Shep Pettibone Prelude Master Mixes

How fantastic was it growing up in the New York Metropolitan area and getting to hear the Shep Pettibone MasterMixes on 98.7 Kiss.  He was able to take already incredible songs and make them even more enjoyable, danceable and funky.

My favorite had to be Jeanette "Lady" Day's Come Let me Love You, "can't nobody love you like I do, can't nobody do the things I do the way I do."  I especially like the sound effects that give it a real majorette feel and the moans that were not quite nasty but provided major effect.  I could just imagine Jeanette leading her way down a funk parade on a float in some inner city neighborhood with crowds in hot pants bumping and twirling on the sidewalks as she passed.  Whatever happened to Jeanette?  Apparently there was a follow-up single called "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" which went nowhere.  Even though it was mixed by another legend Francois K. who worked on many of the great Prelude releases.
Thank you Shep for being a hero and mixing the music I loved so much back in high school.  To think he was only in his early 20's himself at the time.

Think of this as a little tribute blog.  I'm enclosing a zip with a few of my favorites.  I will however leave the contents as a surprise.  And I would encourage anyone to buy any of these master mixes cd's or vinyl if they ever come across them.  They are not simply a promotional tool for a fantastic radio station and label (Prelude), but a real document of an era.  An era that featured so many fantastic clubs and records and one that will never be replaced.  The post disco era when great disco music was still being made but often called by another name (boogie in the U.K. for example).


Shep can now be visited in Asbury Park, N.J. where he owns the Paradise Nightclub and The Empress hotel.  The hotel was featured in Bruce Springsteen's 1980 single Hungry Heart.

Selected remixing credits

• Aftershock - She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (1990)
• Afrika Bambaataa and The Jazzy 5 - Jazzy Sensation (1982)
• Alisha - All The Night (1985)
• Alisha - Baby Talk (1985)
• Alisha - Boys Will Be Boys (1985)
• Alisha - One Little Lie (1985)
• Alisha - Stargazing (1986)
• Alisha - Too Turned On (1985)
• Alyson Williams - Yes We Can (1986)
• Arnie's Love - Date With The Rain (1985)
• Apollo Smile - Dune Buggy (1991)
• Arcadia - Say The Word (1985)
• Art of Noise - Beat Box (1984)
• Aurra - Baby Love (1982)
• Aurra - Checking You Out (1982)
• Aurra - Such A Feeling (1982)
• The B-52's - Summer of Love (1986)
• The B-52's - The Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland (1986)
• Bananarama - Preacher Man (1991)
• Barbara Fowler - Knockin' On My Door (1985)
• Barone - Shake It Up (´Til Ya Drop) (1985)
• Bee Gees - You Win Again (1988)
• Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is a Place on Earth (1988)
• Belinda Carlisle - I Get Weak (1988)
• The Belle Stars - World Domination (1986)
• Betty Boo - Doin' The Do (1990)
• Betty Boo - Where Are You Baby (1990)
• Bianca - My Emotions (1989)
• Bobby "O" and His Banana Republic - Somebody (1985)
• Boogie Box High - Nervous (1989)
• Boys Don't Cry - Cities On Fire (1986)
• Breakfast Club - Express Away To Your Heart (1988)
• Breakfast Club - Never Be The Same (1987)
