Runaway (Nuyorican Soul song)

Last updated

"Runaway"
Runaway (Nuyorican Soul song).jpg
Single by Nuyorican Soul
from the album Nuyorican Soul
B-side "Remix"
Released1996
Genre
Length
  • 4:19(single version)
  • 7:54 (album version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Janice Gugliuzza
  • Ronnie James
  • Vincent Montana Jr.
Producer(s)
Nuyorican Soul singles chronology
"Runaway"
(1996)		"It's Alright, I Feel It!"
(1997)
Music video
"Runaway" on YouTube

"Runaway" is a song by Nuyorican Soul, a project by the American house-garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. It features Puerto Rican singer and songwriter India and was released in 1996 by Mercury Records and Talkin' Loud as the first and lead single from their debut album, Nuyorican Soul (1997). The song is a cover of The Salsoul Orchestra's recording "Run Away", featuring American singer Loleatta Holloway from 1977. The new version was very successful in clubs and reached number-one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart in the US. In Europe, it peaked at number 24 on the UK Singles Chart, but was even more successful on the UK Dance Chart, where it hit number-one. Additionally, it was a top-30 hit in Iceland, and a top-40 hit in Germany. On the Eurochart Hot 100, the song reached number 75 in February 1997.

Contents

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal complimented the song as "sensational". [1] Barry Walters for The Advocate commented, "This retro-disco interpretation is so joyously reverent, it feels utterly contemporary. The song features refreshingly live strings conducted by the original Salsoul architect, Vince Montana, as well as an appropriately unfettered (and bilingual) vocal by the Latin siren India, the only vocalist to be revered in house, freestyle, and salsa circles." [2] In a retrospective review, Patrick Corcoran from Albumism remarked that it "once again marries the carefree disco sound of the original with a respectful updating of production values." [3] Daryl Easlea for BBC in 2011 wrote that taking the Salsoul Orchestra's 'Runaway' "again reflected the past projected into the future." He added, "A full hands-in the-air anthem, it brought a stately majesty to the original." [4]

Larry Flick from Billboard stated that "as clubland continues to salivate for the onset of the full-length debut from Nuyorican Soul, the act offers this wonderfully faithful rendition of the Loleatta Holloway disco classic with fierce Latin/dance diva India in the vocal seat." [5] Pan-European magazine Music & Media declared it as "a perfect drivetime record, with Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez and Louie Vega packing in every gramme of sunshine they've soaked up during years of fusing latino beats and New York club vibes. Soaring vocals from salsa diva India make this the most accessible track from their self titled album..." [6] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "The new version is pleasingly retro, with India replicating Holloway's role with distinction. Radio is already on this one, too, and a hit is the only possible outcome." [7] A reviewer from People Magazine noted that the current "queen of salsa", India, "tears into" the disco standard, [8] while Judson Kilpatrick from Vibe deemed it an "soaring remake". [9] David Sinclair from The Times complimented it as a "buoyant" debut. [10]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Runaway" takes place in a cramped apartment where there is a house party. India performs the song amidst the crowd of dancing people. Interspersed with this, three different women's stories are being told; one comes home and finds her boyfriend with another woman; the second is tired of cleaning up after her lazy boyfriend; and the third has had enough of her boyfriend playing cards with the guys. Towards the end while India sings, all three women are packing their cases and running away from their boyfriends. [11]

Impact and legacy

American singer Janet Jackson once told MTV News that her inspiration to write her 1997 hit "Together Again" came from "Runaway" by Nuyorican Soul, as the song reminded her of being in Studio 54 in New York when she was a child. It gave Jackson a kind of New York feel of disco and she wanted to do something like this. [12]

DJ Magazine ranked the song at number 51 in their list of "Top 100 Club Tunes" in 1998. [13]

Disc Over Music main man and UK mainstay Tim Green said that "Runaway" was the first song he remember hearing, and liking, that could be classified as dance music. [14]

Mixmag included the Armand Van Helden mix in their list of "The Best Basslines in Dance Music" in 2020, writing, "A legendary remix from a remix king. Armand Van Helden adds speed garage whizz and bass to Nuyorican Soul's sultry disco jam 'Runaway' with India. No longer a laidback cut for lazy days, AvH's remix is Strictly 4 Tha Clurb, powered by a zig-zag bassline with bundles of energy." [15]

Track listing

A1. "Runaway" (Original Flava 12") – 9:55
A2. "Runaway" (Philly Beats) – 2:38
B1. "Runaway" (Mongoloids in Space) – 11:35
B2. "Runaway" (Don't Sample This) (Accapella) – 3:43
A1. "Runaway" (Original Flava 12" Mix) – 9:55
A2. "Runaway" (Philly Beats) – 2:38
B. "Runaway" (Mongoloids in Space) – 11:35
C1. "Runaway" (Mousse T's Jazz Funk Experience) – 8:19
C2. "Runaway" (Mousse T's Soul Dub) – 5:46
D1. "Runaway" (Ronnie's Guitar Instrumental) – 9:24
D2. "Runaway" (India's Ambient Dream) – 2:51
D3. "Runaway" (Don't Sample This!) (A Cappella) – 3:43
  1. "Runaway" – 4:14
  2. "Runaway" (Original Flava 12") – 9:57
  3. "Runaway" (Armand Van Helden Remix) – 10:36
  1. "Runaway" (Radio Edit) – 4:19
  2. "Runaway" (Original Flava 12") – 12:30
  3. "Runaway" (Mongoloids in Space) – 11:35
  4. "Runaway" (Mousse T's Jazz Funk Experience) – 8:19
  5. "Runaway" (Radio Edit with Spanish) – 4:18
  6. "Runaway" (Spanish Underground Mix) – 7:50

