Burning The Ground Exclusive 1978
NEW 2024 Transfer!
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration!
Originally posted November 10, 2012
“Chase” (also known as “The Chase”) is a 1978 instrumental composition by Italian music producer Giorgio Moroder. It was released as a single during 1978 from his Academy Award-winning soundtrack album Midnight Express (1978), and was a disco instrumental that was subsequently extended and released as a 13:00 12″ maxi single. It made the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1979, peaking at number 33, and the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 48.
Created especially for the film Midnight Express, Alan Parker, the director of the film, explicitly asked Moroder for a song in the style of “I Feel Love”, which Moroder composed for Donna Summer. It was Moroder’s second time composing a movie soundtrack after his work on 1972’s German softcore sex film “Sex Life in a Convent”. The song’s main melody was played on a Roland SH-2000 synthesizer, while the bass lines were played on a Minimoog synthesizer. The track also has a flanging effect produced by the MXR Flanger, while other instruments used include an ARP/Solina String Ensemble, Fender Rhodes, Hohner Clavinet, and piano.
Although a disco piece, “Chase”, along with “I Feel Love”, is more specifically considered the pioneering introduction of the hi-NRG genre, which came to prominence in the early 1980s. The music was arranged by Harold Faltermeyer under the leadership of Giorgio Moroder.
Pitchfork named it the 175th best song of the 1970s, saying, “Any time someone describes a piece of music as ‘cinematic,’ there’s a decent chance they’re thinking, consciously or subconsciously, of ‘Chase’. It’s impossible to overstate, let alone list, the number of composers and films who’ve ripped off ‘Chase’.”
I also created custom front cover art for this post.
SIDE A:
Chase 13:06
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Chase | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #33 |
| 1979 | Chase | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary Tracks | #42 |
| 1979 | Chase | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance/Disco | #31 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Casablanca – NBD 20146 DJ
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single Sided, Promo
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: Electronic, Stage & Screen
Style: Disco, Soundtrack
CREDITS:
- Arranged By – G. Moroder*, H. Faltermeier*
- Mastered By – Brian Gardner
- Producer, Written-By – Giorgio Moroder
NOTES:
Promotional Copy Not For Sale
Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Of Midnight Express
℗ 1978 Casablanca Record & FilmWorks, Inc.
Made in U.S.A.
Special One-Sided Record (Play Other Side)
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
Password: burningtheground
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Thank you! Loving all of these Pride Month jewels. Thank you so very much, Paul.
awww great work. thanks a million 🙂
Many thanks for this magnificent disco track! Funy thing is, I’m planning to make a custom CD-Single of this Moroder classic, using only the 1978 versions. (I never liked the later remixes, with an exception of the 1985 remix, although I was never too excited about it). I own this 12″ too, but I’ll use your rip as it is excellent as always 🙂 The other versions included will be the 3:38 single version, the 8:24 soundtrack version and the “unique” Canadian single edit (3:50) I recently acquired: https://www.discogs.com/release/1847490-Giorgio-Moroder-Theme-From-Midnight-Express-Chase I also created custom artwork for it (very similar to yurs!)… Read more »
RtrHG, could you please share the “unique” Canadian single edit (3:50)
This IS unusual for Canada to re-edit “Chase”, and just for a B-side, considering most North American licensing deals include Canada, and are provided the same releases as the US.
Hi Dj Xrey,
Actually there are many times that Canadian releases are different to the ones in the U.S. E.g. https://www.discogs.com/release/1709289-Tears-For-Fears-Change (Paul ripped this in the past) or this: https://www.discogs.com/release/1572022-The-THP-Orchestra-Two-Hot-For-Love or this: https://www.discogs.com/release/418963-Skyy-First-Time-Around-The-Groove-Is-Bad or Donna Summer’s “Walk Away” that had an 8:30 version only on Canada, Earth Wind & Fire’s “Fantasy” 6-min “disco version”, just to mention a few that popped into my mind right now. Of course, there’s a lot more… 🙂
I should have said “generally speaking”. Thank you for mentioning these Canadian rarities . This topic could easily become a great spread sheet. “Generally speaking” the US record companies are focused on selling albums, not singles, and reissues often ignore a single/video remix that made a song a hit in the first place. Historically the UK and EU thankfully have been more “singles-centric”.