• The Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens Band - Dreamer (1987)
• Bros - Drop the Boy (1988)
• Bros - I Owe You Nothing (1988)
• Candido - Jingo (1983)
• Carl Bean - I Was Born This Way (1986)
• Carol Jiani - Touch And Go Lover (1984)
• Carol Williams - No One Can Do It (Like You) (1981)
• Casanova - Eye Contact (1983)
• Cathy Dennis - Just Another Dream (1991)
• Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long) (1991)
• Cathy Dennis - Everybody Move (1991)
• Cathy Dennis -You Lied To Me (1992)
• Cat Miller - Ready Or Not (1985)
• CC:Diva - I'll Always Follow Me (1988)
• Cheri - So Pure (1983)
• Cheri - Working Girl (1983)
• Clair And Love Exchange Hicks - Push (In The Bush) (1985)
• Claudja Barry - Down On Couting (1986)
• Colors - Am I Gonna Be The One (1983)
• Communards - Never Can Say Goodbye (1987)
• Conquest -Give It To Me (If You Don't Mind) (1982)
• Cyndi Lauper - Change of Heart (1986)
• Cyndi Lauper - What's Going On (1987)
• Daryl Hall - Foolish Pride (1986)
• David Bowie - Day-In Day-Out (1987)
• David Bowie - Never Let Me Down (1987)
• David Essex - Rock On (1989)
• David McPherson - You Can't Stop (1982)
• Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth (1989)
• Debbie Harry - Heart of Glass (solo version, re-recorded) (1988)
• Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel (1987)
• Diana Ross - Paradise (1989)
• Diana Ross - Shock Waves (1987)
• Donna Garraffa - Let Me Be Your Fantasy (1985)
• D-Train - Keep On (1983)
• D-Train - You're The One For Me (1982)
• Duran Duran - I Don't Want Your Love (1988)
• Duran Duran - All She Wants Is (1988)
• Dusty Springfield - In Private (1989)
• Dusty Springfield - Reputation (1989)
• Eleonor - Adventure (1986)
• Elton John - I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That (1988)
• Elton John - Healing Hands (1989)
• Empress - Dyin' To Be Dancin' (1982)
• Erasure - Chains of Love (1988)
• Erasure - Blue Savannah (1989)
• Falco - Do It Again (1988)
• First Choice - Let No Man Put Asunder (1983)
• First Choice - Dr. Love (1983)
• Five Star - Are You Man Enough (1987)
• Five Star - Rain or Shine (1986)
• Five Star - The Slightest Touch (1987)
• Five Star - Somewhere Somebody (1987)
• Five Star - Treat Me Like a Lady (1990)
• Five Star - Find the Time (1986)
• Five Star - If I Say Yes(1986)
• The Flirts - You and Me (1985)
• The Flirts - New Toy (1986)
• Four In Legion - Party In My Pants (1984)
• Fox the Fox - Precious Little Diamond (1984)
• France Joli - Does He Dance (1985)
• France Joli - Gonna Get Over You (1982)
• France Joli - I Wanna Take A Chance On Love (1982)
• Gayle Adams - Love Fever (1982)
• George Benson - Twice the love (1988)
• George Michael - Hard Day (1987)
• Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (1990)
• Howard Hewett - Stay (1986)
• Huey Lewis & The News - Hip To Be Square (1986)
• Information Society - Walking Away (1988)
• Indeep - Last Night A DJ Save My Life (1982)
• Inner Life - I Like It Like That (1982)
• Inner Life - Moment Of My Life (1982)
• Instant Funk - (Just Because) You'll Be Mine (1986)
• Jaki Graham - From Now On (1989)
• Jaki Graham - The Better Part Of Me (1989)
• The Jammers - And You Know That (1982)
• The Jammers - Be Mine Tonight (1982)
• The Jammers - Let's B-B Break (1984)
• Jane Child - Don't' Wanna Fall In Love (1989)
• Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle (1987)