Charts

Cover versions, samples and remixes

American DJ Armand van Helden and German DJ Mousse T. made remixes of "Runaway". The van Helden remix became a speed garage club hit.

British singer-songwriter Nate James covered "Runaway" on his 2009 album, Revival.

A Hundred Birds covered "Runaway" in 2016.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Widow</span> 1996 single by Tori Amos

"Professional Widow" is a song written by the American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, released on her third album, Boys for Pele (1996). It is a harpsichord-driven rock song and its lyrics are rumored to have been inspired by the American songwriter Courtney Love. The song was released on July 2, 1996, by Atlantic and EastWest, as the third single from the Boys for Pele album in the US, containing remixes by the house music producers Armand van Helden and MK. The single reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. In Italy, the original version peaked at number two in October 1996. An edited version of the Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix of "Professional Widow" was originally released as a double A-side single with "Hey Jupiter" in Europe and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armand van Helden</span> American DJ (born 1970)

Armand van Helden is an American DJ, record producer, remixer and songwriter from Boston, Massachusetts. He is considered one of house music's most revered figures, with a career spanning three decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mousse T.</span> German-Turkish musician

Mustafa Gündoğdu, best known under his stage name Mousse T., is a German-Turkish DJ, record producer, film music composer and judge on season 15 of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masters at Work</span> American garage house production and remix team

Masters at Work is the American garage house production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. The duo has produced music together under the names MAW, KenLou, Sole Fusion, Hardrive, and Nuyorican Soul. They have been referred to as one of the most influential artists in the history of house music.

Instant Funk was an American 1970s and 1980s disco band, best known for their disco classic, "I Got My Mind Made Up ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La India</span> Puerto Rican singer (born 1969)

Linda Bell Viera Caballero, known professionally as La India, is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter of salsa, house music and Latin pop. La India has been nominated for both Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards, winning the Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album for the Intensamente La India Con Canciones De Juan Gabriel album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loleatta Holloway</span> American singer (1946–2011)

Loleatta Holloway was an American singer known for disco songs such as "Hit and Run" and "Love Sensation". In December 2016, Billboard named her the 95th-most successful dance artist of all time. According to the Independent, Holloway is the most sampled female singer in popular music, used in house and dance tracks such as the 1989 Black Box single "Ride on Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salsoul Records</span> US record label based in New York City

Salsoul Records is an American New York City based record label, founded by three brothers, Joseph Cayre, Kenneth Cayre, and Stanley Cayre. Salsoul issued about 300 singles, including many disco/post-disco 12-inch releases, and a string of albums in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Vincent Montana Jr., known as Vince Montana, was an American composer, arranger, vibraphonist, and percussionist. He is best known as a member of MFSB and as the founder of the Salsoul Orchestra. He has been called "the Godfather of disco". Montana was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insomnia (Faithless song)</span> 1995 single by Faithless

"Insomnia" is a song by British musical group Faithless. Released as the band's second single, it became one of their most successful. It was originally released in 1995 and reached number 27 on the UK Singles Chart, topping the UK Dance Chart in the process. When re-released in October 1996, the song achieved a new peak of number three in the United Kingdom and topped the charts of Finland, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as the American and Canadian dance charts. It also featured on Faithless's 1996 debut album, Reverence. The music video for "Insomnia" was directed by Lindy Heymann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spin Spin Sugar</span> 1997 single by Sneaker Pimps

"Spin Spin Sugar" is a song by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps, released in March 1997 by Clean Up as the fourth single from their debut studio album, Becoming X (1996). The album version is typical of the Sneaker Pimps in both style and format; there is a driving bass line produced by a synthesizer keyboard which is accompanied by a second synthesizer loop playing above it. Kelli Dayton provides the vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People Hold On</span> 1989 single by Coldcut

"People Hold On" is a song by British band Coldcut and singer-songwriter Lisa Stansfield, released as the first single from the band's debut album, What's That Noise? (1989). It was written by Matt Black, Jonathan More and Stansfield, and produced by Coldcut. The song received positive reviews from music critics and became a commercial success. It was released as a single on 13 March 1989 by label Ahead of Our Time and reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the US Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The song was remixed by Blaze, Juan Atkins, Dimitri from Paris, Mark Saunders, Eric Kupper, Tyrone Perkins and Masters at Work. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Big TV!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Are the Universe</span>

"You Are the Universe" is a song by British acid jazz and funk group the Brand New Heavies, released in June 1997. The composition was issued as the third single taken from their fourth album, Shelter (1997), which remains the only Brand New Heavies album recorded with American singer Siedah Garrett, who afterwards left the group to concentrate on her own songwriting. The song charted at number twenty-one in UK, and at number eleven within the British Chart-Track.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armand van Helden discography</span>

American music producer and DJ Armand van Helden has released seven studio albums, ten compilation albums, two remix albums, eight DJ mix albums, sixteen extended plays (EPs) and sixty singles.