Thank you so much for sharing one of my all-time favorite tracks. I have so many fond memories of dancing the night away to this hypnotic classic in the clubs back in the day. I especially love how the track just builds and builds into a peak of aural sexual goodness. This must be one of the legendary disco classics that still sounds great almost 60 years later and defines the end of an era before the big backlash came. Simply amazing!!!
Awesome 70s disco! Hope to see more here!
While we’re talking about the great Mr. Moroder, here’s the scoop on his first #1 international hit from 1971-1972 that did well in the US in some markets like Chicago, peaking at #46 on the Billboard Hot 100: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnoVWrjVJ1A
The Chicory Tip cover on Epic was #1 in the UK that most will know, but released as “Chicory” in the US and stiffed at #91 after Giorgio did it first. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_My_Father
“Chase” has been the opening theme for iHeart/Premiere Radio Networks’ late night show Coast to Coast AM with George Noory for decades, since Art Bell started the show in 1988. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coast_to_Coast_AM
Truly groundbreaking work from Giorgio Moroder!! The start of a legendary 10 year run of some of the most memorable movie soundtracks. From American Gigolo, Cat People, Scarface, Neverending Story to lesser known works like Mamba and Another Way. Oh, and let’s not forget his Grammy winning partnership with Tom Whitlock for Top Gun. The guy is a musical genius and trendsetter. He took Harold Faltermeyer under his wings. But it all started here! Thank you Paul, what a great way to start the weekend! Enjoy it, and you too Jeff, Martika, Fred and everyone else!! Happy Father’s Day to… Read more »
P.S. Love your custom artwork too!
Thank you
I love every one of those films Retro Hound. Giorgio could do no wrong during this period a true master. Have a great weekend 🙂
Oooooo, love it! And love the reference below by Jeff to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 … I was addicted to that show in the 70s! I used to listen every Sunday and write down the top 40.
I still listen to AT40 on iHeart radio they play them back-to-back all day. Really fun memories. 🙂
Thanks for the post, Paul! Although some rave this as a classic, I always thought of it being too much of an instrumental of I Feel Love. However, flash forward to 2001 and check out the “Moroder & Fernando Club Mix” of Enrique Iglesias’ “Escape” clocking in at 7:33. It. Is. AMAZING! You may want to play it numerous times and carefully listen to the instrumentation, especially the guitar samples at 0:47 and 1:02. Then, Jeff, if you are reading this…check out 3:25 and beyond…if that doesn’t get you dancing and flying I don’t know what the hell will! Oh,… Read more »
You’re welcome, Fred. This track is a classic in my book and I love that is an instrumental it makes perfect sense in the context of the film. I appreciate the Moroder & Fernando Club Mix but it’s just ok to me I am not a big fan of that beat loop that they used a lot in the 90s. Have a great weekend.
I remember first hearing this on Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 Countdown and being transfixed!! Already loving Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love”, I was swept up in the record’s electronic landscape!! I also received the 12-inch disc for a Christmas present!! My dad was quite fond of the record too. We hadn’t heard too many electronic masterpieces at the time, except for the aforementioned Summer record! This track set me on a path of electronic dance tracks, from Yello to Kraftwerk, Yellow Magic Orchestra, M, Patrick Cowley, etc. The Hi-NRG genre became an obsession with me. It was so different… Read more »
I also loved listening to AT40 I was always waiting for ONJ to appear which happened quite often. We still listen to the iHeart Radio app in the car. I am going on vacation this week but will make a formal announcement over the weekend. Enjoy your day 🙂
Hmmm…a “formal announcement”? We’ll all be on pins & needles Paul. Have a safe vacation!
Jeff, I love your memories of these songs. Have a Hi-NRG weekend!
Giorgio certainly has had a fascinating, groundbreaking career. See my posts above. Have a great weekend and holiday next week RetroHound, Jeff, and everyone here!
We played this briefly when it entered the top 40. The repetitive :33 intro on the 45 needed to be cut down for radio and maybe it would have been a bigger hit.
Have to disagree here. This track is a classic and needs to be played as long as possible. The whole point is for the music to reach its climax after after a long sweaty driving aural journey. This is not your ordinary classic rock FM type fair :). Your typical top 40 radio listener would most likely not appreciatee this track even in a vulgar edited version.