Decor website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and continues to license "Passion".
"Passion"
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
contained the original, instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
version ('The Naked Mix') along with Darren Emerson
Darren Emerson
Darren Emerson is a dance music DJ, and former member of the UK electronic music outfit, Underworld.-Career:Emerson began mixing Hip-Hop records at the age of 14, and by 16 was DJing regularly at local venues...
's remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
on the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
(this was Emerson's first remix). The 1992 release was an immediate success in underground dance clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
, and eventually became a hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, peaking at number 29. "Passion" is notably one of the first songs to be referred to as "progressive house", utilizing a heavy bassline and a distinctive "piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
-house" progression in its second half.
Since its original release, "Passion" has been officially and unofficially re-issued several times. A 1996 version subtitled the "Do You Want It Right Now Mix", featuring a vocal
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
by Beverley Skeete peaked at number six in the UK. The remix was a 4 minute version of the 1992 seven minute instrumental with a re-recording of the vocal of "Do You Want It Right Now?" by Degrees of Motion featuring Biti. A bootleg with the original vocal from Degrees of Motion sang by Biti Strauchn mixed over Passion had been in circulation for some time before.
As of 2008, countless bootlegs
White label
White label records are vinyl records with adhesive plain white labels affixed. Test pressings, usually with Test Pressing written on the label, with catalogue number, artist and recording time or date, are produced in small quantities to evaluate the quality of the disc production...
have been released, consisting of remixes and other mash-ups. The track has appeared on an abundance of compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s and DJ-mix sets (both official and unofficial). Other producers who have mixed the song throughout the years include Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez
Junior Vasquez, , is an American club DJ and remixer/producer.-Career:...
and DJ Chus
DJ Chus
DJ Chus is an electronic music producer, remixer and DJ. He works mainly on house music tracks.-Career:Chus began DJing at the age of 16...
.
In 1996, Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
magazine ranked the 1992 single number 33 on their list of the "50 Most Influential Records of All Time". In addition, Mixmag (and their readers) ranked "Passion" number 22 on Mixmag's list of "100 Best Dance Singles of All Time".
The track, in both its original and various bootleg forms, is still widely played in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s to this day.
Singles
- 1992 "Passion" (#29 UK)
- 1996 "Passion" (remix) (#6 UK)
- 1996 "In the Head" / "Barefoot in the Head"
Remixes
- 1992 EuphoriaEuphoria (Australian band)Euphoria was a popular Australian Pop/Dance music trio from the early 1990s based in Sydney, NSW. The group was founded by producer Andrew Klippel and featured the vocals of Keren Minshull and Holly Garnett...
"Love You Right" - 1992 The Odd Company "Swing in Trance"
- 1992 D'lusion "Take You There"
- 1993 Latitude "Building a Bridge"
- 1993 JFK "Here They Come Again"
- 1993 Country & Western "Positive Energy"
- 1994 Jean Michel JarreJean Michel JarreJean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
"Chronologie" - 1994 The Good Strawberries "Eyes on a Summer Day"