"Run Away" is a 1977 disco single written by Ronnie James and Vincent Montana, Jr. and performed by the Salsoul Orchestra with featured vocals by Loleatta Holloway. The single was from the band's Magic Journey album. Along with the tracks, "Magic Bird of Fire", and "Getaway", "Run Away" went to #3 on the US disco chart. On the soul chart, "Run Away" peaked at #84.

"Dreamin'" is a 1977 disco single by American singer Loleatta Holloway and the Salsoul Orchestra. It was written by Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ron Tyson. The single was a track from the album Loleatta and along with the tracks "Hit and Run" and "Ripped Off", went to #3 on the disco chart. "Dreamin'" also peaked at #72 on the Hot 100, and was the B-side to her ballad, "Worn Out Broken Heart", which went to number #25 on the soul chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra Flava</span> 1996 single by Heller and Farley Project

"Ultra Flava" is a house song by British duo Heller and Farley Project. After the wide renown with their remix of Ultra Naté's "How Long" in 1994 and M People's "Open Your Heart" in 1995, they released it as a single in 1996. It is a slightly re-worked version of their mix of "How Long", without Naté's vocals. They entitled it "Ultra Flava" as a nod to the track's origins. It was a huge club hit and peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart, while reaching number-one on the UK Dance Singles Chart. In the US, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. A black-and-white music video was also produced to promote the single.

Nuyorican Soul is an American music group from New York City, New York. It was formed by Little Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RipGroove</span> 1997 single by Double 99

"RipGroove" is the debut single by English speed garage duo Double 99. A huge underground UK club hit in 1997 when first released on an EP under their alias R.I.P. Productions, the song was officially released as a single twice, first in May 1997 where it reached No. 31 on the UK Singles Chart, then again in October in a new mix featuring vocals by MC Top Cat, peaking seventeen places higher at No. 14. The song appeared on their sole album, 7th High, released in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Alright, I Feel It!</span> 1997 single by Nuyorican Soul

"It's Alright, I Feel It!" is a song by Nuyorican Soul, a project by the house-garage production and remix team of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez. It features American singer Jocelyn Brown, who also co-wrote it, and was released in 1997 as the third single from their debut album, Nuyorican Soul (1997). The song peaked at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart, while in the US, it reached number three on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. A music video was also produced to promote the single.

References

  1. ↑ "Kiss Anthems 97". Aberdeen Press and Journal . November 21, 1997. page 14.
  2. ↑ Walters, Barry (May 13, 1997). "Disco 2000". The Advocate . Issue 733.
  3. ↑ Corcoran, Patrick (January 26, 2022). "Nuyorican Soul's Eponymous Debut Album 'Nuyorican Soul' Turns 25 — Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Easlea, Daryl (2011). "Nuyorican Soul Nuyorican Soul Review". BBC . Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ Flick, Larry (January 18, 1997). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard . Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  6. ↑ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 1–3. January 18, 1997. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  7. ↑ Jones, Alan (January 25, 1997). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week . p. 28. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Nuyorican Soul". People . May 12, 1997. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  9. ↑ Kilpatrick, Judson (April 1, 1997). "Nuyorican Soul - Nuyorican Soul". Vibe . Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ Sinclair, David (February 1, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times .
  11. ↑ "Nuyorican Soul - Runaway". YouTube. November 14, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Janet Jackson Discusses The Meaning Of "The Velvet Rope," Pt. II". MTV News. Viacom. November 21, 1997. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  13. ↑ "DJ Magazine Top 100 Club Tunes (1998)". Discogs . Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Nuyorican Soul's "Runaway" Sends Tim Green Rushing Back into the Past". Thump.vice.com. Retrieved March 12, 2017.
  15. ↑ "The Best Basslines In Dance Music, According To You". Mixmag . May 7, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  16. ↑ "RPM Dance (Apr 28, 1997)". RPM . April 28, 1997. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 14, no. 7. February 15, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Nuyorican Soul feat. India – Runaway (song)". Danishcharts.dk. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (20.03.1997 - 26.03.1997)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir - Tónlist (in Icelandic). Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Scottish Singles Chart 02 February 1997 - 08 February 1997". Official Charts Company . Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Nuyorican Soul feat India". Official Charts Company . Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  22. ↑ "UK Dance Singles Chart Top 40 02 February 1997 - 08 February 1997". Official Charts Company . Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  23. 1 2 "Nuyorican Soul – Chart history". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  24. ↑ "'97 Year End Top 50 Dance Tracks" (PDF). RPM . December 1997. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ "The Club Top 100 of 1997" (PDF). Music Week, in RM (Dance Update Supplemental insert). January 10, 1998. p. 5. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.