• Janet Jackson - Alright (featuring Heavy D of Heavy D and the Boyz)(1990)
• Janet Jackson - State of the World (1991)
• Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do Without You (1989)
• Janet Jackson - Escapade (1990)
• Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (1989)
• Janet Jackson - Miss You Much (1989)
• Jeannette "Lady" Day - Come Let Me Love You (1982)
• Jeffrey Osborne - Room With A View (1986)
• Jennifer Holliday - No Frills Love (1985)
• Jermaine Jackson - I Think It's Love (1982)
• The Jets - Cross My Broken Heart (1987)
• Junk Yard Dog - Grab Them Cakes (1985)
• Karyn White - Romantic (1991)
• Katunga - El Negro No Puede (1984)
• Keyna - Tell It To Me (1989)
• Kim Wilde - You Came (1988)
• Laid Back - It's The Way You Do It (1985)
• Laid Back - I'm Hooked (1985)
• Laid Back - One Life (1985)
• Labelle (Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash) - Turn it Out
• The Latin Rascals - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1988)
• Level 42 - Lessons In Love (1987)
• Level 42 - Something About You (1985)
• Level 42 - World Machine (1985)
• Leroy Burgess - Heartbreaker (1983)
• Leroy Burgess - Stranger (1983)♣
• Linda Taylor - You And Me Just Started (1982)
• Lionel Richie - Love Will Conquer All (1989)
• Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take You Home (1985)
• Lisa Stansfield - This Is the Right Time (1989)
• Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (1983)
• Loleatta Holloway - Crash Goes Love (1986)
• Louie Louie - Sittin' In The Lap Of Luxury (1990)
• Love and Money - Candy Bar Express (1986)
• Luther Vandross - Power of Love/Love Power (1991)
• Madonna - True Blue (1987)
• Madonna - Where's the Party (1986)
• Madonna - Into the Groove (1985)
• Madonna - Causing a Commotion (1987)
• Madonna - Like a Prayer (1989)
• Madonna - Express Yourself (1989)
• Madonna - Keep it Together (1990)
• Madonna - Vogue (1990)
• Madonna - Justify My Love (1990)
• Madonna - Rescue Me (1991)
• Madonna - Erotica (1992)
• Madonna - Deeper and Deeper (1992)
• Madonna - This Used to Be my Playground (1992)
• Madonna - Bad Girl (1993)
• Madonna - Fever (1993)
• Madonna - Rain (1993)
• Mahogany - Ride On The Rhythm (1983)
• Mariah Carey - Someday (1991)
• Mariah Carey - There's Got to Be a Way (1991)
• MC Hammer - Pray (1990)
• Metallica - Enter Sandman (1991)
• Miami Sound Machine - Bad Boy (1986)
• Michael McDonald - All We Got (It's Not Enough, Never Enough) (1990)
• Mico Wave - Star Search (1987)
• Mike and Brenda Sutton - Don't Let Go Of Me (Grip My Hips andMove Me) (1982)
• Mitsou - Bye Bye Mon Cowboy (1988)
• Morris Day - Are You Ready (1988)
• Natalie Cole - I Live For Your Love (1987)
• Natalie Cole - The Urge To Merge (1987)
• Narada - Divine Emotions (1988)
• New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (1986)
• New Order - True Faith (1987)
• Nia Peeples - Street Of Dreams (1991)
• Nia Peeples - Trouble (1988)
• Nick Kamen - Each Time You Break My Heart (1986)
• Nick Scotti - Get Over (1993)
• The Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit Of Jazz (1982)
• Nu Shooz - Point of No Return (1986)
• Nu Shooz - Lost Your Number (1986)
• Nu Shooz - Don't Let Me Be The One (1986)
• NV - It's Alright (1983)
• NV - Let Me Do You (1984)
• Olivia Newton-John - The Rumour (1988)
• Paul McCartney - Ou Est Le Soleil?
