Break Machine - Street Dance (12" Vocal Mix)

Break Machine - Street Dance (Vocal Mix) / 12 Inch Extended Remix (HQ Audio)

In the early 1980s, hip hop culture made its way from the streets of New York to the mainstream. Few records captured this transition as effectively as Street Dance.

Breakdancing (or b-boying) had emerged in the South Bronx block parties of the early 1970s.

DJ Kool Herc was a catalyst, isolating and repeating breakbeats - the drum-heavy sections of songs - giving dancers the opportunity to develop longer and more intricate moves.

The moves have roots in Afro-Caribbean styles like salsa and mambo, as well as James Brown’s rapid footwork in tracks like 1971’s "Get On The Good Foot". Martial arts (particularly kung fu) and acrobatics inspired the integration of power moves like windmills and headspins. All of which combined to create a palette from which dancers could craft spectacular routines.

Those South Bronx block parties also saw the evolution of DJing (including scratching), MCing, and graffiti, which along with breakdancing formed the foundation of what would become known as hip hop. These four elements also served another purpose: providing a non-violent way for gangs to compete and settle disputes, a principle encouraged by the famous Zulu Nation movement.

Of course, anything that thrives underground is eventually brought into the mainstream, and that’s exactly what was happening with Break Machine. The act was the brainchild of Keith Rodgers, a musician and former New York radio host, who had previously released a rap single under the name Bon Rock in 1981. His work caught the attention of Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, the French producers behind Village People. Along with Fred Zarr, a talented session musician, they formed Break Machine.

Street Dance, released in December 1983, was one of several examples of breakdancing transitioning into the mainstream. Over the previous year, "Buffalo Gals" by Malcolm McLaren and "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock had made the UK Top 10. The following year, "Breakin'... There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry (from the film Breakin') and "Body Rock" by Maria Vidal (from the film Body Rock) also became mainstream hip hop hits.

However, Street Dance saw the greatest commercial success, peaking at #3 on the UK Singles Chart and topping charts across Europe (it was a #1 single in France, Spain, Norway and Sweden).

Break Machine's success was perhaps because they combined the look, the moves, and the sound in a way that made hip hop digestible for the masses. Not surprising, maybe, given the brains behind the Village People’s were involved.

Street Dance's influence wasn’t limited to the 1980s. In 1998, German group Scooter sampled the song heavily in "We Are the Greatest", and in 2011, Swedish house DJ Avicii paid homage in his track "Street Dancer".

Break Machine’s original version was recorded at Power Station Studios in New York.

7" and 12" versions were produced, each released with an instrumental on the B-side.

The 12" vocal mix is featured here.

Year: 1983 Label: Record Shack Cat no: SOHOT 13