WORDS BY: NICK GORDON BROWN
When it comes to records with longevity, B Beat Girls ‘For The Same Man’ has it nailed; a record that has resonated with generations of music lovers and been referenced time and time again in dance music.
4 To The Floor now revisits this evergreen record, one that is up to its eyeballs in mid-eighties electro sounds – in the best way. Holding its own and standing the test of time, the sample appeal of this track never dwindles. It’s super hooky, and a fool proof party starter. The latest package includes the sought-after Nasty version as well as a dub released on 28th January, both previously unavailable digitally. ‘For The Same Man’ is a striking example of a record that has evolved through the decades, keeping strong dancefloor and production value all the while.
New York City in the early 1980s was a musical melting pot arguably without equal either before or since. The late 1970s had seen the Big Apple be the epicentre of no less than three major new cultural forces in the shape of disco, hip hop and punk. There were also thriving jazz and salsa scenes, while the experimental sounds of the minimalist movement pushed boundaries.
NYC flirting with bankruptcy had an upside in the shape of low rents that attracted creative spirits galore to the heart of the city. This led to much mixing and morphing of musical styles, especially on DJ set lists. While all the key clubs of the time had their own unique vibe, the communal spirit of experimentation could lead to certain tracks being played all over town, be it by Larry Levan at Paradise Garage, Jellybean at Funhouse or Anita Sarko at Danceteria.
All of which brings us to B Beat Girls. A short-lived combo who only released three singles in 1983-4, the second of this trio of tunes, ‘For the Same Man’, took on a life of its own that sees it still both sought after and sampled nearly 40 years later. The beats courtesy of production team Frank Mendez and Matt Noble were on point ’83 electro, sparse and raw, but the naggingly catchy riffs have more of a disco feel. By contrast, the vocals from much travelled singer Rebecca Rifkin have an other-worldly new wave feel. Such genre-straddling was the key to its widespread dancefloor popularity.
Perhaps most striking of all, the opening spoken word intro immediately caught the attention of dancers: "Hey girl. We got a party to go to tonight. Well alright. I've been saving up all day just for this. I am ready, and I am out the door." If you’re thinking that refrain sounds familiar, it has been sampled (in both part and whole) many times after appearing on volume 2 of the Acapella Anonymous series which was a staple for all late ‘80s DJs and sample-hungry producers.
‘90s clubbers will recognise the words “I am ready” as the title and main hook of Josh Wink’s floor-destroyer of the same name. More recently, Franky Rizardo’s 2017 Defected smash ‘Same Man’ featured a liberal dose of Rebecca’s vocal alongside the spoken word intro. ‘For the Same Man’ has seen its place in NYC dancefloor history cemented not only by sampling, but through its use on some key compilations, ranging from Roger Sanchez’s Choice selection for Azuli, to Soul Jazz’s World of Keith Haring (Influences & Connections), representing the seminal artist’s years at the heart of New York clubland.
Now Defected is set to release this era-defining track on 4 to the Floor and will continue to join the dots between then and now via remixes scheduled for later this year. B Beat Girls ‘For The Same Man’ will be available to download and stream from 28th January, pre-order here.