• Paula Abdul - Knocked Out (1988)
• Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl (1989)
• Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract (1990)
• Paul Lekakis - Tattoo In On Me (1990)
• Pebbles aka Perri "Pebbles" Reid - Giving You the Benefit
• Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (1985)
• Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money) (1986)
• Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly (1986)
• Pet Shop Boys - What Have I Done To Deserve This? (1987)
• Pet Shop Boys - Always on My Mind (1988)
• Pet Shop Boys - Heart (1988)
• Pet Shop Boys - Left to My Own Devices (1988)
• Pet Shop Boys - Was That What It Was? (1986)
• Pet Shop Boys - You Know Where You Went Wrong (1987)
• Pet Shop Boys - I Want To Wake Up (1987)
• Phil Collins - Hang in Long Enough (1990)
• Phyllis Nelson - I Like You (1989)
• Pia Zadora - Dance Out Of My Head (1988)
• Pierre - Just Right (1984)
• Pilot - You Are The One (1984)
• Pointer Sisters - Friends' Advice (Don't Take It) (1990)
• Pointer Sisters - Gold Mine (1986)
• Pretty Poison - Nighttime (1988)
• Prince - Hot Thing (1987)
• Prince - Glam Slam (1988)
• Rafael Cameron - Desires (1982)
• Ramsey Lewis - This Ain't No Fantasy (1985)
• Raw Silk - Do It To The Music (1983)
• Red Head Kingpin And The FBI - Get It Together (1991)
• Robey - Bored and Beautiful (1984)
• Robey - Killer Instinct (1985)
• Robey - One Night In Bangkok (1984)
• Rockers Revenge - Walking On Sunshine (1987)
• Run-D.M.C. - It's Tricky (1987)
• Run D.M.C. - Ghostbusters (1989)
• The Salsoul Orchestra - Ooh, I Love It (Love Break) (1983)
• The Salsoul Orchestra - Seconds (1982)
• S-xpress - Hey Music Lover (1988)
• Seal (musician) – The Beginning (1991)
• Secret Weapon - Must Be The Music (1982)
• Shakespear's Sister - Break My Heart (1988)
• Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It (1982)
• Sheena Easton - Eternity (1987)
• Shirley Lewis - You Can't Hide (1989)
• Siedah Garrett - K.I.S.S.I.N.G. (1988)
• Sinnamon - Thin Line (1984)
• Sinnamon - He's Gonna Take You Home (1982)
• Sinnamon - Thanks To You (1982)
• Sister Sledge - Here To Stay (1986)
• Skyy - Call Me (1982)
• Skyy - Let Love Shine (1982)
• Skyy - Let's Celebrate (1982)
• Skyy - Show Me The Way (1987)
• Slade - Slam The Hammer Down (1984)
• Slay Cabell - Feelin' Fine (1982)
• The Springsteen Brothers - She's Fine (1984)
• Steve Shelto - Don't You Give Your Love Away (1983)
• Stewart Copeland - Love Lessons (1987)
• The Strangers - Step Out Of My Dream (1983)
• The Strikers - Body Music (1982)
• Surface - Falling In Love (1982)
• Taylor Dayne - I'll Wait (1993)
• Taylor Dayne - Say A Prayer (1995)
• Technotronic - Techno Medley (1990)
• Terence Trent D'arby - Dance Little Sister (1987)
• Terence Trent D'arby - If You Let Me Stay (1987)
• Terry Lewis - Can You Feel It (1984)
• Tetsuya Komuro - Running to Horizon (1989)
• Third World - One To One (1985)
• Third World - Sense Of Purpose (1985)
• Thompson Twins - In the Name of Love (1988)
• Thompson Twins - Sugar Daddy (1989)
• Timex Social Club - Rumors (1986)
• Timex Social Club - Thinkin´ About Ya (1986)
• Tina Turner - Foreign Affair (1989)
• TKA - I Won't Give Up On You (1989)
• Toney Lee - Reach Up (1986)
• Tracie Spencer - This Time Make It Funky (1990)
• 2 Brave - After Midnight (1989)
• Unlimited Touch - Reach Out (Everlasting Lover) (1984)
• Unlimited Touch - Searching To Find The One (1982)
• Unique - You Make Me Feel So Good (1984)
• Vaughan and Butch Dayo Mason - Party On The Corner (1983)
• Vaughan and Butch Dayo Mason - You Can Do It (1982)
• Visual - The Music Got Me (1985)
• The Wally Jump Jr. and The Criminal Element - Don't Push Your Lock (1986)
• The Wally Jump Jr. and The Criminal Element - Jump Back (1986)
• Wang Chung - Let's Go! (1986)
• Warp 9 - Light Years Away (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Going Out Of My Dream (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Good To The Last Drop (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - If You're Looking For Fun (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Knock, Knock (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Rock Candy (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Rockin´ It In The Pocket (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Rock Your World (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Tunnel Of Love (1983)
• Weeks and Co. - Your Next Door Neighbor (1983)
• Wild Party - No One Knows (1987)
• Will To Power - Fading Away (1988)
• The Wrestlers - Land of a Thousand Dances?!!? (1985)
• Whitney Houston - So Emotional (1987)
• Whitney Houston - I Belong To You (1991)