This was originally a slow, painful ballad. It was sped up as an experiment, and a major hit ensued. Co-writer Kenny Gamble recalled to Mojo magazine March 2012: "It was a ballad when we wrote it. We got in the studio and said, This is dragging, it's too slow. We told Karl (Chambers, drummer) to put that 'tsh-up, tsh-up,' that sock cymbal in there and that was the beginning of that whole Philly disco sound."
Karl Chambers was used solely on the sock cymbal. Philadelphia-based drummer Earl Young played the full kit. He is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps, who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno."
American R&B/pop singer Sybil had a #3 hit in the UK with her 1993 cover of this song. It was billed as West End featuring Sybil.
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